THE PEUGEOTCharlJacquesFAMILYGerhardChristaHow does it happen that four <strong>Peugeot</strong>sbelonging to one family end up underone roof? It all started in 2001 whenmy eldest son turned 16 and wanted amotorbike. Since both my wife, Christa, andI enjoyed lots of time on motorbikes on thefarm during our youth, how do you persuade a16-year-old not to have a motorbike becauseof “all the dangers”. It took some thinking butwe gave him the choice of a motorbike at16 or a motor car when he turns 18. Needlessto say, he was prepared to wait for 2 years.He inherited Mom’s car during his Grade12 year in 2003 but being off to the UK thenext year for 6 months, he sold the car, savedthe money and on his return found thatMom had bought herself a new <strong>Peugeot</strong> 206.The family was so satisfied with the <strong>Peugeot</strong>that after a test drive Jacques, our eldest,decided that another 206 must make itsway into the family. Having three boys anda girl, Christa and I soon realised what wehad got ourselves into by setting the standardof a car when you turn 18. Luckily for us itwas a happy one, and in 2005 Charl, oursecond son, inherited Mom’s 206, and whenthe newly arrived <strong>Peugeot</strong> 207 becameavailable there was no other choice for Mom,a request from our third son, Gerhard, whowould inherit it in 2007.While at <strong>Peugeot</strong> Helderberg paying for ageneral service to one of the <strong>Peugeot</strong>s(end February 2007), Mr Henre Hanekom,the General Manager, approached me andbrought to my attention that a few of thenew <strong>Peugeot</strong> 407 HDi’s were available ona special since it was the 5 th anniversaryof <strong>Peugeot</strong> in SA. Knowing that Gerhardwould take over Christa’s 207 in abouttwo week’s time, I thought it couldn’t doany harm to have a look and take it for atest drive. Needless to say it was “love atfirst sight” and the test drive proved whatMr Hanekom told me about the advancedtechnology and performance of the newgeneration diesel engines. The sale wason, but the next obstacle was to keep itquiet for the next two weeks when thechangeover was to take place on Gerhard’sbirthday, and how do you keep a transactionlike this a secret from a wife who knowseverything about your finances? Well, twoweeks later (and a few, well worked out sidestepsbetween me and the sales personnel)Christa was overwhelmed when she wascalled (needed!) at Gerhard’s party in thegarden to see the 407, with a familiar basketand bottle of champagne, compliments of<strong>Peugeot</strong> Helderberg, waiting for her. It tookonly one drive around the block to changeher mind from “How could you do this?” toan experience she will not let go of for manyyears to come. Now, even after one year I stillhave to ask permission to drive her <strong>Peugeot</strong>.She will definitely not pass this one onto ourdaughter Jozanne, who turns 18 next year.I have a strange feeling that I will have to adda 5 th <strong>Peugeot</strong> to our collection. No wonderour friends calls us the <strong>Peugeot</strong> family. Makesme think – is there another family who havefour (or more) <strong>Peugeot</strong>’s in their household?To all the <strong>Peugeot</strong> lovers, the 407 HDi Executive(automatic) is only a pleasure to drive, andvery economical on fuel consumption.Note: Don’t buy it for your wife – she won’tlet you drive it (buy it for yourself!).Dr Hennie du Plessis