2008 Daihatsu Materia from UK and Ireland - Comments

I've drove a Nissan Note and it has terrible vibrations in the steering when on the motorway. Basically the Note is a different body-shell on a Micra chassis; the engine is the same unit as the Micra, and so is the exhaust system and suspension. So in all, it's a Micra with the same poor Renault quality. "Same contents, different packaging, more money".

I don't think that's the facelifted Note. But I shall heed the warning when I testdrive!

I am not taken with the tie up Nissan has with Renault - it has benefited Renault but decimated the Nissan brand.

However many issues I have with the Materia, at least it is a Daihatsu so will not break as every component is consistent, well engineered and designed for long life-unlike Renault.

I have now started driving the Materia full time (it was the weekend family car and Sirion was my "work" car) and I am starting to find more positives now, but still hate the obstructive, daft ratio gearbox.

I have swapped the front sidelight bulbs for white/xenon 6xLED bulbs (ebay) and this has made them look like daytime running lights (eg on the R8) making the car look bang up to date and premium. The difference surprised me.

Hmmm, the jury's out on it at present - it was VERY cheap yet looks expensive in dark grey metallic with the great wheels, privacy glass, quality lights and thickly coated chrome-especially with the new LEDs, it accelerates very sharply, corners and brakes well, the cabin is huge and equipment good, but;

32mpg, atrocious gearbox, hard ride, flat unsupportive seats, lack of cubbyholes/storage and annoying low boot height coupled with a daft fabric (non-rising) parcel shelf.

I am not sure what to think of it - it is fun when you're in town or driving it hard (no passengers) - but torture on the motorway or when you want to cruise a distance with the family. I love some bits of the car, but other bits frustrate me.

I am beginning to think it is acceptable at the money I paid and at least it is interesting, superbly built and should be 100% reliable, plus the remaining four years of warranty and breakdown are better than the package on many new cars. All things considered, the balance is slightly in its favour. Would I buy another?

I'll know in a few months of everyday use...

Well, I could just not justify keeping it - and I found out how I got a cheap deal when buying it. It turns out Daihatsu are offering dealers nearly new low mileage Materias on sale or return at just over £5000 as they are so hard to sell on.

When I came to shift mine, I rang 12 Daihatsu main dealers and not one wanted to buy it in, at any price...

I finally got a tip-off that a Welsh dealer had managed to sell a few, so I rang him and got £5250 for my 2007/57 7,500 mile Materia with FSH and protection pack... losing £750 in three months. I am glad I had only paid £6000 for it in November, as I would have been mortified to have lost over 50% value in just over a year if I had bought it new.

This car was a mistake and I regretted it soon after purchase as it simply was not as good as the Sirion. I did however like the styling, grip and lovely wheels.

I could not live with the 32mpg, crashy ride, flat seats and infuriating manual gearbox - even though I am one of the few who loves the styling of the car. The huge expanse of (very soft metal) door panels also picked up door dents ridiculously easily, and once dented the dents stood out like a flashing light due to the way flat panels catch the light.

Daihatsu would have been better to sell the Materia in more basic spec in brighter colours and with softer suspension, a more economical 1.3 engine and higher ratio gearbox for about £8500. The build quality, warranty and reliability of Daihatsu as a brand is first rate:- a fun, cheap, bright small family car might just have hit the spot with UK buyers bored with Corsas etc.

I was not sorry to see it go and neither was my wife who lamented the loss of the Sirion. Perhaps I should listen to her - she is usually right!!

We drove away relieved...

I thought it was only a matter of time, Geoff! But you did well on the deal, I think. To only lose £750 doesn't seem bad to me when you bear in mind the £6k purchase price. I would have thought anyone thinking of buying one of these should try for the same deal...

So what are you getting next - or are you sticking with the other Sirion and the YRV for now?

Cheers - Peter.

Peter - both Sirions have gone and we have only the YRV, which after some obsessive compulsive fettling is shaping up nicely.

We are trying to buy another cheapy to leave funds for finishing the house and are trying to source either another YRV or Grand Move 1.6:- either with air-con, ABS and central locking, in mint condition with low miles for about £1500.

I am cursing the fact that I missed an 8,000 mile, 1 owner, as new 2000 Grand Move 1.6+ manual in metallic red at a franchise dealer for £1700. I saw it before I sold the Materia, but it has sold. Damn it. There is a 50k 1.6+ auto with aircon in London at £995, but it has the wrong transmission and is too far away!

The YRV is good but hard, bouncy and our 1.3 Radical is bereft of any kit-I had not realised this special edition was the model that DELETED all of the standard YRV bits:- air con, ABS, central locking etc. I bought it over the phone from a trusted dealer who described it very well and agreed a very cheap price so I don't regret buying it - like I did the Materia...

I still love the brand, but the Materia is just too flawed.

Hi Peter, I have now bought a very nice one owner, 2003 Mazda Premacy 2.0GSi with FSH and 71k miles for £2085, to replace the Materia - and amazingly it is far more economical; we are getting 35-40mpg as opposed to the 32mpg from tme Materia.

The YRV is getting 45-50mpg and is going well after some attention to detail and sorting out five separate rattles, but the ride is crashy and the steering is very low geared meaning lots of turning.

Too big for me, Geoff - I only have a standard sized garage. Check out my Kia Soul test-drive, though...

The wife just bought one of these new, 1.5 auto and so far loving it. Agree with the original review in that the suspension is quite hard for a car of this type - it certainly corners better than the previous Suzuki Liana she had, but makes for a rough ride in the back for passengers.

Engine seems smooth enough and power delivery is fine, although she never gets above 2000 revs LOLOL.

We both like to sit upright, and while the headrests aren't bent forwards at a ridiculous angle like a lot of modern cars they, for me they require the seat to be leaned further back, otherwise my upper back does not touch the seat. Too many cars these days are being built purely for people with appalling posture and to get them though the NCAP tests. We are NOT dummies with bent forward heads, and these type of rests are doing untold long term damage, probably as much as you'd incur in a crash.

Any, enough about headrests. The other thing we have noticed is that this car is definitely a head turner - there isn't another one in the area and EVERYONE stops and stares at it. SO many times we've been waiting at roundabouts etc and the person in a car will turn their head to look at us with a look of disbelief rather than looking at their exit. There's going to be an accident soon. People in car parks are hilarious too - many a hilarious minute has been spent standing away from the car and watching them as they walk towards it, slow or stop, gawp at it, scratch their heads in disbelief, look to see what it is etc. It's amazing that when people see a 'box', they can't think out of it.

The Materia rides and handles exceedingly well for such a tall car compared to its little sibling - Sirion. Cornering is flat and inspire confidence unlike Sirion.

What is disappointing about the Materia is its storage compartments versus Sirion. Sirion has far more clubby holes that are useful. Whereas, Materia's spacious interior has not been ultilized which translate into wasted space.

Boot space though adjustable is not as great as Sirion. The down side of the flat boot is your cargoes will be rolling out when the boot door is opened.

I don't understand this review, you say that you traded in the Sirion, and yet in the last paragraph you say that both cars sit side by side, and you use the Sirion more? Did you have two Sirions?