Peugeot 406 review
I am always a fan of Peugeot especially the 406. I am not driving a Peugeot and never drove it before. So, the problem is, I do not know how good it is and how good it feel. I only read it’s review on the net and magazines.
The first article I read about peugeot is on 2004 which I think was a very good review that made me fell in love with 406 at once. And after that, I am eager to know everything about 406. Unfortunately, I cannot afford it.
Nowadays, I think Peugeot 406 2nd hand (of course!) is very cheap. For example, a year 1997 406 can be bought below RM30k. Most of them are about RM26k to RM28k! And the price for year 2000 is only about RM40k! Personally, I think the price is cheap and worth it! But, there is always a catch. For a European car, the maintenance is quite high but might be lower than Perdana V6, I guess. However, despite of the higher maintenance, the parts usually last longer than any other Japanese car (including Proton).
I watched TAXI movies series, French movies, and admire the white modded 406 very much.
Here is the article I talked about. Wrote by Sherman Dez from CBT (Cars, Bikes & Trucks) NSTP - August 8,2004.
WORTHY FRENCH QUALITY BUY
 
Would you buy a second hand pair of pants, sneakers, leather jecket or jeans?
Some of you probably would, and then you would pay for the best laundry service or get it thoroughly cleaned yourself.
Most people though, would not go near used clothing no matter what a bargain. They have an inbuilt fear of contracting some disease from the previous owner.
I find this strange as these same people will sit in a taxi or bus that has been used by thousands in shorts, miniskirts and even bare back tops. So what is the problem in buying used clothes as long as you make sure it gets thoroughly cleaned.
When 28-year-old Annie approached me for a suggestion for a new car for her family, I asked her to look or a used car instead. She frowned and remarked on the “eekiness” of owning a car whose interior had been through god knows what.
I decided to change her mindset on this. My recommendation started with a 1998 Peugeot 406, an absolutely brilliant family car. The exterior styling is refined, modern and very elegant. Is is spacious, comfortable and well laid out. It has a large boot with provision to carry long items like fishing rods and children bikes. The quality of the materials used and the workmanship are of the very highest order.
On the road, it has all the comfort and secure feeling only associated with a large car. Yet, it is easy to dive and manoeuvre in tight spaces. The ride is almost velvet smooth regardless of the road surface.
The 2-litre engine gives progressive, yet quiet and refined performance. The power is there when you need it for average acceleration, yet, if you prefer to amble along at a crawling pace, the car will do so without fuss or bother.
Most people do not associate big, comfortable cars with fuel economy and Peugeot 406 returns a class average of 25mpg. The big 70-litre fuel tank gives the car a good cruising range even at urban consumption levels.
The 406 comes with a host of features. Three lap and shoulder belts are provided for the three rear seat passengers. Front passengers have height adjustable belts, with pre-tensioners and grabbers.
Side impact reinforcing beams and additional side impact padding are provided. The Peugeot 406 is superbly comfortable in both front and rear seats. It comes with an impressive list of comfort and convenience features fitted as standard like remote controlled central locking, electric front windows, passenger vanity mirror, remote headlamps adjustment from facia, driver’s footrest, and a steering wheel adjustment for both reach and rake. In-car-entertainment is nearly more importants to many buyers today than engines or brakes. For those of you who want this equipment aboard, you should be more that satisfied with the 6- speaker, RDS radio cassette system provided.
Apart from the generous passenger space, front and rear, and the excellent comfort of all the seats, what particularly impressed me was the quality of the materials and finish. The fascia and surrounding area had black upholstery where needed to reduce reflection blended with a lighter colour to relieve the sombre darkness of the black. The two were separated by a beautiful strip of highly polished wood veneer on the fascia. The materials were beautifully grained like top quality hide and the finish and fit of all the various parts is absolutely superb. The seats were upholstered in a light grey cloth and here again the high quality was immediately obvious.
Annie looked as my recommendation and after some consultation with her husband, decided to take on a single owner 1998 unit with 80k on the clock. The owner’s asking price of RM62,000 seemed reasonable. There were some minor spots and marks in the grey fabric interior and the carpets looked somewhat marked especially in the rear. This was a problem with Annie and I suggested she take the car to Carnauba AutoSpa in Glenmarie for a full treatment, both inside and outside.
After six hours, we returned to collect a car that looked and smelled like it had just left the factory showroom. Annie was shocked at the tranformation and her fear of a dirt filled interior disappeared. The blemishes on the body had also been polished away and a coat of wax sat on top, protecting the original factory paint.
For Annie , it was like driving a new car. The under-used engine drove like a new with no unwanted noises or leaks.
The Peugeot 406 competes with worthy opponents like the Honda Accord, Ford Telstar, Renault Laguna, Toyota Camry, Nissan Cefiro, Mitsubishi Galant and Mazda 626. Some of these car offer a choice of saloon and hatchback body styles, while the Peugeot 406 comes in just the one saloon format.
Prices start at RM48,000 for a 1997 average condition model and rise to RM65,000 for the last in line 1999 registered units. You get legendary French comfort and ride quality in a spacious saloon. Having depreciated to half its original selling price, it deserves a second look.
Category: Automotive, car-reviews