1989 Peugeot 405 DL 1.9 petrol from North America

Summary:

I love the overall design purpose and execution of the 405

Faults:

Very little.

The engine underwent a Peugeot recall campaign (received new piston rings and valve guided seals) at 98K miles to eliminate a bit of excessive oil consumption. Never any engine or Bosch Motronic 1.3 injection problems. Still has original clutch and throw-out bearing.

Alternator brushes replaced at 65K miles.

Replaced cracking rubber shrouds on lower joints.

Replaced old cracking rubber brake hoses on all four corners, two years ago.

Original fuel pump, starter, injectors, water pump to the car.

A couple of small rust spots showing up here and there, but have contained them and prevented further spread.

Lost the A/C Freon years ago due to leaks somewhere in the piping lines. I didn't want to go through the work of tracking down the leak.

Original shocks (front and rear) to the car. I replaced the front shock absorber rubber pads years ago due to the aging condition of the rubber.

General Comments:

Fantastic design, if you ask me. I couldn't ask for a better combination of seating comfort, economy, reliability, ease of service, suspension ride/comfort and agility, roominess, driving position, reasonable acceleration performance, and overall pleasing sedan appearance.

I am a conservative/conscientious driver with a mechanical interest in cars. So, I assume this helps with keeping the car in good shape and in reducing failures, but this car, as well as my other two 405s (an automatic S and a Mi 16) is top notch in my experience. I plan to keep driving all of them until something catastrophic happens. This car fits me perfectly in size, purpose, and in design philosophy. Thanks, Peugeot!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th January, 2016

20th Jan 2016, 22:52

Would you happen to be Marty Karo by chance? If so, it's Steve from the old Rant n' Rave.

21st Jan 2016, 14:19

I can't say that I am. My name is John... and I live in Lexington, KY.

24th Jan 2016, 03:57

Really neat review!!!

FYI -> drove one of these new with the automatic transmission -> DUD, subtract 1 forward range while keeping the ratio spread, add the parasitic drain of a hydraulic pump to actuate the internals, and say Hello To Slow :(

Enjoy the manual :)

3rd Aug 2025, 23:39

Great and very detailed review.

I'm not sure if the 405 was the last car Peugeot sold in North America; unfortunately, by the mid-90s, very few were actually seen.

I completely agree with what you say about the design: very beautiful and timeless, much better than many sedans of that era in the US.

Perhaps the 405 wasn't as solid as its predecessors, the 504 and 505, but its design was impressive.

1989 Peugeot 405 MI16 1.9 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

The Ultimate Q car

Faults:

Brake calipers needed replacing, New horn, hazard warning switch. odd spots of Welding for the MOT.

General Comments:

Not the quickest car on paper, but feels so much faster than the 8.5 0-60 time listed the acceleration when in the powerband is nothing less than startling.

Handles very well up to the limit, but you can feel the under-steer building up in late braking hard turn ins and I always have the feeling that when it goes it will be spectacular.

Interior trim is very nice and the leather seats and arm rest are seriously hard wearing still look almost new on my 18 year old car.

This is my second MI16 the first being a 4X4 that was a bit of a lemon, but this one is sound if they weren't getting so rare id never drive another car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th February, 2007

23rd Mar 2007, 10:45

Your story sounds eerily familiar. I too had a 4x4 that was a bit of lemon, and at the last MOT I needed new brake calipers, a horn and hazard warning switch, as well as some welding and the hand brake had to be adjusted.

I love these cars so much that I have had tow, despite the reliability issues. On the right road with no police man in sight, this is the most fun you can have for less than a £1,000.

I also have a V6 Golf 4 motion, which is much faster and much more composed, but nowhere near as much fun.