13 Apr 04
2.0 - 1998cc, 135bhp, four cylinders; 2.2 HDi - 2179cc, 136bhp, four cylinders; 3.0 V6 - 2946cc, 194bhp (210bhp from 2000), V6
£5500-£18,000
Very high mileages, sagging interior and loose trim, electrical faults, oil leaks, service history - cam-belt changes are crucial
It's that Pininfarina badge again, this time stuck to the side of the coupe version of Peugeot's otherwise workaday 406 - a car most commonly seen in diesel form, slogging up and down the nation's motorways and clogging up TravelLodge car parks. True to form, the master's touch has created a glamourpuss for the range, and the 406 Coupe looks a lot more expensive (and Italian) than it really is. Reviving memories of the lovely 504 and cute 304 cabriolets, and a time when Peugeot was recognised for making more than just practical superminis and hot hatches, this coupe put Ford to shame (think Cougar) as an exercise in image elevation.
The 3.0 V6 is the only version to have, although the just-released 2.2 HDI does prove that diesel engines and coupe body styles can make an appealing, if unusual, combination - the plentiful torque of the common-rail, direct-injection oil-burner means it actually feels more meaty to drive than the V6 petrol. But refined as the HDI is, the smooth, refined V6 is still more in keeping with the character of the car, and because this engine was available from launch, you can find older and cheaper examples. Pass over the 2.0-litre: it simply isn't quick enough and is exceedingly dull. Standard equipment from launch included twin airbags, alloy wheels, ABS, sports seats and electric windows; the V6 had air-conditioning (optional on the 2.0-litre in lieu of an electric sunroof) and a CD autochanger. The V6 SE models didn't offer significantly more kit, with additional electric folding mirrors, electric front windows with memory, a higher-spec stereo and headlamp wash-wipe, although they do, of course, bring the cachet of driving a range-topping model. Leather upholstery remained an option until mid-'99, when the SE versions (now available with the 2.0-litre engine as well) became worth spending extra on, as they also got head and chest airbags and a further upgraded stereo. The 1999 models also received a new grille, headlights, bonnet and interior restyling, and the V6 engine itself was revised in early 2000, when it got an extra 16 bhp. Four years on, the 406 coupe still looks as good as it did at launch, and its crisp lines shouldn't date too quickly.
