Cracked oil feed to turbo causing blown turbo.
Two blown head gaskets, one causing a warped head.
Shredded fan belt causing one of the blown head gaskets.
Failed headlight switch assembly, with the replacement one on its way out as well.
Large quantity of rust along the bottom of the doors.
Now finally after sorting through all the problems it is going fine.
Ran high boost recently and it goes extremely hard for such a small engine.
Wouldn't trust it in a crash, you'd be lucky to keep your life hitting a truck.
Decent sporty looking exterior with body kit and rear spoiler, matched by an equally appealing interior.
Hard suspension has you bouncing out of your seat.
Handles very well when pushed hard, just don't come off the throttle mid corner at all.
You ran high boost then complained about the reliability?
Did the car blow a head-gasket "after" you had the head and block mating surfaces machined? Oil feed lines are supposed to be replaced every 50,000kms for this car. Rust in doors is due to blocked drain holes, no rust on mine. It's a bit of an unfair review. But the safety aspect is true though.
It is a reliable car, i am from Malta with all roads destroyed nearly no asphalt left, but my charade is still running and in good condition.
I drove a 1984 De Tomaso Charade for two years in the late 1980s. It was flimsy, but it was cute with its big gold wheels, body kit and the tiny, three cylinder, turbo engine that sounded like 8 litres when it was under full throttle. It was huge fun. Handled well, but rode like a wooden plank. Pine needles blocked the drain holes under the heater air intake slots just ahead of the windscreen and caused serious structural rust that spread like cancer down the scuttle and into the bottoms of the A pillars. Another year and it would have been terminal as it was too far gone for a cost-efficient repair job. I enjoyed my time with it. This topic is so far out of left field, I wonder if anyone will ever read it. Which is a bit like the old proverb about a tree that falls in the forest and nobody is there — does it make any noise?
Allan Dick, Auckland, NZ.
I have read it! Bought an old Charade as my first car and spent months getting it ready for when I passed my test. Brilliant little thing, but it used to jump out of 5th gear once in a while which was worrying when overtaking!
All of this happened in the early 90's with a 1984 3 door 993cc Charade.
I think personally that is the best car I've ever owned and still do own its approaching the 130 bhp barrier now and all is going well with it no mager problems I've got some big power to come out of the new engine I've just picked up and this time next year it will be around 200 brake and lighter the flex problem is easily solved with the addition of a full rally cage with has to be custom built around the car.
Hi I have an 1991 charade turbo. had it for 6 months the head gasket gone on.
Hi there! I am from South-Africa... I have have my 1984 Charade Turbo for 12 years now... In the first week I had it my father "apparently" blew the turbo completely beyond repair as stated by the "friend" mechanic (Only that he stole every single part of the turbo connected to the engine)...
Ever since then been running low compression without a turbo, it has been the most reliable car I have ever came across, except running low compression and the turbo gone, all the rest original it is a heavy petrol eater!!! 5km per litre...
All of that is going to change in this week... putting in a Garrett 1548 Turbo and a dump valve, overhauling the engine and carb., Already have a 50mm Free Flow Exhaust. And replacing the suspension... I hope it'll run like a dream! Any comments are welcome!
Eugene.
I have had this gem of a car for about a year now, and have fallen in love with it! The only issue with it is that I just can't seem to find any parts for it! Can anyone help a man in love with a car from pakistan!
If you can, just mail me at saud.farooq@live.com
Thanks.
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