RE: Peugeot 407 Coupe: Spotted
Discussion
cologne2792 said:
The 2.7 V6 hdi is rather good but the 3.0 V6 hdi is brilliant !
240 bhp and £180 VED as opposed to the 2,7 £540.
I currently drive a 406 coupe and love the "Italianness" of it.
I'd replace it with a 3.0 hdi coupe but at last count there were only 44 in the UK.
The problem with going for a diesel V6 rather than a petrol is you are then in for the auto box.240 bhp and £180 VED as opposed to the 2,7 £540.
I currently drive a 406 coupe and love the "Italianness" of it.
I'd replace it with a 3.0 hdi coupe but at last count there were only 44 in the UK.
Its a well known problem for the autoboxes to have problems on these at which point they are not worth repairing.
At todays low prices a petrol manual makes for a safer option than a diesel auto.
rallycross said:
These are actually a very good car to drive, surprisingly so, I'd go as far as to say if you'd ever driven a manual V6 407 coupe you'd come out of it very impressed. Contrary to the PH comments the 6 speed manual in the 3 litre petrol is a very nice crisp/sharp shifter.
I always fancied a 406 V6 coupe as they were such a good looking coupe, sadly never got round to it but when the chance of buying a 407 V6 coupe manual came up from a fellow PH'er I thought I'd give it a go.
These are a bit of an odd ball car due to the 'unusual' looks and the high cost when new hence very few were sold in the UK. I think they are aging well and while they can look good from some angles they do look a bit wrong from other angles (from a side angle is a good looking long and low coupe).
So whats a V6 3.0 manual like to drive?
(At the time I had my one I also had a 130i coupe and an E46 330 sport coupe to compare it against).
The first surprise is how well it handles, very flat cornering even when pushed really hard.
The ride is probably the most impressive thing, being very compliant but not soft or spongey, these make a very good high speed motorway cruiser, also copes well with bumpy B roads, impressive considering its on 18" wheels, BMW could learn a few things from how well this copes with bumps (there is none of the harsh ride you will find in a sporty BMW.)
The next big surprise is how well built it feels, most unlike a Peugeot which tend to feel cheap and rattly once they are a few years old, my one was 10 yrs old / 80k miles and felt more like a solid German car, most impressive no rattles everything felt really well screwed together. Apparently these cars were built on a separate production line which might explain this.
Performance wise the engine is a cracker, it makes a nice deep V6 growl, it needs lots of revs to get it going but once past 4500 revs they really go well.
Spec wise the front seats are very supportive and comfortable, my one had all the toys fitted and the stereo system is really good with JBL speakers.
Things you need to know if buying one:
You need a trusted mechanic, avoid main dealers, try and source any bespoke parts second hand (things like headlights, shocks etc).
Parts from main dealer can be eye-wateringly expensive as many are unique to the V6 coupe
There are a couple of breakers on ebay who seem to have most things in stock.
Can be very expensive to service, the V6 Coupe had a unique electric controlled damper system which means shockers are expensive and if the system needs re=calibrated you need special software which is hard to find (the main Peugeot forum has a listing of independents with this software, main dealers wont know how to do it and SNAP on type devices cant get in deep enough to fix).
I had no problem as my mechanic is happy to find ways to fix things, but if you took one of these to the wrong sort of place you would be facing bills more than the value of the car.
To put all this into context, a 2007 V6 Coupe stacks up well against a 330 BMW coupe to drive, price wise you can get one of these for less than £2k and an equivalent age 330 coupe will be 2 or 3 times that cost.
some photos of mine to show how nice they can look:
That’s really nice, lovely colour, looks like carbon black/tanzanite blue in a way.I always fancied a 406 V6 coupe as they were such a good looking coupe, sadly never got round to it but when the chance of buying a 407 V6 coupe manual came up from a fellow PH'er I thought I'd give it a go.
These are a bit of an odd ball car due to the 'unusual' looks and the high cost when new hence very few were sold in the UK. I think they are aging well and while they can look good from some angles they do look a bit wrong from other angles (from a side angle is a good looking long and low coupe).
So whats a V6 3.0 manual like to drive?
(At the time I had my one I also had a 130i coupe and an E46 330 sport coupe to compare it against).
The first surprise is how well it handles, very flat cornering even when pushed really hard.
The ride is probably the most impressive thing, being very compliant but not soft or spongey, these make a very good high speed motorway cruiser, also copes well with bumpy B roads, impressive considering its on 18" wheels, BMW could learn a few things from how well this copes with bumps (there is none of the harsh ride you will find in a sporty BMW.)
The next big surprise is how well built it feels, most unlike a Peugeot which tend to feel cheap and rattly once they are a few years old, my one was 10 yrs old / 80k miles and felt more like a solid German car, most impressive no rattles everything felt really well screwed together. Apparently these cars were built on a separate production line which might explain this.
Performance wise the engine is a cracker, it makes a nice deep V6 growl, it needs lots of revs to get it going but once past 4500 revs they really go well.
