Peugeot 407 HDi, is ignorance bliss?

[rainagain]

I drive ~300 miles a week on a 50/50 mix of motorways and A roads. As much as I love my Volvo S80 the 30-35 mpg is starting to hurt a bit especially as my OH has had a massive drop in her income.

 

I'm looking for something to replace it but with better fuel economy, ideally for roughly the sort of money I will get for selling the Volvo (hopefully ~£1000).

 

After being cosseted in the Volvo I want something similar in comfort for a replacement. The Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi looks like it fits this bill as it features proper suspension and from checking fuelly the 47 combined mpg is pretty close to the truth.

 

I remember reading a buyers guide in Car Mechanics that basically described it as ticking time bomb with regards to things like the DMF and the DPF. Given most of my driving is motorway/ A-roads these shouldn't cause me too much bother? Is ignorance bliss? I don't want to save money on fuel only to have to waste it on new injectors, etc.

 

Could anyone think if something else I could buy? My requirements are as follows:

 

Cost ~£1000

Must haves: cruise control, good seats, compliant suspension, efficient diesel engine, seat at least two adults and three kids.

 

Nice haves: good sound system, auto rather than manual

 

Apart from this I'm not fussy  

 

[Dirk Diggler]

I'd buy a diesel Volvo; I had a couple of these when newer (a 1.6 and a 2.0 diesel) and while they handled ok, cosseting they weren't.

 

Usual maladies of that generation of diesel; the fuel savings are easily wiped out.

 

I reckon by the time these are 15, most will be dead. In 2030 you won't find one

 

Small enough inside, awkward boot in the saloon; I enjoyed the ones I had, but there's better stuff out there

 

What about a mk1 Superb?

[hpi_matrix]

Citroen C5, not only is the engine a worry but the electrics will make you shit your pants with fear too.

[rainagain]

I'd buy a diesel Volvo; I had a couple of these when newer (a 1.6 and a 2.0 diesel) and while they handled ok, cosseting they weren't.

 

Usual maladies of that generation of diesel; the fuel savings are easily wiped out.

 

I reckon by the time these are 15, most will be dead. In 2030 you won't find one

 

Small enough inside, awkward boot in the saloon; I enjoyed the ones I had, but there's better stuff out there

 

What about a mk1 Superb?

 

I did look at diesel Volvos but the only ones in my budget have 150,000+ miles on them.

 

Superb, could be a good choice, but look at the face on it!

[alcyonecorporation]

MANIAC

[rainagain]

Citroen C5, not only is the engine a worry but the electrics will make you shit your pants with fear too.

lol I was actually looking at the C5 as it's basically the same car but with hydro suspension.

[SiC]

A really nice (for that money) 406 HDi? Simpler electrics, less emission control stuff on the engine, etc.

[Kiltox]

The 2.0 HDI 407 isn't actually terrible. Dodgy earths causing electrics to go a bit nuts are the biggest issue I've found with ones I've had but they were well maintained and did high miles on the motorway.

 

Easy enough to sort out the earths too.

[Cavcraft]

 

Everything except cruise control. Or an automatic gear box. Or a nice stereo.

 

Incredibly comfortable though, never given me any trouble, the seat backs fold down and it's got auto lights and wipers.

[95 quid Peugeot]

i bought our  407sw HDI  as a impulse buy at auctions, Mrs 95 quid fancied something with a bit more room the the mighty 406 saloon for carting her horsey stuff around.

I paid 450 squid for an 07 plate 1 owner with i think it was at the time approx 130k miles,  down side was rear boot glass was broken, i managed to source a replacement full hatch correct colour for £90 off eBay.

I had it MOT'd and replaced front discs and pads, and pushed the boat out treated it to 1ltr of Eyols, wasn't sure of its reliability so curtailed that at the 1ltr point bearing in mind cost.

Its performed faultlessly over 40k miles in last 10 months, surprisingly only electrical fault is one of the tyres has had its inflation vale replaced with a normal one before purchase and it triggers a indication for first 100 meters driving, that's it .....  

So....lucky...stupid or charmed purchase.

[rainagain]

The 2.0 HDI 407 isn't actually terrible. Dodgy earths causing electrics to go a bit nuts are the biggest issue I've found with ones I've had but they were well maintained and did high miles on the motorway.

 

Easy enough to sort out the earths too.

 

Any more info on the earths?

