Used Daihatsu Sirion 1998 - 2005 review

Being a relatively small-selling manufacturer, Daihatsu is rarely included in reliability surveys or the JD Power Customer Satisfaction survey. However, some of the company's products in the past have been more or less unbreakable - the Fourtrak off-roader and the Cuore city car are good examples.

The data we've seen indicates that the Sirion might not be up to this level in terms of reliability, but it should prove pretty dependable. There are a few areas to take extra care with, though.

The brittle suspension is damaged easily by careless driving, so look for signs of lumps and bumps taken out of the wheels and bodywork that might show that the previous owner was careless.

Make sure that the service intervals have been adhered to rigorously, too. If the clutch cable hasn't been looked after, it can break and damage the transmission, so it needs regular attention. Likewise, coolant leaks can also occur if the previous owner scrimps on maintenance.