1990 Daihatsu Charade GTti from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

Clutch replaced twice (turbo lag means you have to really ride the clutch if you want to beat an auto off the line).

Replaced the timing belt at 50000 km as a precaution.

Nothing else.

Daihatsu Racing Services:

- Twin board engine computer

- KYB competition suspension upgrade

- High-flow turbo modification

- 80mm Pod air filter

- Larger 4 core copper radiator

- Twin cooling fans

- Stainless 2 inch flow-through exhaust.

Estimated 150 Hp at 16psi boost, 98

octane fuel.

Standard engine internals :)

Custom 8 point roll cage.

Velo competition seats and harnesses.

Enhanced instrument package.

15" alloy wheels.

Custom electronic blow-off valve.

Obviously this vehicle is modified extensively. In this form it is an absolute screamer.

0-100km/hr in just above 6 seconds.

Standard handling is very good, if a little soft. It will tend to understeer when pushed to the limit.

Handling with the upgraded package is unbelievable, very neutral and stable. Mid-corner lift-off will produce a slight snap oversteer, which can be easily controlled with a little power application.

Around the city the turbo lag can become a little annoying, as there is nothing exciting happening below about 3000 RPM.

At highway speeds, the relatively short 5th gear means boost is always available with a twitch of the foot. This makes for incredibly spirited cruising, a ball of fun.

The standard brakes are excellent, easily up to the extra effort required by this engine. Windy downhill runs at speed will test them, but I have not run up against any brake fade. The only sign the brakes are getting hot is a slightly spongy pedal.

Overall this car is probably the best performance hatch available. Modifications are easy, and yield excellent results.

Fast and fun!

Gday

How much did you pay for your GTti?

I'm in aus and thinking of purchasing one.

Also how many K's have been done with those extensive mods?

Cheers.

Hi I am driving a 89 GTti in Singapore. I am wondering where did you manage to get the Daihatsu Racing Services parts? Can you also comment on performance parts from MRT and Rospen. I am thinking of buying the coilovers and sway bars from Whiteline but they are a little expensive.

Please give me a little advice. I can be reached at eugtan77@singnet.com.sg.

Hiya.

I'm not at liberty to say how much my GTti was, but genuine GTti Charades are quite rare. I think the only road licensed ones are private imports, as I haven't heard of anyone getting approval for low-volume imports. There are many more that are 'converts'. Aussie delivered charades with GTti power plants. Expect to pay around $5500 for a good example convert. Maybe $9000 for a geniune GTti.

Rospen motor sport are an excellent source for GTti parts and advice. Ross McKenzie is the man for Daihatsu.

MRT is over-priced, and Brett Middleton stole most of his parts during his short stint as a Daihatsu backed driver.

My GTti,4/1992 has only 1.1 bar and 8,600rpm.

By dynometer I see 155ps at 7168prm and 18kg.

I don't know how fast I go 0-100km.

This year, 12/2001, I put in a new engine. 1.4 bar, and some other technical things.

I need 180-190ps. It's easy.

And dangerous if I drive with full power for long time, more than 5-6 seconds.

I know that.....

www.geocities.com/gttigr

Hi I live in greece. I want to buy a GTti, but 1400cc 4wd. Please send me some adresses. my e-mail is: yacco@in.gr.

Hi, I have just bought an 1987 gtti here in new zealand. I flew to Auckland and drove it to Christchurch-in one day. Whata wee beast. It has a fresh engine, upgraded induction\exhaust, bov, large front-mount inter-cooler, fuel cut defender, extra injector,16inc mags, lowered, running 10lbs boost{for now} and more. A lamb in wolfs clothing is how I would describe my triple-and what a wolf it is ha ha.