Peugeot 607 | Shed of the Week
For £990 is this week's Shed all show and no escargot?
The younger guttersnipes among you might take one sneery look at this big old French saloon - a 2003 Peugeot 607 - and then run off screaming that you can smell wee. The truth of the matter is that the 607 is only one generation old. First appearing in 1999, it wasn't replaced until late 2010, and the 508 that followed it is still very much part of the 2020 Peugeot range offering.
Which is why, when Shed looks at the 607, he doesn't think 'relic'. He has a real soft spot for the 607, and it's not just because the '0' in the back-end badge doubles as the boot release (although he does like that). He likes it mainly because most normal people don't.
Murdering big French saloons has been a fashionable pursuit since the Germans first began to dominate the executive scene. The 607 was so roundly panned on launch that Shed was quite worried about going on the press junket when the invites finally reached regional, farming and veterinarian motoring correspondents several months after the big boys had had their go. He can't remember the exact details, in fact he only just remembers it being in France somewhere, but the general memory of the drive that Shed enjoyed back then still gives him a warm feeling whenever he sits in a 607 today. And that's nothing to do with incontinence. Well, not all of it anyway.
This particular example of the 'lion king', as Wiki would like you to believe the 607 was nicknamed, is running the 2.2 HDi DW12 diesel, a 16-valver that was brought in by PSA in 1998 to replace the much-loved XUD diesels. In 2006-on twin-turbo DW12B format it squirted out a punchy 273lb ft, but even in our single-turbo 607 it was a torquey (230lb ft at 2,000rpm) and smooth engine that got plenty of love from European taxi drivers.
Stretched to its limit, the 135hp 2.2 would hit around 125mph, but for Shed that's really not what it's about. He probably wouldn't take a 607 to that many trackdays. Rather, he is the kind of chap who can glean pleasure from the simpler things in life, like cruising serenely along sunny European roads with his loved ones and Mrs Shed. For that sort of trip he would happily take a 607.
With lots of leather and wood and an old-school French feel to the ride, a 607 is very comfy, good looking when painted in a strong colour, and well kitted up for a car of that era. You got a decent satnav, leccy seats (heated all round, even in the back), auto headlights and wipers, lovely light steering that was just the job for visits to the library or the mobility centre, and hazards that came on if you woke up with a start and had to slam the brakes on. You even got double glazing so that when that nice man rang up to try and sell you some you could say you already had it.
Okay, so 607s are not the roomiest cars ever made, unless you're a suitcase, in which case you would be more than pleased with your accommodation. And, like the suspension, the auto gearbox operates in an old-fashioned French way; it changes gears when it feels like it, not just when some filthy Brit might like it to change them. Why should we be in such a hurry anyway? Why not just let the car make all the decisions and do all the worrying for a change?
The diesel 607 has one slightly dubious claim to fame. It was the first car to feature a DPF (diesel particulate filter). Nowadays, of course, we see the DPF as the invention of an angry terrorist and far more trouble than it's worth, but back in 1999, before anybody really understood what they were, DPFs were techy and exciting. A bit like disc brakes on a Triumph TR4, or the automotive equivalent of a vape. On the 607, DPFs contributed to the general throwing about of electrical fault codes. So did the windows, the washers, and the tyre pressure monitoring system, another technological step too far for an old reactionary like Shed. Some passengers in early cars wished there was a little more padding in the electrified seats, and some owners would have preferred if the driver's door didn't drop on its hinges.
2019's MOT occasioned a little ball joint work on the front suspension, on one front wheel bearing and on the reinstatement of a corroded rear subframe. It went in for a new MOT last month, just before the lockdown, when it failed on a low-tread rear tyre and an incorrectly functioning rear seat belt buckle. Both of these were rectified on the same day to generate a shiny new certificate, and it's just had new front brakes too so you're good to go.
Clarkson said that if Peugeot found more than four real customers for the 607 in the UK he would eat his own knees. The fact that he is still walking, sort of, belies the fact that this car had no trouble attracting admirers in Grande Bretagne. Does it still attract them now, at £990 or a potentially considerably lower 'take it off me 'ands' type price? Well, for one man at least it does.
Peugeot's styling was spot on with the '5's (205, 405, etc), less good with the '6's though still OK (406 coupe was the highlight) then went awful after that.
BigMon, Shark Tale 2 - Minor Canon
Arsecati, Finding Nemo - Vice Deacon
tless but was a fantastic car.Love these French old barges and they (usually) have some styling flair about them. That Citroen DS9 looks fabulous - brilliant details like the light (indicator?) at the top of the c pillar etc.
And Peugeot came up with this stunning concept - E-Legend a while back:
That 505 looks fantastic. Why can’t car markers draw on their historic iconic designs and use them as inspiration for modern reinterpretations?
