This little French rocket is located in the San Francisco Bay Area and owner offered with a clear California title, a detailed log book showing over $20K in receipts. Exterior finish shows well in a dark green, with only a single minor scrape on the passenger rear door. The interior is unmarked in sexy black leather with well bolstered driver and passenger seats. For sale in Berkeley, California, this Pug is here on craigslist for $8,500 obo.
In 1991, Peugeot was beating a hasty retreat from American shores. They came hoping to win the hearts and minds of Anglos with some very cool and quirky French sedans, but in the long run, a poorly organized dealer network, high French labor costs, and a model line up that was stale, made their exit a certainty. Their last gasp was their best effort – a smaller sporty model and as the saying goes, “saving the best for last.”
The 405, when launched, won multiple awards including Motor Trend magazine’s Import Car of the Year. Clad in a beautiful Pininfarina body and with the familiar Peugeot characteristics of outstanding handling, ride quality, and comfortable interiors, these little cars won many hearts and the sporty models; the Mi16 with it’s race-bred DOHC 4 cylinder 160hp engine and 5 speed transmission won, the minds of enthusiast drivers and racers.
This is one of the good ones, the Mi16 – and this high-mileage “Pug” (as they are nicknamed) sports a rebuilt motor from a marque specialist, a lightened flywheel and BFGoodrich GForce Super Sports tires all around. It’s been well cared for with a laundry list of recent parts and repairs, and the owner reports that everything works on this well-optioned car. These little racers have a strong following, and are cherished for their powerful high revving motors and road-holding chops. Don’t let the miles fool you. This is no tired old slouch.
I saw this on CL (as it’s local to me) and was grateful I don’t have $8,500 burning a hole in my pocket—otherwise I’d be in trouble! So very, very nice. The ’80s and ’90s-themed RADwood shows we’ve had in the Bay Area over the last couple of years have brought out a few nice Mi16s, and really upped my appreciation for these neat cars (and many others of that era, which have seemingly disappeared from the roads overnight).
“While the engine was out of the car, the following were also replaced at the same time.
– Head gasket
– Camshaft seals
– Valve cover gasket
– Timing belt, tensioners, and water pump”
Well, I would hope so…
IIRC, one of these won a class race at Road Atlanta during the SCCA’s “Runoffs” and thereby afforded the driver the title of Champion.
I just viewed the CL ad, dropped to $7500 ask.
Unbelievable but true… this car is still being manufactured in Iran Khodro Company… 405 GLX, 405 SLX 😓😓
I had a 1988 Peugeot 405s. Though it wasn’t a Mi16, it was an awesome car to drive and there weren’t many of them around at the time. These won European car of the year in 1988.
I owned a red 1993 MI16 for three years and loved every moment of it. Excellent handling, pretty fast for the time and a real head turner back then. Sold it with less than 20% depreciation, very easy to sell a slightly used MI16 in those days.
I rented one of these in Marseilles in 1988 when I was visiting there on deployment. I pulled up at an intersection next to a tiny little hatchback with two big men in it. They revved their engine, and I reciprocated. Having read all the rave reviews of the 405Mi16 in Car & Driver, I was certain that I would show them when the light changed. So, as the little car was flying past me, I caught the Renault R5 Turbo on the back hatch.
I went back to my stash of car mags to try to find out what the heck I just saw… The 405 was a fine ride, but it certainly wasn’t up to that challenge
This is a car that I always assumed was just a cheap throwaway car! Maybe I should have a good read about these cars if they are in fact collectible?
Only euro spec cars, before catalyst converter, had 160hp.
When cat came, it had 148hp. I wonder if US cars had even that..
In 1991, I was working on the 405 assembly line in Sochaux where the US Models were built. This one certainly went through my own hands !
At that time, we also were still making the last 505s for the US market.
Mi16 are definitely collectible on this side of the Atlantic. Very seldom to find as most of them eventually crashed …
Find a Mi16x4 (the 4wd version if you can!) After the 205GTI, these are the next best thing!
For anyone who has NEVER driven a 405 (any model) be really careful as lift off oversteer is a known characteristic of French cars of this time!
For anyone who has NEVER driven a 405 (any model) be really careful as lift off oversteer is a known characteristic of French cars of this time! Also reason why they were quick was the bodywork was made with really thin panels, another thing to watch is the door stops as they will break & not stop the door over opening & damage the doorskin when it hits the wing/fender. Have experience of Peugeot 405s when I was driving Taxi’s (both petrol & diesel versions)
Peugeot made a turbo version 4WD of this…VERY interesting!
Called the 405 T16.
220 bhp if I recall well and had an overboost system to have more BHP for a limited time.