Daihatsu Sirion (1998 - 2005) 1.3 5d F-Speed Auto (00) (2001/Y) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

That you've either got no style or taste, or that you've otherwise got a good sense of humour, as the looks of this car are certainly a bit 'special'! However, if you can live with the ridicule, you can have the last laugh when it comes to some care-free motoring.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

It never ceases to amuse them!

Would you buy this car again and why?

Yes, because it's proved utterly reliable, really cheap to run, and I actually quite like having a cheap car that I don't have to care / worry about, or even clean.

What are you likely to buy next?

Something much faster, much thirstier, and maybe a little less gay. My car buying is all about peaks and troughs - this is a trough, and next I would like a peak.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£1,400

When did you buy the car?

August 2012

Did you get a good deal and why?

I managed to get £150 off, which seemed fair enough on a £1500 car.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Because it was £1000 cheaper than a similar spec. Micra, and I was looking for some low-cost motoring. That and all the reviews were pretty positive, and I liked the fact it had a chain-driven cam.

What was the dealer like?

Very pleasant.

What's it like to drive?

Surprisingly nippy, since it only weighs 870 kg and has 100 hp. I suspect it probably has a much better power-to-weight ratio than many cars produced recently that are trying to achieve 60+ mpg in a car that has 27 cup-holders and weighs 1.5 tons!

What's it like to park?

Pretty simple, as you can probably imagine (which is probably why most of these, including mine, were sold new to pensioners).

Have you had any problems with the car?

Not a thing! I have done nearly 20,000 miles in this car now, and so far it has cost me a new exhaust (which I would onsider to be wear and tear really) and £26 for an oil change that I did myself. It's even still got the same tyres that I bought it with, and there are plenty of miles left in them!

What's most practical about your car?

It's got 4 doors and a hatchback that's big enough to pick-up a washing machine and a cast iron fireplace with no trouble at all. Plus it's an auto, and it's got air con (all for £1400).

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The automatic gearbox (quite unusual in a little 1300 cc car), and the air conditioning (also quite unusual, in 2001 when it was made, for a small, cheap car).