Daihatsu Reviews

If the engine mounts are indeed in good condition (and it can be hard to tell just by looking) then you might be looking at a problem with the idle speed settings. Engines typically idle more slowly when they’re cold and in gear and there’s usually a compensation for this. In an electronically controlled engine like the Sirion’s, this idle-up function will be a job for the onboard computer. But if the computer has lost the plot or isn’t getting the right signal from, say, a temperature sensor, then it can’t bump the idle up a fraction when it needs to. And then, once warmed up, the engine seems normal.

A cold engine that spits a little water out the tailpipe is completely normal. Water is one of the by-products of the combustion process. It’s black because it mixes with soot in the exhaust system. But we only see it when the engine is cold, as once warmed up, the exhaust system turns the water to steam and we don’t see it. A black exhaust in a modern car that runs on ULP is completely normal also.

There’s not really any such thing as a close fit when it comes to a windscreen; it will either fit and seal, or it won’t and will leak. And these pieces of glass tend to be very different from one make and model to the next with very limited interchangeability. Sometimes, you might get two models within a line-up that share a windscreen, but since the Pyzar was based on the much smaller Charade hatchback, that’s not going to be the case here.

Despite that, I did manage to find at least one online business that claimed to be able to supply the correct windscreen. If that doesn’t work out locally, I believe the Pyzar was a pretty popular model in New Zealand, so perhaps a search of suppliers across the ditch might pay-off. Yes, you’ll have to pay for shipping, but a car with no windscreen is pretty much useless until that crucial piece of glass has been replaced.

The widely accepted definition of a vintage car is one that was made between 1919 and 1930. So, no, your Daihatsu is not a vintage car. But a collectible one? That could be different. Really, it’s such a subjective term that it all depends on your personal definition.

But if you apply the template for a car to be considered eligible for historic registration, then your 1995 Applause is definitely in the frame. Most states have a cut-off whereby vehicles need to be at least 30 years old (25 years in Victoria) to be eligible for cheaper (but restricted) historic registration. The aim of this scheme is to allow older cars to remain on the road at a cheaper rate so enthusiasts can enjoy them while also running a more modern car as their daily transport.

This is a great scheme and is good news for the service and spare parts industries as well. And since there’s no ruling on what makes and models are eligible, your Applause is indeed, considered a classic car of sorts. Generally, you’ll need to be a member of an accredited club and use the vehicle within the rules mandated by each state, but the reason we still see so many older cars on the road in this country is partly down to these schemes.

In a broader sense, the chances of a Daihatsu Applause ever being a true collectible car commanding big prices from enthusiasts seems a bit remote. That said, stranger cars have achieved cult status over time, so who knows. Trabant, anyone?