RE: Daihatsu Charade GTti: You Know You Want To
Discussion
helix402 said:
I think the article needs a little more research. I remember it's launch and a front page cover on Autocar or Motor. I think the 0-60 was quoted at 7.9 or 7.7 seconds. A couple of seconds research on Google finds this:
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/...
Yes, these were certainly quicker than the early 205s in a straight line - it was only really the 1.9s that would out-accelerate one markedly.http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/...
They were pretty tail-happy little things if you lifted off coming into a corner - car stability systems have really tamed things down since then.
Used to see a few of these locally up until about 5 years ago - a guy not too far away and his friends had several between them, the noise ( especially with a louder exhaust and a few mods ) really was like an old mini-911
Had quite a few GTtis and used to own the most famous one the ex works rally car used in the Lombard Rally.
I got into these years ago when I had a thirsty Impreza and was looking for something fun but economical. What I found is they really respond to tuning like few other cars and its very easy to take it from a nippy gti perfomance hatch into something genuinely terrifying and Impreza beating.
One of mine had some very minor tweaks to the suspension, braided brake lines and an exhaust and induction kit and was an absolute hoot to drive and could easilly keep up with vastly more powerful cars on twisty roads. Was more fun than my Impreza.
I still have a GTti. Probably one of the best in the country in my opinion.
I got into these years ago when I had a thirsty Impreza and was looking for something fun but economical. What I found is they really respond to tuning like few other cars and its very easy to take it from a nippy gti perfomance hatch into something genuinely terrifying and Impreza beating.
One of mine had some very minor tweaks to the suspension, braided brake lines and an exhaust and induction kit and was an absolute hoot to drive and could easilly keep up with vastly more powerful cars on twisty roads. Was more fun than my Impreza.
I still have a GTti. Probably one of the best in the country in my opinion.
"Don't expect a phenomenally quick car, mind you. The GTti's 1.0-litre three-pot turbo meant it was never going to challenge, say, a Peugeot 205 GTI for hot hatch supremacy. "
lol! Having owned several of both, you would be wrong there.
The 1.6 GTI was not as punchy. There was very little in it between the 1.9 and a standard GTti.
Just a change of the downpipe (to a less restrictive one)on the GTti made it accelerate quicker than the 205 1.9 GTI, without raising boost at all.
Both standard, the 205 handled WAY better though and was less prone to tin-worm......
lol! Having owned several of both, you would be wrong there.
The 1.6 GTI was not as punchy. There was very little in it between the 1.9 and a standard GTti.
Just a change of the downpipe (to a less restrictive one)on the GTti made it accelerate quicker than the 205 1.9 GTI, without raising boost at all.
Both standard, the 205 handled WAY better though and was less prone to tin-worm......
Drove one back in 1994 I think - collecting it for a friend from its MOT.
The noise was very appealing and the boost gauge was from memory an illuminated thing on the dash a bit like an indicator in the dash.
It felt fast - I drove a s
tbox Meastro 1.6L so different league. A lot of fun handled massively better (though mu maestro had shot shocks ..)
I'd never buy one tin worm was a problem and as his was red paint fade was shocking.
The noise was very appealing and the boost gauge was from memory an illuminated thing on the dash a bit like an indicator in the dash.
It felt fast - I drove a s
tbox Meastro 1.6L so different league. A lot of fun handled massively better (though mu maestro had shot shocks ..) I'd never buy one tin worm was a problem and as his was red paint fade was shocking.
I had one of these as my first car, absolutely loved it, the off beat sound of the 3 cylinder engine was amazing but it went through 3 engines and in the end I'd just had enough and moved to more reliable Honda Type R's (the PH Heroes EK9 is mine). From time to time I still look on eBay to see if theres any decent ones for sale but with the demise of Daihatsu in the UK I've given up now as I can imagine getting parts being a bit of a nightmare.
cuprabob said:
LewisR said:
Are people really getting excited about a 3-cylinder front wheel drive hatchback ?
It's not really excitement it's nostalgia.Cars were so.much fun to drive in those days with no driver aids and relatively light.
Chacun a son gout though...
s m said:
cuprabob said:
LewisR said:
Are people really getting excited about a 3-cylinder front wheel drive hatchback ?
It's not really excitement it's nostalgia.Cars were so.much fun to drive in those days with no driver aids and relatively light.
Chacun a son gout though...
cuprabob said:
LewisR said:
Are people really getting excited about a 3-cylinder front wheel drive hatchback ?
It's not really excitement it's nostalgia.Cars were so.much fun to drive in those days with no driver aids and relatively light.
I'm well aware of what cars were then but from a driver-enthusiast point of view, which I perhaps erroneously thought most cars here would be judged on, there must have been far better options for similar money available from then.
H-plate 1990 is Mk1 MX5 territory and countless 6-cylinder RWD BMWs. Nissan 200 SX if you wanted to keep it Japanese and have 4 seats.
Edited by LewisR on Monday 24th July 13:56
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