Faults:

Battery and starter motor (consumables in my opinion - it's 22 years old!!!)

General Comments:

This car is probably the best car I have owned. If I take away my snob view of it and think about what I really want from a vehicle - this car ticks all the boxes.

Bought early 2015, after looking for one for sometime, mine is not in great visual nick, but mechanically it's amazing. I bought it to dip my toe in the water with regards to 405s. I have to tell you this car is amazing, it runs on fumes (amazing MPG) and the reliability is superb. The seats are the best in any mainstream car I have owned, and it's pleasant to drive. It won't win any glamour awards, but as stated, if you want a car purely for reliability, you can't go wrong.

I have decided to buy another because of my car's beat up looks and no other reason - so I will move this one on as it has 220,000 miles on clock, yes you read it right - and it doesn't miss a beat, even starts off the key.

It's a shame Peugeot don't make cars of this quality anymore; it really is a big load lugger with brilliant reliability.

Faults:

Normal long wear items: Water pump at 120K miles.

Sun roof slide failed, passenger window guide failed, rear wiper intermittent due to earthing - all minor and non essential, and not related to motoring reliability.

Clutch has periods when it appears to be weak - but it's the original, and it's on 200K miles.

General Comments:

The most I have ever spent on maintenance was £180 for the water pump, timing belt and pulley. It's just SO reliable (the XUD engine is the key).

All other maintenance I have done myself (during 12 years); bottom ball joints, brake cylinders, discs, 1 exhaust, brake pipes etc. Annual servicing usually costs me £30 total.

Galvanised, so has never failed an MOT due to bodywork or need for welding etc.

Now past the 200K mark, I want this car to go on forever. It has a huge carry space and the rear springs can take it, even when filled with paving slabs! I bought an 07 BMW 318D to placate my wife and kids, as they worry about image and being in the 21st Century - but I continue to drive my old white, more fuel efficient, low running cost 405.

I got my older kids to buy 306's with the same XUD engine, but they have trouble with rear beams and drums, and front suspension components and disc wear (all replaced by me), but the engine on 170K (as expected) delivers no problems...

We rely so much on this car as a workhorse, and never bat an eyelid at the prospect of a 350 mile round trip to collect or deliver bulky items.

I wish they were still in production. It was so difficult trying to decide what to buy to replace it - I hope that won't happen for a good few years yet. To try to find a car with low cost maintenance and high end reliability is going to be a challenge. I worry about the fibre optics in the later Peugeot's, and overall they don't seem to have the same reliability tag. I indicated that I would buy from the manufacturer again, but at the moment, I would only buy another 405 XUD estate!