Which Costs More to Own: The Peugeot RCZ or Expert?

When it comes to purchasing a new (or used) car, there's one thing every driver wants: something that will last. Even if they only plan to use the car for two to three years before buying the next one available, they don't want to spend their entire time with a vehicle that constantly breaks down and needs to be repaired.

Peugeots are generally the types of cars that can be trusted in this sense. After all, the Peugeot 207 made the list in 2011 as one of the most reliable cars in the UK, with an incident rate of only 6%, with an average yearly repair cost of only £331. The Peugeot 206 CC made this list too, with an incident rate of only 17%.

While this may sound promising, it's important for drivers to never let their guard down when choosing a vehicle of their own. While a brand may have a sterling reputation, there may be one or two bad eggs in the bunch. Take for instance, the Peugeot 3008 crossover, which was found to be the least reliable car in a 2012 survey, with an average of 1.94 days off the road each year for maintenance. The best cars are off the road for only 0.2 days per year.

If you've narrowed down your car-buying decision to the Peugeot RCZ and the Peugeot Expert, don't trust that you're getting a reliable and cost-efficient car simply because it's made by a brand you trust. Instead, think about each of their running costs and find out which will most commonly need more repairs. Not sure where to start? We have some answers.

Common Problematic Car Parts for the Peugeot RCZ

The RCZ is a sports coupe that has been in production since 2010. Originally, it was only intended to be a concept car, but because it become so popular and in-demand, Peugeot decided to put it into production. It's stylish, affordable, and fun to drive, but there isn't very much space, especially in the boot. This model also comes with its share of common problems.

• Door Mirrors- There are two different problems that affect the door mirrors on the RCZ. The first occurs when the mirrors are folded in; there can be a loud creaking sound that is often caused by water seeming into the interior of the mirror from the outside. This needs to be repaired by a professional, who will need to evaluate whether the leak can be repaired or whether the entire mirror needs to be replaced.
  

            Another problem that is common is malfunctioning of the electronic mirrors. This is often due    to insufficient lubrication, which isn't hard to take care of. You can take the RCZ to your       mechanic so he can lubricate the correct car parts, or you can simply do it yourself by lubricating the mechanism and clip located under the mirror cover.

• Roof Arches- The roof arches, or the silver bars that are over the doors to your Peugeot, can become victims of corrosion over time and will have to be replaced. They are covered under warranty, but only for three years. After this time, you'll need to pay out of pocket to replace them. If you catch the corrosion early on, you may be able to use a rust remover to get rid of the corrosion and repaint the roof arches to keep them protected from further damage.
  

• Whining- The exhaust heat shield can become a problematic Peugeot part for the RCZ, but it is easily fixed. If you notice a loud whining noise at the back of the car, check to see if the heat shield has become loose. Tightening it will resolve the problem.
  

• Knocking- Knocking noises from the engine are often due to the degradation of the Peugeot's engine mounts, which will have to be replaced in order to solve the issue. The noises can occur at any time, whether you're braking, accelerating, or going over a bump.

Common Problematic Peugeot Parts With the Expert

Have you had the chance to test drive a Peugeot Expert? This light commercial vehicle was first produced in 1995. It's generally a reliable car, with plenty of cargo space for almost anything you'd want. It does have a few known common problems, though that you should know about before making any purchase.

• Squealing- This noise may not sound like much, but it can indicate serious damage to Peugeot parts and very expensive repairs. The squealing often occurs when the fuel pump begins to fail. The failure releases tiny metal particles into the fuel system, through the fuel filter, the high pressure pump, and then into the Expert's injectors. The result is a loud squealing noise that should be immediately evaluated by a mechanic. Depending on where the metal particles have travelled and which car parts they have effected, the repairs could be numerous and costly.
  

• Locks Spinning- It may sound strange, but one common problem with the Expert is all of the locks spinning around by themselves. This is often caused by worn out barrels or dirt build-up in the barrels of the locks, but can be aggravating as it will prevent you from locking or unlocking the doors. To fix this, soak the barrels in a penetrating fluid overnight to remove all the dirt. If that doesn't solve the problem, the barrels may be too worn and will need to be replaced.
  

• Anti-Pollution Fault- The Expert comes with a Peugeot Emissions Filter that helps protect the environment by burning off unwanted particles that become caught in the filter. The problem is, this filter needs to become hot enough to burn off those particles. Driving the Expert around town won't allow it to heat up enough, so if the fault is displayed, take the car out onto the motorway and drive it at a higher speed for at least fifteen minutes.

Determining which Peugeot is more reliable and won't cost as much to operate is difficult, especially when choosing between the RCZ and the Expert. While the RCZ has more known common problems, they may be less expensive in the long run than a fuel pump failure in the Expert, depending on how much damage the metal particles can do to the Peugeot parts.

The choice is up to you. Would you take a chance for smaller, more frequent problems with the RCZ or a more expensive issue with the Expert?