RE: SOTW: Peugeot 406 Coupe

RE: SOTW: Peugeot 406 Coupe

Friday 18th November 2011

SOTW: Peugeot 406 Coupe

Mmmmm.... Pininfarina for pin money. Tempted?



Glamorous Pininfarina lines, V6 power, room to fit three deeply impressed passengers in your cut-price coupe...what's not to like about a Shed-spec 406 coupe?

Well, ignoring the front-drive underpinnings and 406 interior (though I've always harboured an inexplicable affection for the 406 dash and squishy leather upholstery, however rubbish it might actually be), not a lot, really.

And unlike more modern coupes from mainstream manufacturers (the forthcoming Toyobaru BRZ/FT-86 being a notable exception), turn-of-the-Millennium two-doors were what you might call proper coupes, rather than the rakish hatchbacked pseudo-coupes that the likes of VW (Scirocco), Renault (Megane) and Vauxhall (GTC) have been churning out of late.


The 194bhp 3.0-litre is reputedly a lusty performer, too - better than its claimed 0-62mph time of 7.8secs and 142mph top speed suggest, some have said. And it's quite a decent handler, by all accounts, though perhaps more of a GT than a point-to-point master.

Still, that roaring-lion badge is probably going to put off as many people as it attracts (although the allure of Pininfarina might mitigate that somewhat, but if you want a sleek, comfy and moderately luxurious cruiser then you might well fall for the svelte Pug's myriad charms.

This one has done a thoroughly average 128k miles, but it looks in pretty decent nick (well, it does in the photos...) and has a whisker of tax and moderate amounts of ticket left on it. You do get plenty of kit with this one, too, including leather, heated seats, air-con and a JBL six-cd changer system.


Of course, because this is Shed money, you'll also be pleased to learn that it has had a brand-new alternator, four decent tyres and a new exhaust system. And that magic Pininfarina badge...

Kudos to PHer ninos for the cracking spot...

Advert is reproduced below

Peugeot 406 Coupe 3.0 V6
£995 Irvine, North Ayrshire

'X' 2000 Peugeot 406 Coupe 3.0 V6 in Metallic Blue with superb Black Leather Interior, this is a fine example of this soon to be rare sporty classic. It has all the electric extra's including Heated Seats and Air Con and is fitted with a JBL Sound System and a 6 cd auto changer. Taxed until the end of December and Mot'd until April 7th 2012. All the tyres are good and it has recently had a new exhaust system and just had a brand new alternator fitted. I have 2 remote keys for the car.



Author
Discussion

turnipbmw

Original Poster:

65 posts

172 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
I always think of these as a perfect example of a car that's bought just because of its looks.

not that there is anything wrong with that !




Shaw Tarse

31,543 posts

202 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
I'm hoping also comfy to drive?

SVX

2,182 posts

210 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
So close, but for me the C70 T5 of similar vintage is a better steer.

Rob81

148 posts

152 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
Beautiful car. Should have been a Xantia Activa coupe as originally intended though...!

Edited by Rob81 on Friday 18th November 00:32

MondeoMan1981

2,352 posts

182 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
These were available in a bright blue similar to the Fiat Coupe and looked absolutely fantastic in it.

The 2.2 HDi model is coming down in price now, and what a cracking looking daily steer they would make.

johnpeat

5,326 posts

264 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
At the time this was made, Peugeot were known for 2 things

1 - fantastic small cars which handled brilliantly
2 - comfy barge-like family cars which wafted beautifully

Problem is, this didn't really do either quite as well as you might have liked - but it's far from terrible (it's a better steer than a Ford Cougar, for example) - but it's definately a 'motorway wafter' and not a B-road hooligan.

Plenty of these about too - if you don't like the idea of the V6 there are even diesels (tho they're not the "will never stop working" diesels of the earlier Peugeot variety!!)

