Faults:

Shocks, CV joints, springs, mostly suspension wear and tear, but I did do a lot of miles in it. Ditto for brakes and exhaust. I kept it serviced on time and never had any engine or gearbox trouble. Electrical's were a nightmare however; alternator and battery, erratic electric windows, dash lights coming on when there was not a fault, etc etc. Bodywork had slight paint fade and some rust spots in my last few years of ownership.

General Comments:

The 406 is good looking for a family saloon and still good looking to this day in my opinion. This was one of the first of the updated shape (1999/2000 models) on the already sharp looking 1995 car.

The LX model is mid range. No fancy features, but enough electric equipment typical for a car from this time. Seats were very comfortable and the ride was smooth. A bit dull and grey, but on the outside it looked the part, very sharp with metallic blue paint and alloy wheels. Always got nice comments from people about how good looking it was.

To drive it was nice though the gear-change felt a little vague. Handling was sharp enough with surprisingly little body roll for a softer suspension car. 2.0 petrol engine was fast enough, but I thought the fuel consumption was poor - really struggled for over 30 MPG, should have been mid to high 30's in my opinion. Many years ago I had a 2.0 Vauxhall Carlton that was honestly slightly better on fuel, and it was a slightly bigger car. In between that and this car I had a 405 and Mondeo that again were both better on fuel and had the same engine sizes (1.8/2.0). I did hear the diesel version of this car is worth checking out as it did more than 50 MPG, impressive for its time, and you saw a lot as taxi's. Speaking of Taxi's, there is a hilarious 1990's French film called "Taxi" that featured a white V6 model 406 that is worth a watch.

Looking back it was a good car for me, despite not being quite as reliable as the 405. But the 406 was better looking at-least. Had it for 10 years and sold it in 2016. Not many about now (they stopped making them in 2003) and I would advise against the newer 407, I have heard they are even more unreliable. I drive a modern BMW 5 series now that I like very much and it's obviously a better car, but is very expensive to run. Still miss my 406!

Faults:

Oil leakages.

ABS sensor.

General Comments:

This car relaxed me on the road. It is a superior driving machine with comfort and economy.

Faults:

The speedometer dips to 0 and then jumps back to the correct speed; this has happened three times while I've had the car. This is a relatively common fault with the speed sensor on the gearbox on both the Peugeot 406 and the Citroën Xantia, with which it shared its platform.

High oil usage, especially when driven hard. Nearly 1 litre in 4000km. Even when new, this is a particular trait of the 2.2 petrol engine, due to high PCV pressure.

Other than that, nothing apart from the expected wear and tear on a 12-year old car.

General Comments:

A real driver comfort-oriented tourer, with long service intervals (1 year/30,000km) and extremely competent handling.

The 2.2 petrol engine is a bit thirsty by modern standards (8.7l/100km), but it's also smooth, has good torque and makes a great noise.

The gearbox is serviceable, but not the best I've used. Throws are rather long and the synchros can be a bit sluggish on downshifts, especially when cold. Ratios are good for a 5-speed box, with 130km/h corresponding to 3300rpm.

The TS trim level trades a bit of comfort for a stiffer setup that pays dividends in the corners. Only the Mondeo from the same era could match it for price/handling ratio, and it's still among the best today. The high-speed ride is very comfortable and the car gently smooths out bumpy motorway or highway surfaces.

Interior quality is solid and well built, instruments are clear and easily readable, and the multifunction display has the most important information at a glance. Buttons and switchgear have a very plasticky feeling to them, though.

The stock Clarion stereo has great sound and supports an optional CD changer. I've added an AUX input to the CD changer port instead so I can use my MP3 player. The adapter is cheap, and any Peugeot dealer should be able to unlock the CD changer functionality in a couple of minutes.

Seats are comfortable and have a large range of adjustment. Huge amounts of space in the back seat as well; the 406 seats 5 adults no problem.