Your Peugeot history: 'Replaced the 504 with a new 505 sedan and it
had done 430,000 km (in 15 years) when I traded it on the 406' is very
similar to mine.

The only significant repair my 406 has needed was the replacement of
the water pump and both fan motors about the time of the cam belt
replacement. The engine cooling had been erratic - I was sceptical
about the scope/nature of the fix but I must say it cured the
problem.  The only bother I had with my 504 was blockages into the
carb - at least I could fix these myself. The 505 required an engine
re-build early - some design fault in the wet sleeve seals. Of the
three, I find the 406 is the best - the extra power of the SV is great
- neither the 504 or the 505 had much get up go (though the 504 used
to achieve far better point to point times than the 50% more powerful
Holden which it replaced).
Of course there is the big worry with all current vehicles compared
with the 504s q 505s - that you cannot fix much yourself. I understood
every link in the older power trains and the electrics. Now it is one
big black box. The good news is that they rarely seem to go wrong.
I find myself very relaxed about even expensive repairs when a vehicle
has given long service and looks like continuing to do so. The
economics, compared with replacement, are obvious and I tend to look
at lifetime costs. Also any new vehicle introduces the possibility of
early problems. My 406 had been the dealer's personal vehicle for six
months or so which got around this risk neatly. When my 406 is up to
about 250k I might check what he is driving at the moment!

Your Peugeot experience is similar to mine: 'Replaced the 504 with a
new 505 sedan and it had done 430,000 km (in
15 years) when I traded it on the 406.' I passed my 505 to one of my
offspring (I wish I had done the same with the 504 which I traded in
on the 505).

The only trouble I have had with the 406, apart from some early
immobilizer hiccups) was replacement of both fan motors and the water
pump at 120k to deal with overheating. I had my doubts about the
rather drastic nature of this fix but it worked. And a subsequent
poster pointed out that it was probably sound mechanics to replace
both motors if one had gone.

The 504 was trouble-free, apart from petrol blockages into the carb -
and I could easily fix these myself. The 505, apart from a complete
engine re-build early (to overcome a design fault in the wet cylinder
seals) was OK - and, again, there was nothing it its mechanics or
electrics which I did not understand.

Now my 406SV is a mobile black box - fortunately very reliable. But
there must be many vehicles of most makes  towed these days when all
they need is a fuse or relay replaced. The extra herbs in the 406 SVis
good - neither the 504 or 505 were very lively. Yet the 504
consistently achieved much better point-to-point times over mountain
roads than the vehicle it replaced - a Hoden with about 60% more HP.
The Pug seemed to fly. I am happy with the driving comfort of the 406,
especially the motorised seat/mirror and the way it stores two
settings for the drivers seat, but I think the vehicle which fitted me
best was the 504 despite its uniquely hard seats. After the big
station wagon which it replaced, driving the 504 from our home to our
coast place 300 miles away became fun. That's when I became hooked on
Peugeots.

Thanks Bob and John - I'll delay thinking about replacement until the
408.