Friday 11th May 2007

SOTW: Peugeot Mi16

1994 PEUGEOT 405 2.0 Mi16 Le Mans 4dr Saloon

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'Take my breath awaaaaaaaay...'

Shed of the Week rediscovers its sporting roots this week with a classic Pug. And we’ve decided to leave alone the more obvious French fancies for something a bit more unusual.

It’s a 405 Mi16 in last of the line ‘Le Mans’ special edition guise; the tag commandeered in recognition of the French manufacturer’s triumph at the classic race with the exotic V10 905.

You remember this period of Peugeots, don’t you? You know, when they built cars to genuinely lust after. Cast your mind back to cars with soul, brimming with verve – that made you want to drive them until they fell apart. Which, to be fair, wasn’t always very long in coming. How we’ve missed those cars here in the PH office. It’s been a drought of epic proportions, although the recent 207 GTi 175 looks as if it might be a wheel turned in the right direction. Possibly.

Although the Mi16 lived in the colossal shadow cast by the 205 GTi, it possessed the same attributes that characterized an entire generation of cars from the maker: a delicious fluency of handling, poised ride, slick drive train and a chassis that was infinitely adjustable on the limit with the throttle, albeit without much sentimentality towards the novice.

What this car never was and still isn’t, is fast. As a facelift model it has the less peaky two litre 16v engine shared with the 306 S16, rather than the original screamer that really lacked torque, but neither engine could shift a 405 with real pace – certainly not when compared to a Renault 21 Turbo.

Still, for the money, this looks like a genuinely good buy. We’re not expecting Germanic build quality or a redoubtable ‘thunk’ when you slam the doors, but we are looking forward to lifting off the gas mid-corner. And anyway, Shed always was a sucker for a Peugeot Talbot Sport grille sticker set…

Advert: 1994 L reg, manual, 115,000 miles, Dark Red, 5 months Tax, MOT end of July. Air con, full electrics in front and rear, remote central locking, alarm/immobiliser, black leather/suede interior, CD player. Some service history, old MOT documents, only 4 owners from new. Special edition MI16 Le Mans, orginal specifications, 150 Bhp. Well looked after, tidy car, with reliable engine. A bargin at the price. Good reason for sale. £895. OVNO

www.autotrader.co.uk

[Mr Whippy]

In my personal opinion the 405's were better handlers than the 306's that followed.

Never driven a 2.0, but the 1.9 felt as fast as my 306 Gti6, probably down to the very low weight of the 405's engine and gearbox, and the mk1 bodyshell.

Mk2 looks and feels alot nicer though, and I'm quite sure the gentleman over a pumaracing would breathe on the engine enough to endow you with almost 190bhp for a rather modest sum

Even a Gti6 engine and box would be a doddle to fit!

Sooo tempted!

Dave

[thirsty]

Perfect shed of the week. Buy it for your kid when he passes his exam. He can drive it for two years and then give it away. Thrash it and trash it was my motto when I was 18. That's why my dad bought me old Chevys. Parts are plentiful and cheap. Doesn't look too bad either for a French Car.

[shoestring7]

Agreed, I ran a 1.9 8v 130bhp job as a company car. At first it ran like a pup, but once I had the efi set up perfectly it was quickish (for the time) and had a superb chassis.

SS7

[PhantomPH]

If I remember, it became quite cool in the early days of 'Max Power' to put the engine from the Mi16 into the 205 to create a really quick machine (for the day). Wonder how many rusted or crash-damaged Mi16's were lost to that cause?

[dodgey_rog]

I used to love these, my father used to be a Peugeot Dealer and he'd have them brand new, then bought the ex factory cars as they'd already depreciated. Slightly underpowered but still a great car, especially the Mi16x4.

I even saw a black Mi16 in Manhattan in the week, it really brought back memories of my youth.

[Phil Dicky]

Nearly bought a silver Le Mans a few years ago, was mint, showing 45,000mls and drove as you expect of fast Pugs. But I rag the last owner (lease Car) to finds it true mileage wasearer 150k.
Still was nearly tempted to do a deal with the dealer

[Top pup]

Mr Whippy said:

In my personal opinion the 405's were better handlers than the 306's that followed.

Never driven a 2.0, but the 1.9 felt as fast as my 306 Gti6, probably down to the very low weight of the 405's engine and gearbox, and the mk1 bodyshell.

Mk2 looks and feels alot nicer though, and I'm quite sure the gentleman over a pumaracing would breathe on the engine enough to endow you with almost 190bhp for a rather modest sum

Even a Gti6 engine and box would be a doddle to fit!

Sooo tempted!

Dave

My 2.0l pulled better low down than my Gti6 but didn't have the same pull over 4k revs, not a lot in it in a straight line really.

I agree with the handling though my 405 was more fluid than my 306, and the interiour quality was a league above.

[SS HSV]

I remember the advert well "Takes you breath away" with some sexy looking girl in the add - as ever.

IRC the early 405 Peugeots were recalled due to braking problems.."Take my brakes away" then

[Mr Whippy]

Top pup said:

Mr Whippy said:

In my personal opinion the 405's were better handlers than the 306's that followed.

Never driven a 2.0, but the 1.9 felt as fast as my 306 Gti6, probably down to the very low weight of the 405's engine and gearbox, and the mk1 bodyshell.

