405 vs 406 ride quality

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SteveP
Newbie
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2022 6:09 pm

405 vs 406 ride quality

Post by SteveP »

HI there all,
I have just joined the forum as my beloved old 405 finally succumbed to rust and I have replaced it with an excellent example of a 406 (2003,2.0 Petrol GLX manual saloon)
Everything seems in good order with a full service history and 88,000 miles on the clock.
I owned the 405 (Mk2) from new in 1995 to 2022 and it was a brilliant car – even with its weedy 1.6 petrol engine!
Now the biggest difference I have noted between these two cars is in the ride quality. The 405 was a dream whereas this ‘new’ 406 handles well enough but the ride just never seems to settle down to anything like as 'cosseting' as the 405. It seems to be constantly 'jiggy' on all but the smoothest of roads.
Does anyone out there have any ‘back to back’ experience of the two models and can offer any comments? All the contemporary reviews reckoned the ride was ‘excellent’
However I do vaguely recall trying a 406 when they first came out and thinking the ride in my 405 was better!
The 406 has just had its MOT and the suspension seems in good order. (If anything it seems a little over-damped!)
Any thoughts, comments, observations or suggestions would be appreciated before I spend lots of money trying to rectify a non-existent problem!
Many thanks, Steve P
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Doggy
Mod with a 2.2 HDi, De-Fapped!
Posts: 10710
Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:49 pm
Location: Northants

Re: 405 vs 406 ride quality

Post by Doggy »

Hi Steve & welcome aboard. 8)

Hope you enjoy your new 406.
I've driven both cars but it was a fair while ago. I was not aware of any great difference between the two interms of ride comfort, both were well above average as far as I can remember. Never owned a 405, but both my 406's, (and many other examples I've been in), were wonderful mile eaters and certainly more comfy than my current E91 3 series BMW. Horses for courses etc.
2002 HDi 2.2 Exec Estate, (2008-12) (wonderful)
2003 HDi 2.2 6-speed Exec Estate (2012-19) (also a gem)
2009 Citroen C5 2.0 HDi VTR+ Estate (godawful heap)
2008 BMW E91 330i touring (great fun - murdered by a reversing SUV)
2007 BMW E91 325i touring (slower smoother quieter)
PeterN
3.0 24v
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Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2012 6:04 pm
Location: Charmouth, Dorset

Re: 405 vs 406 ride quality

Post by PeterN »

I also had a 405 estate but can't remember what the ride was like but I have had several 406's and reckon they have got the ride/handling balance just right. Prior to these I ran hydropnumatic Citroens so I do like my comfort and the 406 didn't disappoint.

Peter
GingerMagic
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Posts: 3569
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:02 pm
Location: Bournemouth

Re: 405 vs 406 ride quality

Post by GingerMagic »

Welcome :cheesy:

The 405 had a lovely ride, and handled well too - in my mind the seats were softer and felt more comforting than the 406, however the 406 is just as capable but the ride is a little more firm

I've had many 406s over the years, and I also treated* myself to a 1998 Volvo 940 as a long-term classic, and the ride quality in the Volvo is softer than the 406, but I would be more confident driving the 406 in shall we say a 'sporty' way.... 8)
2003 2.2hdi estate - mine
1998 Volvo 940 auto estate - also mine
2019 Citroen C3 something - the wife's
PP2000 user, can help with faults / diagnostics in the Bournemouth area.
Wul
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Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:47 am
Location: Bandung, Indonesia

Re: 405 vs 406 ride quality

Post by Wul »

My mum had a 405 when I was little and I also remember it was softer than the 406 I have now (but maybe not quite accurate, being that I'm only about 10 years old when we use the 405). But some times ago, she commented that my 406 is not as comfortable as her old 405, not sure how accurate her comment is, since there's quite a significant time gap when we own the 405 and 406.
2001 406 D9 2.0i 16V 135 - planning to use it for at least 6 more years
1998 306 N3 1.8i 8V 103 - has been asleep for 8 years now
PeterN
3.0 24v
Posts: 1673
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2012 6:04 pm
Location: Charmouth, Dorset

Re: 405 vs 406 ride quality

Post by PeterN »

Does yours have 16" wheels? These don't ride as well as the 15" due to the loss of wall height, they also vary according to the softness of the tyres construction. If you look on the net you should be able to find a site that tells you which is the best riding tyre. Not tom much pressure? used to keep mine at about 30 psi. Yours being petrol doesn't have as much weight at the front which could affect the ride.

Peter
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