High performance
Climatronic died at 105000km.
Left rear brake disk broke once.
This car is very quick and handles extremely good.
The cabin is very comfortable and you can feel like home in it.
A very fast car and that because it uses a lot of gas.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 27th August, 2002
Excellent car
Fuel cut off device failed at 5000 miles
Scary when on the motorway.
New front discs at 48 k
Headlamp bulbs x2.
Superb motorway mile muncher. Great handling for such a big car on the back roads. I can easily clock up 700 miles in a day and 2500 k in a week.
Reasurring brakes.
Quiet at speed.
Excellent stereo.
Smooth power delivery-not as urgent as the VW unit, but smoother delivery.
Regular 46-49 MPG.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 19th June, 2002
Great on perfectly smooth roads
Coolant leak from temperature sensor.
Erratic idling speed, stalling, cutting out at low speed. Should have been fixed under warranty, dealer unable to locate fault, and unwilling to substitute parts on trial and error basis. Peugeot customer service dept's only answer was constant referral back to dealer. Probable ECU fault based on other users comments regarding Marelli ECU.
Previous 2.0 model had superb ride and handling. New lighter alloy engine and adjusted suspension spoilt it, bumpy ride with lots of lateral instability on rough (typical UK road) surfaces. Consequently harder to steer at speed. Current diesels and V6 don't have this problem, drive just like older models.
New engine more economical, but combined with higher gearing has poor acceleration.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 28th May, 2002
A wonderful ride, fun to drive, and sure on the road
Within a month of purchasing the car, it often stalled after long stints of straight driving. This was remedied by the dealer clearing the computer. Since then there have been no problems.
Radiator fan sensor went out after 20,000 kilometers causing the car to approach overheating at very long idles (OK, I know this is not an ecologically savvy thing to do anyway, but...). Dealer replaced this within a few minutes.
I should note that there are only two models of the sedan offered here in Japan and both are fully loaded; the only difference is in the choice engine (2liter or the V6). All models are automatics.
As for the automatic, I find it to be brilliant. It is true that it is not a racer, but it is no slug either and is very smooth in its shifting. I don't realise it is there. It is also very good at down-shifting automatically on down-hills which saves on break wear. I don't feel that I am in a constant process of compensating for its shortcomings, which, in my mind, makes it the best automatic transmission I have ever dealt with.
I am 189 centimeters tall and after my cramped experience in the Mazda 626, sitting in the Peugeot 406 was like slipping into heaven (which is why I bought it). Gone are the pains in my upper back and right knee which pestered me even when not driving.
The downside to this is that being tall, I have the seat all the way back, and from that position, getting out of the car requires my right thigh rubbing on the door pillar. Because the rubber door moulding is so soft, my trousers are constantly getting unsightly black stains. In addition, as the lock catch protrudes, the keys in my pocket catch onto it resulting in all of my trousers having black stains and holes in the pocket area. An unforseen maintenance cost!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 6th April, 2002
Stands out from the crowd
Two large cracks in front bumper after minor shunt. Very expensive to get replaced and re-sprayed (approx 1000GBP).
Broken rear seat access cable in drivers seat - replaced under warranty. (Actual replacement was botched by dealer and required a completely new seat!)
Really nippy after 2500rpm, worryingly sluggish below that limit though.
Best looking car in the company car park.
Very thirsty - short journeys "expensive", much happier on a motorway cruise.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 29th March, 2002
I think it was just because it was a big heavy car for the engine. I ended up trading it in for a RX8 so finally experienced proper acceleration. I still miss my 406 coupe and would have it back, just for the smooth drive and economy (never realised how good I had it till I got the 20MPG RX8).
I think the late model 2.2l diesel 406 Coupe is probably the best trade off in looks and performance, though I did pass an old V6 a few months ago and wondered if I could ever afford a second car..
6th Jul 2005, 06:48
Being a little slugish under 2500 rpm is not a problem, as long as it's not severe. All 2 litre naturally aspirated engines are a little slugish at low rpms, but it should pickup pace very nicely at middrange. The 406 coupe, pininfirina styled design is the best car to come out of a french car manufacturer, and I still like it, it's a brilliant piece of design. Wan't serious power, no sluggishness? go for the 210bhp 3.0 V6 version!