Re: Peugeot 406

davidtowle@lycosmail.com
Wed, 26 May 1999 12:20:00 -0400 (EDT)

Peugeot may have had high LIST prices comparable to other European cars, but very few people would actually pay them their last 6 years or so here, and that was one of their main problems. My 87 turbo was more than $6000 under list, and the 89 405DL (Adam's car) was $12,100 including transport but not sales tax, and including a 6 year bumper to bumper warranty and 3 years service. It was about $500 cheaper than the cheapest air conditioned Accord deal I could find, and comparable to a Dodge Spirit, so that was an easy choice. 405S models were available for $14,000.

I think the only way Peugeot could get around this problem even now is with massive amounts of high falutin Euro-centric advertising, plus cars that are equal to or better than everyone else's. Even then the best they could hope to emulate would be Passats/A4s in the low twenties.

And if this price is not something Peugeot can make money at then our chances of seeing them here again are zero.

Dave Towle 87 505 Turbo SW in CT

Also worth noting, an '89 Camry V6, if I remember correctly was about
14,500, or roughly the price of an Accord EX (Lxi). If the Peug 405S was
18,500 (mine), then today it would be placed around the 30K line. I
remember back in 1989, a Saab 900S could be had for 17,500. Today, a 900
(9^3) is around 32K (I think). It would seem to me that the 406 would not
compete with the Camry, or Accord class. It would be priced into the
Volvo V70, BMW 3, A4 class. I think it's better that way. Somehow, I see
the American market considering the Peugeot marque as a luxury European
make rather than a bargain basement no-frills kind of car (aka Honda,
Toyota, etc.)

-Tryg
Seattle, WA

'89 405 S

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