That was Fabrice Gommé's goal.
That his gray Peugeot 307 passes the million-kilometre mark in front of the Stellantis factory in Sochaux (Doubs), where it was manufactured.
After fifteen years at the wheel of his station wagon with a panoramic roof, at a rate of 1,500 km per week, the inhabitant of Fournival (Oise) has therefore passed this symbolic milestone, equivalent to 25 times around the Earth, but with a some frustration.
Because on the display, no seventh digit in orange color between the needles of its dashboard.
“It's stuck, nothing happens even though we've covered 1,200 m too much!
I will never be a millionaire,” said Fabrice Gommé, with a smile but still slightly disappointed when finishing the 999,999th kilometer in front of the Peugeot Adventure Museum, a few hundred meters from the factory.
The counter is stuck at six digits.
"It's still a moment full of emotions, it was Christmas all day," he added.
To complete this journey from Oise to Sochaux, the driver was able to visit the factory where his vehicle was built in the presence of employees, already present in 2006 to tighten the last bolts.
“We worked on the parts for this model,” says an employee.
Several of them welcomed Fabrice Gommé with cards on which were written “1,000,000 thanks”.
“I think she is on the end”
In front of the factory, an employee even offered him a new challenge: “two million km with the same car?
What to make Fabrice Gommé smile.
“I was already afraid that she would give up in the last 300 when she came to two million… I think she is nearing the end, he confides.
But it's thanks to the workmanship, your work and that of my mechanic that it lasted so long.
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Sochaux (Doubs), this Friday evening.
The counter of the 307, stuck at 999,999 km.
The diesel engine of the 307, a 1.6 L HDI, has never been changed, insists its owner.
“The gearbox was replaced once, the clutch too.
And it passed its last technical inspection in March, ”he recalls.
A technical feat which even impresses the mechanics of the Peugeot dealership in Compiègne where Fabrice Gommé bought his second-hand car, 6,000 km on the clock, in 2007. of the order of the extraordinary”, commented one of them the day before the departure of the Oisian motorist for Franche-Comté.
His next car?
An electric
On his way to the million started this Thursday morning from the Oise, Fabrice Gommé made several stops.
A first in Reims (Marne) where he met the students of a professional high school in automobile specialty, then in Trémery (Moselle) where the workers of the engine factory opened the doors to him.
And many are wondering what will become of the car that has become a collector.
"I would like to give it to the Peugeot workshops, so that they can study it, understand how such longevity is possible", wishes Fabrice Gommé.
To replace it, he put on the electric.
A Peugeot?
"Hum, maybe, we'll see..." In the meantime, he asks himself a question: "Am I allowed to drive with a blocked meter?"
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