1981 Daihatsu Handivan review from Australia and New Zealand
"Super-reliable cheapie"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
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 |
| Year of manufacture | 1981 |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 0.6 unleaded petrol Manual |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 150000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 158000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Mitsubishi Colt |
| Date of Entry | 20th April, 2003 |