1988 Daihatsu Charade Gtti review from UK and Ireland
"Phat little rocket ship"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Driver's seatbelt.
Exhaust Turbo downpipe (straight-through) came loose due to a weirdo fitting it.
Idling problem occasionally (common fault)
Rust on rear arches - reccomended to get a body specialist to shave off the lips.
General comments?
Amazing performance for a 1.0, the best whipping I've given was a Golf Mark 2 GTI 16v all the way until the road an out.
Absolutely terrible in the wet, especially around corners.
The car had Apex suspension fitted and it was very stiff. It added to the happy back end of the Charade.
Other mods: K&N air filter, straight through exhaust from the turbo, Apex suspension.
I have to say the gearbox was one of the best I've ever used, close ratio and fitted into each gear lovely.
The engines in these are amazing blueprinted engines. Apparently these engines are good for an increase in boost to around 18psi on the standard turbo - I advice to do this, if I knew that then, boy!
The interior is uninspiring, but sod it who cares, the car is a legend.
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All 1988 Daihatsu Charade reviews
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model Year | 1988 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.0 turbo Manual |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 10/10 |
| Comfort marks | 7/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 80000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 85000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 4th September, 2005 |