GTP Cool Wall: Peugeot 406 Coupe V6. Voting Closed

[Famine]

The cruiser thing is certainly true. daan and I drove his car from Scotland to Holland and back (in varying stages) with Venari in the back for some of it. And no-one contracted spina bifida.

 

[Boffin]

"This isn't to say it isn't a cool car"... and then you voted it uncool...

Also, FWD does not immediately make a car crap or somehow inferior. I can't see why people keep bringing this one up.



I'm confuzzled. There are "cruisers" that are far less practical - you can quite happily get four people in a 406 Coupe and the boot is quite large - and certainly no less practical than a saloon's boot. Also, the popular concept of a four-door coupe didn't really exist back in 1997 so it's not like they chose to make a 2-door one rather than a 4-door one. So the comparison with the much newer CLS is also a mystery, as is why it's "trying too hard" if it only has two doors. Lets look at it's competitors around the same time (from memory, these ones were all compared to it in road tests at the time):

BMW E36 3-Series coupe, Fiat Coupe, Alfa Romeo GTV, Toyota Celica, Honda Prelude, Hyundai Coupe, Vauxhall Calibra, Ford Cougar, Nissan 200SX, Rover 1.8 VVC coupe, etc...

What format are they all in? Yup, two doors. I think out of all those there are only two hatchbacks rather than true coupes too, the Hyundai and the Toyota. And apart from probably the BMW, the Peugeot is much more suited to carrying more than two passengers than the others.

Colour coded because I dodn't want to faf with

over again.

Ok, so I said this, and I knew someone would pick up on it, but if you read the bit before instead of taking that last bit, it makes sense. I said put together with the previously stated stuff such as

Problem is that its quite heavy, quite soft, hasn't got the most power in the world and its FWD - which, when you have all the previously mentioned facts, is quite bad. This means it can't be a weekend weapon. This isn't to say it isn't a cool car.

So what I said was, with all that in mind, it is not going to be considered a cool car because it is a weekend weapon, because it isn't....as I just stated.

....and because I deducted that, I said "right can it be considered cool because its a cruiser?" I deducted not - and maybe that is a personal thing, but if I wanted a stylish, soft (well...it sort of is) cruiser, I'd have opted for 4 doors. May be a personal opinion - but so is whether something is cool or not.

The words I put in bold: Coolness changes over time too. This car may have appeared cool to me back in 1997, but not really now. Its not a timeless design or emotion like the 300SL or 250GTO.

Out of that list of cars, the E36 and the 200SX are weekend weapons that can handle, so, to me, they don't have to be good at cruising - as they make a good handling cars that are availiable for the greater community (sort of) and I like what they stand for. Other than that, the Alfa is probably the only other car I'd consider cool (maaaybe the Calibra).

Don't get me wrong - I have no problem with FWD cars. Indeed I lust for a 205GTI 1.9 as my first steed (apart from the Volvo 850 that I currently roll around in). Its just I don't like what this is doing - sorta reminds me of the Astra Cabriolet in terms of target market.

 

[Famine]

Calibra

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

(maaaybe the Calibra).

Only cool thing about that was the C20LET.

 

[Thatman]

I gave it a cool cause it looks like you could have potential with it....

 

[Boffin]

I dunno - I was a 90's boy - which means I'm likely to like a few wierd things. A Diablo over a Murcielago for instance. I spose it was because I loved seeing some og the DTM racing with the Calibra that made me think, yeah...thats pretty cool. Although there is a :censored:er that has done one up around here sooo bad - and it makes a horrible drone from a new exhaust system and an auto box.....horrible specimen.

Peugeot's "design" was everything you can't see. How the car looks is Pininfarina. Remember, they built it, not Peugeot, so the design was based around Pininfarina's tooling and factory, not Peugeot's.

Yes I know this also - but it is not my opinion that purely the aesthetics make this car a gadget. For it to be a gadget the function is just as telling as the form. The features, the driving dynamics, what this car stands for etc. It was probably in the design brief what it was supposed to be like. Pininfarina did their bit so did Peugeot.

 

[daan]

a smoooooooth 2.5 V6

a smoooooooth 3.0 V6

It's actually a 2.9, but don't tell anyone... (2946cc ≠ 3.0 litre)

That could either be a comfortable GT cruiser or a sporty nippy little thing.

It is a very comfortable GT cruiser. The leather, heated, fully electrically adjustable Recaros are the comfiest car seats I've ever sat on. It can cruise all day at 🤬, err, motorway speeds...

It's practical too. The boot is exactly the same size as the 406 saloons, as is the rear legroom. Rear headroom is down a couple of inches on the saloon, but I'm 6 foot 3 ish and I can comfortably sit in the back behind a driver's seat set for me.

As Famine has indicated, it took 3 of us, plus luggage, from Scotland to Holland and back in comfort.

 

[crazytortise]

Uncool... *puts it high up so Richard Hammond cant move it*

 

[Joey D]

Uncool... *puts it high up so Richard Hammond cant move it*

Good thing you don't put them on the wall then.

