Peugeot 406 Coupe
Discussion
For my first Pistonheads post I'd like to share details of my 406 coupe which I bought 4 years ago for £2k.
Spec: 3ltr V6, Brembo brakes, electric black leather
The Pininfarina lines still look fab in my eyes. Tongue-in-cheek I like to inform people of the Ferrari links and as a piss-take my bro bought me magnetic Ferrari wing badges but some chav quickly stole them.
This year it's been treated to discs and pads and tyres. For any other French car owner in Leeds I can recommend APT motors as a great place to go.
I have one of these; in the 2.2 petrol 4-cyl version. Lovely comfy car to drive, and the engine feels quite sprightly for a 160 HP naturally aspirated lump. The 3.0 V6 petrol is "the" engine, though, particularly the later-model 210 HP version, which has the Porsche-tuned head (including variable valve timing).
Mine is utterly stock except for 19in Mille Miglia T12 alloys, a set of braided brake hoses, a set of white dials (from a late-model 406 SE saloon), and a Powerflow cat-back exhaust.
Interior is a little drab to look at - it's basically same as the 406 saloon/estate, except the seats and door cards are different. Those seats are Recaro-built, with a Pininfarina design. They're really comfy (even the back bench can fit two fully-grown adult human beings, each with a complete set of legs!), and hold you in place well during cornering.
And, the boot is quite a respectable size. If you really wanted the extra storage, you can get a roof rack for them (the official Thule kit is fairly rare though), or fit a tow ball.
And, going against all stereotypical car "logic", it's a French car which DOESN'T break down all the time, AND it's an Italian car which doesn't immediately rust the minute you buy it (Pininfarina built them all in their factory just outside Turin).
I love mine to bits.
Mine is utterly stock except for 19in Mille Miglia T12 alloys, a set of braided brake hoses, a set of white dials (from a late-model 406 SE saloon), and a Powerflow cat-back exhaust.
Interior is a little drab to look at - it's basically same as the 406 saloon/estate, except the seats and door cards are different. Those seats are Recaro-built, with a Pininfarina design. They're really comfy (even the back bench can fit two fully-grown adult human beings, each with a complete set of legs!), and hold you in place well during cornering.
And, the boot is quite a respectable size. If you really wanted the extra storage, you can get a roof rack for them (the official Thule kit is fairly rare though), or fit a tow ball.
And, going against all stereotypical car "logic", it's a French car which DOESN'T break down all the time, AND it's an Italian car which doesn't immediately rust the minute you buy it (Pininfarina built them all in their factory just outside Turin).
I love mine to bits.
There were 109,000 built in total, between 1996 and 2004
Out of which around 12,000 came to the UK. The first UK-spec models arrived here in 1997 and the last ones were delivered in 2003.
There are under 4,000 left on UK roads now; it's not very common to see another one. If you're looking for Italian styling, exclusivity, a comfortable ride, and not looking to spend much money, they're a bargain.
Cheap to fix the mechanicals too; almost everything other than the body panels, the seats, and the door cards is the same part in the 406 saloons and estates, and there are still LOADS of these around.
Out of which around 12,000 came to the UK. The first UK-spec models arrived here in 1997 and the last ones were delivered in 2003.
There are under 4,000 left on UK roads now; it's not very common to see another one. If you're looking for Italian styling, exclusivity, a comfortable ride, and not looking to spend much money, they're a bargain.
Cheap to fix the mechanicals too; almost everything other than the body panels, the seats, and the door cards is the same part in the 406 saloons and estates, and there are still LOADS of these around.
The alloys shown on the original poster's Coupe are unofficially referred to as "Starfish"; they were standard spec on Mk.1 Coupes (1996 through 2001). The V6 came with 16in versions, and the 2.0 petrol came with 15in versions. The wheels were designed by Pininfarina to complement the Coupe, and were manufactured by BBS.
The reason the V6 had the larger wheels was so they would fit over the brakes - up until 2003, the V6 came with 4-pot Brembo calipers as standard. The HDi diesel models came with the Brembo calipers too, when they were introduced in 2001. During 2003, they dropped the Brembos, so all Coupes had the same Lucas single-pot brake calipers.
In 2001, the Starfish-type wheels were replaced with a centreless 7-spoke alloy (called "Hoggar"), which were all 16in, regardless what brakes the car came with.
