₦airaland Forum

UPDATE: 500 KM DRIVE AFTER THE CONVERSION

- The first few sad moments I experienced behind the wheel in the car with the 6-speed Manual Transmission was the loss of effortless acceleration from 0 to about 95 - 100 km/h on gear 2 of 5-speed Manual Transmission. Pushing the throttle pedal to the floor was never needed for that experience (a small press on pedal was enough). Sadly, I actually expected it would be gone before even the decision to do the conversion, but it felt more than I expected when experienced. Yes, I knew it was a big price to pay. It took some effort to rewire my mental expectations of the car previous characters, depending on my input behind the wheel, though. Quite a number of transmission types and models have been matted to the ES V6 engine series since production started and ended, and every single one of them changed the car characters even though they were the same engines.

- The car character on gear 2 may have changed with the 6MT, but the engine wild attitude remains unchanged. In fact, the 6MT makes it more pronounced. If you think you have heard all the songs the ES9J4S can produce with its stock 5MT and ZF 4HP20 auto transmissions, you are wrong. The 6MT unleashed that side of engine potential hidden by stock gearboxes. The Only person that will likely understand what I am saying here is someone that pulls or has owned Peugeot 407 Coupè V6 6MT (ES9A Engine). That rumble sound is undefeated. Even though Peugeot 505 V6 remains the best in this department, the 6MT on 406 V6 makes you question the speciality reserved for the 505 V6, like when a father and son Lions are in roar competition.

- The 406 V6 5MT wasn't geared for sport. The long throw shifter of his 5MT isn't discouraging to race with, but not sporty to shift. However, having the 6MT on him now has changed the game. I have stalled the car many times (unintentionally) during the 500 km drive on the 6MT at traffic lights, because I couldn't tell if the stick was on gear or neutral. The shifter movement is now so short that almost no second is lost in power increase, overtaking or fundrive. It's hard to tell when in gear 2 or neutral. A complete change of driving pattern and expectations while in action.

- Speaking of the 6MT Shifter, the throw-in distance is not only different from the 5MT, the sound of the shift isn't same either. The 5MT sounds "gbim", while the 6MT sounds "click", as you upshift or downshift. You don't hear the sound, you feel it, right there on the palm of your hand, gripping the knob. It's kind of hard to tell which one feels superior. You just enjoy the difference (new excitement).

- One great area the 6MT outshines 5MT on the ES9J4S V6 engine in Peugeot 406 is in overtaking. With the 5MT, you have to downshift to overtake, most of the time. Now with the 6MT, zero need for that. It doesn't matter which gear you are on in. A further depress of the pedal a little is all that is needed for a quick overtake. I mean, both gearboxes' final drive ratios explain it clearer: 4.0,1 vs 4.7,8. Of course, the 6MT demands more shifting than the 5MT while in the streets, or generally, on city drive. But you get to enjoy the rumble sound from the engine bay while on it, unlike the 5MT that waits till when on very high rpm instead, if any (now that I think about it).

- I haven't noticed any significant change in the fuel economy since the 5MT to 6MT upgrade. Probably, that change may never happen because even though my driving pattern has changed behind the car wheel, my driving style hasn't. For those who might be more interested in highway fuel consumption of the 6MT in the car, I would tell you this, gear 5 maintains 100 km/h at 2,900 RPM, while gear 6 effortlessly propels the car on same 100 km/h but at 2,500 RPM. The difference of 400 rpm will have effect on the consumption, depending on the driver's intentions.It might be interesting for some to know that 406 V6 Manual remains the most fuel economical production V6 car Peugeot ever made. I am authoritatively telling you this as someone who almost has owned or driven them all (both auto and manual versions).

- Which is quicker? It's hard to tell yet, considering the 6MT only just covered 500 km on the car. Usually, the ECU takes awhile to reset, relearn or re-adapt to such new system introduced overtime. Initially, it was worse in the first 50km drive (which i was expecting), but has improved before the 500 km mark, and probably may continue to improve before 2,000 km, which has been my observation or experience from all modern Peugeot vehicles I have done major modifications or conversions on (both mine and others). I will tell you this, Peugeot 406 V6 Manual remains the quickest production V6 vehicle Peugeot ever produced or sold to the public.

- No Peugeot car has been able to replace 406. When it comes to 406 V6 Manual specifically, only Peugeot 407 Coupè V6 6MT can be pointed at, excluding the maintenance cost (even though the 407 Coupè V6 6MT beats V6 406 in some performance aspects). The T9 308 GTi, RCZ 200 & R are there, but their engines make them not suitable 406 replacements. The turbocharged engines in them make equivalent and higher power, while joined with improved LSD 6MT, but they just don't make power and sound the way the naturally aspirated ES V6 Engines do 406 V6 and 407 Coupè V6 do, among others. Cars like 406 V6 Manual may never again be experienced by humans, aside the few still remaining in the hands of enthusiasts. I know the trend for younger generations or average modern man is Quiet Emotionless Fast Boxes for road use (the more disengaged they become, the more attractive they are). I am glad I was born and raised in the era when testosterone and masculinity were determinant factors for some cars produced and the target market. I don't know if I would ever consider 5MT in place of 6MT on the 406 V6. Anything is possible. I just know that some fun spirited drive awaits me every day.

Ikenna351

Pls what the horsepower.is it above 250. If it's within the range of 170 to 205..then it's nothing bro. Ditch it and go ride acura zdx or infiniti ex,or lexus sc. Anywhere u see 406,@u go hiss....I dey tell u.

2cribz:
Pls what the horsepower.is it above 250. If it's within the range of 170 to 205..then it's nothing bro. Ditch it and go ride acura zdx or infiniti ex,or lexus sc. Anywhere u see 406,@u go hiss....I dey tell u.

Do those come with manual transmission, abi you didn't see where he said "quiet emotionless fast boxes"?

I thought the only best thing that happened to my Peugeot 406 V6 SV D9 was the conversion to Brembo brakes, until I converted him to 6-speed Manual. The more the mileage climbs since after the 6MT swap, the quicker the car responds to acceleration at lower rpm. If you think manual cars suck, you haven't met one that educates you that manual cars get levels. I wished Peugeot had produced 508 with this ES V6 Engine.

Ikenna351