chicagotribune.com's view

The top-of-the-line model from Peugeot of France for `87 is the 505 STX,which boasts a new 2.8-liter fuel injected V-6 that develops 145 horsepower toget off the line. It also has antilock brakes as standard to stop the vehicle at the end of the line, even when the roads are wet.

Base price is $23,250 and includes power steering/windows/door locks/sunroof; air conditioning; leather seats with adjustable lumbar support andindividual heating controls; front and rear antisway bars and special 8-valve shock absorbers for road holding control; four-wheel independent suspension;and an antitheft Alpine AM/FM radio with cassette that scrambles its signalwhen removed from the dash.

Despite the heat controls, the seats left us cold. Formerly No. 1daughter suggested that it was a case of system overload.

Hot or not, we would like better ability to raise or lower the seat thanPeugeot delivers. The car has all those standard creature features, but wenever felt totally comfortable in the seat to enjoy them.

We drove the STX with optional automatic ($600). A 5-speed is standard.The 2.8-liter V-6 has good pep, but it has a lot of size and weight to move.The 505 STX is built on a 108-inch wheelbase and is 186.7 inches long overall,or slightly smaller than a Buick LeSabre.

As has been the case with Peugeot, the styling left us cold, too. Iteasily could get lost in a parking lot.

Our other concern with the car is low sales volume that could translateinto problems getting parts and repairs without being the captive of a dealer.In 1986, Peugeot expects to sell 15,000 cars in the U.S. The `87 forecast is18,000, or less than the Yugo.

To counter potential problems, Peugeot will provide `87 car buyers withthree years free membership in the American Automobile Association, whichentitles each owner to free road service. If the club can`t make an on-the-spot repair, it will tow the car to the nearest Peugeot dealer.

Looking ahead, Peugeot is preparing to bring out a front-wheel-drive `88model in Europe next fall (U.S. version in `89) called the 405. Smaller thanthe 505, the 405 eventually would include four-wheel-drive and performanceversions, though not for at least two more years in the U.S.