Hello from north-east England!

[MCN]

I've owned Peugeots ever since starting to learn to drive, and I passed my test in my very own 206 1.4LX. Sadly I have no photos of that car since it was before Facebook, and before I started taking photos of cars for Facebook.

I traded that in for my first true love, a 306 estate 1.9TD:



And this started my love affair with the Peugeot 1.9 XUD Turbo.

I fell into some financial hardship, so my first love had to be sold, and I was without a car for five years, until I got back onto my feet. As soon as I could afford it, I got my first 406, a rather tatty looking 1.9TD LX:



Not the best condition, had previously been in an accident and repaired, and some bits either didn't work, or only worked when they wanted to. I didn't care, though. She was mine, and she took me places.

Until last Tuesday, when she failed her MOT in a very dramatic fashion, requiring repairs that would cost more and 1.5 times what I'd paid for her. Sadly, it was time for to go the the great scrapyard in the sky.

Roll forward to yesterday, when I picked up this beauty:



An immaculate 1996 1.9TD Executive, with all the trimmings, and only 86,000 miles on the clock. Full leather interior, with all mod cons. She is my new love, and she's an absolute beast on the A19 going to work!

I am firmly of the opinion that Peugeot in the 90's were at the absolute top of their game, and the XUD is one of the greatest diesel car engines ever made. I hope I fit in here!

[GingerMagic]

Hi, welcome to the club. The 406 looks good, nice colour..

We had a 306 DT ( R-reg ) for over 13 years, never missed a beat and went really well. Sold it and bought a Picasso as the family are growing..

The XUD is a great engine, as is the Hdi so I guess its whatever you prefer - I like both

[PeterN]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I have been a Citroen man for the last 30 years, with CX,BX and XM but I now have a 406 estate and a C5 and I am of the opinion that the 406 is the best car Peugeot have made, it doesn't ride like the citroen but it handles beautifully.

I thnk the best XUD engine was the 2.1 in the XM, ran those for over 15 years, more economical and smoother than the 1.9 although to give praise when due the XUD engine was the one that really revolutionized diesel motoring.

My 406 is an early Hdi with the 8 valve engine and although not as smooth as the 2.1 for reliability they can't be beaten, the 406 has done 232,000 miles and is mostly original, including the clutch, DMF and head gasket, I have not had an XUD do much more than 150k on the original head gasket.

The Hdi is also better on fuel and will do 60mpg+ driven gently but then I used to get over 50mpg on a long run from the 2.1 XUD in the XM. The road tax is also cheaper on the Hdi as the emissions are lower.

I have done hundreds of thousands of miles on XUDs and was very nervous about changing to common rail but I took the plunge about 4 years ago and so far have been able to repair everything that's gone wrong, which is very little on the 406 although the C5 has not been as reliable.

Enjoy your car.

Peter

[MCN]

I've not tried an HDi yet. Maybe for the next car, hey? I can't get over how comfortable the new car is to drive, and how much more power it has over my tatty old 406. I think the turbo must have been screwed in my old one.

[Doggy]

Hi and welcome aboard.

Love the new car, I'd like to see some more pics, particularly of the interior as I've never seen a D8 exec up close. I'm on my 2nd later shape (D9) exec - they're nice but the early cars look plusher, I think.
The XUD's a great engine and the electronically controlled Bosch fuel system on 1.9 406's does a great job of optimising the low end torque to enable it to work really well in the heavier 406. It'll run happily on veg oil too..... Never had one myself, but my bro had a 98 estate for several years, he loved it. Unfortunately, they never made a 1.9 exec estate.

HDi's are great too, the logical progression from the XUD. Only engine I've owned since 2004 and the most reliable I've met in my million-odd mile private motoring history.

[MCN]

I'm happy to oblige!

[Uberderv]

Nice wish I'd held out for an exec... Look at all those gadgets and leather.

[rwb]

wow!
That's a pretty special 406.

[Doggy]

Very nice, thanks for posting.

[MCN]

Only paid £590 for it, too. Absolute bargain.