I swapped my Coupe's Hoggar alloys for these 19in Mille Miglia T12s; I think the car benefits visually from a larger wheel. Surprisingly, the ride isn't terrible; presumably because the springs and shocks are soft (or, being nearly 13 years old, have sagged and need replacing...)
The reason the V6 had the larger wheels was so they would fit over the brakes - up until 2003, the V6 came with 4-pot Brembo calipers as standard. The HDi diesel models came with the Brembo calipers too, when they were introduced in 2001. During 2003, they dropped the Brembos, so all Coupes had the same Lucas single-pot brake calipers.
In 2001, the Starfish-type wheels were replaced with a centreless 7-spoke alloy (called "Hoggar"), which were all 16in, regardless what brakes the car came with.
I swapped my Coupe's Hoggar alloys for these 19in Mille Miglia T12s; I think the car benefits visually from a larger wheel. Surprisingly, the ride isn't terrible; presumably because the springs and shocks are soft (or, being nearly 13 years old, have sagged and need replacing...)
Loving all the comments, especially the facts from 406Highlander. I'm a fan of the starfish alloys though admit they don't fill the arches like your aftermarket approach. Think I once saw a picture of one with Ferrari 360 alloys (not the silly 360 body kit) which looked great.
As for the 407... Well that gaping whale mouth means it can't hold a candle to a 406.
For a thirtieth of the price, the 406 makes a great baby 456. Ignoring the fact that the 456 is obviously double the engine and rear wheel drive. Compare pictures of the seats and they are very similar (except the 456 has the seatbelt attached to the seat. Dimensions are not a million miles different either. Plus it doesn't have ruinous running costs. Anyway this mild delusion keeps me happy.
As for the 407... Well that gaping whale mouth means it can't hold a candle to a 406.
For a thirtieth of the price, the 406 makes a great baby 456. Ignoring the fact that the 456 is obviously double the engine and rear wheel drive. Compare pictures of the seats and they are very similar (except the 456 has the seatbelt attached to the seat. Dimensions are not a million miles different either. Plus it doesn't have ruinous running costs. Anyway this mild delusion keeps me happy.
Erudite geezer said:
Have always thought the lines of the 406 Coupe share a resemblance with the Ferrari 456.
Lorenzo Ramaciotti and Sergio Pininfarina worked the design for both the Ferrari 456 and the Peugeot 406 Coupe. The Ferrari 456 is the older design. So there's the design heritage, right there 
The best thing I heard said about the 406 Coupe is that it's like finding an Armani suit on the rails in a charity shop.
Erudite geezer said:
Any thoughts on the car which replaced it, the 407 Coupe?
The 406 Coupe was the last car Pininfarina designed for Peugeot. Peugeot decided they wanted to do their own designs in-house.I'm not a fan. I like the view of the car from the rear 3/4 - but not the front. I kind of like the "gills" on the front bumper/wing, but they're purely cosmetic. I also kind of like the big headlamps. I'm not a fan of the wide grille. Also, the car is really wide; it feels much bigger than the 406 Coupe did. It's just not as pretty a car.
The interior is a definite improvement; looks much more fresh and modern - but the centre console is awash with buttons. The 406 range had quite a basic interior, but everything was well-placed - within reach, and could all be operated with your eyes on the road. Even the stereo, if (like me) you replaced the head unit with an aftermarket model which doesn't work with the radio control stalk.
Edited by 406highlander on Saturday 15th November 15:36
355Chris355 said:
(... Ignore the engine warning light)
And here, in it's native habitat, we hear the distinct mating call of the Lesser Spotted Peugeot Owner.Upon finding a suitable mate, and in comfortable circumstances, a female Peugeot Owner will utter this cry whilst the male admires her bodywork - if interested, the male will immediately open his jacket and flash his tooling at her, and then the mating dance begins....
Edited by PhillipM on Monday 2nd February 00:01
PhillipM said:
And here, in it's native habitat, we hear the distinct mating call of the Lesser Spotted Peugeot Owner.
Upon finding a suitable mate, and in comfortable cercumstances, a female Peugeot Owner will utter this cry whilst the male admires her bodywork - if interested, the male will immediately open his jacket and flash his tooling at her, and then the mating dance begins....
Just woke the missus reading and giggling to that! Upon finding a suitable mate, and in comfortable cercumstances, a female Peugeot Owner will utter this cry whilst the male admires her bodywork - if interested, the male will immediately open his jacket and flash his tooling at her, and then the mating dance begins....
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