1989 Daihatsu Charade CX Hatch from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

Absolutely everything, but the most notable thing was the spectacular way in which it all went wrong at once.

500km's after buying the car, the auto trans blew up.

Another 500km's, the oil pump packed up, the front brakes were also shot and so were fixed at the same time.

In less than 500km's the engine then completely hand-grenaded, blowing the head, and water pump.

I could have accepted this being an old car now, but meanwhile, it was painfully slow, excruciatingly uncomfortable, and truly truly ugly. Add in a healthy dose of rust, dangerous handling, pathetic quality of interior and build and numerous water leaks when it rained, causing fungus!!! It was a total pile of poo.

If this car were a fridge it would wear a four star energy rating. Fuel bills are the smallest outlay possible on this car.

If you buy one, people will laugh at you and you will become an outcast, seriously unhinged and in need of therapy.

Looks like you didn't look at the car properly before you bought it.

I reckon you were had mate but your fault for being a real sucker and not looking over the car before buying it.

Yep, I Think you bought a Dudd Car!!! Something that should have been Blatantly Obvious at the time of purchase if it all failed that early.. The answer to your problems my friend is research, and look harder at what you buy..

This guys a total dummy, they don't even make automatic 1.0s

he obviously got screwed. I am a daihatsu fanatic and I've seen many that look like someone beat it with a baseball bat and then went to sleep, woke up and had some more at it. But if you see mine run and the beauty it posesses you will gasp. email yngvae2@hotmail.com : daihatsu charade fanclub.

We are the new (and very proud) owners of an '88 Daihatsu Charade CX 1.0L automatic. We will not go back to the Aussie-made junk cars (Fords, Holdens) as it was always a never-ending story with them (ie; poor reliability, rust, oil burning, virtually nil resale value etc).

We also have an '81 model Handi Van, also made by Daihatsu. We are in two minds about selling it, only because we have too many cars now. We paid less than $3000 on these two cars yet we have no problems. Get a mechanic to go over the car, fix whatever problems there are, then just drive the damn thing.

The loser comment "If you buy one (a Daihatsu Charade), people will laugh at you and you will become an outcast, seriously unhinged and in need of therapy.) " is inappropriate. Speak for yourself mate, and don't hang your dirty washing out in public. This is a forum for cars, keep your life story to yourself.

Also, a comment was made about how ugly these cars are. I think they're BRILLIANT looking, and IMHO these cars will not look dated in 20 years' time.

We've had a 1990 Charade now for two years and despite adding another 50000 kilometres it hasn't cost us a cent in maintenance other than tyres, oil and filter changes etc. These cars are super reliable if looked after with only the slightest bit of care. It sounds like you bought a real lemon.

I guess you bought a lemon. My brothers all had Charades (a G11, 3 G100s, a G102 and 2 G200s) and they all have been reliable. You should have looked at the car before you bought it.

In reply to that comment being made about automatic trans-axle 1.0 litre G100s never being made, they DO exist, but they are extremely rare.

I have one of these rare 1.0L automatics! I am currently putting a new engine in it, and will post a review soon. It is though a very well equipped car, e/mirrors etc!! is there a website for the fan-club?

The person before you must have abused the car.