Fourtrak keeps trekking
2000 DAIHATSU FOURTRAK
I introduced the Fourtrak a year ago. Through winter, the Beast from the East and all through summer, the Fourtrak just performed – so much so that the only thing I can complain about is the fact that the interior light doesn’t come on when the driver’s door opens.
Whatever the weather, it was a case of turn the key, wait for the glowplug light to go out, twiddle the key again and it would fire up.
And while its continued firsttime-starting is impressive, so too is its ability to rack up the miles. I took the Fourtrak to Goodwood for the Members’ Meeting back in March and it cruised down on the Friday for the Goodwood Road Racing Club’s Founders’ Talk, where it garnered some favourable comments, which was pleasing.
But the difference between the Members’ Meeting Friday and the Saturday was a climatic chalk versus cheese comparison. Gone were the blue skies, and down came the snow as I trundled off from the Barnett elders’ house in Burnham, but the Fourtrak remained unfazed, slicing through the snow and slush and laughing in the face of the Beast from the East.
Despite its short wheelbase it clearly wasn’t unsettled, sluicing through the lanes towards Goodwood as well as my three-litre Jaguar X-type would, while the heater kept the interior cosy.
Whisper it, but in many ways the Fourtrak offers the benefits of a more modern motor, especially when it comes to comfort and reliability. The seats are supportive and have just the right amount of firmness for a long journey. Mechanically it wants for nothing – oil consumption is nigh-on zero, ditto the coolant, while the tyres show little signs of wear, provide good grip and (unusually for a 4x4) don’t generate much noise.
Into summer, and in a break with tradition I downed tools one afternoon for a run out into the mountains.
The high seating affords great views, while the lusty 2.8-litre four-pot diesel just pulls and pulls, although it does appreciate some gearchanging to keep the revs up.
Passing its MoT test with no advisories, and recently given a service and pre-winter check-over, the Fourtrak continues to impress.