I posted my original review within 3 months of getting my 405GRI. Since then nearly two years have passed and the mileage is up to 160000. So this is just an update so say how good the car has been in the intervening period.
For the two MOTs during my ownership it has needed nothing and three tyres & an exhaust respectively. Apart from routine servicing I've replaced one track rod end (£13 and an hours work), and the other one will need replacing soon. The brushes have gone in the blower motor - of course you have to buy the complete fan from Peugeot at £146+VAT... better head for the scrapyard methinks. And most important of all, there have been no breakdowns and the car starts first time, every time.
It's been run into twice while parked, and although there is some panel damage, the car is still unbowed and goes as well as ever!
I'm on my 2nd Puggie 405 turbo diesel estate. I have animals and need a reliable workhorse to pull trailers full of straw or animal feed, with enough space in the back to take the Rottweiler X Newfoundland dog out and still get 20 nets of horse carrots in the back. My last Puggie had done 248000 miles and ran like a dream. The only reason I got rid was an intermittant electrical fault which annoyed me. This present one has done 178000 and starts first time every time no problem. Always 100% reliable. Whether local short journeys on bumpy country roads, or long motorway trips. A couple of months ago I did an approximate 400 miles round trip towing a trailer full of motorbike bits. The car performed smoothly, was able to accellerate no trouble and used hardly any diesel. They rarely rust either because the bodywork is all galvanised underneath the paintwork. Look about you on the roads. There is a good reason you see so many very old peugeot 405s about. It's cos they simply live forever providing reliable service. It's simply one of the very best value motors anyone could buy wil super low running costs.
spacious, good fuel economy, easy to service, parts are cheap, cheap to buy, reliable
can't think of any.
Reviewing a 1993 model.
405 gltd estate
Owned for more than 5 years.
I own a 1995 405 GLX Diesel. This car was bought for the sum of 500 pounds and I have to say that it has been one the best purchases I have ever made. It starts first time every time no matter the weather, all the electrics work perfectly, and it just went through its MOT with no problems at all.
Locally we have a renault/peugeot/citroen breakers yard who stock every part imaginable so I cant see any problems keeping this car running for a few years yet. I bought the car simply because I wanted a cheap reliable vehicle that would stand up to the abuse inflicted by high mileage travel. This vehicle has done all that so I think I have gotten my monies worth. So to my mind, the peugeot diesel is a fantasticly cheap, econimic workhorse.
Air conditioning has to be bypassed to work passenger electric window sticks dampness in boot clutch juddering in lower gears heavy smoke on start up passenger heated door mirror not working rumbling suspension flickering speedo squeak from driver door area remote alarm not working stereo volume controls on steering not working outside temp gauge faulty readings ABS light appears intermittently battery lead loosening from terminal (fixed) driver door cracking noise (fixed)
Old school diesel-very smoky rattly on start up overgeared- 3rd is too high for town 1st and 2nd gear sluggish.
Serious pull in 3rd gear 80mph tops for cruising 1 liter cars feel more perkier bottom end smooth and refined under acceleration good handling with balanced understeer, but some softness comfortable ride spoiled by typically rumbly suspension lovely velour seats and great looking interior- beautifully designed, superb dashboard, great place to sit in no split seats annoying gear change poor excellent stereo superb practical little touches - courtesy lights, auto boot opening decent space and boot very disappointing fuel economy service parts cheap power steering poor - too heavy surprisingly superb build qulity- interior has no tears scuffs or scrathes or any blemishes -remember 145000miles and over10 years old superb styling in gtx trim when car washed looks absolutely brand spanking new fresh from showroom metallic silver paint gleams and beams even when dirty, very minor scratches, minor rust -but hidden- exceptional cosidering age and mileage doors shut with a heavy solid reassuring thud only really lacking airbags as ABS is standard.
The Peugeot 405 estate 1.9 does 0-60mph in 18.9 secs max. I COULD RIDE A BIKE TO 60 QUICKER THAN THAT ! It is a diesel car though I mean get a grip ! please lol I tried to over take a truck on a back road and I had to pull back in even though the opposite car was 500 ft away or something,basically the truck speeded up and I got a beating. He was faster than me so I had to pull back in and I was stuck behind him for 30 mins. Reccomended subaru estate Weather it is fuel ecomomy you want or power the subaru non turbo will be better than this on power The subaru turbo gets 25mpg in the town 30 combined and look at the performance you are getting. Roughly 4 times faster than that diesel estate same space and practicality better looks and handelling. Subaru non turbo :0-60mph 9.7 Subaru turbo :0-60mph 5.5( lotus elise power) Peugeot 405 estate :18.7( pthpth aahahahaha lolol) Now when I think about it no wonder I was blown away by a tractor last year On the strip foot down hes getting away into second ....into3rd .....into 4th ......into 5th topped out at 110mph tractor---> no where to be seen??? What do you call that bhp or what lol Reccomended for economy only nothing else ha reccomended subaru impreza for space and power !!!!