Spec wise the front seats are very supportive and comfortable, my one had all the toys fitted and the stereo system is really good with JBL speakers.
Things you need to know if buying one:
You need a trusted mechanic, avoid main dealers, try and source any bespoke parts second hand (things like headlights, shocks etc).
Parts from main dealer can be eye-wateringly expensive as many are unique to the V6 coupe
There are a couple of breakers on ebay who seem to have most things in stock.
Can be very expensive to service, the V6 Coupe had a unique electric controlled damper system which means shockers are expensive and if the system needs re=calibrated you need special software which is hard to find (the main Peugeot forum has a listing of independents with this software, main dealers wont know how to do it and SNAP on type devices cant get in deep enough to fix).
I had no problem as my mechanic is happy to find ways to fix things, but if you took one of these to the wrong sort of place you would be facing bills more than the value of the car.
To put all this into context, a 2007 V6 Coupe stacks up well against a 330 BMW coupe to drive, price wise you can get one of these for less than £2k and an equivalent age 330 coupe will be 2 or 3 times that cost.
some photos of mine to show how nice they can look:
Edited by rallycross on Sunday 25th November 13:10
Edited by rallycross on Sunday 25th November 16:36
I haven’t driven a French car in years, nobody I know has one but I feel as if they have a specific charm about them even though they’re extremely unreliable etc.
Highlight of me driving French cars would be a 1.1 106, just a brilliant car in its own way! It was my friends first car and it really was indestructible. The only thing that killed 106’s would be MOT failures and them being written off. Otherwise they’re very good.
I’ve drifted away from my point, what I’m trying to say is, I’d like to drive French cars of these kind but I wouldn’t want to own them
rallycross said:
The problem with going for a diesel V6 rather than a petrol is you are then in for the auto box.
Its a well known problem for the autoboxes to have problems on these at which point they are not worth repairing.
At todays low prices a petrol manual makes for a safer option than a diesel auto.
Yes you're spot on and that's my main objection to it.Its a well known problem for the autoboxes to have problems on these at which point they are not worth repairing.
At todays low prices a petrol manual makes for a safer option than a diesel auto.
There are some well behaved, high mileage examples in the clubs but there some others with replacement gearboxes at roughly the value of the car.
It's one of the few diesels of it's age that lacks any manual application whatsoever.
My 53 plate, manual, 2.2 hdi 406 coupe has covered 165,000 miles without issue, has just gone through the MOT with no advisories and looks and feels like it will happily manage another 165,000.
Can't complain.
It was all good until I read FRONT WHEEL DRIVE.... WTF?
Anyway. in America we have a car that looks similar to it. It is called the Pontiac G6.
Out of curiosity I looked up the 406 Coupe they were saying was styled better and I have to say I prefer the looks of the 407.
Anyway. in America we have a car that looks similar to it. It is called the Pontiac G6.
Out of curiosity I looked up the 406 Coupe they were saying was styled better and I have to say I prefer the looks of the 407.
Edited by ESOG on Sunday 25th November 23:46
rallycross said:
stuff
I thought yours was the “spotted” car - what’s the odds of your registration plate only being one letter different for the car in the article?FWIW, I like my cheap coupes - I have a daily driver Alfa GT and a modded Fiat Coupe 20vt for the weekend. The 406 Coupe looked great (probably the Italian in it) and the 407 Coupe looks great from any angle that can’t see the front. Shame, as I’m sure the later car is better in every other way than the earlier version
I imagine values will be a lot like the Fiat - a few good ones just starting to appreciate, but enough sub £1k bankers around the keep prices depressed for a few more years
Edited by Nigel_O on Monday 26th November 06:21
I do quite like these, especially for £2k. Factor in road tax for two years and it's is still only £3k. What V6 fun can you have for £3k? That is relatively modern, rides well enough and is a decent steer?
As said looks are a mixed bag, from the sublime rear to the ridiculous front.
It is also a coupe, not a 'coop', there should be no chickens in there. Its even bloody French for goodness sake. I don't normally mind grammar and spelling issues like some in here, but that is willfully getting it wrong.
As said looks are a mixed bag, from the sublime rear to the ridiculous front.
It is also a coupe, not a 'coop', there should be no chickens in there. Its even bloody French for goodness sake. I don't normally mind grammar and spelling issues like some in here, but that is willfully getting it wrong.
Mexman said:
Piece of s
t.
As all Peugeot's are post 2000 ish.
I refuse to sell Peugeot's at all now, so many have come back and bit me hard with HGF, Emissions warnings, failed gearboxes,electrics etc...
Absolute crap.
This is my experience too.t.As all Peugeot's are post 2000 ish.
I refuse to sell Peugeot's at all now, so many have come back and bit me hard with HGF, Emissions warnings, failed gearboxes,electrics etc...
Absolute crap.
