Dollywobbler's Daihatsu - MOT of fail

[chaseracer]

Actually, the digital clock did briefly stop working. Can I get a refund?

Not until it shits a driveshaft...!

 

[Station]

Surely you could get the equivalent on Gumtree without spending an extra 1,000 pounds on rubbing alcohol?

Why do Daihatsu bother making five door cars also?

[overrun]

Why do Daihatsu bother making five door cars also?

4 da grandkidz innit

[For Fiats Sake]

I sort of like it 

 

I was told by the former direhatsue dealer that the sirloins were toyota yaris underneath.

 

Good choice, personally I'd leave the graphix/itti - it adds character and probably won't look any better with them gone.

[hairnet]

prace bets on dw keeping the grafix (in wales the farmers wont care )

[Cavcraft]

I'm sure that was on the eBay tat thread no so long ago. Where do you get it from, Ian?

[michiel]

Love the early nose, and I quite like our Sirion... a 2002 1.3, ours since mid 2009. Only 93000km on the clock. Will do Amsterdam-London-Norwich-Amsterdam end of october, four up with some guitars and sleeping bags as well... will be interesting.

[skattrd]

 

I was told by the former direhatsue dealer that the sirloins were toyota yaris underneath.

 

Don't let any Daihatsu fans hear you talk like that, it's kind of untrue.

[Spiny Norman]

Well done Sir, that's quite possibly the silliest looking car I've seen in a long time. Bonus shite points of you leave it exactly the way it is.

[dollywobbler]

The Collection Capers

 

I've always loved oddball three-pot motors. I've driven many Daewoo Matizes (or whatever the plural is) and loved their sense of fun. I've long been a fan of Daihatsus as well. So, I began searching. I found a nice looking Cuore (top of this thread) on Ebay, but it was bloody miles away. I've done similar searches before. They're always bloody miles away.

 

Then I searched on Gumtree and found a hilariously marker-penned Sirion for sale in Chester. I spent too much time on Sunday looking at a hopeless Panda and a hilarious City Rover, so today was the first chance I had to get north. This was only a viewing, but it was a viewing that involved a one way train ticket and a deadline to be home for a social function. There could be only one outcome.

 

So, I woke up and contemplated my first choice of steed. Yes, our curtains really are that bad. They were fitted when we moved in. Three years ago to the day. We're very slow at home improvements.

 

The 2CV deposited us in Aberystywth, where nature got all dramatic.

 

A short while later, I found myself sitting on this train. Pre-booking two days before meant I paid only £15. Bargain!

 

I was meant to be sitting on it for about two hours, but half an hour later, we changed trains as this one needed an inspection or something. It was a bit boring to be honest, livened up only by the odd very occasional spot.

 

Eventually, we reached Shrewsbury, which still has an impressive station.

 

I got onto my third horrible, noisy train of the day. All the same model. This one vibrate alarmingly when you pulled away.

 

After many miles of greenery, sheep and the occasional house, Chester loomed on the horizon.

 

It wasn't hard to find the car in the car park. I had a quick test drive, declared myself happy and haggled the £395 asking price down to £370 on account on the rotten rear arches. Man maths at work there. Bet it costs more than £25 to sort them out. It had received a LOT of attention from a welder's torch for the MOT two months ago, with the entire back end (wheelarches aside) slathered in underseal. I hope there's actual metal under there. 

 

Tea was drunk, money was counted and paperwork was signed. I was off. Getting out of Chester was livened up by the school rush. "Why are all of these people staring at me? Oh yes. Dastardly and Muttley!" I reached the A55 and could give it a boot full. Oh yes. This is brilliant! The 1-litre, triple-cylinder engine hoofs out 50bhp, which sounds crap. Yet the sub-800kg weight means it feels lively. Really lively. More so than the Golf, which had 75bhp. I was soon hurtling along at an indicated 80mph and was stunned at how comfortable it felt. That was 4000rpm, but a hint of turbine-like whine was all you could hear of the engine. Superb.

 

Eventually, the roads got smaller and twistier and I could discover that the delightful gearchange seems to suffer from a crunchy synchromesh on third, but only going up from second. Fresh oil seems worth a go here. The assisted steering is very direct and fairly devoid of feel and the ride is a bit bouncy, but acceptable. The air con works (only the second car I've owned where this is the case, the other being an Alfa Romeo 164) as do the powerfold door mirrors.

 

I finally pulled over next to a dilapidated building for photos.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1383432_10151945153718200_870056724_n.jpg[/iimg]

 

The markings are mostly black marker pen, with the odd bit of white household paint. The more I look at it, the more I like it...

 

Some bits I'll be happy to lose.

 

Big dick.

 

Muttley finds the rusty rear arches hilarious.

 

I really like the arse dragon.

 

Not so impressive this side.

 

The more I drove this car, the more I liked it. I really gelled with it quickly. Sure, it has naff all torque below 3000rpm, but revving it is very enjoyable. It's just very nice to drive, kind of how I expected a Daihatsu to behave. Downsides were no flick-wipe on the wipers (and shagged blades) and in fact it seems there's no flick-function on the indicators either. They're on or off. Variable intermittent would be nice to have given that I live in Wales.

 

It doesn't overheat in traffic though. Which is good as Newtown was its usual crap self.

 

Less than 70,000 miles, no overheating, barely any fuel used so far. 

 

I couldn't suss the stereo out at all. It's an ergonomic nightmare.

 

And so endeth the collection caper. No bother at all. Plans? A good clean, new wiper blades, rust treat the rear arches (then zinc prime) and ponder what to do about paintwork/drawings.

