why a 406?

[sr666]

hey I don't know if this has been done before so I apologise if it has but what made you get a 406?

I'll be getting one because I like the size of them and they're not your everyday 22 year old's car.

why do you own one / like them.
Also what's the best thing about them in your opinions

Look forward to hearing from you all

[mjb]

My first one was a close call. Coming from a Laguna I was after another big car I could fit in comfortably with a bit of poke and not too high insurance. I narrowed it down to 3 contenders:

Audi A4 1.8T saloon
VW Passat 1.8T estate
406 2.0T estate

The Audi went out the window because of the hard ride and seats
The Passat was extremely tempting, but the one I was looking at was gold-beige and I'm not keen on VW armrests
The 406 looked much better, had nice leather seats and a great dark metallic blue colour

Won it on ebay, loved it, upgraded to a 406 v6 saloon (downgrade in body styles, I kept wishing i'd got another estate), then gave in to temptation and got my 406 v6 coupe

Why the estates? Because that's what they were on ebay when I was looking, no other reason, but now I'm converted. the rear visibility and better weight distribution's awesome

[HDiAndy]

My dad had a 405- i then got a 405 and eventully graduated to a 406.

[DaiRees]

Got my first 406 off my brother when he was trading it in for a Volvo S40. I was driving a '94 Mondeo hatch at the time that I really liked (after a string of small, specless hatchbacks) but the 406 was newer, lower milage, a bit more select, a nicer colour and the right price. I loved the 406 but I really missed the practicality of the hatch (especially once the kids started arriving!) and hankered after more toys, so I took all the money I'd been saving for a nice spec, used coupe and bought a nearly-new executive estate with only 3500 miles and every toy in the book. That was 7 years ago and there's still nothing in my price range that I'd have instead!

[Doggy]

After a series of 3.0 Poxhalls, we got dogs, needed an estate & wanted to go diesel for economy. First time round I didn't go for the 406 cos I thought it was just as big as the Omega, so got a Xsara HDi 90. It was a great little car, economical & lively too, just not much good on a long run.
Next time I wanted a really good long distance machine with reasonable economy, comfort and better than average performance. Shortlist was:
E39 530D
Mondeo TDCi 130
406 Hdi 110 / 136
The BMW would have to have been too old with my budget & stories of £1800 turbos put me off.
The Mondeo's got a very narrow power band partly compensated for by 6-sp box, is a bit small & doesn't have armrests I can use.
The 110 just didn't have enough oomph to feel truly effortless so I went for the 136, (with some reservations over the FAP system - but nothings perfect). Had to be a GTX or Exec to get cruise.
I love it.

[eoin27]

My dad was looking at Avensii, Passats and a 96 Peugeot 605 back in 2000. We were about to buy the 605 and then i saw the 406. I really fell in love with the styling and we went with one then because the 605, although it had dozens more gadgets and waaaay more comfy, was gonna be a headache in a box later on. We decided on buying the 406 and i absolutely loved it. After 3 years, i made my dad get another one. A HDi 90 (the one i'm driving now) and it was even better that the previous one (even for reliability ). So when the time came to get my first non 1.0 litre car, i decided to get a top end spec 406 HDi and it came down to one which was black and had a nice interior but was 120 miles away, and another which wasnt as nice but was still very tidy only 50 miles away. I bought the nearer one and loved it, but it wasn't in the best condition and cost me a grand on repairs. Hated it after a while, so when my dad was trading up to a 607, i got his and transferred all the toys out of my one and flogged it. Never looked back.


BTW, Ive just passed 800 miles and have 1/3 of a tank left. Best run yet, but lots of easy motorway driving. Averaging 58.9MPG

[lofty]

My first 406 (1998 1.9 td LX estate) was purchased from a motor trader i was valeting for, brought it to me to be cleaned. It was cheap enough, taxed and tested and everything worked! (looking back i realise it was a lucky impulse purchase!!!!!)

I ran that car for 3 years and it was brilliant, good on fuel, spacious, only had minor issues and it was a comfy as an old slipper. Got a job working for a car dealer (mercedes) so had to sell it due to not using it. Changed jobs a few times since then, and now in a job where i get paid car allowance every month. I purchased a 406 2.0 110 LX based on my previous experience of the 406 and am now enjoying 54mpg everywhere and smooth comfy ride as well.