As for condition - the biggest problem with these is selective chassis rot. Again, unlike earlier cars, they do rust in nasty places and MOT failures for excessive corrosion aeound things like seatbelt mounts aren't uncommon (but are relatively cheaply fixed!)

Parts are cheap - electrics will be moody of course, as with all French cars - overall a stunning amount of car for under a bag IMO...

martin84

5,366 posts

152 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
I had a 406 saloon and Peugeot broke their usual mould when they made that, it was terrifically reliable, a fantastic daily car. I cant help but wonder if the usual Peugeot people were out of the room at the time someone sensible came up with the 406.

vit4

3,507 posts

169 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
"you might call [i]proper[i] coupes"


Formatting people, formatting wink


I like these a lot though, wonder what they'd sound like with a decent exhaust scratchchin

MX7

7,902 posts

173 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
Stick a Ferrari body kit on it. thumbup

billzeebub

3,862 posts

198 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
lovely lookig car, but the drive doesn't live up to the promise..these days the image is a tad 'ify'..the last couple of times I have seen one there has been a guy dragging a huge slab of donner meat wrapped in towels out of the boot..

..however for a grand it can't really be argued with

ITech

111 posts

153 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
The seats look comfy, other than that im not keen and I actually prefer the look of the 406 saloon, especially from the front.

This always seemed a very odd choice to make when it was new and still seems odd to me, when you could have an e36 coupe for the same money now or the Volvo C70, or Audi Coupe, etc

muppet42

326 posts

204 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
Quite like the way these look and of course you've got the v6 noise to back it up. However, if I were getting a coupe from that era I'd go for the afore mentioned Fiat in 20v or 20v Turbo if I could afford the insurance. I just reckon they'd be a more characterful and entertaining car to own than the 406.

LeeThr

3,122 posts

170 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
I've allways wanted one of these ever since the first time I set eyes on one in the peugeot dealership when I was only a wee lad. Haha (im only 18 now) these really are starting to go for pennys now. If insurance isnt too much of an issue in the next year or so I may actually consider buying one.

ensignia

919 posts

234 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
I remember lusting after one of these when they first came out. Along with the Fiat Bravo HGT. laugh

I was around 13 to be fair.

0a

23,879 posts

193 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
Nice to see that even PH can't work their own formatting tags!

I like the look of this car. When i was a boy (!) the headmaster had a 406 v6 estate as a company car, very nice and probably a better shed.

0a

23,879 posts

193 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
martin84 said:
I had a 406 saloon and Peugeot broke their usual mould when they made that, it was terrifically reliable, a fantastic daily car. I cant help but wonder if the usual Peugeot people were out of the room at the time someone sensible came up with the 406.
I don't understand them. I still see lots o 205s, I went in one the other day and what a great car. This was a perfect condition 1.1 5 door.

How did they end up producing their current crap?

Negative Creep

24,942 posts

226 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
For me it's one of the most beautiful mainstream cars of recent times. Such a shame they moved on to make those frog mouthed horrors afterwards. The 407 Coupe has all the grace and style of a dead Basking Shark

Itsallicanafford

2,759 posts

158 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
...mmh rakish lines, V6...what's not to like?..but for me it's got to be a fiat coupe 20v turbo, I can still remember my brother smoking a brand new boxster in his one, at the time it cost him 4 grand...the look on the boxsters' owners face was worth that alone...

eddieantifreeze

74 posts

157 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
I do have a bit of a soft spot for this car. I used to own the V6 engined saloon version and it was cracking, i had to get rid of it before i had the chance to make it look like the original from the 'taxi' films.

and for someone higher up, i designed and fitted my own exhaust to it - it sounded very nice!

nicklonguk

195 posts

184 months

Friday 18th November 2011
quotequote all
I really wanted one back when I first passed my test - I think they did a red leather interior too...

However, the standard wheels just look too small for the car IMHO - which slightly spoil the otherwise perfect shape for me.

I recall insurance was pretty steep on them though!