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By
EWAN KENNEDY
26 July 2004
Japan
is the home of far more cars than most Australian buyers realise. Some
are fascinating little machines, often small to suit the crowded traffic
situations, severely restricted parking and, most of all because there
are major tax breaks for vehicles under certain sizes.
From time to time one of these little cars reach Australia, sadly
without much luck most of the time. Daihatsu’s
tiny Terios is an exception. Though not a huge seller it has been a
moderate success since going on sale in here in 1997.
This is a cute little 4WD with a fun shape that appeals to those who
like something out of the ordinary. Terios is a very narrow vehicle, to
let it sneak into one of the aforementioned lower-tax brackets. So
rubbing of shoulders can be a nuisance for big Aussie blokes. Not that
many big blokes seem attracted to the small Daihatsu in the first place.
Terios takes the title of being the least macho 4WD in Australia…
More seriously, the narrow body and relatively high centre of gravity
means Terios can be on the tippy side if you drive it hard at corners.
Under sensible control it’s fine, but don’t try to push your luck.
Though it meets the required safety regulations, the Terios is high on
the list of motor vehicles in which we would prefer not to have a crash.
Performance is better than you would expect from a four-cylinder
1.3-litre engine, with the light weight giving Terios decent
acceleration. Hillclimbing with a bit of a load on board can stretch the
friendship, though.
Though the Daihatsu Terios in its latest format still only has a
1.3-litre engine, as part of the 2000 model update it got a more modern
unit than in the original models. Performance was improved, but still
nothing to get excited about.
The engine is pretty busy at highway speeds as this is really only
intended to be an around-town conveyance.
While not really a ‘real’ 4WD in the true sense, Daihatsu Terios has
decent traction and good approach and departure angles. So it can be a
useful toy to take to beaches and with which to explore slippery dirt
roads. It will certainly take you places a two-wheel drive can't go.
These days Toyota controls Daihatsu, though in Australia it operates in
a reasonably autonomous manner.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
The engine should start without hesitation, pull well even when
it’s cold and have reasonable, though not great, performance at all
times.
Check the gearbox works properly, the clutch doesn’t slip and make
sure there isn't any slack in the driveshafts and universal joints. The
latter are best tested as part of your off-road driving.
Be wary of a Terios which appears to have been taken into tough bush
conditions. Look for underbody damage, bent bumper-bar corners, and
scratches in the paint.
Inner-city motoring, which is how the Terios will spend most of its
time, is also tough on a car’s body, with park-by-ear drivers knocking
them around. Look the body over carefully, then call in an expert on
crash repairs for the final opinion if there's the slightest doubt on
the body’s health.
During you test drive, preferably on dirt, or at least rough bitumen,
listen for creaks or groans in the body. These could indicate it has
been seriously stressed at times, probably by being driven hard in rough
areas.
Examine the condition of the interior, especially for signs of sand
usage and for it having been knocked around by children.
CAR BUYING TIP
Drive any car in a sensible manner in the sort of conditions it was
designed for and it will generally look after you. But take it out of
its comfort zone and things may rapidly change.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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