Xantia v Pug 405........

[Junkman]

405 wins then...........................are 406s that much more complicated / unreliable?

 

Yes.

[Lacquer Peel]

There isn't a large technological leap from an XU/D engined 405 to an XU/D engined 406.

[robinmasters]

405 wins then...........................are 406s that much more complicated / unreliable?

Based on my poorly remembered superficial observations, 405s seem to wear a lot better than 406s.

[warren t claim]

Both the 406 and Xantia were renowned for shitting their gearboxes under taxi useage but the 406 didn't seem as badly affected. I can't help thinking that if they wore griffin badges they wouldn't be as fondly remembered on here as they are. The 406 was a quantum leap ahead of the 405 in pretty much every way.

[PiperCub]

Based on my poorly remembered superficial observations, 405s seem to wear a lot better than 406s.

 

Sorry, can't agree with that statement. I used numerous 405's when they were company hacks in the 90's, mechanically they were generally good but they tended (as did other 90's Pugs) to fall to pieces interior and exterior trim-wise and the paint often looked tatty in a shortish space of time too IIRC.

 

I'm on my 2nd 406 (XUD), they are as good mechanically IMO but better screwed together and use better quality trim that does't fall to bits when given a slight amount of abuse. My first 406, a 2.1 estate did over 40K in three-odd years and nothing fell off and almost nothing failed. The paint lasted well too, washed it often but never polished it (until I was selling it!). Even my current saloon (1.9) which was £350 is free of rattles and too much wear.

[Junkman]

I used numerous 405's when they were company hacks in the 90's, mechanically they were generally good but they tended (as did other 90's Pugs) to fall to pieces interior and exterior trim-wise and the paint often looked tatty in a shortish space of time too IIRC.

 

Weirdly none of my 405s did any of this. They also blatantly refused to rust.

[bub2006]

Apart from the v6,was there any sporting variants of the 406? I know the xantia had the activa turbo. The bx had gt,gti 16v and the 405 had the mi16,,gtx,st models but cant recall any for the 406.

[dugong]

Whatever the 2.0 CT was in Ronin - the SRI? I'd want an SRI if the E34 I was chasing kept morphing between a 520 and an M5.

[bub2006]

I think there was a 406 Sri now come to think of it. Possibly a 2.2?

[dieselnutjob]

The 406 is a tough thing and far simpler to fix that modern cars.

The HDI is reasonably quick and very economical, though the 110bhp ones have a DMF.

The 8 valve HDI is the only diesel I know that can survive a cam belt breaking (most of the time).

The 406 is also I think the last Pug to have standard switches and wires connecting things.  From the 407 everything went multiplexed.

The 2.2 HDI is not so tough and has a DPF so probably avoid.

The 2.0 HDI auto has a chocolate gearbox so probably avoid.

[Junkman]

Having written all this, I conclude that the Xantia is inferior chod by a square mile, and one of the forum members has one for sale.

I hope you know what to do and I don't wish to be disappointed.

 

This forum will never be what it always was. Or some such horseshit.

I'm not responsible.

[dollywobbler]

The biggest failure with the 406 also affects the Xantia. That cursed triangle where the passenger wiper arc fails to meet the driver's wiper arc. All the rage at this time. See also Ford Mondeo and Focus.

[Pete-M]

I'd buy the Xantia for carrying stuff or towing, the 405 for A roads and the 406 for comfort. Xantia probably has the most rear legroom, 406 the most effective heater and I find the 406 seats the comfiest of the three.

[PiperCub]

Weirdly none of my 405s did any of this. They also blatantly refused to rust.

 

Agreed, they didn't rust (my '91 205 is still rust free) but the paint always seemed to look tired/ropey quite quickly, that's what I meant, mind you, this could be at least in part blamed on being company cars so didn't get pampered!

[Noel Tidybeard]

The biggest failure with the 406 also affects the Xantia. That cursed triangle where the passenger wiper arc fails to meet the driver's wiper arc. All the rage at this time. See also Ford Mondeo and Focus.

+poojoe 208

[Cavcraft]

And the 206.

 

I had a few 405s and they ranged from being utterly, utterly brilliant (1.6 petrol XE model) to the absolutely awful 1.9 SRi and another 1.9 petrol that were so bad I went to bed at night dreaming of ways to torture the bastards that made them. I think the nadir of this was locking them in a home made shed in the middle of Delamere Forest and inserting various rusty implements into their skin and force feed them Catatonia CDs.

[Rocket88]

So, in conclusion...................buy an Octavia?

[Lacquer Peel]

Buy a new 508 on finance.

[Cavcraft]

No, buy my Xantia, job jobbed!

[dugong]

So, in conclusion...................buy an Octavia?

Dunno, would it get an MoT?

[Rocket88]

In reply to above. this is for buying when I get to your side of the pond..................

[Cavcraft]

100% pass rate success.

[carlo]

Both the 406 and Xantia were renowned for shitting their gearboxes under taxi useage but the 406 didn't seem as badly affected. I can't help thinking that if they wore griffin badges they wouldn't be as fondly remembered on here as they are. The 406 was a quantum leap ahead of the 405 in pretty much every way.

 

In refinement, build quality, cruising ability and the HDI engine, yes.  In terms of steering, seat comfort, reliability and being fun to drive it was a backward step.

[forddeliveryboy]

406 has no /-\ back axle, a big bonus if you use a car hard. At least with the Citroen versions the bearings can be replaced relatively easily as they wear, thanks to the hydraulics. I've always found Xantia/406 steering a bit soggy, but the rest of the machine is so good you can put up with it. 405s are a bit speshle, though. Turbo-dizzle estate my fave.

[Noel Tidybeard]

seats in a 406 are absolutely, utterly SHIT- worse than a 2011 polo!

[406V6]

The 406 is also I think the last Pug to have standard switches and wires connecting things.  From the 407 everything went multiplexed.

 

Multiplexing was introduced in the 406 around 2002.

 

 

seats in a 406 are absolutely, utterly SHIT- worse than a 2011 polo!

 

Opinions will differ depending on our personal shapes and the wear & tear on the car. I find the seats in mine to be brilliant.

[Junkman]

The 406 is newer than the 405, so it's worse by default.