Daihatsu Sirion 1999 Problems

Daihatsu Sirion is a well-built Japanese car with an excellent reputation for reliability and low running costs. It wasn’t as successful as big brother Daihatsu Charade.So there are some bargains in Daihatsu Sirions as they are regarded as orphans and have suffered in resale value because of this. Despite this they can be kept on the road with a minimum of expense if you choose a good one and look after it correctly.A new Daihatsu Sirion released in April 2002 was more of a facelift, and although longer and given a freshened face, did not offer anything different in the way of drivetrain. For that we had to wait until the all-new Sirion launched here 2005 -- infortunately not long before Daihatsu exited the Australian market altogether. It was substantially bigger than the first-generation model that was launched in Australia in 1998. There’s decent interior room and a boot that can handle a fair amount of luggage. The older models are smaller and probably best left to couples and singles, but the 2005 model can work as a family car if the children are in their pre-teen stage.Daihatsu Sirion is well equipped, coming with air conditioning, a four-speaker CD stereo, power door mirrors, lap-sash safety belts in all five seats and dual airbags. A model worth chasing down is the Sirion Sport, with alloy wheels, a front body kit that includes foglights, a sportier design of rear lights, colour-coded door handles and ABS brakes it provides a lot of small car for a pretty reasonable price.The first series Daihatsu Sirion used an interesting three-cylinder 1.0-litre engine of the type the Japanese marque had made famous for many years. It continued with the larger model of 2002, but in the 2005 Sirion power came from a more conventional four-cylinder, twin-cam unit displacing 1.3 litres. The latter produced a relatively modest 64 kilowatts, but variable valve timing meant it has strong torque throughout most of the rev range, peaking at 120 Nm at a reasonably low 3200 rpm.Transmission choices are five-speed manual and four-speed automatics. Autos don’t take as much out of the performance as you might expect as the Sirion is relatively light. But our gearbox of choice would be the manual unless you’re doing a lot of commuting in traffic. The manual’s gearshift is light and easy so it’s not a hardship to do your own shifting.Handling is competent without being in any way exciting – definitely not a car for the enthusiast. There’s a reasonably neutral feel at everyday road speeds, but understeer comes in too early. A good set of tyres can give it a better feel and provide grip.Daihatsu has been controlled by Toyota since the early 2000s after getting into financial trouble. Toyota Australian stocks spare parts for most models younger than about 10 years. Check with your local dealer and/or check out parts recyclers in your neighbourhood.As it’s a relatively small car the Sirion doesn’t have a lot of underbonnet space so can be annoying to work on. Workshop manuals are available and are recommended. Don’t tackle any safety related items unless you’re an expert.Insurance costs are generally towards the bottom end of the scale and we don’t know of any major company that charges extra for the Sirion Sport, probably because it’s a dress-up variant not a real sporty design.WHAT TO LOOK FORLook for sun damage on the dash top and rear shelf. Check for tears in the seats and damage to floor and boot mats.Rust is rare but if it does get a hold it can run through very quickly due to the light construction of the Sirion. Look in the lower body areas, as well as the doors and hatchback. The corners of these panels are usually the first to suffer. Check the floor of the cabin and the boot for rust. Repairs there can be expensive.Look for signs of crash repairs, minor repairs correctly executed are to be expected in older cars that spend a lot of time in city/suburban driving, but if you think a Sirion has been in a major crash have it inspected by a professional as sub-standard cars can be dangerous.The engine should start quickly even when cold and should have a relatively smooth idle from start-up. Four-cylinder engines are smoother than the threes.Check there is no smoke from the exhaust tailpipe when the engine is accelerated hard after idling for a while. Gearchanges should all be light and easy, with the clutch taking very little effort to operate.If the gearbox baulks or crunches when you do a fast change down, there could be expensive troubles. The third to second change is usually the first to suffer. If the clutch is heavy or sticks during its movement it could be due for an overhaul.Drive the car at low speed with the steering on full lock in one direction and then the other and listen for a clicking sound of worn universal joints.CAR BUYING TIPBuying an ‘orphan’, a car that’s no longer imported, can save you money. But do your homework on parts and knowledgeable mechanics before getting in too deep. 

