Not as cheap as they make out!
The exhaust has gone, after 36,000.
Cheap to run, until servicing comes around, then you will stitched up by the dealerships.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 21st November, 2003
The easyJet of automobiles
The original exhaust fell off at around 25,000 miles, but the car had only been used for short distances until that point, so exhaust corrosion could be expected. Despite being an unusual car, the garage could replace the part on the same day.
It looks unusual: thin, box-like and has no frills. This is designed to be a shopping trolley on wheels and it serves its purpose well. There is room for 4 people and a few shopping bags in the tiny boot.
Fuel economy is excellent (54 mpg) and a full tank is just GBP 17-18.
Driving over even small bumps and pot-holes is not comfortable - the car shakes and shudders and is also noisy above 50 mph. Top speed is about 85-90 mph.
It is very reliable, in part due to the lack of features, but Daihatsu spare parts are expensive and are not easily available in a generic version from a car-parts superstore.
For a 850cc engine, it is quick off the mark at traffic lights, but expect to be overtaken as the car creeps up-wards to 70 mph.
For a car to get you from A to B without hassle, this does the job perfectly.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 30th August, 2003
Ebay.
I wrote this original review, and the little car is still going strong 10 years on. The paintwork is looking tired and it needed another exhaust a couple of years ago, but there has never been a mechanical fault. It was my first car and I expect it'll be the most reliable car I'll ever own.
10th Feb 2005, 07:38
We needed to replace the full exhaust system at about 27k miles. That cost £99, which we thought reasonable. Apart from that, all we have had to replace in the 3.5 years of ownership have been three wiper blades - probably caused by switching when blade frozen to screen! Suffered a block breather pipe at about 20k, which was probably caused by the car standing idle for many months before we bought it. This was fixed free of charge by local Daihatsu dealer during routine service.
The car never uses oil and seldom returns less than 60 mpg.