Would you recommend a 407SW?

[lambchop]

Good evening, just a quick hello from a new member... not yet a pug owner but have my eyes on a few at the moment but would like some advice from people that actually own and drive pugs rather than the guys just trying to sell them! lol

So anyway, I'm looking at the 407 SW to replace my Vectra C Estate...

I'm looking for a diesel, due to the mileage I drive weekly and possibly this time a auto box over the manual... but, not fussed either way.

I'm going 2nd hand, so looking at the 2006-2008 models that seem to be in my price range.

I see there's 3 different engines, 1.6, 2.0 and the 2.7, I'm just after a motorway cruncher, but the 1.6 sounds a little naff, so will probably be more keen on the 2.0.

So what can you tell me about them??? What do I need to look out for? With the Veccy it was also listen out for the EGR, the swirl bar, wiper linkage, DMF... the list was endless... although I seem to be lucky so far and nothings fallen off other than front springs snapping quite a lot.

I've googled the 407 and read a few reviews, but as with most things people only normally seem to write something when they've had a bad experience, never a good one... takes to much time lol.

So keen to know what spec/models there are out there and what you guys like and dont like about them... thanks again! Andy

[sterion75]

Well i have the 1.6 hdi, there was a personal reason for me buying that size, I love it but there are some issues re turbos on earlier models. The main faults with 407's seem to have been ironed out by 2008 so I would look at that year. The 2.0 hdi is popular but as with all new diesels there are anti pollution systems to live with. On the good side the diesels have good torque and fuel economy, better than petrol. I hear the 2.2 petrol is a good model and no anti pollution systems. personally for motorway use the diesel would score best with me but that's a personal choice. I would advise an AA/RAC checkover before you hand the money over to avoid future problems, its money well spent.

[sterion75]

The sw is a good looking car. The 407's are very smooth and quiet, it might pay to look for a spec that includes cruise control for comfort over those motorway journeys and maybe sat nav too. I would repeat what i said re AA/RAC checking, there have been cars sold with expensive faults so be careful.

[lambchop]

Thanks for the input guys, so what are the main faults? Whats the anti pollution system?

[lambchop]

Also, what are the trim levels? Whats the top and the one to avoid?

[jmkent]

The anti-pollution system is a standard DPF & additive system, designed into practically all modern diesels. Basically.... it injects an additive into the diesel tank everytime you fill up. This additive allows combustion at lower temperatures. The DPF (diesel particulate filter) is located within the exhaust, and catches all the sooty particles - a 407 with a correctly functioning system won't have black smoke coming out the back, even when you floor it! Every now and then, typically 300-500 miles, the car goes into a regen cycle - what this does is to burn off any of the unburnt particles caught in the DPF. It does this by raising the running temperature of the engine, thus in turn raises the temperature of the exhaust gases, and is then hot enough to cause the particles in the DPF to burn off/combust a second time (I think its a little like an after burner )

These systems can cause problems by; running out of additive (needs top up at approx 80k miles), faulty filler caps (there is a sensor in the cap to tell the ECU to dose the additive once you've put diesel in, so if this fails, no additive added), if no additive is added the system will fail and block the DPF, a blocked DPF can cause the turbo to go due to excess pressure build-up but more likely put the car into limp mode, short town driving doesn't do the system any good as it needs the temperature from a good run to burn off the particles in the DPF.

I think that is enough for the DPF system

Back to the 407 in general; aswell as checking for DPF issues, other known problems include ABS sensors, EGR valves, DMF, tyre pressure sensors, lower ball joints. As with any car, they aren't perfect, but no car is (in my opinion).

