406 handle better than 206?

[Pentoman]

Do you think a 406 would handle better than a 206 - boggo models on stock suspension no GTis or coupes.

Love my 206s handling apart from the bouncy ride (probably the dampers as it's got 90k) and a bit of fear about really pushing it to the tyres limits because the brakes aren't great responding and something just feels wrong about going quickly on those standard skinny 185 tyres. At too high a speed you feel like you'll bounce off the road, whereas at least my Merc seems more settled and it works with you at those speeds.

So I wondered if a 406 would have more stability and hunker down better at speed rather than get a bit more dangerous feeling the faster you go? Would prefer to keep it safe and steady . Additionally a 406 will have better legroom as the 206 is pretty uncomfortable anyway. Has been the most surprising car I've ever owned by a mile though.

Thanks,
Russell

[TEKNOPUG]

Longer wheel base so the 406 will be more stable at speed. The 206 will change direction quicker due to it's shorter wheel base. Too many variables between "206" & "406" to give any more accurate response.

[Ponk]

Glad it's not just me that think's the 206 is scary at speed. I swear the front wheels are connected to the steering wheel with elastic.

[900T-R]

406 Is the last of the proper Peugeots as ride & handling goes. I think their chassis development engineer retired after that. The 206 is a tad stodgy compared to the fun & fluent handling of 106, 205, 309, 306, 405 and 206 and the driving position isn't the best for most - sadly it went dowenhill from there, not in the least because subsequent models got fatter and higher.

[Bourj]

What do you mean by handle better. A 406 will ride better at speed, but the 206 should handle better in terms of feedback and point-to-point. Through traffic I would take the stock 206. On motorways it would be the 406. My old 205 CTI and Saxo VTS did not have the best ride, but point to point handling they were both great. Unfortunately it is pretty much a compromise when it comes to ride and handling. Citroen went down the route of gas suspension and Audi use a magnetic damper system to get the best of both worlds. Ultimately Peugeot have lost sight of the one simply thing that aids both ride and handling and that is less weight. Peugeots are getting far to heavy. I hope I don’t see the day we say the 207 was the last lightweight decent handling pug.

I had the use of a stock 206 whilst my car was being services. I think it was a 1.4. I thought it handled brilliantly considering it wasnt set up to be sporty. The last stockish car I drove before that was a last generation Fiesta. Awfull thing.

Edited by Bourj on Tuesday 1st September 17:22

[number2301]

Bourj said:

I hope I don’t see the day we say the 207 was the last lightweight decent handling pug.

Sorry? The 106 was the last lightweight decent handling Pug and they stopped making that about 5 years ago. And even the 106 was very heavily compromised.

The 207 weighs 1250Kgs with a 1.6 engine and you're trying to call it lightweight?

[Bourj]

No.

My point was if Peugeot keep going down the same route the 209GTI is going to weigh even more. Making even the heavy 207 light by comparison. I was being sarcastic.

[Pentoman]

I'm glad someone here agreed the 206 is a good fun car, I think it got an unfair press for not being a 205 (I've driven a couple of 205s - most recently a mint 20k mile 1.4 XR and did not think the handling was anything good in this day and age - but the GTi probably another story). The 206 is no 306, that was probably the pinnacle in handling, but it's still a lot of fun and rides better. However I have reached the point where I would want to push it a bit more now I've owned it for a while, but it seems like it has too narrow a wheelbase, and too bouncy suspension, to ever give the impression it's pinned to the road. It makes my legs wobble just thinking about it actually - catching an undulation you don't expect and boooiiing you're into the scenery. The wet is a bit scary too - because you know that wherever the huge grip comes from in the dry it's not the tyres, and you wonder if it's there any more once it rains. I haven't bothered finding out. It terrifies compared to my 190 Mercedes, which is less fun but far safer even though it's old. You feel frankly a bit irresponsible if you get the speeds up anything remotely high in a standard 206. Hence I wondered if the 406 has similar fun handling but a bit more of a Mercedes or Audi-like feeling at higher speed? Or do older French cars not do Germanic high-speed stability?

[Rollcage]

Pentoman said:

I'm glad someone here agreed the 206 is a good fun car, I think it got an unfair press for not being a 205 (I've driven a couple of 205s - most recently a mint 20k mile 1.4 XR and did not think the handling was anything good in this day and age - but the GTi probably another story). The 206 is no 306, that was probably the pinnacle in handling, but it's still a lot of fun and rides better. However I have reached the point where I would want to push it a bit more now I've owned it for a while, but it seems like it has too narrow a wheelbase, and too bouncy suspension, to ever give the impression it's pinned to the road. It makes my legs wobble just thinking about it actually - catching an undulation you don't expect and boooiiing you're into the scenery. The wet is a bit scary too - because you know that wherever the huge grip comes from in the dry it's not the tyres, and you wonder if it's there any more once it rains. I haven't bothered finding out. It terrifies compared to my 190 Mercedes, which is less fun but far safer even though it's old. You feel frankly a bit irresponsible if you get the speeds up anything remotely high in a standard 206. Hence I wondered if the 406 has similar fun handling but a bit more of a Mercedes or Audi-like feeling at higher speed? Or do older French cars not do Germanic high-speed stability?

I'd say the 406 is a fantastic long distance cruiser that also happens to handle pretty tidily as well .I had a HDi110 that was chipped ,and that could be hustled along with great confidence at a fair lick if needed.If it wasn't for a slipping clutch then I would have ended up doing a couple of trackdays in it when my trackday car was unavailable.

I bought my then girlfriend a 206 ,which was pretty tidy also and a bit more chuckable ,but didnt ride as well - if yours is as described I would imagine your shocks are well past their best.

I preferred the 406 ,but then it was my car and so I drove it more!