Used Daihatsu Charade review: 2003
Toyota's decision to pull Daihatsu off its showroom floors came as no big surprise to those who have seen the brand's presence decline over the past few years. If once the Charade was a popular small car that offered good value for money reliable cars, neglect saw its demise as other small cars moved forward. As soon as he slipped, the radar of buyers fell, which could only hasten the end.
For years, the Charade has been a solid little car that delivers Japanese quality at a price slightly less than similar models in the main Toyota lineup.
It was never a car that stood out from the crowd, but that was its big attraction for many who just wanted simple, reliable transport at an affordable price.
As soon as the Korean brands took the bottom positions in our market, Daihatsu was doomed. Instead of a cheap and fun little car, it was supplanted by cars from the Korean peninsula, and it didn't have the polish to work with the more expensive Japanese models it was by then really competing with.
WATCH MODEL
For years, the Charade has just been kept alive by a series of minor facelifts, a different grille here, new bumpers there, and a jumbled lineup were enough to make you think there really was something new.
For the most part it was just a showcase, it was the same old charade created to keep sales going without necessarily doing something special.
Then in 2000, Daihatsu effectively dropped the name from its lineup. He was tired of inaction, and the company introduced new names and models aimed at competing with fugitive Koreans.
When nothing seemed to work, the company revived the old name in 2003 with a small hatchback with attractive styling, but it was probably too late to save the brand from oblivion.
There was only one model, a well-equipped three-door hatchback that boasted dual front airbags as well as seatbelt pretensioners and force limiters, central locking, immobilizer, power mirrors and front windows, fabric trim, 60/40 folding rear. seat, CD player. Conditioner and metallic paint covered the available options.
Up front, the Charade had 40kW of power in the form of a 1.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder, but when it only had 700kg to move, it was enough to make it nimble. In other words, it was perfect in the city, where it not only got in and out of traffic with ease, but also returned decent fuel economy.
Daihatsu offered a choice of transmission, five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, and the drive was through the front wheels.
When seated vertically, visibility from the driver's seat was good, the driving position, while fairly upright, was comfortable, and everything was conveniently located within the driver's reach.
IN THE SHOP
The charade was well put together and therefore gave little trouble. It is only two years old and most cars will only go 40,000 km, so they are in their infancy and any problems they may have are still in the future.
The engine is equipped with a cam timing belt, which means that a replacement is required after about 100,000 km, and this must be done to avoid what can be costly if the belt breaks.
Check the service record, mainly to make sure the car has been serviced regularly, as the Charade is often bought as a cheap and fun mode of transport, and some owners neglect their maintenance to save money.
Also look out for bumps, scratches, and paint stains from being parked on the street, where they could be attacked by other careless motorists and the elements.
During test driving, make sure it drives straight and doesn't require constant steering adjustments to keep it on a straight and narrow road. If this happens, it may be due to poor repair after an accident.
Also make sure that the engine starts easily and runs smoothly without hesitation, and that the car engages gears without jerking or jerking and shifts smoothly without hesitation.
IN ACCIDENT
The Charade's small stature puts it at a distinct disadvantage in the event of a crash, as just about everything else on the road is bigger. But its size gives it an edge when it comes to crash avoidance, though it doesn't have ABS, which would be a boon for getting out of trouble.
Dual front airbags come as standard, so protection is quite reasonable when it comes to crunching.
OWNERS SAY
Perrin Mortimer needed a new car when her old Datsun 260C died for the last time. Her requirements were that it should be affordable, economical, well-equipped, and able to swallow her keyboard. After looking and discarding other subcompact alternatives, she settled on her Charade.
“I like it,” she says. "It's really cheap to run and roomy enough for four people, and has a lot of features like air conditioning, CD sound and power mirrors."
SEARCH
• stylish hatchback
• small size, easy to park
• good build quality
• meager fuel consumption
• fast performance
• moving resale value
BOTTOM LINE
Good build quality goes hand in hand with good reliability and combined with its economy makes the Charade a good choice for a first car.
EVALUATION
65/100
