Used Peugeot 806 review and buying guide (1995 to 2003): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Peugeot 806 should you buy?

A 2.0 HDi diesel, sold from August 1999, is the 806 to look for, as long as there's a bill showing its crankshaft damper pulley was renewed at the last timing belt change. That pulley's the HDi's one known weak spot, and it's a part you can check on the day and replace, so it's a risk you can manage rather than a gamble.

The one to avoid is a 1.9 turbodiesel from 1997 or 1998 (R and S plates). These suffered a spate of connecting rod failures, too many to put down to owners running them low on oil, and the trouble seemed to hit only engines with a DHY serial number, not DHX ones. If the engine number on one says DHY, don't buy it.

Very little is said about the petrol versions either way, which isn't evidence they're better or worse than the HDi, so judge one on its condition and its paperwork. The 806 ran from 1995 until the 807 took over in autumn 2002, and on this car the engine matters far more than the year.

Which Peugeot 806 engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 2.0 HDi's the diesel to pick, with one known weak spot: the crankshaft damper pulley. It's two metal rings held together by rubber, and once that rubber breaks down the outer ring wobbles or slips. That can throw or shred the auxiliary belt, and a loose belt can get pulled into the timing belt, which wrecks the engine if it fails.

The fix is a new damper pulley every time the timing belt's done, never the old one put back. In late 2001 dealers were also told to check every HDi for leaks at the unions between the common rail and the injectors, so look for diesel weeping around the top of the engine before you go any further.

The 1.9 turbodiesel is the engine to be wary of. Its connecting rod failures centred on R and S plate cars from 1997 and 1998 with DHY engines, so that's the combination to rule out. There's no gearbox fault to single out on the 806, so on the drive you're just after clean, quiet changes and a clutch that doesn't slip.

What should you check when viewing a used Peugeot 806?

On an HDi, listen at idle for a hard knock or rattle from the crankshaft pulley, and look for an auxiliary belt that's frayed, squealing or running out of line. A battery charge light coming on as you drive means the alternator's stopped being turned, another sign of a failing pulley. Ask for the invoice showing a new damper went on with the last timing belt.

On a 1997 or 1998 1.9 turbodiesel, find the engine serial number before anything else and don't go further if it's a DHY. On a petrol, make sure the catalytic converter passed its last emissions test cleanly. One owner found a 'gong' warning sound meant the battery wasn't holding enough charge, so if you hear it on the drive, get the battery tested.

Ask for proof the recall work's been done. Diesels were recalled in 2002 because water could get into the engine management circuit in wet weather, causing rough running and less help from the brake servo. A 2001 recall fitted new four-way brake pipe unions to 109 cars with ABS after the old ones were found to crack inside.

Older recalls cover a check of the airbag trigger in 1996, possible air in the brake fluid on some 1999 cars with ABS, and a handbrake ratchet that could fail on some 1998 cars. Pull the handbrake on a slope during the drive, and make sure the brake pedal feels firm rather than spongy.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Peugeot 806 cost to run?