In this day and age when fuel economy is such a hot issue the Daihatsu Sirion looms as a real contender for anyone wanting cheap and reliable transport. The Sirion was never one of the hot sellers in the small car segment, it tended to fly under the radar, but those who took more notice found it was a well built and well equipped little car that delivered on its promise of reliability and fuel efficiency.MODEL WATCHThe Sirion’s looks are a matter of taste, and opinion was certainly divided when it was launched in 1998.Its overall shape was rounded and rather dumpy, not at all sleek or svelte like its rivals at the time. It had large headlamps that gave it a boggle-eyed look, a large oval grille, and an odd offset licence plate.The use of chrome was also somewhat at odds with the look of the day, which was rather more sombre with body-coloured bumpers and the like when the little Daihatsu made use of bright chrome finishes.But at the end of the day styling is a matter of individual taste and there is little doubt that some will think the Sirion cute and cuddly.Looks aside there was plenty to like about the five-door Sirion hatch. An offshoot of Toyota there was no disputing the build integrity of Daihatsu, even though it was a budget brand.Let’s be honest, the Sirion was never intended to be a family car, at best it was a car for singles or couples without kids who only needed the back seat for their dog or occasionally transporting friends. That’s not a criticism, simply an acknowledgement that the Sirion is indeed a small car.It was small by all measures, but still had reasonable head and legroom considering its small overall size. The boot was also quite a good size, largely because Daihatsu used a space-saver spare wheel.The engine was a tiny 1.0-litre three-cylinder double overhead camshaft fuel-injected unit that turned out a modest power peak of 40 kW at 5200 revs with a mere 88 Nm at 3600 revs.You don’t have to be Einstein to work out that it didn’t have sports car-like performance, but that’s not what it was about. On the road you had to work hard to keep up with the pack, particularly if it was loaded with a full complement of adults, and that meant constant use of the gearbox. It struggled when faced with a hill, and overtaking required planning and patience, but if you were prepared to let the pack go you could enjoy a more leisurely drive and save fuel at the same time.At launch the front-wheel drive Sirion was only available with a five-speed manual gearbox, the four-speed auto wasn’t added to the range until 2000, but that only served to accentuate the Sirion’s performance limitations.While not being sports car sharp the Sirion’s ride and handling were quite acceptable. It had a small turning circle, which made it very manoeuvrable around town and in parking lots, but it didn’t have power steering and that made the steering quite heavy.Despite its modest price the Sirion was quite well equipped. Included on the standard features list were central locking, power mirrors and windows and a split-fold rear seat. Anti-skid brakes and air-conditioning were options.Fuel consumption was one of the Sirion’s most attractive features and it was possible to get 5-6 L/100 km on average when driven around town.Before rushing in it’s important to remember that Daihatsu left the market early in 2006 making the Sirion something of an orphan, although Toyota has made a commitment to provide ongoing support with parts and service.IN THE SHOPSolid build quality means there are few problems showing up with the Sirion so it’s vital to check each car thoroughly. Despite the lack of common problems individual cars can have problems and these need to be identified.The trade reports the odd instance of engine and gearbox oil leaks, and cooling system leaks, the latter possibly caused by a lack of maintenance.It’s important to use the correct coolant in the system, and to follow Daihatsu’s recommendation for changing it. Unfortunately it is often overlooked and this can lead to problems.Look for signs of abuse inside and out from an uncaring owner, and check for crash damage.IN A CRASHDual frontal airbags provide pretty decent crash protection for a small car.Anti-skid brakes were an option so it would be wise to look for one fitted with them to enhance the active safety package.LOOK FOR• Quirky styling• Reasonably roomy interior• Good boot size• Modest performance• Brilliant fuel economy• Few mechanical problemsTHE BOTTOM LINESmall in stature, sedate in performance, the Sirion is a winner at the pump.RATING80/100

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 1998, 2002 and 2004 Daihatsu Sirion as a used buy.