I have a peugeot 405 - 1998 (R Reg). Since buying it, some 9 months ago, it has been in the garage 4 times - in the last 5 months it has needed 3 new alternators (2 in the last 3 weeks)!!. Basically the battery light keeps coming on. Any ideas as to what the problem could be, as I don't believe it is the alternator. Apart from that great car - ha ha!
Water on the back passenger floor - I was told that it is related to poor drainage from the sunroof! The seal on the roof is felt! My problems occurred in some extreme rain / flooding in Winter 02/03, but have not returned - must have washed the channel out or something.
Excellent car, 32,000 trouble free miles in 2003, and no problems cruising at 100 for hours (1993 405 STDT). My only niggle is that the remote c/l is unpredictable when it works. Get my best result in a local underground car park, works for a few days until I forget and use manual! Puzzling.
Regarding the water getting under the back seat problem. I can only think of 3 possibilities (there may be more). 1st, water could be coming from underneath through a very small hole but this is unlikely as the fuel tank is under the seat. 2nd make sure the door seal is in good condition and the door seats securely on it. 3rd have you had a replacement window or heated rear screen? I mention this as I fit them as a job and it is not uncommon for bonded glass such as these to have a small leak if it is not fitted perfectly.
Got a 405 1.9 diesel which goes very well the problem is we have water coming in and settling under the seat cushion in the back seat meaning we have to use a plastic cover or booster seats. Anybody got any ideas on where it might be coming from I just cant spot where it's getting in.
Bought my 405 GLD in 1997 - K reg with 37k on the clock (price £4000). Still have it with 215,000 miles (almost driven to the moon then). Had to replace occassional worn out parts such as perishables (seals, pipes etc.) and I am on the 2nd clutch - bodywork still excellent and cheap to service - will probably outlive me.
My first, was an MI-16 4x4,88' Bright red with 16" blades, this car was absolutely stunning,got it for a sound price.5 days of Extreme Pleasure,followed by 110 MPH, a right hand dog-leg corner and a grass verge with its very 5 foot boulder. THE END OF A DREAM...
A couple of SRI's later, with engine problems at every corner. With Crippling Frustration setting in,I started to have bad thoughts, FORD MONDEO ST24... Now i'm smiling again,with a grey MI-16, 92'.Spent alot of dosh on it this last year, £1,600 with the only luxery being a £300 exhaust.Still got a couple of problems to sort,so that'll a few more quid. You can't beat an MI-16,my baby is beautiful,Dark,Sleak,Purs like a lion and Roars like a BEAST through the country roads of scotland.
My sisters desperate to buy mine as she's never had so much attention with disbeif from blokes that its a young woman in control of this machine,since borrowing it once or twice.
First off I should explain I'm not one for spending money on cars. My rule is - if I haven't got enough in my pocket to pay for it, then it's too expensive. Explains why I spent the last 5 years driving a Skoda Favorit... it's replacement, a £200 1993 405GRI, has now been around for three months. I'm not going to make any pronouncements about how reliable it is, but the general consensus seems to be that they trundle on for ever... apparently mine is just starting out with 145000 on the clock!
First impressions? It's really nice to drive - soft, comfortable ride yet it goes round corners capably too. There's plenty of go left in the old (2 litre) motor - I've never had the pedal to the metal yet! - and fuel consumption seems OK for this sort of thing at around 35mpg.
Naturally after the Skoda I feel rather spoiled by the hitherto unknown luxuries on offer inside - 'leccy windows and sunroof, CD changer etc. The boot is huge, and there's a ski flap for long pieces of wood - important to DIY-heads like me.
It seems pretty well put together too - the aforementioned Skoda went to the scrapyard because I couldn't be bothered to weld up all the holes in the front and rear inner wings. All the bottoms of the doors had gone, and the rear hatch window had rusted out at the lower edge. My 405 is just a year newer and hasn't got a bit of rust on it. It's not just mine either - I regularly see F, G, H registered examples in equally good nick.
I reckon I was lucky to get mine so cheaply, but I've seen them this age for £350 - £800 in apparently decent order. If it proves to be as reliable as it is enjoyable to drive, then I'll replace it with another one (I always liked the estate) when it eventually dies.
Hi i own a Silver Metalic peugeot 406 1.9TD 92,000 on the clock.I have now had the car for around six months now.When i bought the car it was sitting under a tree and took some bringing up again.That was the easy part. When i looked under the bonnet i saw more oil than the have in saudi on the engine.There was no heat from the heater and the car struggled to get through the gears.I found that the car had another engine fitted which was out of a late Peugeot 405 1.9TD after the previous owner ripped the sump out on the old one seizing the engine.So far on the new engine i have i have changed the rocker cover gasket but still weeps oil why i dont know? Changed the sump gasket all is ok there now and cleaned the engine out with engine and injection cleaner and then totaly Thrashed the car to its limit.Eventually this cleared the engine an it runs sweet as a nut.Bled the radiator ,now the hot air comes out but ever since i had the car i have found that about every two weeks i loose about 2 pints of water from the radiator expansion tank.I have had a pressure check to see if the head has gone but all is ok and checked all the pipes and the are ok but still scratching my head can anyone shed any light on this?
