DD-ing a 15 year old French-Italian coupe for 3 years, expensive?

"duurtlang" (duurtlang) 10/01/2015 at 15:59 • Filed to: peugeot 406 coupe

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I bought it 3 years ago to the day, so a small update is warranted. In my half year old previous post I described that the car finally started to actually cost money to maintain, as it needed a new timing belt, serpentine belt, radiator (preventively), middle section of the exhaust and some minor stuff.

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Well, since the last update I’ve driven it another 15k km. Added cost? The yearly inspection came up early September. Problems: 2 bulbs, refitting of one exhaust bracket. That was it.

Odometer reading, in km:
167k (October 1st, 2012, day of purchase). I paid €3k.
260k (October 1st, 2015, today)

With almost fully outsourced maintenance I paid a total of €2250 in maintenance for 93k km (57.8k miles, $2516). That’s €0.024 a km ($0.044 a mile).

Rust on the car: zero.

I did take it on holiday though. 4 adults and their stuff, to lake Garda in Italy last July. My father in law didn’t want to lend his Dodge Magnum RT, so we took the Peugeot.

Parked like an asshole, during the only moment of rain.

Fits right in

On top of a mountain, filled to the brim with stuff.

Oh, one thing I did do but didn’t include in the maintenance costs were the €300 I spent in so called smart repairs of the bodywork. It was losing paint on the hood due to a large rock hitting it, and the car had been intimate with another car (only minor patting) on a parking lot twice.

As I got a company appliance for work related kms in March I mostly use the coupe for high speed German Autobahn runs, like the 1800 km return trip to Munich last week. I very seldomly use it for short trips. I’ve noticed it’s started to need motor oil between oil changes, about 1L/9k km. Probably due to the LPG fuel conversion (LPG lubricates less than gasoline) and the high speed runs at a continuous 4500 rpm for hours on end.

So there you have it. An ‘unreliable’ French car, built by the Italians at Pininfarina.

ly2v8-Brian > duurtlang 10/01/2015 at 16:10

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Failures are random. Reliability is a stupid term.

duurtlang > ly2v8-Brian 10/01/2015 at 16:15

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Well, I do rely on the car. It has always worked and I’m confident it will continue to do so for a few more years. So in this instance I can say I consider it reliable.

I do think referring to a car with high regular-ish maintenance costs as unreliable, simply because it costs a lot to keep up, is a fallacy. I see this happening a lot here.

My citroen won't start > duurtlang 10/01/2015 at 16:17

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So the practically brand new French car I’ve been DD for the last 2 years has been less reliable than your 15 year old french car? (They have the same gearbox don’t they?)

duurtlang > My citroen won't start 10/01/2015 at 16:21

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I’ve got a manual gearbox. But apparently so, yes. This car is utterly, utterly reliable. It never broke down, and didn’t start only once. Due to an improperly connected battery.

When I deduct the normal maintenance costs (fluids/filters/belts) from the total costs I presume I end up with less than €1k in costs. For 93k km.

MultiplaOrgasms > duurtlang 10/01/2015 at 16:23

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1990s PSA engineering.

RallyWrench > duurtlang 10/01/2015 at 16:24

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That sure is a good looking car. Glad it’s overcome the outdated stereotypes of its countries of origin.

duurtlang > MultiplaOrgasms 10/01/2015 at 16:24

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Bulletproof.

ly2v8-Brian > duurtlang 10/01/2015 at 16:24

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As usual I was unclear reliability as a generalization like you had in quotes in your last line is what's stupid.

My citroen won't start > duurtlang 10/01/2015 at 16:24

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Mine still has 40k km and I’ve spent a lot more than that in the air suspension, engine and suspension bushings and rear wheel bearings.

MultiplaOrgasms > duurtlang 10/01/2015 at 16:25

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At least when driving predominately long distances.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > My citroen won't start 10/01/2015 at 16:31

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Wouldn’t that stuff be under warranty on such a young car?

duurtlang > My citroen won't start 10/01/2015 at 16:32

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I’ve got normal springs, my engine didn’t need anything but normal stuff (oil/filters) plus a battery and a radiator. Suspension and bearings are all perfectly fine and didn’t need attention, except for one control arm.

My citroen won't start > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 10/01/2015 at 16:34

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Model Year 2009, 4 year warranty, I bough it in 2014 with 28k kilometers.

duurtlang > MultiplaOrgasms 10/01/2015 at 16:35

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True. Stop and go traffic will wear it out faster.

Did I mention I have never replaced a brake pad/disc on this car? In 93k km? Probably tells you all you need to know about on what kind of roads I use this car.

My citroen won't start > duurtlang 10/01/2015 at 16:36

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I also had to import a button for the lumbar adjustment, that cost me 100 bucks believe it or not.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > My citroen won't start 10/01/2015 at 16:38

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Ah I see, thought it was newer than that to be honest.

duurtlang > RallyWrench 10/01/2015 at 16:38

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Only with those that know. To the general public (here) a VW is still a ‘reliable’ car, while French cars rust/brake down. There’s also no difference between Renault and Peugeot, because they’re both French.

duurtlang > My citroen won't start 10/01/2015 at 16:40

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Ouch. Parts supply for Peugeots is great here. PSA is, after VAG, the highest volume seller here so parts are plentiful. And cheap, as long as it’s not discontinued body molding for a 27 year old hot hatch.

MultiplaOrgasms > duurtlang 10/01/2015 at 16:41

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Makes sense.

My dads old 550.000km Xantia was also driven in pretty much the exact same way (it has to be in order to rack up 550k in ten years).

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > duurtlang 10/01/2015 at 17:11

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Yeah... but when we’re thinking of unreliable French cars, something like a 406 or a 405 isn’t what most people think of.

They’re thinking of cars like the Renault LeCar, Renault Alliance (which was built in the US by AMC) and a certain Maserati-powered Citroen.

Many people in the US have driven French cars without realizing it... like the Plymouth Horizon/Dodge Omni, which was a federalized Simca Horizon, or the Eagle Premier, which was based on the Renault 25.

I would consider owning a classic French car if it was something like a Citroen 2CV/Ami/Dyane or a Traction Avant. Or for a newer car, a Peugot 405Mi16 or Renault Fuego (which have/had a small following in North America).