406oc.co.uk

After buying the 406 estate 90 hdi the other day, I have seen today and purchased. 2.2 hdi 53 plate estate SE, with the intention of selling it to make a few quid, as I got it for the right money.

Problem is I,ve driven it back home and I LERRRRRVVV it.

Help, what to do. Got to be honest, the 2.2 seems much more of a capable beast for towing my caravan.

Turbo whistles a bit noisy, but have read jonsowmans' comments and this seems to be pretty normal.

Keep the 2.2, you know it makes sense! Nothing to worry about with turbo whine, some of them are just very loud (my coop certainly is)

I've owned both.

I enjoyed my 90, very reliable and economical - a no-nonsense car. I would recommend one for round town driving as its low geared and punchy away from the lights. Averaged 48mpg round town....

However, I would not own one again after having a couple of 2.2s - if you do dual carriageway driving, towing or distance work, there is no comparison. Mine is a rocket and so much fun. Average 48mpg round town....

2.2 all the way ( once it has been 'improved' and 'simplified' )

You pays your money you takes your choice. The 2.2 is much easier to drive -- especially with the caravan, but you'll pay for the diesel, tax, and insurance.

The 90 is an incredible piece of kit, but it's not always the right tool for the job.

The only problem you might find is with the fuel consumption, I had a 2.2 in a C5 and had difficulty averaging 40mpg and I am a very gentle driver, I am averaging 50+mpg form the 2.0. C5 and also the 406 with a best of 60mpg+.

Peter

40mpg is pretty poor from a 2.2, unless it's just town driving? I've got 53.4mpg over the last 360 miles of A-road & motorway miles (not remapped).

jonsowman wrote:I've got 53.4mpg over the last 360 miles of A-road & motorway miles (not remapped).

I got 55mpg on the way to Pugfest, but 'somehow' this dropped after the remap to 50mpg..

The 90 is a good car, less to go wrong and seem to go on for ever - the 2.2 is more complicated with all its vacuum systems etc but its by no means unreliable.

rwb wrote:You pays your money you takes your choice. The 2.2 is much easier to drive -- especially with the caravan, but you'll pay for the diesel, tax, and insurance.

The 90 is an incredible piece of kit, but it's not always the right tool for the job.

Well said.

Compared with the towing alternative of using my dads 3.1 Isuzu Bighorn, down at about 20, then anything over 40 is a welcome breath fresh air.

That said, phenomenal piece of kit though that bulletproof 3.1 diesel lump. One of the last truly agricultural bombproof engines I think. Sad that today's whimsical, namby pamby drivers require such refinement with it's associated mechanical mayhem

Agree with the others, my 2.2 has averaged 49.6 mpg over the last 5k miles, (including a trip up a certain hill in Gloucestershire).

I have now covered over 120k miles in 6 years in two of these cars and wouldn't want anything else.

There was obviously something wrong with mine then, but what? A number of others have complained about poor consumption from the 2.2 but it does seem that some will do a reasonable consumption. Mine drove beautifully, smooth, no smoke and no lights on. Any suggestions as to what could be wrong? I used to get 50mpg + on a run from the 2.1 IDI in the XMs.

Peter

PeterN wrote:There was obviously something wrong with mine then, but what? A number of others have complained about poor consumption from the 2.2 but it does seem that some will do a reasonable consumption. Mine drove beautifully, smooth, no smoke and no lights on. Any suggestions as to what could be wrong? I used to get 50mpg + on a run from the 2.1 IDI in the XMs.

Peter

My first 2.2 estate returned 42/43 mpg, this one was about 1 mpg better from the word go, (both figures after removing the DPF).
Removing the egr system, physically and in software, added 5/6 mpg.
I'm not a slow driver - while I don't ignore speed limits, I tend to press on a bit. Driven in the manner you describe, I would not be surprised to see mpg figures in the high 50's, I have recorded 54.5 on a run.

Thanks for that, interesting, although as I don't have the car now academic. The 2.0. doesn't of course have a DPF but it does have EGR, I wonder if there is any benefit to be derived from removing it - apart from a clean inlet manifold. I have just within the last hour got back from Cornwall and averaged 64.3mpg over about 240 miles, mind you it was 30C nearly all the way which seems to do wonders for the consumption but I did have the windows open as the aircon doesn't work.

Peter

Hi mate,
What colour is the 2.2 se, what's the mileage & if you where to sell it how much would you be looking for
pm me if you like I'm looking for one of these but lowish mileage & v good condition.
Cheers DDD.

Sorry DDD
Other 90Hdi sold yesterday so the 2.2 is mine.
Happy looking though,
Trev