peugeot 406 1.8 lx rapier review

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Average Ratings

Performance	2/10
Practicality	4.6/10
Reliability	6.2/10
Value for Money	2.8/10
Reviewer Rating	2.4/10
Overall Rating	3.5/10

20% Recommended1 out of 5 Reviews

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By Illuminatio on 16th Nov 2003

Illuminatio's Ratings

Performance	1/10
Practicality	5/10
Reliability	7/10
Value for money	3/10
Overall value	1/10
Illuminatio's recommendation

Good Points

It has not broken down or failed to start in 3 years (60,000 miles).

Bad Points

1. Excruciatingly uncomfortable.
2. Flimsy build quality.
3. Poor attention to detail in design.
4. Inadequate air-conditioning.
5. Burns oil.
6. Tired & sluggish engine.

General Comments

In the 3 years I have had this car, I have never found a comfortable driving position. I now have persistent pain in my right leg due to trapped nerves, and I get pains and pins & needles in both legs when I have been in the car for about 10 minutes - tough when my job means I have to spend many hours on the motorways.

My neighbour have five cats. When she throws the empty cat food tins in the recycling bin every night, I hear the same sound that I hear when I close the boot lid of the 406. Come to think of it, I always wondered is actually made from those recycled cat food tins: now I know... The build standard really is very tinny.

Since it was about a year old (around 20,000 miles) the engine has burned oil: roughly 1 litre every 2,000 - 2,500 miles. I queried this with my local Peugeot dealer, who said that it is perfectly normal. That is, they consider it to be "normal" that the engine burns 4 - 5 litres between minor inspections and 8 - 10 litres between major services! The last car I owned that used ANY oil between services was a Mini from the 1970s.

The "climate control" is only an auto temperature controller attached to a simple on-off aircon system. There is no air distribution to the rear passenger area and no evidence of additional temperature or humidity sensors, so the system is unable to maintain an even temperature through the passenger compartment and needs manual adjustment if the outside air temperature varies over a wide range. Another point is that, in spite of the aircon, there is no cold air supply to the glovebox to be able to use it as a chiller; a minor point, perhaps, but a standard feature on more up-to-date cars.

I don't like the lighting controls; I don't see the necessity of having them ALL (headlights, front fogs & rear fogs) on multiple twist rings on the end of the indicator / dipswitch stalk - very fiddly.

The "intelligent" intermittent wiper control simply chooses a speed at random; the dealer has never managed to make any difference.

On the whole, I think it's a heap of flimsy junk.

Suspension & handling: average.

On the plus side, it's never broken down or failed to start. I drive reasonably briskly and the car returns about 38 - 42 mpg generally.

Total Respect: -5