Don't worry, It will still scare you s
tless now! Compared to anything from this century, it's a skittery little b@st@rd, but my god, bloody hilarious. Best thing is, you're less likely to get in trouble with the law either, as even though it feels like you're breaking the law at every corner - the reality is, you're never much more than 50mph until you get on to a straight! Haha! It usually stays in shelter over winter, but now because of this c-19, it is STILL buried in it's lair, not having been out since last year. Ahh well, maybe next month.The other bloke then replied with 'was it not a bit strange going to the expense of putting a manual in to a car, which with all due respect, is a classic 'shed' candidate?', before then replying: 'I have no idea what 'Lion King - Monk' means, so I'll ignore it'.
Lion King dude didn't reply, but 2 days later, guess what has been declared 'Shed Of The Week'? Yep, that gorgeous 607 you see here (and PH have still not credited me with giving them the idea this week, but I'm not bitter!
)So now as you've seen yourself, Lion King dude is a bit passionate about his Puggo, and well, the thread quickly meandered towards a one man crusade to show the world how passionate he really was: He continued to sign off every single one of his 403 posts with his username, followed by Lion King and Monk, everyone else continued to be confused.
THEN, in a stroke of comical genius, PH member J4CKO added his own bent to the moniker, by substituting Lion King and Monk with his own favoured animated film and ecclesiastical moniker (Fantasia and Cardianal). BigMon soon followed with 'Shark Tale 2 and Minor Canon, with a contribution of 'Finding Nemo and Vice Deacon' coming soon after.
Since then however, it seems like a bit of 'Chinese Whispers' has crept in and the answers have gone off on occasional mad tangents. HOWEVER, the sentiment has continued to grow and amuse, and has proved a much needed comic relief to what had quickly become a rather tiresome one-man love-in.
OH, it DID finally come to light where the 'Lion King' moniker came from. It seems it isn't a Disney film at all, but is actually what Puggo Fanboys call the 607. Yep, the love is so strong, they named it king. Hey, whatever makes them happy.
Oh again, before the Lion King comes on and gives me grief - again, not only have I owned a Peugeot 405 SRi in the past (bag of s
te - no, it was NOTHING like a mini Mi16 that I hoped/thought it would be, and it was quickly forgotten), and also a Citroen XM 2.0Si (another bag of ste - but still to this day, one of the favourite cars I've ever owned, as it just oozed so much character, I forgave it everything), but I actually currently own a Peugeot right now: a 205 1.9GTi. Yep, owned for the last 6 years and sat in my garage right now - a dream car when I passed my test in 89 (but clearly not being able to afford it back then), it is now a keeper and will never leave me. But then again, maybe I AM anti-Peugeot after all.Right, sorry for the long drivel, but it's 7am on a Saturday morning, and I'm fu€&1ng beyond bored already!!!!
Arsecati - Finding Nemo - Vice Deacon
Please point out to me where I said all BMW's were reliable ?
I'm 50 years old, I work in the motor trade, I know all bout the various timing chain, valve stem seals, and every other BMW issue.
Talk about mountains out of molehills, what a bore.
You are still calling me a liar, and THAT is 'disgusting' .......... I have already said that pampered cars will be more reliable than abused ones in my reply to the other gentlemen but you haven't read that have you ?
No, you have bashed away blindly accusing me of being a liar just because mr self titled 'lion king' peugeot blind fanboy can't bear to hear the truth.
Please just stop embarrassing yourself.
I am still expecting you to publish other condescending /negative articles on Peugeot 406 and 505 (since I own them these vehicles too) , so that you get tap on your back by your fellow majority PH Peugeot haters to continue to feeling good about yourself.
You really need a maasculine boy or man around you to groom you into a masculine boy before you even think of becoming a man, because your attitude didn't reflect masculinity at all, since all you care about is other people's acceptance and validation online from your fellow French car haters to feel you still matter.
I mean, simply because you didn't get response from me on the manual Cadillac thread where you insulted Manual car lovers and you have to write a condescending article on one of the car models I own and start a new thread on it just to get my attention? Very pathetic!
Besides, following me around in PH is quite disgusting. Did I tell you I am gay? I am a Monk. I have zero interest in having sex or any sexual relationship with any man or woman. So, trolling me on this low for my attention is disgusting to me, honestly speaking.
Since you are this weak and effeminate, I honestly wish you to find help as quickly as possible. By the way, emoticons are for females (girls and women). My words express what I mean as a man. If you can't say what you mean without using emoticons (emotions), then you are too feminine to engage in a masculine conversation.
Ikenna351, Lion King - Monk.
Maybe think of going easier on the old Palm Wine in future?
Stay safe buddy - seriously.
Think you may need to factor that in...
This guy may be your kind of thing,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19UfS2XwBdg
British Youtuber who does in depth reviews of modern classics, usually he goes for the more mundane stuff rather than the usual fancy stuff, 505 in this case if you havent already seen it.
I really liked the 309 I had bought by my dad very cheaply and fixed up, my brother had one as well, great little cars, mine was a "Look" special edition.
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