WHEN the Peugeot 406 first came out the opposition could not quite match its excellent ride and handling, big interior space and strong diesel engines. And the good news is that it's now down to very reasonable prices. Don't consider any that are not just about perfect. There are thousands to choose from so there's always another and many will have the absolutely necessary service history. Most 406's started their lives as company cars, and so the mileage can sometimes be higher than average. But as long as the service records are there to show all the work has been done and at the right time, long miles don't matter so much. Engines start with the 1.8 108bhp, followed by a 2.0-litre with 135bhp and a turbo 2.0-litre with 150. Range topper is a 3.0-litre V6 with 194bhp and stonking performance. There are also three turbo diesels, a 1.9 with 92bhp, a 2.1 or later 2.0-litre with 110 and a 2.2 with 136. Interior Air conditioning is standard on later cars, but was an option in lieu of sunroof almost from launch. Specification is good on LX and above. Peugeot servicing can be expensive, some parts are also pricey, and engines can be difficult to work on so it's not an easy car for DIY. FAST FACTS Peugeot 406 Price: Pay about £2,800 for an '02 02-reg GTX, £4,400 for an '04 04-reg Executive. An '03 03-reg S estate will be about £4,000. Mechanical: 136bhp, 2179cc, 4 cylinder diesel engine driving the front wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox Max speed: 126mph 0-62mph: 9.9 seconds Combined mpg: 44 Insurance group: 14 CO2 emissions: 168g/km Marks: 8/10 Main rival: Vauxhall Vectra, Ford Mondeo | 
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