I've just returned from a delightful trip to the UK and have many
thoughts and comments regarding Peugeot.
It's certainly a most surreal feeling to be in a place where there are
so many of them all over the place from basic 106's to fully decked out
605's.
And, as promised, I test-drove the new 406. The V-6 is not yet
available in the UK and neither is the coupe so the top model of the 406
range is the 406 2.0 Turbo which sports a 1998cc 8 valve turbo with 150
HP @ 5300 rpm.
Top speed is 130 mph with 0-62mph in 9.5 seconds.
Although my time with the car was limited, a mix of suburban London
two-lane roads and a stint on the M3 highway made it evident that this
is one fine machine. The turbo is a low-pressure unit (there's no
turbo-boost gauge) and turbo lag is non-existent. Although the car is
bigger than the 405 it replaces, it is not that much rooomier but the
406 is far more refined. The front-suspension setup is far quiter than
the rattly 405 setup and road noise is low. The interior is
ergonomically sound and would certainly be familiar to any 405/505
owner. The car holds the road like a train on tracks and the
variable-assist power steering works very well.
Although probably not as fast as an Mi16, I hit 100 mph very quicklty
and effortlessly. Everything about the car speaks to refinement and
class. All the traditional Peugeot strengths have been maintained and
the car seems to be put together very well. Under the hood, Peugeot
have learnt from their mistakes - the ECU has been moved to virtually
the middle of the engine bay and is very well sealed off and anywhere
where there are wires exposed they've been sealed by a strong
transparent rubber. In general, a lot more care has been taken in the
design of the 406.
In short, if this car were made available here, I would not hesitate on
laying down the $ for it. It is a fantastic machine and (as others on
this list have reported) has won rave reviews all around the world. BBC
Top Gear magazine rated it #2 out of a field of 16 medium sized cars
with a 5 star rating.
With all the Peugeot's on the road there, finding parts is very easy.
There are all kinds of after-market goodies for Pug's as well ranging
from spoiler kits to K+N cone filter induction kit, power boost valve
kit, modified heads and sports camshafts, brake convertions, replacement
chip's that boost power on the Euro Mi16 from 160 to 188, and sports
suspension setup's (I bought myself a set of Jamex Sport Springs for my
Mi16 - $85 !)
At the local Peugeot dealer they have catalogue's full of accesories - I
picked up a polo shirt, t-shirt and an excellent Haynes Manual for the
405.
When you see the high-flying presence that Peugeot enjoys there with
their top-class variety of cars (the 306GTi-6speed is a VW GTi killer)
and the respect that those cars command certainly leaves me with no
doubt that a return to the North American market is not only inevitable
but could definitely be successful. Peugeot should NOT restrict itself
to the hig end of the market. Less expensive models like the 106 and
the supurb 306 get people into the showrooms (especially young people)
and are stepping stones for future Peugeot purchases - 406, 605, 806,
etc.
BTW- My Mi16 is all sorted out - needed to replace the fuel pump, can't
wait to install the new sport springs on it - just as the dry roads of
Spring beckon!!
Cheers,
Robert Cullemore
89 405 Mi16