No doubt you're right about the car's handling qualities w/respect to
competitor BMW and Mercedes.
Now, I shouldn't be despising my countrymen's wonderful achievement (and
the 406 sure is wonderful), but I do remember a comparison conducted by
L'Auto-Journal (probably France's most serious auto magazine) with
equivalent BMW and Mercedes models, which conclusion at ENGINE level
wasn't so obvious.
If I ever get my hand on this copy again, I may give you precise data.
But I definitely remember it struck me that the much praised, all-new V6
didn't offer more power/torque, didn't save that much more fuel, etc
than competitors' engines conceived ten-or-so YEARS AGO !
Ah, I also remember the Peugeot (but then it wasn't the coupe)
altogether weighed MORE than the similarly-equipped Mercedes model
(which are not famous for being lightweight, pinch me if I'm dreaming !)
Anyway, the 406 coupe IS great. (I saw a yellow one go by yesterday :
ggggggg...)
-phil-