SE trim with cruise control and heated and electric leather front seats
Low car tax - £270 per year
The Appeal
The 406 Coupe is one of those cars that shouldn’t really exist but enthusiasts are very glad it does. There was no obvious reason for Peugeot to offer a coupe version of its much-loved 406 saloon – that body style was usually the preserve of premium marques – but they went ahead anyway, in the process creating one of the best-looking coupes of the last 30 years.
The credit for that really lies with Pininfarina, which came up with the idea and sold it to Peugeot. There was a long history of collaboration between the two firms. The famed design house also made selling the 406 Coupe possibly because each one was built not in France by Peugeot but in Italy by Pininfarina.
Today the 406 is a rare sight, one of those modern classics that is beloved of a growing band of enthusiasts but little known more widely. Those fans recognise what a good car it is: a lovely sonorous V6 with plenty of heft, dependable 406 underpinnings and sweet handling and of course it looks great.
This 406 Coupe is a particularly desirable specification, a V6 with manual gearbox and luxury SE trimmings, including heated and electric leather seats. It has been little used by its Seller, who has owned it for 17 years, and is just at that point where some well-targeted expenditure will add value and improve this fundamentally solid car. It’s ready for some preventative maintenance and then to be enjoyed. nZnI21416QKMfFNx3lz0l5Y6LWPWrtIOWStuS9AK.jpg286.99 KB
Full leather interior with heated and electric front seats
Rear seats particularly attractive and look virtually new
Cruise control
Carpets generally in good condition
Headlining showing mould and will require cleaning
One of the criticisms of early Coupes was that inside all that lovely bodywork was the interior of a 406 saloon. Fortunately this car was one of the first to receive the updated interior of April 1999. It seems to suit the Coupe much better and provides a more quality feel befitting of all that lovely exterior metalwork.
This car is a SE model with some useful factory options including cruise control and memory seats. The standard SE specification also includes full leather – of a particularly lovely design, especially the rear seats – and heated and electric front seats.
The leather is generally in very good condition and belies the age of the car. The rear seats look almost like new. The only indication of wear is on the driver’s seat which has creased on the bolster. The plastic beading on the seat bolster has also worn through. This would likely be a relatively inexpensive repair.
Elsewhere there is wear on the gear-lever reflective of the age and mileage of the car. The dashboard is in good, unmarked condition and the original Clarion factory fitted radio is present.
The main issue in the interior is the mould on the headlining, an unfortunate consequence of this car being parked outside and little used in recent years. The headlining is not sagging and appears in otherwise good condition so a decent weekend cleaning regime would likely rectify the issue.aJEHh6GA0qxZH7nCEY5ddDeI6KPFl1D6pv1P3vzA.jpg318.56 KB
The Exterior
Cosmos Grey bodywork
MOT to November 2023 with no structural advisories
Solid underside but would benefit from cleaning and undersealing
Original 16inch ‘starfish’ allow wheels
Some deterioration to front and rear bumpers
Corrosion beginning to appear at base of nearside rear wing
The Coupe design is simple, unfussy and elegant, its neat proportions cleverly disguising its saloon underpinnings. The tiny rear buttresses are one of many neat styling tricks around the car.
The Cosmos Grey paint finish on this car seems to suit the understated style of the Coupe. The simple five spoke factory alloys look equally right.
This car has been little used in recent years and has been parked outside when not in use. This is beginning to show through in the bodywork, which is just starting to deteriorate in places that Coupe enthusiasts will expect, such as the back of the sills. The nearside rear wing on this car shows the first signs of corrosion at its base ahead of the arch. No structural issues were picked up on the MOT in November so this could likely be arrested by some preventative maintenance now that would avoid bigger bills in the future.
The same is true of the underside of the car. The MOT did not pick up any structural issues here either but there are signs of surface corrosion. Some attention now with a wire brush and a can of underseal would likely pay dividends in the future.
The issues with the rest of the car are cosmetic. There are cracks and scuffs on both bumpers and the engine undertray appears to be loose, particularly on the offside. There is a scuff on the offside front wheel arch.
The 16inch alloy wheels appear to be in generally good condition, with only minor kerbing on both nearside wheels detracting. The tyres appear good – they are 6 years old but look to have plenty of tread. The front offside tyre appears partially deflated in the photographs so the buyer may wish to check this with the Seller. GxgsR12CzdvvjNATlsxSA8QlYq2nyKdkuIMcay0g.jpg268.48 KB
The Mechanics
190bhp 2946cc V6 engine
Five speed manual gearbox
Serviced 2,000 miles ago
Very limited history file
Current owner for 17 years, bought car with 70,000 miles
Maintained by owner’s friend who owns a garage
The V6 engine feels like a natural choice for this pretty Coupe. The useful 190bhp isn’t really the headline here: it’s the sensation of that woofly surge of power delivered every time you put your foot down. In the late 90s every mainstream manufacturer was rushing to put V6 engines in their mid-market models in a bid to compete with the premium marques. The one dropped into the 406 and its Coupe cousin was one of the best.
This car has the desirable combination of manual 5spd gearbox mated to that 2946cc engine.
There is little history with the car beyond old MOTs to verify the mileage. The Seller says that he bought the car in 2005 with 70,000 miles and has used it very little in recent years.
Shortly after buying the car the Seller replaced the radiator. The belts were professionally replaced at 100,000 miles which, based on the MOT history, was in 2011. The recommended interval is 60,000 miles or 5 years so the buyer may wish to factor this in.
Seller says that otherwise the car has not needed any work apart from regular servicing, which has been carried out by a local mechanic friend. It was last serviced 2,000 miles ago. He states that the service warning light on the dashboard indicates 2,500 miles remaining. However, given the very limited use this car has had since 2015 the buyer may wish to invest in a full service.
The 406 Coupe is one of the prettiest two door cars of the last few decades and, with so few sold, is a rare sight on our roads. It’s now gathering an enthusiastic following.
This Coupe seems to be structurally solid but looks to be just at that point where careful preventative mechanical and structural maintenance would add value. There are some cosmetic issues but the interior is very good. It is a pretty car and that V6 motor and manual gearbox give it potential as a very useable daily driver or weekend fun car.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
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