WHEN I told a pal the Peugeot I was driving would not look out of place with a Ferrari badge, he probably thought he should be sending for the men in the white coats.
Years of listening to me drone on about the various cars I have driven usually sees him heading for the valium. But this time, when he saw the car, I think he understood where I was coming from.
The Coupe, particularly the red version I tested, looks like a cross between the fabled Italian and an XJS.
But the Peugeot isn't what it seems, and with a combination of excellent mpg and low CO2 emissions it soon starts to pay you back, particularly if you are a company car driver. It also has more goodies than Santa's sack on Christmas Eve, all included in the price.
Peugeot makes good quality, practical cars, so the Coupe is something of an anomaly. But the Pininfarina badge on the side gives the game away. The Italian design house has worked with many car manufacturers over the years, but particularly with Ferarri, and the influence is clear on the Coupe.
Its not the newest thoroughbred in the stable, but if a motor car can look stunning, this comes very close. Its dramatic sweeping lines, distinctive headlights and grille and smart alloys make it the car many would like to emulate.
Based on the 406, it has been around few years and probably lacksthe cutting edge technology of some of its more recent rivals, but like a fine red wine, it has matured with age
Peugeot has even got away with adding a diesel engine, something that would have been unheard of in a sports coupe only a few years ago.
Diesel it may be but performance is still good. The 2.2-litre turbocharged engine offers a good combination of economy and performance. Acceleration is brisk, with the 136bhp engine propelling it from 0-60 mph just 10 seconds. That performance is mirrored when cruising, with excellent pulling power that allows effortless overtaking in all gears.
There's a fairly noisy diesel clatter on startup but at high speed it is hard to differentiate between this oil burner and a petrol engine. That is partly down to the interior which insulates the occupants from the worst of road and engine noise. Ride and handling are both good, and the Coupe is fun when cornering. It grips hard when pushed hard and feels reassuringly stable.
At nearly £25,000 you would expect a lot for your money and the Coupe does not disappoint. Leather interior, satellite navigation, cruise control and a six-CD autochanger/radio are standard, as are electric windows and electric-heated door mirrors and air conditioning. Safety is well catered for with front and side airbags and anti-lock braking with emergency brake assist.
The instrumentation is generally well laid out and easy to use, but the four stalks on the steering wheel took a while to get used to. A couple of times I hit the cruise control when I wanted the indicator, and turned the radio up when I wanted to turn on the wipers.
Interior space is good for a coupe. Driver and passenger have decent legroom and the electric seats move forward automatically to allow access to the rear. Rear seat passengers don't feel shoehorned in and boot space is adequate. On the other hand, rear vision is restricted and headroom could be a problem for taller people.
On the economy front, my on-board computer showed around 42 mpg against Peugeot's official combined figure of 44.1 mpg. Highly respectable for what looks like a sports car.
The Peugeot may be knocking on a bit, but many a good tune is played on an old fiddle.
FAST FACTS
Peugeot 406 Coupe 2.2HDi SE
Price: £24,995
Mechanical: 136bhp, 2,179cc, four cyl common rail turbocharged diesel engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual transmission
Max speed: 129mph
0-62mph: 10.2 secs
Combined mpg: 44.2
Insurance group: 18
CO2 emissions: 168g/km
BiK Rating: 18%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited miles; 12 yrs anti-rust