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Peugeot 406

Always a fleet favourite, the Peugeot 406 has long since become a justifiably popular second-hand buy. Its tough construction, good handling and decent diesel engines combine to offer plenty of value-for-money motoring - providing you pick the right one.

June 2003

Always a fleet favourite, the Peugeot 406 has long since become a justifiably popular second-hand buy. Its tough construction, good handling and decent diesel engines combine to offer plenty of value-for-money motoring - providing you pick the right one.
But the big Pug has been around for so long that early examples should be checked carefully. While more recent versions have plenty of standard equipment, some older cars are spartan in comparison. And although the petrol engines offer reasonable performance, it's the excellent turbodiesels - particularly the recent common-rail HDi - that attract the keenest interest.
The 406 has a fairly good reliability record and is known for its decent ride, tidy handling and excellent passenger comfort. That said, respondents to our Driver Power 2003 reliability and satisfaction survey criticised the performance - especially on smaller-engined models - and its stiff, notchy gearbox.
If you can live with those, the Lion makes a great alternative to the likes of a Mondeo or Vectra, and can usually be picked up cheaper as well.
Checklist
* On high-mileage cars, make sure the cambelt has been changed regularly - proper servicing is essential.
* Rear brake assemblies need to be renewed fairly often. Test the performance of the handbrake and look out for excessive brake disc dust.
* Oil consumption can be heavy on 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engines. Be wary of blue exhaust smoke on start-up, and steer clear of ex-minicabs.
* Hard-driven diesel models can suffer from premature gearbox wear, so check that all ratios engage and the clutch uptake is smooth.
* Electrical glitches are common, with stereos and keypad immobilisers being the most likely victims.
Glass's View
The Peugeot 406 has had its day and is very much an old-stager. Used values have fallen sharply during the past 12 months, especially those of petrol-powered saloon versions, but there are still some attractive bargains around. Diesel model prices fare better, but are lower than those of rivals. On the other hand, 406 estates hold their value well and remain popular, especially seven-seat examples.
Life With A 406...
Niall Desbottes took delivery of his 2.0-litre HDi LX two years ago and has so far covered 78,000 miles driving around south-west England. The 32-year-old salesman from Bristol is a fan of the Peugeot's comfort and equipment. "I spend a lot of time in my car, so it has to be a pleasant environment," he said. "Some of the other models I looked at were too bland and sombre inside, but the 406 has an attractive, if slightly dated cabin. The seats are excellent, too."
He also likes the spacious boot and torquey HDi engine, both of which are well suited to the 406's role as a cost-effective company motor. Niall's only real gripe concerns the brakes. "The discs and pads on my car have been changed three times already," he told us. "And several other owners I've spoken to have experienced similar problems." His next motor will be a company car and Niall will probably remain loyal to the Lion. "I'm thinking about getting a 406 estate, because I'll be a father by then and the family will need more space than the saloon can offer," he explained.

Tell us about your car in our Driver Power survey.

If you can afford a more recent model, post-1999 HDi diesels are the pick of the bunch. Smooth, torquey and respon-sive, they're a delight to drive and offer impressive fuel economy. Avoid earlier examples, however. The 1.9 and 2.1-litre units are both slow and noisy, and replacement parts are expensive.

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1 Comment

Longevity v abuse

As a family we have owned a number of Peugeot models and currently have two 406 a P reg saloon and a W reg Hdi estate, we also run a new 307 SW and will be purchasing a 407 this week to replace the 406 pair which frankly saddens me greatly as both have performed excellently since I purchased them.

There have of course been a few minor niggles with both 406 cars, the P reg threw a rear OS wheel bearing, no warning, nothing, it just collapsed and required replacing, 40 mins work getting at it, 10 mins to replace it and about an hour with a cuppa break and I drove it to work, 108 on the clock and apart from the fact that it is mechanical injection which makes it a bit noisy and that it is a 2.1 litre which makes parts expensive if required the buyer will get a good all round runabout.

The W reg however is a different animal totally, 110bhp turbo inter cooled diesel it naturally pulls well right across the range, ride is excellent as expected from the model, bodywork and fittings designed but the electrics must have been assembled by monkeys with a twisted sense of humour.

Since purchase it has been plagued by serial electrical faults that come and go at will, air con that works then does not then does, -12 degrees last night and the air con happily blasting frigid air into the cabin even though it was shut off, Speedometer also has gremlins, approx five mins after starting a journey it will drop to zero and the car goes onto unadvertised limp mode, then at a time of it's choosing back up it comes and continues that way till the next time you want to use the car, Airbags that turn off according to the fault lights, and airbags that the car is not even fitted with indicated they are malfunctioning and the list goes on and on and on, I have had this car into the main dealers shop numerous times with the faults showing and even they have ended up with no answers but even so it's as reliable as cheese, now at 170 thousand miles and not a worry as to the engine, gear box or running gear, regular oil changes I,m certain have ensured this engine is in such good condition and filters of course.

It's been used as a family runabout and motorway commuter, carrier of bales of straw and packs of bricks and at times driven like the devil himself was at the wheel....thanks son..but even so it shows no signs of terminal failure, can't say the same for the wife's new 307 however, 4000 miles and it already sounds like it's falling apart.

Possibly the monkeys got promoted off electrical work.

By Blackjack on 13 February, 2012, 10:13pm

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VERDICT

    If you can afford a more recent model, post-1999 HDi diesels are the pick of the bunch. Smooth, torquey and respon-sive, they're a delight to drive and offer impressive fuel economy. Avoid earlier examples, however. The 1.9 and 2.1-litre units are both slow and noisy, and replacement parts are expensive.
 

OTHER EXPENSES

Depreciation:2
Running costs (ppm):51-88p
Insurance groups:9-18

HISTORY

    1996: 406 introduced, with a choice of 1.8 and 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engines (112bhp and 135bhp respectively), plus a 150bhp 2.0-litre turbo. A pair of turbodiesels are available in 1.9-litre 90bhp and 2.1-litre 110bhp guises. Car comes in saloon and practical estate bodystyles, with trim levels ranging from L to LX, GLX, SRI and Executive. All are fitted with power-steering, central locking, two airbags and electric front windows. 1997: 3.0-litre 194bhp V6 model is launched. Available with saloon and estate bodies, plus a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual gearbox. 1999: 406 Coup
 
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