The best things come in small packages (Daihatsu Copen)

Member Name: Lady1981

Product:	Daihatsu Copen
Date:	24/01/09 (169 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fantastic fun!!

Disadvantages: Small cabin, prone to rust and a hard ride (but I don't care!)

I bought my 2003 black Copen with red leather seats in April 2008 and love it to pieces! :-)

The Copen is a tiny 2 seater convertible which meets the Japanese K class criteria. It has an electric retractable hardtop which restracts in around 25 seconds at the push of a button. You can even manage it in the time it takes for traffic lights to change!

You can't take yourself too seriously driving a Copen because it looks like a cross between Noddy's car and a shoe! It's unique and has bags of character and although I have seen a couple on the roads since I have had mine, I have never seen the same colour combination of body colour and seats twice.

Having previously owned "pocket rockets" (my last car was a 2 litre Clio 172) I am used to fairly quick cars. The 2003 Copen has a 660cc supercharged engine but being only 3,395mm in length and weighing roughly the same as a paperclip, I was pleasantly surprised by the Copen's nippy feel (11.7 seconds 0-60mph and top speed is over 100mph)and excellent handling.

There is some turbo lag which is fun when your head gets gently planted back into your headrest a couple of seconds after you have put your foot down!

Running costs are low, although petrol consumption does of course rise when the top is down. The 660cc version requires very regular servicing - starting at every 3 months or 3,000 miles. Mine has just gone up to every six months, phew!

I have only serviced mine recently (oops) and the total cost was £200 including MOT as only minor things were needed.

Early Copens are known to be prone to rust so it's important to maintain the upkeep of the bodywork.

I am aware that the Copen is relatively small inside and is a very hard ride and I always apologise to my passengers for the hard suspension. But it's really not something that bothers me and I have driven hundreds on miles and still been able to feel my bum at the end of it! ;-)

The 660cc supercharged engine was replaced by a 1.3 standard engine in early 2007 which, due to the lack of turbo, is more economical than mine. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be trading mine in for a 1.3 when the time comes! I have my eye on the limited edition white with red seats version!

I really can't recommend the Copen enough, although I also don't want you to buy one because I like driving something unusual! It's a real conversation starter - people have stopped me in carparks, in the street and one man even knocked on my window while I was waiting at lights, to ask about the car!

My friends, particularly the men, take the mick out of the car, although they have all, without fail, raved about it once they have been out for a drive. And I'm not allowed to drive the car on the weekends because my boyfriend steals the keys!

Copen drivers wave at each other when they pass by, smug in the knowledge that they are driving something so fun and funky!

Summary: I will be getting another one when I trade this one in!

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