Model: Daihatsu Charade Turbo 0 to 100 km/h: 10,52 seconds Top speed: 159 km/hFuel index: 5,70 L/100 km (at 100 km/h) Price: R9 995 CAR test: January 1985 plus one other
Founded in 1907 by Hatsudoki Seizo as an engine manufacturer, Daihatsu is Japan’s oldest motor company. Vehicle production began in 1960 in the Osaka region and the company specialised in diesel mini trucks before branching out to cars; the first, a 1,0-litre, four-cylinder sedan called the Compagno Berlina. Early Charades even competed in the Monte Carlo Rally and East African Safari in 1981 and 1982, respectively. In 1983, the Alfa Romeo factory in Brits took on a project that introduced the Daihatsu name to the South African passenger car market.
PACKAGING
Despite its diminutive frame, the Charade’s neat packaging gave it a spacious interior with seating for five adults. The boot accommodated 170 litres of packing space with folding rear seats freeing up 740 litres of utility space. Instrumentation is spartan; the Turbo substitutes a boost pressure gauge with a green light that merely tells you there is some boost occurring, which is wonderfully quaint. If it’s an old-school turbo-petrol with full-blown instrumentation that blows your hair back, rather look at the Uno Turbo.
POWERTRAIN
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 2021 من CAR.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 2021 من CAR.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Toyota Fortuner
Considered by many as the quintessential adventure SUV, the Fortuner is about as strong a used buying proposition as you can get in this segment. We take you through the things to look out for and list two rivals for comparison.
MIND THE HURDLE
With a repaired car and a point to prove, Alex Shahini returned for Round 3 of the Toyota GR Cup at Zwartkops Raceway to achieve a career-best finish
KING OF KILLARNEY
For four decades, Denis Joubert was directly involved with the creation, development and ongoing success of Cape Town's international motorsport venue, Killarney. Having just celebrated his 90th birthday, we talk to the man whose contribution to South Africa's motor-racing heritage is priceless....
Selecting the 4WD SYSTEM for your needs
As 4WD SUVS and double cabs grow in popularity, more first-time buyers face the challenge of selecting a vehicle with a drivetrain that best meets their requirements. We explain the key differences between the all-wheel drivetrains available
Kia Picanto 1.0 LX MT
Kia's ever-popular budget hatch has recently received a range of exterior and interior updates - we test the entry-level variant to see if it remains a force to be reckoned with in this highly competitive segment
Super C
The fastest and most technologically advanced flagship C-Class to date, AMG's C63 S has evolved into an electrified uber-sedan. Has this mighty model forsaken some character in pursuing this status? We strapped our test equipment to the new shooting star.
Bentley's Brutes
A break in proceedings during an exclusive preview of the fourth-generation Bentley Continental GT afforded us an opportunity to sample the stately yet hair-raising Bentayga S
RUNNING UP THAT HILL
Now in its 14th year, the Simola Hillclimb continues to combine adrenaline-fuelled competition with showcasing some of the most appealing classics out there in a heady mix that keeps local petrolheads coming...
BAND OF BROTHERS
Complete with rugged bakkie-based underpinnings that encourage off-the-beaten-track venturing, largely proven powertrains that afford maximum range and towing capability, and brand names with enviable respective reputations for reliability, adventure SUVs remain the favourite of thousands of South Africans.
TWELVE OF THE BEST
Ferrari keeps things suitably old-school with its V12-engined 12Cilindri GT