I have owned a Pug 405 gldt since 97'. i love driving this car! i have had lots of fords and audi's and vauxhalls etc but its the chassis and ride of the car that makes it so special. its no slug at the lights but when you get up to 2k revs u can hit the boards and it will leave most others for dust. i am looking for a van at the moment but i just dont want to trade my lovely pug for 500 quid when to me its value is priceless. what can i say, the 405 is a rarity now but if you have one treasure it and enjoy it like me. dave
405 1.6 GL (1993 - L reg). Bought in 2001 for £1,900 (90,000 miles) with new cambelt; now done 110,000. Great car; initially slow off the mark but superb handling far outweighs that. A joy to drive as the advert says.
Erratic petrol gauge readings and very occasional water temp gauge failure seem to result from electrical problems with the dash unit but I can live with these.
No major problems beyond normal wear/tear and MOT bits and pieces. New brake pads along the way. Idling speed went haywire at some stage (idling at 2500 - embarrassing at traffic lights and in stationary town traffic) but visit to Peugeot specialist sorted this out for little money - never found out the reason in words I could understand.
On my experiences so far, if anything terminal happened to this 405, I'd simply go out and find another. Maybe look for a higher spec than this basic 1.6 GL but overall I'd recommend any 405 to anyone.
After reading all your reviews on the 405 Mi16, I can't wait to pick mine up next week. I'm in Sydney, so the prices in Australia are significantly higher. She's a 93 model with the 2 litre, 16V, high compression engine (10.4:1 I think), white in colour and is absolutley gorgeous. So how much do I hear you ask? $8000 AUD. Don't know how much that is in UK pounds though.
As an ex motor mechanic, still with full garage facilities I have owned and worked on lots of cars. My M Reg 405 T.D. Estate has now got 140K on the clock, and has been rock solid and reliable all its life. the only problems are those caused by me:
the air con packed up because I never used it enough and the seals in the compressor dried up, the gas escaped, as a consequence I never turn it on any more. All I should have done is run the air con for 15 minutes a week and had the gas topped up every now and again and it would still be working.
sencond, and final point. at the moment is is a pig to start becasue air is leaking into fuel system overnight. I need to chase down the leak and it should sort it, will post how I did it on the site later.
everything else is fine. I drive it hard and it always does 42 mpg. I never use 5th gear under 50 mph to save the gearbox grinding itself to death and the box is sweet still.
change the transmission oil every now an again and the box will stay sweet.
parts are very cheap providing you stay away from the main dealer, he is the bloke with the mask and the pistol in his hand.
I will change the cam belt soon and have asked anyone if they have any tips, as I collect pearls of wisdon like this.
if anyone wants any practical information I would be happy to share my experience.
I've been driving my 1991 405GLD estate from new (it was a Company Car but I bought it in 1994 when I was made redundant). It has 261000 mile on the clock, and still goes well (or as well as any non turbo diesel goes, not the fastest away from the traffic lights!!!). It,s a great load carrier and tows the boat without problems. I've only replaced the exhaust once, and the clutch is still original (is that a record?)but is starting to go. I change the oil every 6000 miles or so, and the cam belt every 40K. Body work is good, and no major mechanical problems in the time I've be driving it. Oh, the alternator went at 255K and had to be replaced. I feel I must change this car soon, as it can't keep going -- can it? So, all you low milage 405 diesel owners out there, with under 200K on the clock, take heart. You've got a few more miles in that motor yet.
I picked up my '88 F reg 405GLD 1.9 for nothing in the summer of 2002. The engine has just under 250,000 on the clock and is in no danger of packing in. All the usual pug problems came with her, coolant leaks and the ppor build quality inside the car. Apart from that I cant find a problem with her. As a normally aspirated diesel its painfully slow, yet has high insurance costs. Very econimical and the second best handling car i hav ever owned - the best being a '97 306 TD -
If you dont mind spendind the occasional sataday afternoon with a screwdriver and a haynes manual you can do alot worse than a pug diesel. I just wish the designers knew about easy access to serviceable parts. Especially the clutch clip that goes on ALL 405's at some point. (Try dropping the pedals for better access by the way). I'm hoping to get a 1.9 SRi soon. Because its a nippy car and guess what - its CHERAPER to insure than the snail-like diesel car!! If you want a 405 I'd recommend a turbo diesel for the best comprimise between reliability and economy and performance.
PS Where are all the used SRi 405's at - I want one!!!
All ratings and reviews are submitted by visitors to this web site, and represent their own personal opinion. They do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Preloved.
You use this information at your own risk. Preloved can not be held responsible for any damages or loss resulting from the use of this site. Please see our Terms and Conditions for more details.
