Junkman in French Farina Frenzy - Caution: Peugeot 405 content

[Junkman]

So (<- this is how we germanophoniacs traditionally start a story). It's 3am and I'm home from an odyssey that started at 11am yesterday.
 
The ones among you, who follow the Ebay thread, might have noticed, that I uncovered the arguably last remaining Peugeot 405 GTX in two-litre giffer flavour.
Well, a deal was struck on Thursday, and a collection was agreed on for this Saturday.
 
The journey was undertaken unusually railway-free, courtesy of Mr Conelrad and his ex-Junkman Mitsubishite.
It took us disconcertingly far south of Bramhall, and beamed us through a wormhole back to the 19th century, and into a fairytale land called "Surrey".
Some people were met, money was given, and said car and paperwork received.
 
Obligatory petrol station photo:
 

 
Soon we re-entered the 20th century, courtesy of the M25, which was now travelled anti-clockwise, through the Dartford Crossing,
one of the last bulwarks of genuinely medieval highway robbery.
 
Our journey then took us to Peterborough, residence of a certain man with a knob van, with whom we enjoyed a wonderful dinner in a wonderful pub.
We continued northbound towards Leeds, then did a left turn near Lofthouse, and followed the M62 towards Manchester, where we eventually
re-entered the 21st Century.
 
On the entire journey, neither car put as much as a foot wrong.
Which was kind of boring.
 
So what have we got here?
 
A 1994 Peugeot 405 GTX 2.0 Automatic with all mod cons that come with the GTX package.
There is even a piece of oak glued to the glovebox, the French concept of building a Rolls Royce competitor.
It has a new exhaust exorst and fresh rear tyres, as well as a cambelt that is a mere 3,500 miles old.
The car drives absolutely faultlessly, in fact, it is the best driving example I have owned so far.
The interior and the boot look and smell new.
The 90stastic radio perfectly plays Radio 2, including the national anthem at 1am.
The only thing I can really fault it on, is a fuel gauge showing about 1/3rd full irrespectively of the actual fuel level.

[PiperCub]

Still think the 405 shape looks fresh, there's one that visits house in my road and I'm always impressed with it. Prefer it's angles (as per my 205) to the curves of the old 406 daily hack I run. Always a good drive, there were loads of them at the company I worked for in the 90's, were very reliable on the whole and popular too with their owners. Don't see many about now, esp the estates that were mostly worked to death.

 

Hope yours is a continuing success.

[stuboy]

nice looking pug..

[Sudsprint]

Lovely. Great find!

[r.welfare]

Bloody hell. Does it really still have all it's alloy wheel centre caps?

[Angrydicky]

That disappointment when you open this thread expecting 404 content.

[mercrocker]

That disappointment when you open this thread expecting 404 Coupe content.

Added lip wobble.....

 

Very nice 405, though by the sounds of it.

[Jim Bell]

405s are grand. Good buy dude. What whistles and bells came with the GTX?

[EssDeeWon]

[hairnet]

That disappointment when you open this thread expecting 404 content.

and the fact you tuned to radio 4 without noticing.........

[purplebargeken]

Is it green? It looks green. It needs to be green.

[brickwall]

Can't wait to see this in the sunlight.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Oh my, that photo. I'm bringing a camera round, the board needs to see how nice this car is. 

[Lacquer Peel]

GTX is a nice specification, posh without leather, and no anti-lock brakes.

405s are a class act, I want one again.

[DVee8]

No photos!! WHAT kind of thread is this with out many photos!!!! Im off despondent.

[Junkman]

Is it green? It looks green. It needs to be green.

 

There is a teensy wee bit of green in every blue.

 

The boot is the business card of a car.

 

The interior is nearly spotless.

 

 

Two enigmatic cuboids were found in the car.

[EssDeeWon]

Those seats look very comfy. Looks a very straight car JM.

[Sigmund Fraud]

This looks very, very clean ! Shame you didn't go with the original plan of BUYING BRITISH, but I suppose that 405s are a tried and tested solution for the Junkman family... is this one your fourth or fifth ?

[carlo]

You swine.  I phoned up about that last week and was told it had been sold; I was surprised as I thought I was the only one who bought them.  I should have know it was you (told you you'd want another after selling the estate).

 

Every time I drive my GTX auto saloon I am more convinced I will never find a car that is nicer to drive, even ditched the 406 V6 coupe as I didn't like it as much.  Have just had new discs and pads (genuine Peugeot pads - £15 off ebay) fitted and the brakes are wonderful again.

 

Yours is Saxon blue, one of my favourite colours.  And please don't tell me it was one of the GTXs with cruise control fitted as I'll be badgering you to sell it to me forever.

 

 

 

[Inspector Morose]

That is rather nice. Another one of those 'just right' capable cars that can be bought for relatively little cash.

[drum]

Very nice. I do like a 405 and only wish I could find some pics of my sri on a K plate. Had a boot spoiler and everything. This has put me in the mood for a 605 so off to ebay I go for a looksee...

[Junkman]

Shame you didn't go with the original plan of BUYING BRITISH

 

But so I did!

The car was proudly made in the Hillman factory in Ryton.

[Junkman]

Did someone say pictures?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lacquer Peel]

Are you sure it was made in Ryton? Some of the posher 405 saloons were made in FRENCH FRANCE.

[Junkman]

Are you sure it was made in Ryton? Some of the posher 405 saloons were made in FRENCH FRANCE.

 

Absolutely.

The GTXes were built in Ryton for the UK market only. There were no GTXes anywhere else.

[carlo]

Some of the later GTXs were French built, mine sports a VF chassis no.

 

That looks in good nick, very jealous.

[DVee8]

Well done that man.Nice car good spec and good colour.

 

Were does this sit in the J-man fleet is anything leaving to make way for this?

[Lacquer Peel]

My GTX TD estate had a French country code on the VIN, as did the Executive TD saloon - both built for the UK market.

[Junkman]

Were does this sit in the J-man fleet is anything leaving to make way for this?

 

There are currently no such plans.

 

[Rusty_Rocket]

This one was French built; I have full access to Servicebox if you need any part numbers/ vehicle details.

 

It is remarkably straight, I still maintain the 405 is the most comfortable car to drive.  Looks like a keeper I would think?  Those alloys look so right on it- great buy.