Daihatsu YRV (2001 - 2004) 1.3 5d (Premium Pack) (2002/02) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

I'm in the young category that was supposed to put the Y in YRV and I liked the design (for the price). The angled design is all about angles because if you catch it from one angle (i.e. side) it looks young, sporty and refined (alloys, rear spoiler, angled lights) but from another (i.e. front) its boxy, unstable and pensioner-suited. From a third angle (the back) people genuinely believe it is an MPV with its generous height and individually lit number plate and roof line. I wanted the car to say that I recognise good value balance between sharp sporty design and practicality of cost and that I am prepared to look to non-mainstream makers for this. But seeing pensioners in the same model soon wore thin and the fragile front-on view sometimes scares even myself.

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

They all pick on the idiosyncrasies that I have mentioned about the design - telling me it is a pensioner mobile on some occasions and a young sporty 'rude' design on others. It's all about if you see a tall box coming towards you or the alloys and rear spoiler going past you, I guess! Nonetheless it has turned heads more than any other unmodified car I've had at this value and in continuing with the idiosyncrasies, while the exterior might provoke some debate, the view of the inside was unanimous - brilliant.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Possibly, if my budget was the same, then yes - if you take the whole package into account from the drive, to performance, to running costs to interior functionality and passenger experience, to exterior design (last but not least of course!) I am certain I could not have got a better car for the price so if you're young and on a sensible used budget that doesn't involve long-term credit, this is the most-fun, quirkiest-design and best spec you'll get pound for pound, probably even still today. The value is outstanding and can make someone spending many thousands more jealous. However if your ONLY concern is the drive and handling (and you have no mates... sorry passengers) or desire for functional comfort, then I perhaps would look elsewhere to the more mainstream hatchbacks and mini-MPV'

What are you likely to buy next?

I would buy another Daihatsu as my experience of the YRV has proven two things unequivocally to me - incredible value for money of extras and running costs which are exceptional, okay the parts tend to be slightly more expensive but you can offset that against it being much MUCH rarer to need them - until I got a YRV I thought going to the garage 3-4 times a year (Fiat Punto) and paying out over miscellaneous problems was the norm. Fuel consumption seemed quicker than expected given the YRV's green-car credentials but that might have been due to driving at speeds and newer Daihatsu models are apparently even stronger in the fuel use area so that underlines the choice of Daihatsu even further. In fact, even with the YRV it's to the cars credit there was no trade-off from faults and repairs

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£4,000

When did you buy the car?

November 2005

Did you get a good deal and why?

Although I think perhaps one fault was kept quiet on the whole for the spec and quality of the car at purchase it was a fantastic deal but more due to the inherent value of a Daihatsu rather than a specific charity of the dealer!

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

I had tired of disasterous unreliability of a European made hatchback (Fiat Punto) and wanted to cheaply upgrade in the used market to a Japanese made car that offered premium extras and luxury at a cheap and affordable price and with a modern or unique design. The YRV seemed to good to be true.

What was the dealer like?

The dealer was very friendly, impartial and did not pressure me at any point which was surprising as we were some distance apart and conducted the sale via two meetings in a motorway service station. He prepared all the necessary documents.

What's it like to drive?

First impressions are good with a nice driving height but comfort levels for the driver soon wear thin. I found the possible seating positions became frustrating after time and after long journeys you appreciate not sitting in the car. The ride is also hard and whether this was deterioration or the general suspension design, but I didn't feel like many shocks were absorbed by anyone other than me - over every bump in the road! However, I accepted all that for some of the performance benefits I noticed like the understated acceleration and healthy sounding progress at top speeds on motorways. The car doesn't struggle with fast as much as you might think, and though fast cornering doesn't seem natural - make that downright awkward and strained on any sharp corner - next to my previous Fiat P

What's it like to park?

The easiest car I've ever had as far as parking is concerned, at parking speeds the steering is very sensitive and precise and it quickly becomes easy to 'spin' (as I call it) the YRV into a parallel parking space in one fluid reverse movement. The turning ability of the YRV (taxi-like turning circle) is demonstrated by its ability on a main street to pull out of a tight space and continue turning in a U to drive off in the opposite direction without requiring a three-point turn. That always feels really good and surprises people who see!

Have you had any problems with the car?

As is mentioned in other reviews and by other websites I also had a persistent water leak (the only problem I ever had with the YRV) so this must be a fault. It can be very demoralising to find the cabin full of water (I have some horror stories, one after being away for a week) but bail it out, put the heaters on and get to your nearest Daihatsu approved dealer. Their customer service is ace and mine at least now know where to find some of the harder to find seals! Check obvious roof and door seals yourself before buying I guess.

What's most practical about your car?

Everyone who has ever been in my YRV loved it. The space is staggering and the rear 'stadium seats' (raised with extra leg-room) are repeatedly described (no prompting on my part) as the most comfortable back seats ever, combined with the glass panoramic roof (extra) made for a really incredible passenger view and experience that drew comment again and again, often with reference to the car costing far more than I bought it used, which is always flattering.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The glass roof option, as above, when combined with the elevated rear seating gives an incredible passenger experience for a car of this value. It is really a treat, and light it lets in improves the mood of the driver too over long distances! It would also be wrong not to mention other extras, which at the price are also unbeatable, windows, mirrors all electric and full air con is brilliant, which prompted surprised comment from three other six footers enjoying space and features on the long-haul down to the surfing towns of North Cornwall