406 or a 407?

[azazel]

Ive owned four owe sixes for some time. I was very pleased with the styling, particularly the saloon. When I heard there was to be a 407 I went to the showroom to check it out. Although I think its a nice looking car, it doesnt look better than the 406. I quite like the chistled lines on the 407 but what were they thinking with that huge mouth and cheap unprofiled grill?

[jasper5]

I own both a 406 and a 407, both are superb cars, I quite like the grille on the 407, but my wife would like the "mesh" one that is available....which I hate!

[azazel]

I own both a 406 and a 407, both are superb cars, I quite like the grille on the 407, but my wife would like the "mesh" one that is available....which I hate!

peugeot 407








peugeot 406

[trem1]

easily solved with some chrome strips as fitted to later model 407's

[rwb]

They're very different cars and serve different purposes.

For the exterior styling: I am disappointed that the 407 looks like such a departure from the 406, whereas the 406 is so clearly evolved from the 405.

Have you seen the facelifted 406 coupé?

[jonsowman]

Have you seen the facelifted 406 coupé?

Have to say, I much prefer the original! (Though I really like the Tacoma alloys)

Facelift bumper:


Original:

[azazel]

Very nice, the coupe 406 is a lovely looking car and the facelift one looks great.

[Harshan]

Looks wise 406 still takes the cake.. but handling and performance I tend to believe it's 407. Especially handling wise and ride comfort 407 is better. However, following are the major downsides of 407 over 406.

1. Heavier body makes it less economical than the 406. 407 weighs around 1.5 ton or little more than that
2. longer bumper 'nose' is more than usual and makes it scratch or hit on some humps and sudden inclines. I can no longer get the car into a relative's house which I used to get the 406 with few passengers in.
3. the heavy body also makes the stop little difficult ( more than usual braking distance in sudden stops) and running with ESP off a big no no if you know what I mean.

[azazel]

The 407 is dreadfully unreliable.

check out the owner reviews for 407: http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/o ... loon-2004/

and for 406: http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/o ... loon-1996/

You can see that most owners of 406 are happy but far more are seriously unhappy with thier 407...

[jasper5]

The 407 is dreadfully unreliable.

check out the owner reviews for 407: http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/o ... loon-2004/

and for 406: http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/o ... loon-1996/

You can see that most owners of 406 are happy but far more are seriously unhappy with thier 407...

So, you won't be buying a 407 anytime soon?

[steve_earwig]

Are you trying to talk yourself out of buying one?

According to a lot of surveys (including Witch?) it's a minor miracle that a 406 makes 100 yards down the road without bursting into flames or dropping to pieces so I really take a lot of that sort of stuff with a pinch of salt.

I could put up with a lot to own a 407, you're actually sitting fair way back in the car so the bonnet is quite long, which probably makes it a bit harder to park, I could even put up with the wide-mouthed frog styling, the rest of the car makes up for it but... the estate's boot space is what really put me off, after all the stuff I've carried around in the 06 and probably despite what the specs say (which are measured with beads or something and never seem to have much to do with reality so I use my eyes instead) one look told me it wasn't going to be much use to me.

[azazel]

Nope, I like my 406!
When the 407 first came out I went and had a look at the main dealers.. I said to the salesman that Ilike the way the bonnet is on gas struts on a 406, why does the 407 only have a stick to hold bonnet up? He replied thats its due to them exploding in a fire and not safe for the fireman... So the new stick is better..

[azazel]

To be fair, im sure its a nice car. Im happy with the 406. Had it loadded up with sand and cement today, it works hard!

[steve_earwig]

salesman

I really wouldn't listen to him either, one Subaru salesman here told me the reason they didn't make diesels was because it wasn't part of their vision, less than a year later they were making them So what about air bags and pre-tensioners? What about tyres? They explode in a fire too. Not safe for firemen my hairy butt, a stick is much cheaper to make than a pair of struts.

Oddly enough the 406 started life with a stick too.

[Welly]

He replied thats its due to them exploding in a fire and not safe for the fireman... So the new stick is better..

Mmm, a gas strut would just melt and leak a bit even if it did 'explode' I think it would go "pip" and startle a Sparrow or something.

When I bought my Volvo the Salesman said that Firemen had to attend a "special course" to know how to cut the A-Pillar of an S40 because they are made of Boron Steel and there's only a couple of places you can cut he started talking about Gap Insurance thereafter.