Peugeot 607

[Kezzieboy]

Hi guys,

My brother is buying a new car, after owning the best value car ever (a 1.8 petrol laguna, bought for £300 that hasn't broken down once in about 5 years). He's been looking at all sorts, mostly HDi engined stuff on my recommendations, and has landed upon the 607 2.2HDi.

It looks absurdly well equipped for the money, so my question is; is it too good to be true? Do they have a reputation for unreliability? Ive found a few reviews that suggest niggling electrical faults (it is a French after all), and discovered that it does have the dreaded DPF (speaking of which, what exactly are the issues that these cause?), but do you guys know of any other common problems?

Finally, if they're are shit and he should steer clear, what are the alternatives? Budget of £2000, he's looked at 206 & 306 estates, as well as 406s,and is looking for fuel economy mostly, but also comfort and reliability. As you may have guessed, most of his mileage is on the motorway travelling to and fro between Cornwall and Liverpool.

Thanks for your help.

[THE_Liam]

My mates dad had an ex-taxi with 280k on it, was still a decent drive with plenty of poke, far better built than older pugs. Was very poor on fuel for a modern diesel, 40mpg on the motorway and 27-28mpg round town, it wasn't actually any better than my 1.8t Octavia but that could have been the mileage. Very comfy though, and it did shift...

[Toms306]

I'd avoid a HDi if he's looking for reliability. There are a few good ones, just not many lol.

It'll be DMF and DPF on that particular HDi I think. So expect both of those to fail around 70-100k miles. The DPF should be ok if it's been used on motorway a lot, but when they don't get a chance to regenerate (eg - half hour at 70mph) they block up with soot and need a forced regen (brick on the accelerator ragging the feck out of it for a while) and 'sometimes' can't be cleared at all, requiring a whole new part. This one will also use Eolys fluid to lower the regen temp, but still if its been a town car that does 10 minute trips it's not gonna work, plus the fluid needs refilling at around 70k miles and isn't exactly cheap.

As for DMF's...just like any other flexible part they wear and eventually break, you do usually get a fair bit of warning though, loud rattling and lumpy acceleration/pulsing through the pedal.

[THE_Liam]

Don't think 2.2 HDIs have a DMF mate, but you're spot on about the DPF, horrible bloody things, although easy enough to bypass and map out of the ECU. I think 2.2 HDIs remap to about 180bhp incidentally...

[Toms306]

Really? I'd be surprised if they don't tbh, most diesels seem to by about '05. Fair enough if they don't though, I don't know the exact spec in the 607.

And yeah, I've avoided DPF's so far for that reason lol! Soon the gov't will stop the emmisions stuff being mapped out though I reckon, and make it impossible to pass MOT without it all working, can't say how soon but I'm sure it'll come in! Not an issue if you know a friendly mapper who is also an MOT tester though lol.

[Kezzieboy]

You're talking out your arse with HDi reliability, Tom, but thanks for the more constructive points

I was concerned about the DPF, I'll make sure he checks it's been looked after. Fuel economy doesn't sound great though, and that's a more fundamental issue, really.

I'll pass on all this info, keep it coming guys!

[THE_Liam]

I should add as well that the one I drove was an auto, and that makes a big difference to mpg. I'd be expecting low 30s round towm and maybe 45mpg on a run in a manual.

[Toms306]

You're talking out your arse with HDi reliability, Tom, but thanks for the more constructive points

That's because you got one of the few good ones!


Back on topic though....that mpg does seem awful so I've just checked parkers, I know they're not totally accurate but shouldn't be far off.

They also only reckon 44mpg average which seemed poor until I saw the power figure - I didn't realise they were 170bhp standard in the Exec! Strangley the 2.2 136 (the one I thought you meant) has worse consumption (41mpg) and because of that the tax is higher as well. Either parkers have cocked up there, or Peugeot have. The only thing in the favour of efficiency on the 170 seems to be a 6th gear.

[THE_Liam]

Whoa, 170bhp? I'm sure the one I drove was the 136 from the 406...

[Toms306]

They put both in the 607's Liam......pretty confusing!

[Kezzieboy]

I'm guessing the one he's found is a 136, on his budget (this one is about £1500), and it IS an auto.

[Toms306]

Oh dear.

39mpg and £260 a year tax.... I'd keep looking personally lol.

