Help with a change of car.

I've just come across a Daihatsu Terios and it reads quite well, what do you think all?

 

Before I got married, while it was still in the planning stage, I thought it might be a nice surprise if I hired a car for me to drive that really stood out as something exceptional. I figured I normal choose sensible cars, but it would be nice, seeing as it is one day in my life, to have something really cool. I sought out car hire firms that claimed to do such cars. I thought a nice ferrari would be good, or even just a lotus or something. I thought I'd turn heads by turning up in that, then after the formalities my new wife and I could go for a bit of a cruise for an hour or so through the deserted moor roads (not reckless, but just spirited) before heading to the reception where the car could be collected while we were in the party.

I phoned a few companies, who, it turned out, had the MX5, and in one case, the 2 litre version of the Vauxhall Corsa down as 'exceptional'. I was very clear when I said I wanted something sporty, but classy, so imagine how the conversation went when, having been referred from one company to the next, I finally got put onto a private owner of a car who would hire it out and collect it exactly as I wanted, but... it was (as described) a Mazda RX8, 'modded' with twin superchargers, lowered suspension, blacked out windows, and aftermarket large rear spoiler and front splitter, bilstein shocks, uprated ceramic brakes etc etc. I told the chap 'I said something stylish and classy, I'm, not showing up to my own wedding in the flipping Bat Mobile'.

 

Don't laugh - that is absolutely perfect for a spirited drive across the moors! The original is still a much loved car.

I think I'm gonna pewk!
Absolutely NOT the thing for a spirited drive on anything other than a racetrack! Hit a pebble and it'll launch across the road.

 

Dull as dishwater, but should be tough as old boots asDaihatsu tend not to push the limits of engineering.

One thing I would say is to avoid the "grey" Japanese imports as getting parts can be a nightmare!

 

Thanks FC, it looks like we might be getting somewhere. We're not fussed about looks, just something small, cheap to run and does the job necessary. The only drawback we can see with this one is, it's permanent 4wd, would that have an effect on fuel consumption?

Longk.......All we're looking for is something to get my other half up and down a farm track, it's a second car so will only be used to and from the work place.

You're right about the 'grey' imports, there's quite a few people been 'fleeced' here having bought one.

 

Yes.

Exactly. So the dull as dishwater bit is good, as it will probably not be too sought after making them a bit of a bargain!
Is there a Daihatsu dealer on the island?

 

There is a dealer here but we're not buying new. We have a friend in the car trade so if we can't get one here he'll find one for us and ship it, if that's what we decide on of course.

 

I was more concerned about spare parts, so that's covered then

 

What is the 2hp fiscal bracket?

 

Still puzzled though. It seems to imply that the 2cv had about 2 horsepower, but that would make it about as powerful as a small lawnmower.