Daihatsu Charade GTti Review

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Daihatsu Charade GTti
4.5 stars
Average rating for this product is: 4.5 out of 5

From 7 ratings and 12 reviews

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jock.'s Review of Daihatsu Charade GTti

16th Sep 2002

Overall Rating

5 stars
  • Value for money
    5 stars
  • Practicality
    4.5 stars
  • Performance
    5 stars
  • Reliability
    5 stars
Good Points

Great ride for the price. Runs breathtaking ammounts of boost. Great car to drive on open, twisting roads or around town, a real point and squirt car. Great exhaust note too if you like the sound of a 911 carrera under your butt. I was only keeping the one I owned for 3 years, I ended up keeping it 71/2. Does that tell you something?


Bad Points

Non really other than wheel spin if your too heavy on the right foot. A six speed may have done well here, especially on long open road driving. Pricey for spare parts as I found out in the latter days of owning one, but that's the price you pay for fun. Not a lot of luggage space, but then again you dont buy a hot hatch for holidays.


General Comments

The Daihatsu Charade GTti is reasonably tame in standard form but has potential to be a successful racecar (was class N rally winner in 1990), especially if you live in the UK and TSR racing is still doing tweeks with it. They built two models, one achieving 140BHP the other 160BHP, the latter having an estimated 0-60mph in around 5 seconds. The stock model is a standard 993cc/99BHP 3 cylinder engine, with twin overhead cams and turbo intercooler, with a 0-60 in around 7.5 secs. Once described as a £11,000 (least when I bought mine in 91, which I wish now I hadn't sold) car with a £9,000 engine. Based against other cars of similar standing when it first came on the scene (like the suzuki swift gti etc) it made them look as though they were a washing machine on spin cycle. Has a great high end RPM and doesn't start to redline 'til well into the 7000 range, although the limiter will cut you off around 8000 (been there done that). Daihatsu then spanked BMWs claim that BMW were the first manufacturer to achieve 100BHP/Ltr, when in fact the charade was the outright winner there. This is a great little car for both price and insurance costs. Economy is great if you don't wear a lead boot on your foot (mine ran about 35mpg with the lead foot and around 45mpg light footed) servicing through a good dealer will keep this one running smooth and isn't too costly either.
Finally if you have a good model for sale, give me a call I'm interested.........

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