I knew some of the guys that worked at Peugeot around the time this car was launched and they said it was the best built car Peugeot made - way better than the flaky 407 saloon (without doubt the worst car I've ever had)
Mike335i said:
I do quite like these, especially for £2k. Factor in road tax for two years and it's is still only £3k. What V6 fun can you have for £3k? That is relatively modern, rides well enough and is a decent steer?
FYI, the car mentioned in the article (from Evans Halshaw) has zero service history and paperwork! There's a GT spec one (which over the SE gets sat nav and leather dash) at a similar price here... if anyone wants to risk a 10 year old French car with a "basic" 1 month warranty. It does however miss the increased tax rate!
I bought one of these hoping it would be as good as the 406 V6 i had previously. My experience was a car the didn't ride well on the 18 inch wheels, and the electronic shocks just seemed to make the suspension uncomfortable what ever setting they were in. The engine was great, combined really well with the 6 speed manual too. I quickly realised i had made a mistake and swapped it for an S2000 (and a lot more money!).
IIRC these have double glazing (I have seen that in the flesh im sure) and they were hand assembled (could be internet hearsay) as they couldn't go on the standard 407 Production line due to the 2" wider track.
I have always liked the idea of one of these. But never quite enough to push the button and purchase....
I have always liked the idea of one of these. But never quite enough to push the button and purchase....
Mike335i said:
I do quite like these, especially for £2k. Factor in road tax for two years and it's is still only £3k. What V6 fun can you have for £3k? That is relatively modern, rides well enough and is a decent steer?
As said looks are a mixed bag, from the sublime rear to the ridiculous front.
It is also a coupe, not a 'coop', there should be no chickens in there. Its even bloody French for goodness sake. I don't normally mind grammar and spelling issues like some in here, but that is willfully getting it wrong.
That does look cheap, but just 208 bhp from a 3 litre seems a bit feeble - my 2006 E91 325i is rated at 218 bhp from a 2.5 litre!As said looks are a mixed bag, from the sublime rear to the ridiculous front.
It is also a coupe, not a 'coop', there should be no chickens in there. Its even bloody French for goodness sake. I don't normally mind grammar and spelling issues like some in here, but that is willfully getting it wrong.
OK the rear 3/4 view looks great, but as you say the front isn't pretty!
If it needs to be a V6 there must be Mercedes C320/CLK 320 alternatives, but if you can live with a straight 6 an E46 Coupe or E92 Coupe would work - they might cost a bit more, but you'll save over £200 a year on road tax and a 330Ci will have more power. (265 bhp for an early E92 330i).
208 hp from 3.0 isn't bad, it just isn't great either. The engine in this car might be dated 2007, but the design was from the late 90s. The N52 is much newer in design. Besides the E46 330i only had 230hp, so not a world of difference.
A much more realistic (price wise) comparison is to a 2.0jts Alfa, or 2.0 Mondeo, a 2.0 Passat etc. Notice the theme?
Think of it as a GT, the performance is 'suitable' or 'adequate', doesn't need to be more or less.
A much more realistic (price wise) comparison is to a 2.0jts Alfa, or 2.0 Mondeo, a 2.0 Passat etc. Notice the theme?
Think of it as a GT, the performance is 'suitable' or 'adequate', doesn't need to be more or less.
Mike335i said:
208 hp from 3.0 isn't bad, it just isn't great either. The engine in this car might be dated 2007, but the design was from the late 90s. The N52 is much newer in design. Besides the E46 330i only had 230hp, so not a world of difference.
A much more realistic (price wise) comparison is to a 2.0jts Alfa, or 2.0 Mondeo, a 2.0 Passat etc. Notice the theme?
Think of it as a GT, the performance is 'suitable' or 'adequate', doesn't need to be more or less.
It sort of falls down when you consider that the final diesel version had 240 bhp and huge amounts of torque with really decent mpg. A much more realistic (price wise) comparison is to a 2.0jts Alfa, or 2.0 Mondeo, a 2.0 Passat etc. Notice the theme?
Think of it as a GT, the performance is 'suitable' or 'adequate', doesn't need to be more or less.
Many of the reviews of the time thought the 3.0 petrol a bit pointless because of similar or better performance from the diesel without the fuel penalty.
Of course the diesel is saddled with the auto which is never a wise move.
cologne2792 said:
A1
It sort of falls down when you consider that the final diesel version had 240 bhp and huge amounts of torque with really decent mpg.
Many of the reviews of the time thought the 3.0 petrol a bit pointless because of similar or better performance from the diesel without the fuel penalty.
Of course the diesel is saddled with the auto which is never a wise move.
On paper yes, but a diesel isn't a naturally aspirated petrol and so doesn't have the charm of one. It sort of falls down when you consider that the final diesel version had 240 bhp and huge amounts of torque with really decent mpg.
Many of the reviews of the time thought the 3.0 petrol a bit pointless because of similar or better performance from the diesel without the fuel penalty.
Of course the diesel is saddled with the auto which is never a wise move.
Oodles of torque isn't that exciting after you get used to it, but a nice engine note makes up for a less than stellar performance.
Besides, it is properly cheap. How much is a 240hp diesel one?
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