Today’s car takes Shed back to a time, long long ago, when he and Mrs Shed used to enjoy the occasional spot of outdoorsy fun.
Anybody remember when eggs used to have little lions on them? Well, let’s just say that when the Sheds owned a 407 from the same era as this week’s offering Mrs Shed often ended up with a somewhat bigger lion embossed on her right buttock.
If you were into this sort of thing the 407 Coupe was well suited to it because of its luxuriantly long front overhang, often lightheartedly likened to the jutting chin of late football player, manager and pundit James ‘Jimmy’ Hill. You were unusual if you liked the look of that, especially if the image of Mrs Shed draped over it popped into your mind while you were looking at it. Going back to the 407 Coupe though, this perceived fugliness was a problem for Peugeot as they were hoping to sell it on its appearance as well as its lounge lizard performance.
We had one of these Coupes on SOTW back in 2020. The outside of that was in proboscis-engorging silver, partially redeemed on the inside by Alfa-style red leather. Dark paints did do a decent job of disguising the Coupe’s visual frailties, so it’s good news that our shed is black. So is the pump handle that you use to fill it - but don’t despair, the 2.7 HDi under this car’s oddly marked bonnet (elbow grease?) comes from the good old days before the Government decided that diesels were the work of the devil, you know, just after they’d confirmed that we should all please buy diesels.
Some criticised Peugeot for this particular engine, which is interesting as it was actually the Ford AJD V6 as used in Landies and Jaguars, renamed as the DT17 for use in Peugeots (and Citroens). Others criticised Peugeots at that time for their dodgy French electrics, which is interesting as the electrics came from Siemens in Germany. Some criticised Peugeot’s six-speed automatic gearbox, which is interesting because it was actually an Aisin-Warner AWF21 unit from Japan, a ubiquitous Tiptronic found in many a Toyota and Volvo D5. Others criticised the box for being at the limit of its abilities when paired up with this engine, which is interesting because others say that the drivetrain was very reliable. The lesson there, maybe, is to apply a bit of objectivity to stereotypes. All we can tell you is that this particular car breezed through its last MOT test in December with just one advisory for a not excessively worn rear brake disc.
Peugeot also made a 3.0 HDi 407 Coupe using the DT20, Peugeot’s name for the twin-turbo Jag XF/Range Rover unit. This could easily be remapped to over 300hp, but not a lot of people know about it because reputedly only 45 of these 3.0s made it over to the UK. The 2.7 GT looks like disappearing down a similar plughole of obscurity here too, thanks in no small part to the sterling efforts of His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs and the insurance companies. The ’55 plate 2.7 that Shed found in early 2020 was hammered on the forum for generating an annual tax bill of £325. Guess how much it will cost you to tax today’s £1,695 ’56 plater? Shed can’t bring himself to tell you at this point because he wants you to consider this car calmly and in a measured mental state. The answer’s at the end. Brace yourself.
Anyway, in the 407 the 2.7 chugged out a useful 201hp at 4,000rpm and 325lb ft at 1,900rpm, enough for a 0-62mph time in the mid-eights and a top whack of 143mph. The 33mpg fuel consumption wasn’t much to write home about, a reflection of the 1.8-tonne weight, but at least it did pretty much return that figure in the real world. The GT spec was good too with sat nav, CD multichanger, and electrically adjustable and heated sports seats in leather that could do with a hearty feed in this case. There was meant to be a telephone in there somewhere as well.
Potential faults? Back in 2020 one PH owner said that his 2.7 Coupe was hands down his worst ever purchase. The cost of works and parts did look a bit scary – parking sensors, ABS sensor (requiring the removal of the fuel tank), exhaust sensor, coolant hoses (including the one with the built-in thermostat, perhaps not the best idea), battery, brake pads, wheel repair, wheel bearing etc – but you might think that quite a few of those items come under the heading of consumables. The PHer did end his tale of woe by noting that the car was really good on the motorway. Again, you be the judge.
None of it matters if you’re never going to consider sampling the 407 2.7 Coupe experience anyway because of the dead hand of HMRC. £675. Groogh.
1 / 4