 

[Famine]

And that daan is 8 foot fifteen.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

It can cruise all day at 🤬, err, motorway speeds...

Black RS4 estates cruise faster though

 

[Stotty]

Uncool.

Bland... both to look at and to drive. Nice interior.

My wife had one as a company car about 8/9 years ago... until I wrote it off in a head on smash with a pensioner in a Rover 400. Solidly built for a French car of that generation though... I didn't have my belt on but a combination of the airbag and low header rail saved me from going through the windescreen (only 3 days in hospital)... the old guy in the Rover had to be cut free (but survived).

 

[homeforsummer]

80Y - if you think that a coupe has to be either a weekend warrior or a cruiser, you're missing the point of coupes. A coupe's raison d'être is to look good. Everything else is just relish. The 406 succeeded immediately as it offered Ferrari-esque looks for a Peugeot price. That it also handled well (at least in V6 form), rode well and had a good engine made it a good car.

Not that "good" is relevant anyway. The styling and sound alone is enough to make it cool in my eyes.

The words I put in bold: Coolness changes over time too. This car may have appeared cool to me back in 1997, but not really now. Its not a timeless design or emotion like the 300SL or 250GTO.

In that case, we'd only have classics at the top of the cool wall. Which we don't. So age is obviously irrelevant to coolness.

(maaaybe the Calibra).

Joining Famine on this one... Calibras have about as much street-cred as chlamydia...

 

[Joey D]

80Y - if you think that a coupe has to be either a weekend warrior or a cruiser, you're missing the point of coupes. A coupe's raison d'être is to look good.

Unless of course the coupe in question is this...thing.

 

[Stotty]

The 406 succeeded immediately as it offered Ferrari-esque looks for a Peugeot price.

I've heard that quote before... and personally, I think it's BS.

 

[homeforsummer]

I've heard that quote before... and personally, I think it's BS.

It's up to the individual, obviously. If you've heard the quote before it's because others have thought the same as I. Take the badges off both cars and it's a prettier car than the 456 that was around at the time, also a Pininfarina-penned car.

 

[daan]

until I wrote it off in a head on smash with a pensioner in a Rover 400.

Surely anything that can kill a Rover is cool? 💡

 

[Stotty]

Surely anything that can kill a Rover is cool? 💡

Never thought of it like that... I change my vote to cool

It's up to the individual, obviously. If you've heard the quote before it's because others have thought the same as I. Take the badges off both cars and it's a prettier car than the 456 that was around at the time, also a Pininfarina-penned car.

I think I read it in Autocar way back when the 406 was a relatively new shape... preittier than a 456? I don't think so... and in any case, not much of a claim to fame!

 

[Azure Flare]

I forgot about this car, I thought the Acura TL was ugly, this waaaaay worse looking. thanks for the reminder

 

[homeforsummer]

I think I read it in Autocar way back when the 406 was a relatively new shape... preittier than a 456? I don't think so... and in any case, not much of a claim to fame!

Again, personal preference. I think the 456 is a pretty car (well... the facelifted version they released in around 1998 or 1999ish... whatever year it became the 456M) but I think the 406 Coupe is a more svelte and cohesive design... and for a hell of a lot less money.

 

[Boffin]

80Y - if you think that a coupe has to be either a weekend warrior or a cruiser, you're missing the point of coupes. A coupe's raison d'être is to look good. Everything else is just relish. The 406 succeeded immediately as it offered Ferrari-esque looks for a Peugeot price. That it also handled well (at least in V6 form), rode well and had a good engine made it a good car.

And what would cruising be without looks? To me, one goes into the other. A Maybach is good at cruising - not to say its a good cruiser because...well...look at it - its hideous, and no one would cruise in it. And I'm siding with Stotty in the fact I think its BS that thats why it was popular. I think it was popular because it was a stylish motor accessory. Look at that Mitsuoka - its styled like a Rolls Royce to the same degree this has with a Ferrari (eg...not all that much) so would you buy one because it is a cheap representation of a superior car? I wouldn't - and thats also why its uncool in my eyes.

Not that "good" is relevant anyway. The styling and sound alone is enough to make it cool in my eyes.

Thats just hunkey dory then isn't it? I think if I applied some logic and realised that you were disagreeing with me, I might have deducted that for myself . I'm not that stupid (only some....for half liking the Calibra).

In that case, we'd only have classics at the top of the cool wall. Which we don't. So age is obviously irrelevant to coolness.

Notice the word "too" that I put at the end of the sentence - oh look, you've even put it in bold for us already! This word in this context means its an addition. "'I'd like some too, please' said Jimmy to the lunch lady who was handing out the ice cream."

You see in this case, the use of the word "too" means that Jimmy would like some ice cream as well as everyone else - not that he wants all the ice cream.

In the phrase that you put in bold - how a car ages in the social trends is ANOTHER factor coming into whether a car is cool or not. Not the DEFINATIVE factor, as you seem to be alluding to.

Joining Famine on this one... Calibras have about as much street-cred as chlamydia...

