Daihatsu Fourtrak Sw Special Eds 1987-2001

The Daihatsu Fourtrak is often associated with the phrase, 'Farmer's favorite'. The fourtrak is similar to Land Rover's Defender and the Jeep Wrangler as it is a completely competent off-road workhouse. The car is perfect for those who like to wander off into the wilds for holidays or just the weekend; however if you are looking more for a vehicle that will be used mainly only the road and you just like the idea of being able to go off-road then this probably isn't the car for you.

Pros and Cons:

• Very good engine
  Mechanically tough
  No-nonsense, rugged, off-road workhorse

• Poor on the road
  Lacks comfort and refinement

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Exterior and Interior

The Fourtrak is built to be a workhorse and as such Daihatsu have made sure that both the body and interior are very tough and durable. The interior is a bit small with it really only being suitable for two people, despite the fact there are four seats. It's also only a three door so getting passengers into the back row of seats can be tricky. There is the option of a long wheelbase model as well which enables you to get seven people in it, however it's not very comfortable and feels cramped. The equipment that comes with the Fourtrak is minimal to say the least with the basic TDL versions coming without any electric windows, central locking or a radio. The higher level trims do come with all of these as standard well as air-con as an optional extra.

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Engines

There is only one engine in the Daihatsu Fourtrak, the 2.8-litre turbo diesel engine. This lack of choice isn't a negative though with the 2.8-litre engine producing loads of power and its completely reliable.

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Performance and Economy

The only engine available in the Fourtrak is the 2.8-litre diesel however this isn't as much of a draw back as one might expect. The engine is by no means the quickest, but it is perfect for off-roading and towing with its huge amount of torque and with it being extremely tough and rugged. There is only the choice of a manual gearbox which makes life easier and it works exceptionally well. It does manage around 30mpg which is pretty impressive for an off-roader with the Defender and Isuzu Trooper being worse. It also falls into category 8 for insurance which is the same as the Defender and a few groups lower than the Trooper.

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What it's like to Drive

On the road the Fourtrak is uncomfortable with a hard ride, has lots of body roll, awful acceleration and the noise levels in the cabin are loud to say the least. However, get it off road and into the habitat it was built for and the Fourtrak will impress and excite you. It is able to tackle anything you throw at it with ease, be it wading through rivers or climbing up steep rocky mountains.

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Faults and Repairs

There are almost no faults to speak of for the Fourtrak even after almost two decades. If it has been serviced correctly and on a regular basis the Fourtrak should run pretty much as smoothly as the day it left the showroom. The servicing costs aren't too expensive either with it costing as much as any other off-road vehicle, with the labour costs being low and the costs for repairs are average.

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