Is it time to let common sense out the window?

[jonsowman]

I also quite like the front, though I can see why people wouldn't

[highlander]

Whats wrong with the front?

The 612 isn't much better in my opinion - I love most Ferraris (the 456 and the 458 are superb) but the Scaglietti isn't as good-looking as the others for much the same reason. I like the big headlights of the 407, and I like the shark gill air vents on the sides, but what spoils it for me (and spoils the 612 in much the same way) is the huge wide front grill. It's the one big thing that puts most people off the 407 looks-wise.

Don't get me wrong, I know the 407 is a great car - the interior is stunning, they're every bit as practical as the 406 Coupe, they have a great range of engines (including a 3l HDi V6!), they've definitely got great road presence, and they look really great from most angles - just not the front, in my opinion.

I do issue this proviso - if you get one in black, the wide grill isn't as much of an issue as it's just not as obvious - especially if yours doesn't have chrome slats on the grill.

[rapport25]

Maybe me being picky. Having owned both a 406 saloon and 406 V6 se coupe. I hate 407's with a passion. And the newer 508 what a mistake!!!. I found the 406 coupe great to look at. And thats it.

I have driven a 407 coupe 2.7 V6 hdi gt. One of the best screwed together pugs. Interior finish is up there with the best inc Mere Audi Bmw. I prefer the 406 coupe for styling but fit and finish the 407 coupe wins hands down.

I'm a big pug fan as long as it ends in a 6 or a 5 .

[highlander]

I don't think the 508 is a bad-looking car, but it should have been marketed as a 608 and there should have been a 408 as well.

That said, Peugeot isn't exactly rolling in it at the moment - all this badge snobbery ("oh it's only a bloody Peugeot, it must be rubbish") isn't doing them any good at all. Hopefully for them the forthcoming 208 GTi will be a real winner.

And for the love of God Peugeot please make a 508 Coupe; you need a decent 2-door GT Coupe in your current lineup (and no the RCZ doesn't count, it's a TT-like revvy sports car, not a stylish long-distance cruiser).

[rapport25]

I would go as far as to say. Psa need to re brand the Peugeot name.

I like the rcz. But at that price it would be a TT all the way.

208 Gti. That sounds interesting but will it be simply a mini/psa unit?.

[sirwiggum]

The 508 looks a lot better in the flesh than in the photos. Especially in darker colours.

And a coupe would be great.

The reasoning why they only sell 1 big saloon nowadays is that people are badge snobs when it comes to saloon cars, and prefer buying SUV tonka trucks from mainstream manufactuers. Hence why the 3008 is popular.

[rwb]

I find the problem with coupes is that the doors are really heavy, and really long so you have to park in a really wide space in order to be able to open them. Even so, I find them difficult to get in and out of.

[Bailes1992]

I'm flexible... I can handle it

Actually... I got bugger all sleep last night just thinking about getting a new 407.

I think I'm going to get an AA inspection done on whatever I fancy before I go buy it so I know what to expect.

[plod]

I ain't got a problem with the 407 myself in terms of styling, and the big grille never bothered me, and I remember the first time I saw one in my rear view mirror coming up fast behind me, I too thought it was a Ferrari.

I just think the 406 coupe owners like to berate it, in order to make them feel better about their car

I like the idea of owning the V6 HDi, but if I had the cash I'd still go for the 407 SW XS Sport, and remap the std. 170bhp up to 200 odd, as the 0-60 times and the top speed are quite similar anyway, but the 2.2 official figures wise is better on fuel

[waue1978]

I just think the 406 coupe owners like to berate it, in order to make them feel better about their car

I like the idea of owning the V6 HDi, but if I had the cash I'd still go for the 407 SW XS Sport, and remap the std. 170bhp up to 200 odd, as the 0-60 times and the top speed are quite similar anyway, but the 2.2 official figures wise is better on fuel

Know what you mean about the 406 coupe owners - they aren't too tolerant of anything other than a 406 coupe. Highlander & a couple of others are of course exceptions to this general rule.