Mk2 looks and feels alot nicer though, and I'm quite sure the gentleman over a pumaracing would breathe on the engine enough to endow you with almost 190bhp for a rather modest sum

Even a Gti6 engine and box would be a doddle to fit!

Sooo tempted!

Dave

My 2.0l pulled better low down than my Gti6 but didn't have the same pull over 4k revs, not a lot in it in a straight line really.

I agree with the handling though my 405 was more fluid than my 306, and the interiour quality was a league above.

Yeah, when I got my 306 from my 405 I was quite surprised at how 'cheap' it felt. Not that the 405 is really good, but some of the details and trim are just that much more nicely resolved in the 405.

PhantomPH said:

If I remember, it became quite cool in the early days of 'Max Power' to put the engine from the Mi16 into the 205 to create a really quick machine (for the day). Wonder how many rusted or crash-damaged Mi16's were lost to that cause?

Too many. Pretty much any 205 for track work these days is using an Mi16 engine. You even saw people buy Mi16's just for the engine, and then throw/scrap the car... These are pretty rare today by all accounts. There used to be a day when if you wanted one you just went and bought one off the Trader (maybe 5 years ago)... finding one at all actually for sale today is fairly tough.


Worst bit of it all is that no Peugeot is anywhere near today in ethos or character. This was ~ 1150kg and 160bhp with a lovely warm lumpy idle a true early 16v engine that begged to be revved, and the new 207, generations on, comes with 170bhp, a dull small turbo engine, and more weight!

Pretty crackers really...

Dave

[hendry]

I remember taking an Mi16 4x4 from the work pool for a week when I was about 21 and it seeming to be absurdly fast. I am somewhat embarrased to learn I would have been struggling to contain a mere 150bhp...

[deadlym]

I had a 405 TD estate as a courtesy car one of the (many) times my 306 S16 was in for repair. It was a right hoot - felt like an agile small hatch to drive, until you looked in the mirror and saw how far back the rear window was!

Air con was bust though.

[musicman183]

Nowt wrong with 405's

[Mikey G]

I used to love my Mi16, one of the last of the 1.9's without a cat. I actually had a comparison run with a 306 S16 and there was nothing in it, even the owner of the 306 commented on how well the car went considering how much bigger it looked.

[Mr Whippy]

hendry said:

I remember taking an Mi16 4x4 from the work pool for a week when I was about 21 and it seeming to be absurdly fast. I am somewhat embarrased to learn I would have been struggling to contain a mere 150bhp...

Hehe, fast cars always feel fast at first, until you get used to them. I guess the 4x4 was a bit heavier and slower with drivetrain losses, but I'm sure it was still an ok steer for what it was. Not sure I'd look forward to having a go in a 407 lard barge in the same way, if at all

Mikey G said:

I used to love my Mi16, one of the last of the 1.9's without a cat. I actually had a comparison run with a 306 S16 and there was nothing in it, even the owner of the 306 commented on how well the car went considering how much bigger it looked.

The 1.9's were a bit fitter than the 2.0's in the S16, by maybe 5-10bhp. Not sure how heavy the 1.9's were, but they can't have been much, I'd rekon on 1100kg, so probably the same as the S16 if not a bit less.

One thing about the early 1.9's is the awful 14" wheels. Even the later 15's are like cast lead in comparison to the later Lemans wheels (~1.5kg lighter), and then the later 306 Gti cyclone are another 1.5kg off again! (had these on my 405)

Dave

[YamR1V64motion]

it only it was a T16, still i think the 405 was a good car as is the 406

[golders]

The 405 advert of which you speak:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g4F6FMJkiw

Edited by golders on Saturday 12th May 10:24

[bob1179]

golders said:

The 405 advert of which you speak:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g4F6FMJkiw

Edited by golders on Saturday 12th May 10:24

He he, just watched it, that brings back some memories. I always rememeber Peugeot made some cracking adverts.

[morningside]

hendry said:

I remember taking an Mi16 4x4 from the work pool for a week when I was about 21 and it seeming to be absurdly fast. I am somewhat embarrased to learn I would have been struggling to contain a mere 150bhp...

I had a 405 4x4. It cornered very well but also had a strange (electric) self levelling system that gave up the ghost.

[simes205]

PhantomPH said:

If I remember, it became quite cool in the early days of 'Max Power' to put the engine from the Mi16 into the 205 to create a really quick machine (for the day). Wonder how many rusted or crash-damaged Mi16's were lost to that cause?

Quite a few including mine....although mine's from a 4x4. It had been written off in a big accident.
T

Edited by simes205 on Sunday 13th May 11:49

[pasthim]

SS HSV said:

I remember the advert well "Takes you breath away" with some sexy looking girl in the add - as ever.

IRC the early 405 Peugeots were recalled due to braking problems.."Take my brakes away" then

I had one exactly the same as this and on the way back from a track day the brake pedal went to the floor and then was fine but I never trusted it after that. The brake warning light came on intermittently too. I had a Calibra Turbo before and although much faster than this the Pug could put a smile on your face in 100yards. Also had fun with the heater fan which was electronically controlled and nearly cost £260 to fix. Great as company cars but not for your own money IMO.