Faults:

Daihatsu's are meant to be reliable yet this one required a major engine rebuild before 100K (crankshaft).

Broke down in the middle of the road on more than a few occasions.

General Comments:

Positives?

1. Very economical (runs on the smell of an oil rag)

2. Surprisingly roomy for little car

3. Service costs reasonable (until something goes wrong)

4. Cheap to buy (new and used)

5. Easy to drive - good first car? See Negative 3 below.)

6. Cheap to insure.

Negatives?

1. Not so reliable as many people think (unless perhaps a little (very) old lady drives it and it is properly serviced)

2. Come to think about it, dealer probably didn't service it properly even though hard earned cash forked over.

3. Hate to think what it would be like in accident.

4. Does not live up to Japanese quality reputation. Interior and exterior very flimsy. Paint faded very quickly.

5. Very spartan appointments.

6. Struggles on hills. Don't try to overtake anything.

7. Easy to steal.

8. Even for those on a budget there must be better cars. Or spend a little bit more on a Toyota or Mazda.

Faults:

Needed to replace right hand side CV joint when I purchased the car... radiator replaced at about 140,000...head gasket currently on it's way out.

General Comments:

It's a very reliable car and goes extremely well for a 3 cylinder. Very cheap to run and I guess just a handy little car with hardly no problems.

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong with this car in the 7 years that I have owned it.

Only maintenance items, e. g battery, brake pads etc.

General Comments:

These little cars are truly amazing.

(My brother has a 95 model G200 with 265000 kilometres on the original 3cyl engine and it doesn't use oil or blow smoke).

The car drives as well as the day I bought it and is virtually 'bulletproof'

I don't won't to get rid of it, and if I do I will definitely go for another Diahatsu - probably a Sirion.

Faults:

The cars has had no major faults to date.

We had was at 137500 was the sun visor split from the hinge, making it hard to retract.

The rear shelf clips that hold it to the back seat have snapped off 15000. However not a major worry, just lift shelf off and rest it onto the back seat.

General Comments:

This has been a fantastic little car. Its great for doing the shopping runs, taking kids to school, etc.

The only main gripe with the car is the engine size, it's a 993cc/1.0L which is connected to a 3 speed automatic, this make it very hard to get up hills, taking off from the lights. The automatic does not make it much easier either with its long ratios.

Apart from this, it has served our family well. The seat are a little uncomfortable, however just by putting sheep skin covers on, does the job.

Fuel economy is amazing on its 37 liter tank we can achieve around 600kms, however if you are constantly holding the pedal to the metal and over revving the engine, the fuel consumption can go up drastically.

This has been a great little car that has served it purpose (and still is)