[rainagain]

pug406td.JPG

 

Everything except cruise control. Or an automatic gear box. Or a nice stereo.

 

Incredibly comfortable though, never given me any trouble, the seat backs fold down and it's got auto lights and wipers.

 

I have always liked 406s (especially the gorgeous coupe) but it must have cruise, my S80 is the first car I've owned with it and I don't know how I've managed without it. It makes driving the same roads back and forth to work so much less stressful. 

 

Hit motorway, stick cruise to 65mph and relax, leave motorway onto A roads, stick cruise to 60, enter a village slow to 30, hit resume when leaving village, let car accelerate back up to 60. It's also handy for the average 40/50 zones that pop up every time there's roadworks.

[Anthony]

Cruise control is available on later (post-Facelift) 406 HDi's. It is possible to retro-fit to a model that doesn't have it, if a little involved.

[rainagain]

i bought our  407sw HDI  as a impulse buy at auctions, Mrs 95 quid fancied something with a bit more room the the mighty 406 saloon for carting her horsey stuff around.

I paid 450 squid for an 07 plate 1 owner with i think it was at the time approx 130k miles

Was this in the days before auction houses bum non trade people for massive fees?

[Cavcraft]

Cruise is ace I must admit, was really impressed with it on my Vectra and the Viva.

[95 quid Peugeot]

Was this in the days before auction houses bum non trade people for massive fees?

Last year Newark,  fees a bit of a pain at times,  if car creeps over threshold  

0 - £149...................................£75      Â£150 - £499...............................£115      Â£500 - £999...............................£135    Â£1000 - £1499...........................£165    Â£1500 - £1999...........................£185                                                          

[hpi_matrix]

Why not something VAG with the 1.9? Bora, Passat, Octavia, Leon etc?

 

Or dare I say it an E46 320d or 330d?

[Cavcraft]

/\

I think he wants something reliable.

[Lacquer Peel]

http://www.autospeed.com/cms/article.html?&title=Peugeot-407-HDi-Touring-&A=2964

 

SLATED.

 

I spent a few days in one, in central Europe in mid summer, the heating was stuck on. Awful car.

[Dirk Diggler]

I did look at diesel Volvos but the only ones in my budget have 150,000+ miles on them.

 

Superb, could be a good choice, but look at the face on it!

Maybe it's just me, but I'd never think of miles when buying a diesel car for a grand or less; I'd prefer to know it had been maintained and had spent its life on motorways.

 

And probably was an 850 or ph1 V/S70 tdi; they really are all the car you could want

 

Is that lovely V70 in blue with lovely wheels and a stack of receipts still for sale for 6-700 quid on retro rides?

[hpi_matrix]

/\

I think he wants something reliable.

 

VAG 1.9 not reliable? There's on in the carpark right behind me with 180K on the clock.

[jonathan_dyane]

Trouble is, one big bill and there goes all the money you might have saved.

[rainagain]

Trouble is, one big bill and there goes all the money you might have saved.

I was thinking this but I would be looking at a monthly saving of over £80. Even if the dmf shits itself you can get a solid flywheel and clutch off ebay for £183. I think my biggest problem is I just like changing car too often. I don't know how people manage to own the same car for four years.

[alcyonecorporation]

YOBBO

[rainagain]

Re diesel Volvo I did see this:

 

https://www.gumtree.com/p/volvo/sale-trade-in-to-clear-volvo-s40-se-2.0-turbo-diesel-long-mot-ready-to-go-/1213087564

 

But I think these use the ford tdci engine so the smoky when cold probably means the engine is buggered.

[Lacquer Peel]

... triple post

[Lacquer Peel]

VAG 1.9 not reliable? There's on in the carpark right behind me with 180K on the clock.

I've had two 110 TDIs with head/head gasket failure, my friend had a couple of PD Boras with similar problems. VAG SHITE

[Lacquer Peel]

VAG 1.9 not reliable? There's on in the carpark right behind me with 180K on the clock.

I've had two 110 TDIs with head/head gasket failure, my friend had a couple of PD Boras with similar problems. VAG SHITE

 

I hate them so much I posted it three times.

[Pete-M]

Mercedes C or E220 CDI.

 

Peugeot will be a grenade. Last good pug was 406. Everything after is a liability, visit any scrapyard to confirm.

[Fat_Pirate]

This is clearly a job for a Rover 75 - you'll probably get change from your £1000 too.