Peugeot 406 coupe review

Utterly beautiful looking car with faultless lines.

Complete the What Car? The Peugeot Coupe is a breath of fresh air. To make it, the standard got a makeover from Italian designers Pininfarina and the results were largely successful. It doesn't quite have the charisma of, say a Fiat Coupe, but its clean lines are tasteful and sleek. Once inside, though, the deisgn is disappointing. The seating is uncomfortable, the switchgear looks cheap and the dashboard is plasticky. The control stalks are spindly, too, and only the chrome surrounds on the dials point to something other than a normal mass-produced saloon.

Peugeot 406 coupe review

Were it not for a hardy few remaining manufacturers, the concept of the traditional coupe would be dead - in Europe, at least. Only the premium manufacturers offer proper coupes these days - think 4-series , A5 , C-class coupe - while a hardy few mainstream brands continue to offer more performance-orientated models, like the Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ , the Nissan Z , and the Ford Mustang. For the average customer though, crossovers have taken their place - and the roads are a less attractive place for it. Back in the s you could barely move for stylish mainstream two-doors. Even in its mid-nineties twilight the Peugeot was winning plaudits for its ride and handling, so the , which arrived in the UK in early , had plenty to live up to. Early reviews suggested the Mondeo and Primera rival had hit the mark - and it frequently ranked alongside those two cars in particular for its blend of ride and handling, falling head and shoulders above others in the class. Quality had taken a step up too, while the was offered with a range of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and a range-topping 2. That bode well for the Coupe that arrived in While identifiable as a member of the family, the new Coupe was altogether more stylish than its four-door counterpart. Not surprising really, given its Pininfarina provenance: the Coupe was both designed and built by Pininfarina in Italy, and had originally been a styling proposal for Fiat - which eventually went with the in-house design composed by Chris Bangle for its own sporty two-door Fiat Coupe. This engine was quickly declared the pick of the range, for its mellifluous if muted engine note, because it suited the character of the car, and because it featured a few choice tweaks over the 2-litre version to wake up the chassis. Tuning for the Coupe was slightly different to the saloon anyway. It used the same layout, comprising MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link rear with coil springs all round , but with 0. V6 models got variable-assistance steering over their 2-litre counterparts, while electronic two-stage dampers were an option.

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The Peugeot Coupe is undeniably one of the most attractive coupes ever designed. It's little wonder when the company who penned the design has also designed some of the best looking cars for Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, and Maserati to name a few. Peugeot examples are currently ridiculously cheap for a car that from the outside looks equally at home with the likes of the best of European exotics from the same era, and importantly the design does not seem to have aged. From every angle the Italian flare of Pininfarina is executed to perfection, even better than the Ferrari in my opinion. The coupe is a rare beast, being a unique amalgam of French, Italian and German engineering. The design and the coachwork was built and assembled in Italy using PSA mechanicals, withthe renowned driving suppleness of French suspension which sadly has disappeared in subsequent models , and the glorious smooth power of a V6 tweaked by Porsche in my model. Most motoring journalists describe it as a cruiser more than a racer, but it is still amazingly agile for a large coupe, meaning a Sunday fang through the hills is just as enjoyable as a long coastal drive.

Rumour has it the model was originally pencilled as part of a bid to tempt Ferrari into the cut-price supercar market. But when the designs failed to sell, the stylists passed them to Peugeot. Never before had such a beautiful machine cost so little. With only 10, sold here, exclusivity is guaranteed - and as the is also good to drive and well equipped, its beauty goes more than skin deep. Fortunately, more durable replacements are available from Peugeot dealers. Regular removal of brake dust from the calipers with an airline helps reduce the noise, so try this if your car draws unwanted attention when you come to a halt.

Peugeot 406 coupe review

Finding one would be next to impossible. Keeping it on the road would be a huge risk for your financial well-being. Luckily for you, Peugeot made the next best thing. It kinda looks like a Ferrari, almost drives like an Aston and is just about as reliable as a Benz. How exotic is that? Sure, if you get a lower-spec 4-cyl. But what we have here is the top-of-the-range V6 with the rather fetching leather — not too shabby for a pedestrian Pug. The Peugeot arrived, in saloon form, in late

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Airconditioning a more sensible option than sunroof. Parts shortages and a lack of technical support are giving insurance underwriters the jitters when it comes to the new wave of Chinese cars hitting th…. It looked fantastic then, and the baby Ferrari GT design has definitely aged well. First drive. Industry Sales. Electric Cars Guide. Robina, QLD. Used Cars For Sale. Utterly beautiful looking car with faultless lines. With only 10, sold here, exclusivity is guaranteed - and as the is also good to drive and well equipped, its beauty goes more than skin deep. It has just enough grunt to keep you amused, although it's not fantastic in town. News and advice. See more like this. Apr Possible reduction in braking assistance, plus engine problems. Cambelts on diesels need to changed every 96, miles and on petrols every 80, miles.

Were it not for a hardy few remaining manufacturers, the concept of the traditional coupe would be dead - in Europe, at least.

Our ratings explained. However, if you want to keep costs down, you might opt for the 2. Perhaps the optional electronic damping makes the difference. While identifiable as a member of the family, the new Coupe was altogether more stylish than its four-door counterpart. Potential fault in indicator stalks from May Skip to Content Skip to Footer. So really what is not to love, particularly with a car that looks this good? Spend double that to get a 70,mile model. The design and the coachwork was built and assembled in Italy using PSA mechanicals, withthe renowned driving suppleness of French suspension which sadly has disappeared in subsequent models , and the glorious smooth power of a V6 tweaked by Porsche in my model. Drive TV. First Cars. The range-topping SE trim got all the toys as well as leather trim, and is definitely the one to go for today. But whatever you pick, check the electrics, as faults are common.