I was looking at a couple of 407 coupes on Autotrader earlier to see if they were still cheap - saw a 57 plate 2.0 HDi with 80k locally 6 months ago that was less than £5k - & they still are a bit of a bargain. Although the V6 Hdi is definitely one to avoid. They all seem to be autos & urban MPG is less than 24! The 2.0 isn't much slower, but a much more affordable prospect. I also think that there is more classic car potential in one of these than there is for 406 coupes due to the small number of them on the roads. They may not be Pininfarina styled, but you usually find that the cars that aren't too popular when new become more valuable with age due to their rarity.

[grasmere59]

A chap at work bought a late 407 v6 coupe and didn't do much research and when he was washing it for the first time glanced at the tax disc through the screen and nearly died as it was over £400 for the year i think he said! He said he never thought to check this when he bought it from the garage and i suspect the garage were'nt to forthcoming about the cost of the disc either.

[plod]

A chap at work bought a late 407 v6 coupe and didn't do much research and when he was washing it for the first time glanced at the tax disc through the screen and nearly died as it was over £400 for the year i think he said! He said he never thought to check this when he bought it from the garage and i suspect the garage were'nt to forthcoming about the cost of the disc either.

I bet they weren't

[highlander]

Quite simply put, the 406 Coupe is the best car I've ever owned, and the best all-round car I've ever driven (and yes, I'm including the Ferrari and the Lamborghini I took round the track at Elvington Airfield in this; they're superb but being 2-seater sports cars they're suited to looking good and going fast, and not any real use as a daily driver).

That said, I know there are better cars out there. If I had the notes in my pocket, I'd happily trade the 406 in for:

- a Ferrari 456 (4 usable seats, a usable boot, stunning looks, and a V12 up front)
- a pre-facelift Jaguar XK8 or XKR (the 4.2 litre supercharged V8 would be a hoot, though the rear seats are a bit lacking in leg room)
- an Aston Martin DB7 (though I know it's basically the same as the old Jag XK8/XKR, it's still got the Aston Martin styling)
- a Maserati 3200GT or 4200GT
- a BMW 850CSi

Since these are all older cars, you can get any of those for less than a basic-spec BMW 5-series (£30k), some of them (the Jag and DB7 especially) for less than the cost of a basic-spec Ford Focus (£14k). Although I admit the fuel costs, tax bills, insurance premiums, and parts prices would be a LOT higher.

I also wouldn't mind something classic, like a Jensen Interceptor Mk.3, or a Fiat Dino 2400 Coupe, but those are now so old that ownership and daily use is fast becoming impossible.

The trouble with owning the Coupe is that I now can't imagine going out and buying a car I like less than it. I know that a nice high-spec Merc or BMW might be a better car in pretty much every respect, but I just don't like the way most of them look.

To this day, I still peer out the window at the Coupe and think "wow, that's mine". I still get a big grin on my face when I plant the loud pedal into the carpet and the engine roars in response. The Coupe drives superbly, rides smoothly but without being wobbly in corners, and gets me from A to B in total comfort. The novelty hasn't worn off.

It's a personal thing through and through; some people think the BMW 6-series is ghastly, but I wouldn't mind one (an M6 would be unreal, with its 5l V10 petrol engine, but I'd also love an E63-shape 635d; it has a twin-turbo 3l I6 diesel engine with plenty of potential for a killer remap).

If I were to trade her in for a 407 Coupe I might find the car more comfortable, or more powerful, or more economical, or any combination of the above - but personally I don't think it's got the same "wow" factor that the 406 Coupe does - I just don't like its looks like I do the 406 Coupe.

[grasmere59]

My 530i is the best car i've ever owned,it will tootle about with 4 people in total comfort and cruise at 100mph+ all day,it goes round corners like it's on rails and tows our caravan on our annual holidays,i couldn't think of a better allrounder and thats why i've probably had it over 5 years now.If i were going for a coupe i'd have a 89'-90' highline bmw 635i,an appreciating classic but could still be a daily driver,i had an 85' 635i and it was a cracking car also not too complex to work on.

[waue1978]

If i were going for a coupe i'd have a 89'-90' highline bmw 635i,an appreciating classic but could still be a daily driver,i had an 85' 635i and it was a cracking car also not too complex to work on.

Did you never sample an original M6? The standard 3.5 just doesn't feel the same afterwards...