Any Daihatsu Charade Fans?

A co-worker just picked one up for $600. His Uncle is the original owner of the 1992 1.0 liter SE and I gotta say...I really want one. I love the styling. I love the fact that is has a simple 1.0 liter 3 cyl. I helped him change the serpentine belt on our 15 min break today and that experience made me want it even more. Looks like I could take the motor out in 45mins by myself. He couldn't stand driving on 6 year old tires so I sold him a set of 15in MB Motorsport Erasers with 2 year old G-Force Sports. Looks hilarious but it's a lot safer. He let the bank take his previous car, an SE-R specV, but now he wants to try to get it back and would consider selling me the Charade. Are my daydreams of chasing 240sxs' and Imprezas down my favorite mountain road in this little car crazy?

skullsroad wrote: Are my daydreams of chasing 240sxs' and Imprezas down my favorite mountain road in this little car crazy?

Not with the turbo model .

But even a standard Charade, with maybe some basic performance modifications and dialed-in suspension, would be a fun little car. I bet it'd be miserable on a long trip, though.

I rented one while on vacation in Barbados several years ago. I felt like I could reach back and touch the back glass while sitting in the driver seat. They aren't horrible off-road, either.

The name alone makes it irresistible.

chuckles wrote: The name alone makes it irresistible.

The Charade pretends to be a car while the Aspire hopes to be one someday.

Tyler H wrote: I rented one while on vacation in Barbados several years ago. I felt like I could reach back and touch the back glass while sitting in the driver seat. They aren't horrible off-road, either.

I suspect there might be a story in here somewhere.

TJ wrote:

chuckles wrote: The name alone makes it irresistible.

The Charade pretends to be a car while the Aspire hopes to be one someday.

Well said! That's just what I was thinking..

mndsm wrote:

Tyler H wrote: I rented one while on vacation in Barbados several years ago. I felt like I could reach back and touch the back glass while sitting in the driver seat. They aren't horrible off-road, either.

I suspect there might be a story in here somewhere.

Nothing off-roads like a rental car.

You think your TJ or YJ is capable off road, but it will be bested by a Hyundai Accent with full coverage no deductable insurance everytime.

I will say that I've found several Ford Tauruses at Avis or whoever that seem to have been equipped with 4wd.... and then there was the night that we discovered Enterprise had given us a supercharged Grand Prix.... (Sure they stuffed superchargers in EVERYTHING back then, but still amused us...)

I guess there isn't a whole lot of knowledge about or love for the Charade. Quick research tells me I'll spend a lot of time digging through Euro sites and paying for overseas shipping. I think it will be worth it in the end to have an underestimated and rare little hatchback