Peugeot 406 Estate (1996 - 2004) 2.0 HDi LX (110bhp) 5d (AC) (2002/51) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

This car says that I'm after more than the run of the mill family car - the 406 is a cut above the Mondeo or Vectra of the same age

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Would you buy this car again and why?

What are you likely to buy next?

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£8,500

When did you buy the car?

January 2005

Did you get a good deal and why?

Book price at the time was abot £10k - I paid £8500 and a 2 year guarantee, I bought the car at a car supermarket

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

I needed a big diesel estate car

What was the dealer like?

What's it like to drive?

Inspires confidence, you can throw it into the bends and it will ride through comfortably, suprising consider that its as long as a Landrover Discovery. I have the 2.0 HDi 110, which isn't the quickest machine on the road, but is smooth and refined, plus returns 40+ mpg and because of its low emissions only costs £105 to tax for a YEAR!!!

What's it like to park?

The nose is long, so squeezing into tight spaces isn't easy. Also due to its length, it tends to stick out in the multi story car parks.

Have you had any problems with the car?

I've had to replace the exhaust - front and back box. Back box was reasonalby cheap, but the front segment contained the CAT and set me back over £200. Its currently using a lot of water in the rad, but my mechanic thinks it may be a leaky rad hose rather than the cylinder head - I hope he's right. Otherwise - its fine, no electrical problems at all (which older Pug's are famous for)

What's most practical about your car?

The boot - Its huge, I'd looked at a number of MPV's prior to buing the 406 - It's boot is bigger than most. I have young kids, and the boot swallows up the buggies, travel cot, and all the other bits and bobs, and still has room for the weekly shop. Not a lot of cubbie holes inside the cabin though! The car has loads of great and simple little ideas, such as a hook to hold the boot floor up when accessing the spare wheel so you can use boh hands, and the wheel brace doubles up as a handle for the jack.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

climate control - suprised to have it fitted to the LX model. Auto wipers are a bit anoying, especially in drizzle