Pug 406 diesels...any good?

[Lankytim]

Noticed these have reached rock bottom in value, are they any good? It would be nice to have a cheap to run smoker for the daily commute that I don't mind getting dented or scratched, plus the estates look huge inside!

 

I think pug 405's are worth more nowadays!

[wuvvum]

Yes, in a word. 1.9s are a bit gutless, 2.1s are gruntier but tend to fetch more. Interior build quality isn't the best, and they occasionally do head gaskets, but other than that they're generally reliable and they're good to drive - very comfortable and go round corners well too. As cheap diesel shitters go they're as good as anything else I reckon.

[Cavcraft]

They certainly seem cheap enough as you said Tim. It seems a lot are high mileage ex-taxis and I was told recently they export quite well so numbers probably dwindling by the week.

[Lankytim]

Will they run on veg oil/liquidised cats?

[baldrickthecunning]

1.9 TD will

[R9UKE]

One of the owners reviews on an NI classifieds site (usedcarsni.com) reads as follows:

 

Currently running a 98 406 1.9 TD LX, as it is being used as a taxi there is a good few miles on it, 410k to be exact! During the harsh winter in '10 she started first turn and just seems to keep going like clockwork, virtually unstoppable! To drive they are great, the seats are like super comfy armchairs and the 1.9 TD engine packs a fair punch when you get to overtaking. Since I only paid £1000 for the car 5 years ago, I wasn't expecting it to be something great but I am very please with it as it hasn't let me down and as I said, it's a real workhorse!

[RoadworkUK]

My best mate has a '98 1.9TD LX, estate, more-or-less white. Abuses it like you wouldn't believe but can't seem to kill it. All 406s get a solid thumbs-up from me.

[baldrickthecunning]

 

^ This is my old beast which I got rid of in 2008. It had 147k when I got rid, was still going strong and last time I checked - it was still taxed.

 

Worst thing that went wrong was the clutch got so stiff that I had to have it replaced, even then it was only a £300 job.

[504GL]

Yes, in a word. 1.9s are a bit gutless, 2.1s are gruntier but tend to fetch more. Interior build quality isn't the best, and they occasionally do head gaskets, but other than that they're generally reliable and they're good to drive - very comfortable and go round corners well too. As cheap diesel shitters go they're as good as anything else I reckon.

 

Mine did the head gasket twice. Other than that it was fine, but the 2nd one got it scrappaged.

[Bren]

Gearboxes get a bit "crunchy" with age and miles. If you are looking for one just just consider why anybody would be getting rid of a car that will do 45-50 mpg in the current climate. Usually, because there is something wrong.

 

Have your wits about you and you should be ok.

[504GL]

Gearboxes get a bit "crunchy" with age and miles. If you are looking for one just just consider why anybody would be getting rid of a car that will do 45-50 mpg in the current climate. Usually, because there is something wrong.

 

Have your wits about you and you should be ok.

 

Mine only had 85k miles on it when I got it and the box was very notchy it much be said. Perhaps they're all like that?

[Pete-M]

I like them. Had an 03 plate HDi 110 a couple of years ago, ex taxi with 130k on it. Nice car, very comfy (although the seats aren't great if you're over 6ft). The extra weight over a 405 is noticeable as they're not nippy. Good on fuel though and pretty reliable. DMF and clutch replacement came to about £400 - which will kill a lot of them.

 

Drop links wear quickly as do rear axle radius arm bushes but both easy to fix and not that expensive.

 

I used to get between 35-55 mpg from the 110.

 

Beware of knackered crank pulleys, common fault, about £60 to replace. They go weak (damper thing in 'em), chuck up fault codes and restrict power hugely on the HDi. As there's not a lot of poke to start with losing power is very noticeable, pulley can often be seen to be wobbling about through the o/s/f wheelarch.

 

If you're going for an older one then the 2.1 is the one to go for. Noisier than the 1.9 but a lot gruntier, with no real difference in fuel consumption.

[messerschmitt owner]

the crank pulley on a 2.1td is £175

 

Ask me how I know ...

[504GL]

the crank pulley on a 2.1td is £175

 

Ask me how I know ...

 

How do you know?

[messerschmitt owner]

the crank pulley on a 2.1td is £175

 

Ask me how I know ...

 

How do you know?

 

crank pulley bolt sheared on my XM and the garage just ordered a crank pulley without checking the price and were as shocked as I was.

 

They gave me a free MoT though so wasn't all bad.

[baldrickthecunning]

I replaced some gear linkages and the notchy gearbox suddenly became a lot smoother. I'd recommend the 1.9TD if you don't mind something thats not very fast as it's a very common engine, easy to work on and run by the veg oil loving Bosch pump. HDI 110's are great but a lot more expensive when something goes wrong. So far as I know, the 2.1TD only appeared in a handful of cars, Peugeot 605 and 406, Citroen XM and Xantia and runs off a Lucas injection system.

[r.welfare]

^ WHS.

 

Car 27 - 1997 Peugeot 406 L TD by r_welfare, on Flickr

 

This one had 230k on the clock and was generally very tired, particularly in the gearbox department (synchromesh on 2nd and 3rd had gone), but still got an MOT with a service and two tyres. Not bad for £140. 1.9TD feels slow in a 406, they're a lot heavier and I think have more antipollution equipment (IIRC 90bhp vs 92 in the 405). They have much better interiors though. Apparently although it's externally bigger, the 406 estate can't carry quite as much as the 405 version.

[ashmicro]

My totally hamfisted and mechanically unsympathetic mate had a 98 406 estate HDi for years, and even he couldn't kill it. I serviced it for him, did the cam pulley, the odd suspension bush etc, and it never let him down. Some auld doll ran into it, and despite minimal damage, it got written off (twat let the insurance take it away, with MY bloody head unit in it). I could have fixed it for about eighty quid.

 

 

Thumbs up from me too for the 406 D.

[dollywobbler]

The 2.1 is known for being a bit problematic, though good ones seem to rack up ridiculous mileage with no issue. Luck of the draw I think. That said, any of the TDs can blow head gaskets if neglected.

 

If you're after a shite-tastic diesel, the Mk3 Cav TD is hard to beat really. They seem to love veg and the electrics might not be quite so French.

[dieselnutjob]

if you live anywhere near me I'm tooled up with computer gear to deal with these

306, 406, 806 are the most recent Peugeots that are reasonably simple and tough. Their replacements are all fragile and overcomplicated.

[Lankytim]

I could really do with something modern but cheap as chips, modern for the Wife and nipper, cheap as chips for me! The mk3 Cav is possibly a bit too old skool to be used as a main family car on the daily run and fully loaded runs down to Cornwall.

 

The 406 on the other hand just sounds better and better!

[baldrickthecunning]

^ WHS.

1.9TD feels slow in a 406, they're a lot heavier and I think have more antipollution equipment (IIRC 90bhp vs 92 in the 405). They have much better interiors though. Apparently although it's externally bigger, the 406 estate can't carry quite as much as the 405 version.

 

Yeah, the 406 has suspension strut towers in the boot which limits wide loads. 405 is the good old torsion bar setup and therefore the boot is a huge, flat rectangle.

 

Also in terms of french electrics, the only fault my 406 ever had was a speedo sender unit which short circuited and blew a fuse. 15 minute and £0 replacement.