1981 Daihatsu Handivan from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Quite costly for a first car

Faults:

Broken welds on drivers seat.

Exhaust manifold broke twice.

Blown head gasket at 40,000 km.

Transmission oil leak at 50,000 km.

Broken CV joints at 56,000 km.

General Comments:

This car is very good on fuel and worth looking out for.

However don't buy the semi-automatic.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 29th July, 2003

31st Aug 2003, 23:04

How does a semi-automatic work? I've heard of it, but never worked WHAT it is exactly.

Miklos73@bigpond.com.

4th Mar 2006, 05:24

You're all wrong, a semi-automatic is when the human makes contact with the gear lever and triggers off a sensor down in the shaft that engages the clutch for you. It was on the 60-70s Beetles and still around today in slightly different mechanical ways. It is a tricky system that takes computer chips etc. to run, better off with a pure manual or straight automatic. (Unless you own a Ferrari or similar)

1981 Daihatsu Handivan 0.6 unleaded petrol from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Super-reliable cheapie

Faults:

The exhaust system was pretty much the main culprit. Both muffler boxes were quite holey (but that is not the fault of the car manufacturer).

I suppose the alternator has a very noisy whine (if you tune the AM radio between stations), other than that it charges like a bull (I have quickly jump started many other more expensive cars with this little beauty).

The seat belts are a bit of a pain as they usually twist and get jammed in the dispenser (you know the thing the seat belt goes through and turns freely at any angle).

General Comments:

It is slow off the mark, but is mega-reliable and 'runs off the smell of an oily rag'.

It is a little bit 'squeezy' inside, especially if you have a passenger.

Cheap as chips to run in all aspects. Tyres, petrol, license and registration are almost cheap enough even for a child to own. Makes an excellent first car for the undemanding young driver.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th April, 2003