1992 Daihatsu Charade TS review from Australia and New Zealand

Only recently, I suspected that the head gasket had blown. Oil was leaking into the radiator. Had a phone call from mechanic today and either the head needs reconditioning (AU$700) or it's got a porous block - replace engine. So, it's virtually had it. Best option for me is to replace engine and sell it - I've had enough.

About 2 months ago, upon replacing brake pads and shoes we discovered that the braking system wasn't working correctly. Replacing wheel cylinders and putting in a 2nd hand master cylinder didn't fix the problem. After a lot of bleeding and replacement with a NEW master cylinder fixed the problem.

Clutch replaced at same time due to excessive noise when taking off (esp. uphill) and slipping when changing gears.

Cracking on vinyl door-skins (on top surface) due to overexposure to sun. Seats always badly worn. Replaced back seats 4 door G100 seats - very comfortable and fit perfectly (apart from little gap down the sides). Seat covers fix up the front seats.

Winding windows up and down becoming stiff and sometimes noisy.

Car needed a good tune on about 200,000 km's. Timing was out, distributor points and cap needed replacing and carburetor required a good clean out.

Red paint fades TERRIBLY. Have seen a few cars around in same condition. Unless garaged for the entirety of it's life - will be prone to the same. All panels fade, esp. bonnet and roof.

Roof lining began to sag only about 2 months after I got the car. Ripped it out, awaiting replacement (when I sell it!).

I crashed the car into a kerb after doing a stupid handbrake turn in the wet - the strut was bent (replaced) and still the chassis is slightly out of whack and continue to find uneven outside tyre wear on front left. No fault of the car - all coz of my stupidity!

Don't hold up very well in accidents - very easily crumple. I had a non-at-fault accident and ran into the back of a lady with an impact speed of maybe 20-25 km/h or so and caused nearly AU$4k worth of damage.

Although the car's been pretty reliable in getting me from Brisbane to the Gold Coast for work every day for the last year or so, there's been a lot of stuff gone wrong with it - but I guess you're to expect that from an old car with plenty of km's on the clock.

Also, as I've done most of the servicing myself (leads, timing, plugs, oil change, radiator flush etc.), someone more qualified may have been able to pick up some of my problems before they'd worsened.

The interior is nothing special at all - so much that I bought a centre console from Alljap in Virginia from the same 4 door G100 or G102 (4 pot) that I bought the rear seats from. Replaced the instrument cluster with one from a G102 too, as the G100 one is really crumby.

Rather 'tinny' car, doesn't sound too good with a sound system in there. Easy to break into, with a coat hanger, you'll be in it no worries within a minute or so (for the inexperienced break-and-enterers of us!).

Great on fuel. My best is 6.0L/100km, altho my average is probably around 6.5L/100km or so. I like to give it a bit of stick sometimes.

Brakes are known to be terrible. Have to slam the pedal to the floor to have any real effect.

Not a performer by any means, and I guess is exactly the right car to get you from A to B cheaply, without worrying about looks, wear or tear or safety. Has got me from A to B many a time without fail, but has cost me too much to maintain. For the first year/year and a half it was a gem - but now I'm regretting buying it for a what was a bargain price of $2700. Had to do too much to it to maintain it.