tips

[PeterN]

I have a 2.0.Hdi 110hp which I reckon is the best one, its done over 230,000 miles and is still going strong. I have had a 2.2 in a C5 nice engine but disproportionate fuel consumption, averaged around 40 mpg as opposed to 55mpg on the 2.0. I reckon the 406 is the best car Peugeot have made and the 2.0. 8 valve Hdi the best engine.

Peter

[binnzy]

Don't worry to much about mileage I have a 2000 2ltr 110 with over 244000 on the clock and it's fine

[trufflehunt]

If I were in your position.....

1. I would try to refrain from concentrating too much on the toys...
heated seats, sat nav, cruise, electric headlamp washers etc.

2. Do focus on the state of the car, the background, history, how much work has been done it.

3. Don't travel a long way for an older car. 406's are not rare, and the further you travel
the more pressure you put on yourself to buy, when ordinarily you'd say... "I've got some others to look at...".

[electropug]

good point, to be honest as long as it has ac, climate, leccy mirrors and 4 leccy windows plus c/l and its a mk2 [d9] im happy, at the mo my focus w reg is the newest car ive owned and i decided i want the 406 to be the newest like 02-02 etc plus as much leccy toys as i can have for my moneyu witch wil b 1000-1200

[PeterN]

I think electric seats are a good option as they have a great deal of adjustment and I find them very comfortable, but I wouldn't worry about anything else. The more gadgets you have the more to go wrong.

Peter

[electropug]

ok sounds great, as regards to engine do the turbos play up,whats an untercooler [never had a car with 1] should i b looking 90 or 110, i dont drive fast but do like to b able to do the speed limits and overtake trucks etc on motorways, usual thing

[Doggy]

So long as you get one that hasn't been neglected or abused, engines and turbos are very reliable.
The intercooler is an air/air heat exchanger used to cool the intake air, (which gets heated by compression and its trip through the turbo), before it reaches the engine.
Cooler air is denser = more oxygen = more powah.

Depends who you ask about 90 vs 110, (I'm a 2.2 fan). Post March 2001 110 manuals have the cheapest road tax and are slightly better suited to motorway work. As the other have said, lots to choose from. so try to see a few, so you can tell a better example when you see it.

[electropug]

this prob sounds stupid but how do i see if the turbo etc has bee well maintained and not abused, certain service history info or tell tale signs

[PeterN]

I have personally never had a turbo fail, I have heard of one I think but its very unusual on these engines. My 406 has done 230k+ and as all original including the DMF and flywheel. The only reason I can think of for turbo failure is lack of oil changes, I change mine about every 8000 miles but even more frequently would be better. Find one that's running well then give it an oil change as soon as you get it.

Go for the 110 bhp engine, not just for the extra performance but because the fuel consumption can be better driven sympathetically and as evidence of this the emission are lower than the 90 so its in a lower tax bracket providing you get one registered after March 2001.

Peter

[GingerMagic]

Agreed - try to find a post 2001 Hdi 110, most models have leccy seats, 4 leccy windas, climate+A/C as standard - although the 'Rapier' models seem to be a lower spec ( manual seats )

The only weak points on the 406 is a dodgy handbrake, front droplinks and rubbish door seals - everything else is standard wear and tear the same as any other car..

Nothing a bit of research on here won't fix.

I don't think I have ever seen a 406 broken down, apart from mine when I had an oil leak, oh and the one that caught fire in Tesco's car-park....

[PeterN]

I would concur, the handbrakes are not much good although if you adjust it just before you take it for MOT it should be OK. Droplinks I have changed twice on mine but its a cheap and not to difficult job and well worth doing for such a brilliant car. In nearly 60 years of motoring its one of the best cars I have owned.

Peter

[electropug]

well a big thanks to all for great advice , i get paid tues, so gonna take much as poss to put aside, then sell my car, then my friend is away for a few weeks and as soon as he returns il b looking so i now have a much better idea what to look for[plus hes better than me], im considering though buying a spare turbo after buying the car just incase, wen u say bad handbrake i asume u mean the cable gets tired, i have a friend who wil do that aslo drop links [whatever they are lol] my friend will change em if needed, my atitide, if u look after it, it will look after u

ps whats a dmf, i know about flywheels lol

[dirtydirtydiesel]

A DMF is a duel mass flywheel, can be expensive to replace & I would do it as a matter of course if I was replacing the clutch,
there not a prone to failing on 406's as other makes of car's though, all modern diesel engined car's are fitted with them.
A quick note while I'm talking about clutches, when viewing a car don't worry if the clutch peddle seems high there all like that (it's not worn out)
Just check it's not slipping on the road test (do this by putting the car into 4th gear at 1500rpm's & flooring it, you will soon tell if the clutch is slipping
(the revs will increase quite dramaticly with no extra speed)

As Peter as said & we on here have told load's of others who have asked the turbo's on the 90 & 110 just don't fail, I can't remember of anyone on here who's
had to replace one & so there are loads of them in breakers. (gumby's just weighed in a 110 car which had a sub 90thou engine/clutch/turbo ect) because he had no
where to keep it/no one wanted it (silly boy )

So I would wait & see how you purchase work's out & buy the part's as it fails there are lot's out there, Hope this helps DDD.