[Dum-Dum]

A bloke at work had one of the V6 ones and loves it, I think in 18 months 3 things have gone wrong, the starter motor, a window regulator and something electrical. The only issue is that there is so much kit on these getting at anything to fix it is more of a pain in the arse than n something simple.

If your bro wants one buy it though but consider the 2.7 HDi

[306carter]

307 sw Hdi if it was my cash.

[THE_Liam]

406 HDI 110 with a map if it was my money...

[Kezzieboy]

A bloke at work had one of the V6 ones and loves it, I think in 18 months 3 things have gone wrong, the starter motor, a window regulator and something electrical. The only issue is that there is so much kit on these getting at anything to fix it is more of a pain in the arse than n something simple.

If your bro wants one buy it though but consider the 2.7 HDi

I think it's just had a new starter. I think one of the big plus points is that even if stuff does go wrong, the parts will be so much cheaper than a comparable German car that it wouldn't be that bad.

I'll tell him to look at the 2.7, won't that be even worse on fuel, though...?

[Piggy]

those 607s are heavy mind, wouldnt think the 136 could do much...hence the poor mpgs which I have also heard plagues them.

I know its a bit boring, but has he considered a passat tdi?? if he is just doing lots of motorway miles, cant go too wrong there.

[Toms306]

those 607s are heavy mind, wouldnt think the 136 could do much...hence the poor mpgs which I have also heard plagues them.

I know its a bit boring, but has he considered a passat tdi?? if he is just doing lots of motorway miles, cant go too wrong there.

Nearly 13 seconds to 60 with the 136 and an autobox.

A4 Avant TDi if you're going VAG. Not sure theres many in budget though lol.

[Piggy]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Volkswage...4617eea029

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amazing actually how much car can be had for under £2000 now

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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A4-Avant-...3cda78d877

A4 avant! £1500

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BMW 320d SE for £1595:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-320D-SE-/2...3cda5d7c2c

[Kezzieboy]

The massive cost of parts/repairs for German stuff is a concern, though. Especially on cars going for cheap, as they are generally the ones with little to no service history.

[THE_Liam]

306? I'm guessing you've tried that though...

[Toms306]

The massive cost of parts/repairs for German stuff is a concern, though. Especially on cars going for cheap, as they are generally the ones with little to no service history.

Depends what goes wrong tbh. There's no DPF on the 1.9 PD's for a start... I found that equivalent things weren't really more expensive. And genuine service parts don't cost much more than Pug ones, especially if you can get discount at TPS (trade parts specialists).

[THE_Liam]

I found parts hugely expensive when I had my Octavia. Lower arms for £104 each, wheel bearings for £54, brake discs were £93 a pair, and that's for cheapo parts...

[Toms306]

Well for a Mk4 Golf it was £50 a pair of 288mm Pagid discs, £80 a pair of Lemforder lower arms and about £30 for SNR wheel bearings.... I'm glad I didn't get an expensive Octavia!

[THE_Liam]

To be fair the brakes were 330mm, and I'm guessing with it being the VRS they would have been uprated to a degree...

Still dear in my book, when I can get a pair of Pagid discs for the 306 for £22, a bottom arm for £30, a wheel bearing for £11....

[Toms306]

To be fair the brakes were 330mm, and I'm guessing with it being the VRS they would have been uprated to a degree...

Still dear in my book, when I can get a pair of Pagid discs for the 306 for £22, a bottom arm for £30, a wheel bearing for £11....

I said equivalents though....a 247mm disc isn't really equivalent to a 330mm. I expect the big 407 (iirc) Brembo's discs cost just as much...

And cheap lower arms snap if that's for a Q drive lol.

As I said though, it does depend what breaks, and I found things failed much less often on the German cars, meaning I spent a hell of a lot more fixing 306s in the same time span as fixing Golfs. It's only when you get to things that are 'better' like DMFs, Swirl flap mani's and VNT's that the costs become huge in my experience so far.

[Piggy]

Its all relative...

If cheap stuff lasted well we would all be driving old nasty fiestas everywhere

[Kezzieboy]

Yeah, 306 estate was on the list, but I think he wants something more plush than that.

That's the other issue with german stuff, in this price bracket it's all poverty spec, whereas the 607s he's looked at are top model ones that were £30k+ new.

[1616six]

Vectra. No DPF & 150bhp/50mpg is win.

[Kezzieboy]

What's the spec like?