Daihatsu Terios

[gemfyre]

In my search for an affordable vehicle that I can take off-road but that is still smallish and fuel efficient, I have come across the Daihatsu Terios. I like the look of it better than the Suzuki Jimny and it doesn't have that great bar causing a blind spot.

Anyone have any experience with this car?

Comments

cars

[jet-ski.livejournal.com]

My dad had a little, ancient, Daihatsu diesel when we were kids and it was the best 4x4 he ever had! Better than the 'zuuks anyway.

In general my experience with Daihatsu has been good, alot of friends have had little Charades and the build quality is pretty good they have head gasket problems like any other car.

I will check out my car bible tonight and see what it says. What year are you looking at buying?

And while fuel efficient I think you might find a Daihatsu or a Zook too small just going by your gear lists while camping. A roof rack might help.

Re: cars

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

I can fit all my camping gear into my little Daewoo with no issues. I think the Terios would offer a bit more space (and it has a towbar as far as I'm aware).

No idea what year, just looking around at options right now. I'm a bit concerned about how a lot of the reviews I've seen are saying how it's not so good off-road. It makes me bang my head on the desk and think, "Why have a 4WD if it can't go off-road?!!" But, I have seen a few reviews saying it handles gravel fine. And some saying it doesn't handle corrougations to well and I know I'll be on corrougated roads some of the time.

Bloody cars. Too much hassle. I'm sure you'd agree. :)

Re: cars

[jet-ski.livejournal.com]

Well, the thing about off-roading is that the performance of the car is about the driver's skills as well as the car's ability to handle it. There's also the issue of things not rattling to pieces in heavy corrugations etc. And tyre pressures are a huge thing too.

When someone says 'it's not good offroad' I think you need more information. Like what's the problem? Is it a clearance, exit/entry angle issue? Is it a diff lock issue (some 4wds don't really stay in 4wd, especially the 'all wheel drive' kind)? Is it a build quality issue (bits rattle off)? Most ppl I know who had the old Feroza's and Rockies mainly used them on the beach in the dunes and they seemed to go pretty well. Terios does have a centre difflock, and being light it will be able to nip through boggy bits. You might have clearance issues. Especially when wheel ruts are for wider cars than the lil Terios.

I think the key thing here is affordability and fuel economy, and the car being convenient for all the things you want to use it for. There are inherent trade offs there. I think this is a good review - Terios offroad

There are other options - like 4x4 utes. But I think the Terios would be a significant upgrade on the Daewoo. If you are adventurous you could take it alot of places.

Re: cars

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info. :)
I'm pretty much self taught when it comes to 4WDing. WHen I started work in Broome I went from only having driven little cars (but I had got my truck licence) to having to drive a big old Troopy that required a sledgehammer to change the 4WD gears. That was on bad corrougations, some sand and some mud (and I got it bogged once in the mud).

At DEC I was mainly driving over gravel or rocks in the South-west. The cars were considerbly better too. Mostly utes.


I'd love to a proper course though.

Re: cars

[jet-ski.livejournal.com]

No worries. I want to take Taz on a course sometime but funds don't allow it at the moment!! Plus Taz could do with new tyres.

Other advantage of the Terios - the tyres will be cheaper!

Re: cars

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

It seems to pretty much fit the bill for what I'm after, because it's essentially just a Charade in a 4WD shape with 4WD transmission. I still get the compactness and fuel efficiency and overall cheapness and still have the ability to go on dodgy roads/tracks without having to worry a heap.

I mentioned it to my dad in passing and he immediately said that he reckoned a Terios was probably better than a Jimny, which is the model he's been recommending.