Join In

Comments (1)

  • I always remember the first time I saw a picture of the prototype 406 Coupe on the back of the Sunday Times in late 1995. At the time the James Bond film ‘Golden Eye’ had just been released and the 406 Coupe screamed Ferrari 355 all over. The 406 coupe is probably one of the most beautiful Peugeot’s ever made and the Pininfarina styling is a sight to behold.

    Of course I’m biased here as my daily driver for almost a decade was a 2003 2.2 HDI in the best colour ‘Ferrari Red’. Peugeot’s relationship with the Italian styling house goes back to the 60s. The 406 coupe was actually even built in Italy by Pininfarina. Although over 100,000 were produced during its 7 year lifespan, the sheer beauty of the thing is sure to make it a future classic. If the pillarless doors aren’t enough to tempt you then pace around the car. From the curved buttress in the rear, to the lovely elegant nose up front, there isn’t a line, angel or detail that hinders its beauty. The 406 coupe was always compromised by its dreary, dark interior and as time has passed this still looks dated. But sure its the outside that everyone looks at!

    The seating and the driving position of the coupe point to a ‘Grand Tourer’ rather than a speed demon through the corners. Despite this, the handling is positive and the sports suspension although harder than the saloon; easily absorbs the lumps and bumps in the road. Remember the Coupe comes from a time when Peugeot were making some of the best driving cars in the world. The subtle ride is matched by the excellent refinement in the cabin.

    Unlike most coupes of the time, the 406 is practical and can be used every day. There is plenty of room both front and rear. The backseats actually fold flat and can swallow almost any load that you need. I can attest to this as when I was building my house I often used the coupe as my main workhorse to transport cement and timber.

    406 interior

    The demand for the 406 was so vast that Peugeot even fitted a diesel. The 406 Coupe was one of first stylish coupes in the world to come with an oil burner. However it didn’t take from the car one bit. The 2.2 HDI was one of the most advanced engines in its day and today is still torquey, smooth and really efficient. It can be left down a bit by its turbo lag and the reliability of its dreaded particle filter; a problem which we have all come to know about from all diesels in recent years.

    The 3 litre V6 petrol has the power to match its supercar looks but in terms of running costs I’d opt for the 2 litre petrols as they are easier to service, tax and insure. Finding a good one is already a challenge with many coupes having covered galactic mileage. But if you search hard enough and pay the extra few quid then it is definitely worth it. The 406 has style, substance and soul and is a classic in the making. It stood out in the 90s as the coupe to have and on its 20th birthday, it still looks as good as ever.

      4 years ago
1