I also happen to think the 406 (and 306 for that matter) were the last of the line of attractive Peugeots and i always love the way mine looks. Daft i know but its the small things in life which matter. (or so i tell the wife every 4th month!!! )

[lofty]

BTW, Ive just passed 800 miles and have 1/3 of a tank left. Best run yet, but lots of easy motorway driving. Averaging 58.9MPG

Good going that Eoin. You reckon the magic 1000 miles on a tankfull is possible?

[mjb]

BTW, Ive just passed 800 miles and have 1/3 of a tank left. Best run yet, but lots of easy motorway driving. Averaging 58.9MPG

Good going that Eoin. You reckon the magic 1000 miles on a tankfull is possible?

Easily! It's only 60mpg on a brimmed tank I could probably come very close (750-800) in a V6 if I could find a traffic-free motorway that's long enough

[eoin27]

I could get to the 900 mark i'd say. Not 1000.

I'd be able to do 1000 no problem but theres a lot of city driving thrown in there too. I've changed my driving style and use my gears to slow the car a lot more than actually braking. I don't sharply accelerate. I take it easy uphill and give it socks downhill. Easy touches. But yes, about 70% of the driving is pure motorway 65mph stuff.

[Welly]

about 70% of the driving is pure motorway 65mph stuff.

That's a weird motorway all the ones I've been on have been 85 to 100mph

[teamster1975]

I had to get a bigger car when our second son was born, a mate happened to have a 1.8LX he'd just done the clutch & timing belt in.
I wasn't planning on a 406 but needless to say I fell in love with the car! When I replaced the LX with the tubby (following the floods ) I've now got all the toys I wanted!

[peugeot406rapier]

I found the 406 to be a very pretty car, an agressive front end, a nice side profile and a lovely smooth comfortable ride im only twenty and on my second 406 first one at age 18 both D9's one HDi and one a 1.8 petrol, i passed up an oppurtunity for a free MK3 Ford Fiesta 1.1 quartz as it was a dog and i was oringanlly going to get a Vectra B SRI but after finding the 1.8 130 was gutless compared to the 1.8 in the pug (which has less power) i looked at the 2.2 SRI 150's and it was such a lovely powerful grunty car but i found the ride harsh and the dashboard isnt as nice looking as the peugeot nor did it feel as solid and i always have loved saloons as opposed to hatchbacks but saloon vectras dont look as good at the 406 but the half leather sports seats where VERY comfortable but being 6'6" it wasnt as comfy as the 406 i just think they are a very nice all round car good looking, nice to drive ice cold air con (advantage today) a very deep rich sound system and you cant match them for value for money my car was only £1000 and its an x reg rapier in immaculate condition apart from a few small car park dents and it will reach 95,000 miles tomorrow probably on my way home from work and to be honest catching a reflection of it shop windows does make me think wow thats mine! its such a good looking car and ticks all the right boxes and a massive boot for the piss up camping trips and i remebr when i was just 10 when the D9's were relased i always loved the colour coded stripe through the rear lights and the prominent crease on the bootlid with a angry front lights and honeycomb its just a shame they never made a more sporty looking one than the SRI but i can never see moving off 406s for a good few years yet, i might get a newer high spec diesel at the end of the year depneding how my job goes the only pinch is insurance group 11 but its not too dear considering its only £125 a year more than a insurance group 5 Peugeot 306 D Turbo but im guessing it would be a couple of thousand pounds to insure it as a first car at 18! the best bit of the car has to be the understeer at ferry lane roundabout great tyre noises

the only other alternative was the MG ZT CDTI 135 but £4000ish for a decent one is a bit out of my pice range and my local MG Rover dealer is shite! i only deal with main dealers with my cars but the dealer is as useful as a condom vending machine in the Vatican!

[puggy]

I had an ashtray estate that was begining to look a little tired so decided
too look around for another estate , need one for fishing tackle and r/c planes
liked the the 406 more go in it comfy for a big fat bastard like me and i can slide
a 7/8ft model plane wing in so dont need to split it in half , also economical
since having it remapped a little more ooomph so all in all am well pleased

[mjb]

i can slide a 7/8ft model plane wing in so dont need to split it in half

You fly those large model aircraft? I see them at airshows, they're amazing! What have you got?