Peugeot 406 2.1TD estate - opinions welcome...

[stripped fred]

I'm thinking of going to see this later. It's only 2 miles from me. Can anyone tell me whether they think that's a good idea? It's high mileage but I'm sure they can run for longer being a taxi driver's favourite. It meets my criteria of cheap, economical and spacious and also has a tow bar for my caravan plus 7 seat option for that once a year time when I need to transport more than 5. What do you think and what should I look for?

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201507155212451

[J-Rod]

the manual of those was/is always better than the autobox... and that's a manual, so that's one point in its favour! 2.1 oil burner not as good as the petrol though but if that one's lasted that long, can't be a bad 'un

[Richard]

From what I've heard the 2.1 is a good bit better on fuel than the 1.9TD because it doesn't have to work so hard.

[rainagain]

the 2.1 can also be converted to use a Bosch fuel pump as well = veggy tastic

[stripped fred]

Sounds good so far. My reasoning is that with 12 months MOT for £500 i could take a gamble on the cambelt or anything else going wrong. I'll call him and see what he says.

[wuvvum]

I didn't have a good experience with mine, but that was mainly because it had a Lucas pump and the previous owner had been running it on all sorts of crap, which fucked it.  When it was running right it was a decent enough means of transport, and nowhere near as underpowered as the 1.9.

[stripped fred]

Well I've rang, friendly asian bloke in Leicester. The only problems be told me are that one of the seat belts in the rear (it's a 7 seater) doesn't work and one of the rear doors doesn't lock with the central locking. He was a bit vague about the previous owner. I'm thinking this could be an ex taxi?Should that put me off? He said the price 'isn't set in stone'.

[Junkman]

A Peugeot 406 2.1TD estate is best replaced with a Peugeot 405 2.0 GTX petrol automatic estate.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Ok I might be biased,but at this age an ex-taxi or private hire is probably a better bet than a private car. The licensing inspections for taxis are usually far stricter than an MOT and often 6 or even 4 monthly for older cars.

Anyway the smell of stale kebabs and sick laced with vanilla Christmas tree is the smell of victory!

[Noel Tidybeard]

2.1 is gr34 for towing other chod

406 roomy? not on your life- grown-ups cant travel in the back(not boot) with all legs atatched

[steve_earwig]

I can sit in the back of mine no trouble, but then I'm a shrimpy 5'11 3/4"

 

Might be a problem sourcing the belt if it's for the rearmost fold out of the boot floor seats. Doorlock, meh, breakers are full of them. Mine rusted through a sill but I didn't realise the drains were blocked which, coupled with the missing clips on the door sill seal meant I was filling the sill with water every time I washed it.

 

IMHO the 2.1 is a better engine than an HDi, far less complicated (injectors are tens of pounds rather than 100's) and they're still giving you a shove in the back when an HDi is running out of puff.

 

Oh yeah, a useless handbrake is a "feature" on a 406.

[dollywobbler]

I adore my XM 2.1. It's a fantastic engine. Far, far better than the 1.9 TD, because the turbo cuts in a good 500rpm sooner. Doesn't sound a lot, but it makes it pretty brisk in a strangely relaxing manner. You don't have to rag it all of the time. I cannot comment on the 406 aspects though. Never driven one.

[Sealtainn]

I bought a 406 1.9 TD when it was 18 months old. Underpowered and didn't do hot-starts. Was a fairly comfortable place to be though. I put up with it for 8 months and then got shot of it.

Not driven a 2.1 but wouldn't mind giving one a run

[2MB]

So it's safe to say the mighty xud 1.9 finds its limits in the heavy confines of a 406?

[stripped fred]

Went to see this earlier. It was bei g sold by a small time trader from his house. He was telling me his main business is selling mercs, peugeots etc to Africa, mainly Nigeria. They like 406's as that's what government officials use so if you have one if them tbe police leave you alone. They only want petrols though as the diesel over there isn't too good apparently.

 

Anyway, the car has good points and bad. Good are lots of receipts, it's not been a taxi but instead owned from new by previous owner, clutch 10k ago, new rear brakes, drives well, suspension still suspends and the engine pulls well, as per dollywobbler's description.

 

Bad points are that the interior is dirty, lots of dog hairs, interior door panels loose, rust around sunroof opening, lacquer peel all over roof, both rearmost seatbelts missing, no sign of recent cambelt change and rear door doesn't unlock. Only ipens with key to as the fobs are both kaput.

 

He said £475 is his lowest price. It's probably worth that. If I can source the seatbelts I might be interested but I'm not getting that feeling if you know what I mean? Perhaps i should sell my Alfa first...

[sierraman]

Well I've rang, friendly asian bloke in Leicester. The only problems be told me are that one of the seat belts in the rear (it's a 7 seater) doesn't work and one of the rear doors doesn't lock with the central locking. He was a bit vague about the previous owner. I'm thinking this could be an ex taxi?Should that put me off? He said the price 'isn't set in stone'.

I'd run quick.

 

Taxis at that age get sold only when they are rinsed, its a tool like a plasterer has a hawk, he doesn't throw it away as he fancies a new one, it will be fucked.

