Looking at 2000 406 ST $4000 NZ

[ATinyChipmunk]

Hey as the topic says im looking at buying a 2000 pug 406 ST version 120,000 KM in the clock, at 100k the cambelt, water pump and fans where changed.

its $4000k NZ dollers, our money is 3x more than yours. (pounds)

the airbag lights were flashing but they have fixed this. Ive noticed the brake fluid thing comes up in the console, would this be eletroic error or really is it low?

Pugs are very rear in NZ and parts are expensive, what is most likely to fail.

Now a background on me.
Im 18 y/o IT techintion So bacicly a nerd. I care about safty. This will be my first car, and will be learning how to drive in it.
I have the money to buy the car and seams like a bargin to me.

What do you guys think?

Thanks,
Aaron

[steve_earwig]

Hi Aaron, I think you've been spoilt by spel chekerz

If the display is actually saying your brake fluid's low then maybe you could, like, look at the reservoir There was a problem on the earier cars where the handbrake switch screws up but I don't think that applies.

Umm, rotting radiator connectors, rotting air con condensor. Make sure all the electronics work and the air con blows cold. Useless handbrakes are par for the course, as are broken road springs (they only seem to do this when the car's stationary though).

Wouldn't you prefer something smaller to learn in?

[ATinyChipmunk]

Nah im thinking, if i learn in a bigger car, i will see that is the norm anyway.

All the eletronics appar to be working, the air con does blow very cold. The handbrake is good, We did hte auto test (btw its a auto) put the hand brake on and tryed to drive away worked fine (starting to move foward, rear tires also stayed locked.

[Welly]

The low brake fluid will indeed be the handbrake light switch, more of an annoyance really! a good old "work out" on the handbrake normally makes it go away for ages (that's all I do).

I assume it's a Petrol engine? if so there's nothing really to worry about other than routine fluid changes and cambelt. The petrol is a simple unit and can take a lot of neglect (servicing wise) and still be fine.

In the UK our air con condensor radiators fail at 7/8 years old because dead leaves and road salt/grime all gather at the bottom of the electric fan cowling/casing and rot the bottom of the aluminium condensor You might be lucky in NZ though with the different climate etc.

When looking at a 406 just check everything works, insist on at least a 30min test drive and make sure the cooling fan kicks in and out when the engines hot (you will need to turn off the a/c to do this because that will run the fan and fool you) also check the look of the coolant in the resevoir bottle (with cold engine!) it should be a clear blueish/green colour or even red. If it looks like sewerage then it's not been changed regularly and can lead to problems with the water pump.

Otherwise check the brake discs for signs of wear (the rear discs should be clean and shiney) the handbrake is always poor but holds ok if you pull it like a Gorilla! Also check for suspension knocks (usually drop links, fairly cheap).

Try and get a nice tidy straight car. The 406 dents easily on it's side panels in car parks etc.

Dare I mention we have a memeber from Auz on here - "STALLED" he may be able to be more specific to your country about stuff (we don't get "ST's" over here for example).

With this car being an slushmatic I would recommend having the fluid changed asap (it will save the gearbox in the long run) if that thing plays up it will cost you the same again to fix it

Welcome and good luck fella!

[ATinyChipmunk]

Ive booked it in for an automotive cheak on monday, ill bring it back to my house tomorrow and check these things.

Thank you very much. I think the ST might be the same as ur HDi, it has the 2.0 l petrol.

[Welly]

All our models are LX, GLX, executive etc. the HDi means High Pressure Direct injection.

Not sure what ST means? - Sosige & Tomatoe?

[ATinyChipmunk]

Hmm. well its a 2l, 4 door sedan, looks like the ones in ur guys sigs that ive seen. ill link to a photo (s) of it.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =167746484

(i know its expired, im talking with the seller)

[DaiRees]

That looks like the equivalent to our LX to me, maybe a GLX with the alloys. Nasty scratches on the front bumper.

Welcome by the way

[ATinyChipmunk]

Thanks, great to be here .

So what do you guys think?

Good buy?

The scratches on the front are just scuffs. so that's ok, there are some dings, nothing some touch up paint can't fix.

You think i should go for it? I found a review last night (cant find it now though) but it said the alloys were a add on, and so were the side airbags (how can i tell if it has them and no just the cover?)

From the review it said it had a 97kw engine (136hp)

[ianst28]

and so were the side airbags (how can i tell if it has them and no just the cover?)

try getting someone to hit you side on @ around 40mph if there is a big bang and a white balloony thing comes out of your seat and burns you on the way past then chances are you have side airbags either that or you just got hit by a truck with an unsafe load of melting hot marshmellow

other than that i guess checking under the seats for extra wiring but i've never heard of someone fitting covers with airbag sides on i dont know about nz but here in the uk i think it would be a dubious legal practice thingie

[ATinyChipmunk]

Beside the drivers and passenger seats it has a black box, with the side airbag symbol on it (sticker) and when the airbag lights where flashing that included the side ones.

[steve_earwig]

Put it this way, if it's not got them they'll never go wrong

[steve_earwig]

...an unsafe load of melting hot marshmellow

Why does that remind me of the bit in Fantastic Voyage when the white blood cell breaks through the top of the sub and starts disolving the guy's head?

[ATinyChipmunk]

yea but then they will never save me from a side on crash

[ianst28]

yea but then they will never save me from a side on crash

aaaaaaaaaa but you never asked if they would save you
all you asked was how could you tell if they were there



ps. sorry for the sarcasm it's that time of the evening and well i thought it was funny when i wrote it