[cort16]

I like these I always thought they looked like a japanese interpretation of the original mini. Like the new BMW mini's if Rover had built them.

I couldn't however live with that marker pen all over it it just reminds me of when your 14 and your parents let you decorate your bedroom for the first time.

[rml2345]

That looks ridiculous. Therefore it is a top purchase and I wish you many happy hours of trouble free Daihatsu-ing. I found with my own small Japanese hatchback that you have to rev the tits off it to get anywhere and that it becomes really fun really quickly. 
Another vote to keep the drawings actually as they cheer it up even more than just being a small yellow car would. 

[Cavcraft]

^{WINNAH! You should have dropped by for a brew or something though! Where about in Chester was it, I don't think I'd see the car knocking about but had defo seen the advert for it?}

 

^{Ps: is that dilapidated building the old pub in Pant/Llanymynech?}

[michiel]

Good stuff! Sounds like the noise level is better than the 4 pot...

[dollywobbler]

^{WINNAH! You should have dropped by for a brew or something though! Where about in Chester was it, I don't think I'd see the car knocking about but had defo seen the advert for it?}

 

^{Ps: is that dilapidated building the old pub in Pant/Llanymynech?}

 

Sadly, I had to be back here so didn't have time to linger or I would have called in. Barely had time to stop for photos on the way back but yes, that old building is in Llanmynech. A suitably ropey backdrop. 

 

I think I'm going to lose at least some artwork. It's not all very good. I'll start with the bits I like least and will see how that goes. 

[dollywobbler]

Art removal has commenced.

 

Driver's door now has less Dick Dastardly and a proper coat of polish. Electrical contact cleaner got the stuff off very nicely, which is why I then wanted to get a good polish on the go! Can't imagine that's particularly good for paint either. Other potions will be tried as I work my way around the car, but I've got to stop to do some actual work now.

[skattrd]

That looks eleventy billlion times better without the crayon it.

If you're after any bits for the Sirion there's a guy near Preston who specialises in breaking them. He lists quite a few parts on ebay but I've got his phone number somewhere if you want it.

Oh, and I need to visit him soon to pick-up a bumper for mine.

[beko1987]

One of those used to park by the office I work at. Was an utter shed to look at, but always had very good tyres on, and always turned up filthy again a day after its yearly wash. Also seemed to be quite god in snow, was always there. It grew on me after a few months!

 

Agree about the crayon, came off nicely. Always good when something like that de-values a car so much someone can get a bargain and sort it out for free!

[dollywobbler]

Well, the various solvents I've thrown at it weren't entirely free, but my elbow grease is priced very fairly.

 

Thanks for the parts nod Skattrd - I may need a new silencer. The baffles seem to be free in this one. May have to give the 'smack it with a hammer' trick a go as it's very annoying.

 

Have just returned home in it after bus duty. What a hoot! It's stupidly eager for a 1-litre three pot. The first gear whine is hilarious too, though the weak third gear synchro is less so. I may have a look at the clutch as the bite is on the floor, which doesn't help. Mrs Wobbler is going to hate the too-light steering, but this thing seriously makes me giggle. Have to don my other cap for more work now, but the rear arches need attacking pronto.

[dollywobbler]

Eyelashes are gone.

 

Sticker adhesive is littering the bonnet, making it look very scruffy. Any tips for removal? Various potions have so far not really touched it. 

[skattrd]

As recommended by folks on here I used Autoglym tar remover to get the sticker residue off my spyder. It worked quite well, some places needed a couple of goes over with it, but I'd definitely use it again.

[dollywobbler]

Ok. Have some Turtle Wax bug/tar spray. Didn't seem to tackle it but maybe it needs more of a soak.

[cms206]

We use AutoSmart "Tardis Solvitude" - it's like a somewhat overspecced tar & glue remover, I normally use it in a spray bottle and it more or less wipes off.

Dunno on it's availability in your neck of the woods tho DW.

[Timewaster]

Try a good soak with WD40. I've had a fair bit of success shifting old stickers that way.

[vulgalour]

Another vote for tar remover, it generally shifts the bulk of it.  Claybar and cutting compound will also shift any ghosting, as I learned on the BX.  I expect you will keep Arse Dragon and the stupid mouth, I think they'd be the bits I'd keep on it if I were of a mind to.

[dollywobbler]

Yup. That's my thinking. They'll be easy enough to remove if I feel the need. Tomorrow, I plan to start work on the rear arches, which really should have been the priority. It's going to be 6 degrees max tomorrow. Chilly.

[HillmanImp]

I too like the mouth and what can only be describes as 'trampstamp' on the back.

[greengartside]

I'm liking these Sirions - not a bad looker and the 1.3 is quite nippy I've read. How big is the boot on these, DW?? Seriously considering one of these for my next car now!

[Cavcraft]

Choke and carb spray on a rag works wonders too, Ian. Just try a small area first in case it fades the paint or something, though it always worked for me.

[dollywobbler]

I hadn't thought of the dragon as a tramp stamp. Is it bad that I like tramp stamps on girls? Maybe that's why I like it on the Sirion...

 

The boot is a fair size. I shall take photos at some point.

 

Anyway, my plans to stay in tonight were thwarted by the fact I just NEEDED to go out for another drive.

 

Facebook thinks the entire back end of this thing is a face.

 

Dashboard by night.

 

So, I can now conclude that the headlamps are pretty decent though, as I've discovered on other Japanese cars before, putting the main beam on makes it go very dark immediately in front of the car. More so than on other cars.