Used Peugeot 406 Coupe 1996 - 2004 review

The Peugeot 406 Coupe is a breath of fresh air. To make it, the standard 406 got a makeover from Italian designers Pininfarina and the results were largely successful. It doesn't quite have the charisma of, say a Fiat Coupe, but its clean lines are tasteful and sleek.

Once inside, though, the deisgn is disappointing. The seating is uncomfortable, the switchgear looks cheap and the dashboard is plasticky. The control stalks are spindly, too, and only the chrome surrounds on the dials point to something other than a normal mass-produced saloon.

At least, there's plenty of headroom, and you can seat two in the back with few dramas. It has a sizeable boot, too.

Once you turn the key, things get better. A satisfying, yet friendly thrum at low revs turns into a healthy growl once you get over 4000 revs. The handling is positive and there's plenty of grip around demanding corners, while the smooth suspension easily absorbs lumps and bumps.

Running costs depend on which model you buy. The 3.0-litre will do 30mpg if you are lucky, and the diesel could well manage 40mpg and over.

Build quality on all models is dodgy. Don't be surprised if you get a few squeaks and creaks and switchgear that works irregularly. If an indicator stalk breaks, don't worry, because Peugeot has constructed more robust replacements. Cambelts on diesels need to changed every 96,000 miles and on petrols every 80,000 miles.

Don't forget this is regarded as a high-performance car and you can expect a few hiccups along the way. It's a Pininfarina-styled car, and their owners have Pininfarina-style driving ambitions - with some possibly nasty damage as a result. That said, many have come from fleets, so you can pick up a well-looked after example inexpensively.

The 3.0-litre V6 is the wise choice - there's little point in the 2.0-litre petrol, which is pretty gutless.

However, if you want to keep costs down, you might opt for the 2.2-litre diesel, although it wasn't available throughout the car's life. It has just enough grunt to keep you amused, although it's not fantastic in town. Like every model in the range, it works best when stretching its legs on an open road.

Overall, it pays to buy the newest model you can. The car was introduced in 1997 with the 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre petrol engines, and had a miled face-lift in 1999, when the 3.0-litre got more power - up from 194bhp to 210bhp.

In 2000 ABS was fitted as standard - a good thing for a car with this much power, and ESP was added to the 3.0 V6. Sat-nav was introduced as standard on 2.0SE model and then in June 2002 the 2.2 diesel arrived.

Later, the black and silver 'specials' were introduced which included half-leather trim, 16-inch alloy wheels and an uprated stereo system.

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