Daihatsu Sportrak (1989 - 1998) Car Review

If you want to buy a well-built and capable used off-roader, but donÕt want to pay the premium necessary for vehicles with a Land Rover badge on their bonnet, then you might consider a Daihatsu Sportrak. Priced from £9.995 when new, Daihatsu claimed its Sportrak soft top and station wagon estate line-up represented the bank manager-friendly face of four-wheel drive motoring. On the second-hand market, prices of this obsolete model are very reasonable, thanks to the ever increasing competition from a wide range of car makers. The first Sportrak models were rather basic and utilitarian compared with todayÕs lifestyle machines. But in recent years the 4x4 was freshened up with improved engines and suspension and trim upgrades making it a more appealing proposition.

History
The first Sportraks arrived in the UK way back in 1989 and offered basic off-road petrol-powered transport in short wheelbase three-door soft top and station wagon estate form. The soft-top DX had a full-length removable hood, while the station wagon EL featured a detachable rear hard top and sunroof panel. Both versions were offered with the same 16-valve 1.6-litre engine.
In 1990, they were replaced by the more user-friendly 1.6 EFi versions, which boasted a fuel-injected, catalyst engine and power steering. Within a year, these too were discontinued, this time in favour of the STi soft top and ELi hard top. The differences here were largely cosmetic, the later models gaining larger bumpers, with restyled tail lamps incorporated into the rear, plus a new front grille and a split/folding rear seat.
This pair continued until 1993 when Daihatsu started to turn its little off-roader into more of a lifestyle machine. The soft-top version was killed off, and in the following years the Xi, Xi-SE, EXi and ELXi variants gained more sophisticated equipment. Electric windows and mirrors, a removable sunroof, central locking and a decent face-off stereo all became standard items on the inside. Meanwhile, exterior styling was enhanced with alloy wheels that sat under wider, flared wheel arches.
Imports stopped in 1998 and the final examples are on R plates.

Opinion
The final range included three models, all powered by identical 1.6-litre 16-valve engines. The flagship ELXi offered wider wheels and tyres under extended arches, as well as an RDS audio system, electric mirrors and luxury interior trim plus power steering and a removable sunroof.
However, in its final form the price leader Xi had no rear seats, making it what the importers called Ôa versatile load and people carrierÕ. If you do want to carry more than two people, check youÕre getting the optional dealer-fit extra row of seats. In comparison, the Xi-SE came with split folding rear seats, central locking, electric windows, additional instrumentation and a Pioneer audio system.
Thoughtful touches included interior releases for the fuel flap and tailgate, remote control door mirrors and an immobiliser security system. Popular options were metallic paint, multi-play CD system and leather upholstery.

By CLAIRE EVANS.

Visit the Blog about daihatsu turbo

Daihatsu Terios (1997 - to 2006) Car Review

How much road space do one adult and two kids need on the school run? The Renault Espace takes up 81.8 square metres and a Land Rover Discovery 103.1m. A used Daihatsu Terios will cast a shadow over only 60.1, the same as ToyotaÕs baby Yaris. How can a proper 4x4 look this funky, be so manoeuvrable and yet so inexpensive? ItÕs part of DaihatsuÕs aim to target buyers in the family hatchback market and offer them something completely different. The 4x4 fashion market is still growing hugely, and the Terios has been one of a number of small 4x4s such as the Suzuki Jimny, Kia Sportage and Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin that have aimed to reap a share of it. The idea has been to steal sales from ÔwarmÕ hatches, mini MPVs and also from sectors where buyers were purchasing utility they didnÕt need. Part of the appeal is low pricing, and in the used arena this usually means nearly new cars at bargain prices. In this respect the Terios doesnÕt disappoint. Interested? HereÕs the background on DaihatsuÕs baby.

History
Though it sounds as if it could have been named after a mythical Greek God of Lifestyle 4x4s, Terios was in fact named after the Latin derivation of ÔGroundÕ. In fact, ground zero for UK Terios sales was in August 1997, with two trim levels being made available, the base model and the Terios+. Both models shared the same 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine developing 82bhp. The following April saw the launch of a limited edition SE version, which was on sale until August.
Two months later, in October 1998, Daihatsu decided that the SE was, after all, a good idea, and installed it as a part of the range proper before withdrawing marketing support for it shortly afterwards. Since then the Terios range has remained largely unchanged, benefiting from a price cut of over £2,000 in autumn 1998.
The first major changes came in August 2000. This new model boasted styling that was a whole lot beefier, especially around the front end. There was a more aggressive looking grille, bigger bumpers, aerodynamic spoiler lips on the front bumper and revised headlamps. The most significant change however, was reserved for the engine Ð now a state-of-the-art 1.3-litre 16v all-alloy unit borrowed from ToyotaÕs little Yaris. As well as revising the interior, Daihatsu also unveiled a different logic with trim levels. Out went the Terios and Terios+ designations: in came Terios E, EL and range-topping SL. A Terios Tundra special edition made a brief appearance but the range was thoroughly rationalised in April 2003.
The E model was dropped, the EL became the Tracker and the SL became the Sport. Prices were slashed and the Terios was in the best shape of its life. The all new Terios hit the streets in Spring 2006 replacing this model.

Opinion
You may have noticed the terms ÔlifestyleÕ, Ôsports activityÕ and Ô4x4Õ being used a fair amount when discussing the Terios. One term noticeable by its absence is Ôoff-roaderÕ. As you may have guessed, the Terios doesnÕt make a convincing case for itself as a rugged mud-plugger. The driverÕs handbook makes this abundantly clear, threatening all kinds of bodily injury should the vehicle be driven inappropriately. As this includes most heavy off road work, it is perhaps not surprising that the Terios isnÕt fitted with a low range gearbox. There is a differential lock that will enable exit from muddy fields, but thatÕs about the extent of the TeriosÕ off road remit.
As you would expect from a vehicle taking up less road space than a Toyota Yaris, the Terios is, as eighties estate agents once crowed, compact and bijou. ItÕs narrowness Ð only 1715 mm Ð makes seating four people a task best reserved for intimate friends. ThereÕs a fair amount of standard equipment considering the price. A driver's airbag, power steering, central locking, an engine immobiliser, tinted glass and a Pioneer audio system all come as standard. The Terios + adds air conditioning, anti-lock brakes, a passenger airbag, alloy wheels, electric front windows and mirrors, plus stylish roof rails. All this plus the three-year unlimited mileage warranty that's standard on all Daihatsu models and which can be transferred to the new owner.

By ANDY ENRIGHT.