Free Daihatsu for centenary celebration customer

Loyal Terios owner, Ronnie Woods cannot believe his luck after having the entire cost of his new car reimbursed as part of Daihatsu’s 100th anniversary celebrations.

Ronnie and his physiotherapist wife, Kit, live in Newton Mearns near Glasgow and were the 100th Daihatsu customers this year, taking delivery in early January.

It is their second Terios and they use the car to travel to their three physiotherapy practices – sometimes encountering snowy winter roads.

He said: “Not only have we found the service from Halleys Garage in Milngavie to be first-class but we really appreciate the extra space and comfort in the new Terios. We especially like the curved styling and improved interior and instruments.”

Priced from £12,995 on-the-road for the Terios 1.5 S, all models boast a high standard specification which includes air-conditioning, power-steering, ABS with EBD and full-time four-wheel drive with electronic centre diff-lock.

Also standard on the Terios are driver, passenger and side airbags, radio/CD player, four electric windows and even reverse parking sensors.

Running costs are low for a 4x4 with a ‘politically-correct’ Extra Urban fuel consumption of 40.4 mpg for the Terios 1.5 S and a highly-competitive Group 7D insurance rating.

Daihatsu Vehicle Distributors Limited Managing Director, Paul Tunnicliffe, said: “We have several surprises planned this year to celebrate our 100th anniversary and this is just the first one. Clearly Mr Woods’ windfall was pure chance but this reimbursement couldn’t have gone to a more deserving person thanks to his loyalty to the brand.”

Daihatsu’s forerunner, Hatsudoki Seizo Company Limited, was founded in 1907 to manufacture internal combustion engines.

The first truck was produced in 1919 and a range of three-wheeled vehicles introduced in 1930, followed by the mid-sized four-wheeled car – the FA – in 1937.

In May 1965 Daihatsu became the first Japanese manufacturer to export to Britain with the 797 cc Compagno Berlina.

This exact car is now owned by Daihatsu Vehicle Distributors Limited and regularly takes part in classic car rallies and dealer events.