Is my car a special model?

[ellis200200]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and have a question.

I purchased my beloved 406 V6 coupe 3 years ago and have maintained it to the highest standards, obviously costing me a fortune and i know it's all money I'll never get back especially with the price of petrol.

My question when i purchased i was told it was a ST model, not a SE with all extra little special bits and many of the heavy luxury parts removed, I know it is faster than the standard model, with no engine mods as it stated 149 and i have achieved 153 alongside a friends m5 (and god that's quick) I'm sure it had more but i lost my nerve! this was on a track of course so I'm sure it's not a fault in the speedo as he was reading the same and there are cosmetic differences for example the badge surround on the front is silver matching the bodywork where as it seems to be black on all other models and the same with the wing mirrors what are also silver and it seems to be factory paint.

The story i was given on purchase, from a man who didn't seem like he was just spinning me a line to get the sale said it was one of only 500 models made and subsequently very rare, i am now thinking of not using the car any more and keeping it in dry heated storage as an investment but i can find no reference to it anywhere to the ST and the peugeot main dealers are abouts as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike.

Has anyone out there heard of this model and are the extra painted bits a factory extra, i'm just not to sure what to do. It is obviousley going to cost to have the car dry stored and if its not going to be worth anything i might as well just sell it, saying that imight just sell the wife and keep the car

Any advice will be greatley appreciated.

Thanks

Andy

[mjb]

Sounds like someone's had a go at an 'S' with a can of spraypaint

Speedos are always "calibrated" up, as you're allowed up to 10% over-read but zero under-reading. Most cars read about 8% over. I've had mine showing well over 170mph when the gps (infinitely more reliable) is showing around 150mph

Manufacturers always under-state their cars performance too, as no two cars are made the same - there are always tiny (sometimes not so tiny) defects which will reduce performance to a degree. It also helps with regulations and bureaucracy if you say your car is slower than it actually is

[ellis200200]

Thanks for the fast reply,

I'm very sure it would have gone faster but i just lost my nerve

So was there never a special ST model made? it's a 1998 model if this gives any help and has anyone seen one with what seems to be factory painted extra parts, being the wing mirrors all being what seems factory silver instead of the normal black, when i had the front bumper chips repainted the paint shop seemed to think they were factory painted, front badge surround between the badge and the chrome?

I feel the guy i purchased it from was honest, well he seemed that way and supplied me with t carrier bags of receipts for essential and unessential servicing and repairs, including a bespoke single exhaust system that cost him £750 so i don't think he was conning me and spent loads keeping it in the condition he did as he seemed convinced it was collectible. maybe we have both been misinformed?

But obviously if it is a rare model i don't want to let it go.

The car is in storage at the moment ill try to get some close up pics so you can see what i mean.

Thanks again

[Welly]

I've never heard of an ST here.

[ellis200200]

Thanks Welly.

Any ideas on the extra paint, was this a factory option?

[mjb]

So was there never a special ST model made?

The saloon got an ST designation in (at least) Ireland, Holland and Australia, but it refers to mid-range models, not the V6. Analogous to "SRi" I think

The only UK models to my knowledge are the S and SE (for D8s, D9s didn't have the designations I don't think), and the special edition "Silver&Black" and "Settant'Anni" models. I think there was also an 'Ultimate' edition in France (ultimate as in the last few produced, not loaded with extra stuff)

has anyone seen one with what seems to be factory painted extra parts, being the wing mirrors all being what seems factory silver instead of the normal black, when i had the front bumper chips repainted the paint shop seemed to think they were factory painted, front badge surround between the badge and the chrome?

I've seen both mods done a number of times, it's not hard, and Halfords do a can of silver paint that matches perfectly. There's only one part number for the bonnet badge.

I feel the guy i purchased it from was honest, well he seemed that way and supplied me with t carrier bags of receipts for essential and unessential servicing and repairs, including a bespoke single exhaust system that cost him £750 so i don't think he was conning me and spent loads keeping it in the condition he did as he seemed convinced it was collectible. maybe we have both been misinformed?

Like the guy who sold me mine with full main dealer service history etc... until I discovered he'd handily missed off the fact it's door is a cheap pattern part, probably got driven into or something

[highlander]

Andy,

Could you post some pics of your car, showing the bits you think are different from regular Coupe models? I can't picture what you're saying in my head, and we always like to see photos here.

Cheers
Graeme

[Bundy]

Andy,

Could you post some pics of your car, showing the bits you think are different from regular Coupe models? I can't picture what you're saying in my head, and we always like to see photos here.

Cheers
Graeme

that's because we can't read or write up here.

(also called Graeme.)

[omega]

what does it say on the v5?

[STALLED]

No ST coupes!

What year is it - I don't think there were even any limited edition runs of the Coupes (like a 306 Roland Garros or a 205 Griffe)...

Mine is a ST sedan - they were sold in Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands and Ireland. They are basically a LX in spec.

[steve_earwig]

I remember my mate Bob bought a 2.5 Granada 'cos it had a "special" sticker on it

[rsloman]

I think you've been spun a yarn there my friend.

In england coupes were sold in 4 distinct editions, S spec, SE spec, Silver/Black special editions and the Settant Anni.

I *think* they were roughly as follows:

S spec was the pauper spec with cloth seats
SE spec had heated electric seats and wing mirrors, auto-dimming rear view mirror, headlight washers with optional sunroof, climate control and cruise control.
Silver/Black special editions were suprisingly available in silver or black but all had a 2.2ltr engine
Settant Anni was the special Pinin Farina birthday edition available in a special blue with white leather and on the continent dark grey with tan leather. Both had walnut trim and were produced in small numbers.

All "special editions" have special plates on the glovebox with their production number on. Given that Settant Annis have all the luxuries, and you haven't got a 2.2 engine I think it's fair to say you don't have either of those.

The colour coded background on the front badge is a very common mod in the coupe community, as are colour coding the wing mirrors. Peugeot never did this themselves, and given that they were marketing the coupe as an executive cruiser they wouldn't have given 2 stuffs about producing a light weight version, despite two third party companies running the offical works BTCC cars which are 2 litre and contain less luxuries than a goat herders cave.

I suspect the previous owner added a bit of garnish to the car, and to the story he told the dealer....

[ellis200200]

Thank you all for your input, even though it's made me realise that no matter how convincing a story is and how honest the person telling it seems, the world is full of conning *********!! or I'm just thick???

Saying that i still love my coupe and there's not no point selling it, suppose i'll just keep it as my weekend toy. ill get some pics up asap.

Again Thanks for the help.

[omega]

what does it say on the v5?

did you check?

[ellis200200]

Hi Omega.

The V5 says 406 3.0 V6 Coupe with nothing in the Variant or Version sections.