In any case old diesel fodder like this is usually either worn smooth or its got a fairly serious intermittent fault. At what you are wanting to pay I'd avoid diesel all together. At that money you want cheap easy to find parts, think astra, focus, mk2 Mondeo etc.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Jolly bloody good I'd say. They were pleasant old fuckers to drive about, the only issue being the electrics but if they've made it this far I'd say you're safe.

[320touring]

I'd run quick.

 

Taxis at that age get sold only when they are rinsed, its a tool like a plasterer has a hawk, he doesn't throw it away as he fancies a new one, it will be fucked.

In any case old diesel fodder like this is usually either worn smooth or its got a fairly serious intermittent fault. At what you are wanting to pay I'd avoid diesel all together. At that money you want cheap easy to find parts, think astra, focus, mk2 Mondeo etc.

if you read the post above yours its not an ex taxi..

[sierraman]

He's not going to come right out and say 'well yes I did do a bit of cabbing in it' is he?

 

Best of luck with it but at that money, its such a low value, why would someone sell something that's doing 40-50 to gallon unless there's impending problems. But then again I'm a cynic so...

[320touring]

He's not going to come right out and say 'well yes I did do a bit of cabbing in it' is he?

 

Best of luck with it but at that money, its such a low value, why would someone sell something that's doing 40-50 to gallon unless there's impending problems. But then again I'm a cynic so...

Fair comment:)

 

at that price if it Keys starts and drives then it is likely winning!

[stripped fred]

He's not going to come right out and say 'well yes I did do a bit of cabbing in it' is he?

 

Best of luck with it but at that money, its such a low value, why would someone sell something that's doing 40-50 to gallon unless there's impending problems. But then again I'm a cynic so...

It had the same owner from new and looks like they've mainly used it for carrying dogs. It's tatty inside. I did have the same thought about why are they selling it now but it does drive well and there's evidence of regular servicing at the same garage apart from a cambelt which is a worry. It's just tatty and a few things are no longer working. If I needed a car now I would probably buy it but I'm thinking of selling my car first and then spending a bit more on a tidier one.

[dollywobbler]

Doesn't sound too desirable to be honest. Getting rid of the smell of dog can be a frustrating business. The Sirion stank of mutt, especially on a sunny day. 

[stripped fred]

Doesn't sound too desirable to be honest. Getting rid of the smell of dog can be a frustrating business. The Sirion stank of mutt, especially on a sunny day.

This has dog hairs embedded in all the interior trim. Looks like he's given it a hoover but they are there to stay. I would guess at terrier!

[PiperCub]

I had a 2.1TD estate (1998) for nearly four years and over 40K miles (had 101K to start with), cost me £1K. In comparison with my current 1.9TD saloon hack, the 2.1 was a much nicer drive and quicker. I have subsequently heard various things about the 2.1 being unreliable etc., compared with the 1.9 but never found this to be the case personally.

 

The 2.1 came to me from a mate who'd owned it from three years old and he'd looked after it so that was a good start. In my ownership is survived alot of often loaded up company-use miles (very profitable, paid for it and my Eunos!) and buying my house/house move/house fixing-up-type nonsense. Apart from thouroughly servicing it once a year - not hard, an oil change and good checkover inbetween, it needed little attention aside from tyres, an exhaust, set of g/plugs, a few bulbs & wiper blades, a couple of suspension bushes, one wheelbearing and an aux belt, even the A/C worked perfectly.

 

Mind you when I sold it, it was in need of about £400-worth of parts (rad, suspn bushes, handbrake shoes for a start)  & an MoT & service, but still got £600 as the estates are always in demand.  So I have fine memories of mine.

[stripped fred]

I do like them and I think they're a lot of car for the money. They seem to soldier on too with big mileages. The estates have a lot if space too. My mate had a W reg saloon 2.0hdi bought with about 150k on it and he ran it to about 275k. The engine was still fine but it needed suspension and other bits so he sold it as it would have cost quite a bit to fix. I am on the look out for a slightly better one.

[PiperCub]

Yes, forgot to mention the load space, swallows Ikea flatpacks with ease and was loaded to the roof with stuff when used for company business. Flat load floor helps.

[Lankytim]

A mate has just scrapped one that was mega rotten round the arse end. Worth checking.

[dollywobbler]

Also, the 2.1 does have a reputation for OMGHGF. I've given mine a coolant change and just kept my fingers crossed.

[taxi paul]

My son has the saloon model on a Y plate. He loves it. Bought it of a lad who got it to taxi with. He never bothered has he got offered a Mercedes at a good price and went with that. Son gave £900 for it. 90,000 miles , full history including cambelt at 70,00 , 11 months mot and four new tyres. No rust but bodywork has been used for target practise for shopping trollies. He has put 10,000 on it in six months. We done a 600 mile trip yesterday to collect his £100 shite ebay citreon van purchase. All in all a good car. Electrics have a mind of their own but nothing too bad. Loved by taxi drivers for good reason.

[Lacquer Peel]

XUD9s have a reputation for blowing head gaskets too, but I've never known of one IRL.