I have my reasons . Plus your in the UK and they are probbaly quite common.

It's up to the individual, obviously. If you've heard the quote before it's because others have thought the same as I. Take the badges off both cars and it's a prettier car than the 456 that was around at the time, also a Pininfarina-penned car.

Hmmm glad to know you understand that...care to continue nitpicking my arguments?

👍

 

[homeforsummer]

Hmmm glad to know you understand that...care to continue nitpicking my arguments?

Only one of them, otherwise this will go on forever

And what would cruising be without looks? To me, one goes into the other. A Maybach is good at cruising - not to say its a good cruiser because...well...look at it - its hideous, and no one would cruise in it.

Cruising =/= posing. Cruising (to me) is taking a car from the North of England to the South of Italy in comfort. A car which does so is a cruiser. You can cruise down in comfort. Looks are completely irrelevant in this respect. Indeed, in the same way I apparently illustrated your point earlier, you've just illustrated mine (highlighted in bold).

A Maybach is an excellent cruiser. It could do the aforementioned journey in absolute comfort and speed, which is exactly what you want from a cruiser. It would be shockingly bad to potter around town in, mainly because it's massive and you'd be fearing for the bodywork the whole time, but also because, as you mention, it's hideous and people will think you're a berk driving it.

Coming back to the 406, I wrote:

If you think that a coupe has to be either a weekend warrior or a cruiser, you're missing the point of coupes. A coupe's raison d'être is to look good. Everything else is just relish.

...and my point still stands. The 406 is pretty, and happens to be a good cruiser too, as it's comfortable and offers reasonable performance. You could do the aforementioned journey, or the long journey Famine mentioned, in perfectly adequate comfort. Had it been ugly - like the 407 Coupe, incidentally - it would still have the ability to take you on a long journey in comfort. It would still be a good cruiser.

"Cruising" ability is independant of looks, unless you're using cruising as an interchangable word with "posing".

Re: The comparison with Mitsuoka, the Pug is actually pretty, wheras the Mitsuoka is hideous. That immediately makes the comparison null and void. Not to mention that whoever designed the Mitsuoka (presumably with their eyes closed) was not the same person who worked on the Rolls, wheras Pininfarina do Ferraris and did the Peugeots at the time.

 

[TheCracker]

I have my reasons . Plus your in the UK and they are probbaly quite common.

Calibra's were good looking car in their day, but that was a long time ago (20 years) Looks were the only thing it had going for it. When the Calibra came out my dad was running a Cavalier GSi. He was incharge of organising his companies company-car scheme and was given one to use on an extended test-drive. I was 17 and had only been driving a few months at the time. even with my limited knowledge of 'handing' i could tell from driving the Calibra for a few miles that it was an inferior driving tool to the similar chassised Cavalier, and the Cavalier was bloody dreadful.

 

[Boffin]

Only one of them, otherwise this will go on forever



Cruising =/= posing. Cruising (to me) is taking a car from the North of England to the South of Italy in comfort. A car which does so is a cruiser. You can cruise down in comfort. Looks are completely irrelevant in this respect. Indeed, in the same way I apparently illustrated your point earlier, you've just illustrated mine (highlighted in bold).

A Maybach is an excellent cruiser. It could do the aforementioned journey in absolute comfort and speed, which is exactly what you want from a cruiser. It would be shockingly bad to potter around town in, mainly because it's massive and you'd be fearing for the bodywork the whole time, but also because, as you mention, it's hideous and people will think you're a berk driving it.

Coming back to the 406, I wrote:



...and my point still stands. The 406 is pretty, and happens to be a good cruiser too, as it's comfortable and offers reasonable performance. You could do the aforementioned journey, or the long journey Famine mentioned, in perfectly adequate comfort. Had it been ugly - like the 407 Coupe, incidentally - it would still have the ability to take you on a long journey in comfort. It would still be a good cruiser.

"Cruising" ability is independant of looks, unless you're using cruising as an interchangable word with "posing".

Re: The comparison with Mitsuoka, the Pug is actually pretty, wheras the Mitsuoka is hideous. That immediately makes the comparison null and void. Not to mention that whoever designed the Mitsuoka (presumably with their eyes closed) was not the same person who worked on the Rolls, wheras Pininfarina do Ferraris and did the Peugeots at the time.

Ahhhhh and here is where the problem lies. See I was reffering to cruising as going for a relaxing drive just for the sake of it with no direction or destination in mind at no relatively high speed. Exploring a new town or going road window shopping (arrrg those people annoy me). People (IMO) would go for a cruise in an Eos, a Megane Cab or a 307cc.

I can see that you were reffering a cruiser as what I'd call a GT or even just a tourer (yes they come in different types of softness - not all sporty like a 612 or a BCGT).

Isn't this all a bit trivial anyway, because I'm not going to change my mind? Or are you trying to iron out misunderstandings?

 

[homeforsummer]

Isn't this all a bit trivial anyway, because I'm not going to change my mind? Or are you trying to iron out misunderstandings?

The second one. And we both appear to know where each other is coming from now so I think we're done 👍