I have a 2005 2.0HDI SW with SE spec - OK I've had my fair share of problems, but on the whole, really like the car. It is an extremely comfortable car to drive (particularly on long runs, and just eats up motorway miles), it has reasonable fuel performance (38-48mpg from town to motorway), not the fastest 0-60 but definitely tonnes of torque particularly once in 4th and above it will go like a train, and still keep pulling/accelerating in 6th up a hill! The engine is smooth and quiet, noticeably quieter than new VW/Audi diesels. The handling, for a car of its size, is beyond any other car I've driven - you can put it into a corner, and know that it will come out exactly where you want it, with no roll or slip, it just goes round! My previous 306 2.0HDI had over 190k miles on the clock before someone wrote it off, so I'm hoping my 407 will go on the same. For me, I would never buy petrol again

With my SE spec I got; dual zone climate control, cruise control, auto headlights, auto wipers, alarm, ESP, 4x elec windows, heated elec mirrors, 17" alloys... basically, I think the only bits I'm missing from top spec is leather seats and built in sat nav. The 407 is an attractive looking car, particularly from the front with the curves.

I think if you look well, buy sensibly, and don't expect it to be completely hassle free, then you won't go far wrong!

[trem1]

Originally Posted by jmkent

The anti-pollution system is a standard DPF & additive system, designed into practically all modern diesels. Basically.... it injects an additive into the diesel tank everytime you fill up. This additive allows combustion at lower temperatures. The DPF (diesel particulate filter) is located within the exhaust, and catches all the sooty particles - a 407 with a correctly functioning system won't have black smoke coming out the back, even when you floor it! Every now and then, typically 300-500 miles, the car goes into a regen cycle - what this does is to burn off any of the unburnt particles caught in the DPF. It does this by raising the running temperature of the engine, thus in turn raises the temperature of the exhaust gases, and is then hot enough to cause the particles in the DPF to burn off/combust a second time (I think its a little like an after burner )

These systems can cause problems by; running out of additive (needs top up at approx 80k miles), faulty filler caps (there is a sensor in the cap to tell the ECU to dose the additive once you've put diesel in, so if this fails, no additive added), if no additive is added the system will fail and block the DPF, a blocked DPF can cause the turbo to go due to excess pressure build-up but more likely put the car into limp mode, short town driving doesn't do the system any good as it needs the temperature from a good run to burn off the particles in the DPF.

I think that is enough for the DPF system

Back to the 407 in general; aswell as checking for DPF issues, other known problems include ABS sensors, EGR valves, DMF, tyre pressure sensors, lower ball joints. As with any car, they aren't perfect, but no car is (in my opinion).

I have a 2005 2.0HDI SW with SE spec - OK I've had my fair share of problems, but on the whole, really like the car. It is an extremely comfortable car to drive (particularly on long runs, and just eats up motorway miles), it has reasonable fuel performance (38-48mpg from town to motorway), not the fastest 0-60 but definitely tonnes of torque particularly once in 4th and above it will go like a train, and still keep pulling/accelerating in 6th up a hill! The engine is smooth and quiet, noticeably quieter than new VW/Audi diesels. The handling, for a car of its size, is beyond any other car I've driven - you can put it into a corner, and know that it will come out exactly where you want it, with no roll or slip, it just goes round! My previous 306 2.0HDI had over 190k miles on the clock before someone wrote it off, so I'm hoping my 407 will go on the same. For me, I would never buy petrol again

With my SE spec I got; dual zone climate control, cruise control, auto headlights, auto wipers, alarm, ESP, 4x elec windows, heated elec mirrors, 17" alloys... basically, I think the only bits I'm missing from top spec is leather seats and built in sat nav. The 407 is an attractive looking car, particularly from the front with the curves.

I think if you look well, buy sensibly, and don't expect it to be completely hassle free, then you won't go far wrong!

yep that about covers it...apart from the Zenith model doesnt have a dpf

[lambchop]

Thanks for the info... it just sounds like the same list for all diesel cars, VW, Ford etc...

Off to see a few shortly, thanks again!

[elecracer]

Well I swopped my Vectra c elite estate for a 2.0 Sw late last year, went for a sport 136.
Got to say never looked back since, vectra had clocked 130,000 in 6 years, so fancied a change.

[chopper1192]

Buy very very carefully. A professional inspection is essential. A good example is a joy to own and drive, but they're big, complex cars and are capable of giving big, complex headaches so be ruthless and avoid high milers or suspiciously cheap ones.