Daihatsu Copen
When most people first lay eyes on the Daihatsu Copen, there initial reaction is one of delight; smiles and laughs are common, and it’s easy to see why. This tiny little 2 door convertible roadster is one of the cutest on the road and has a huge amount of character. It looks like something out of Thunderbirds and is decidedly FAB!
The Copen was released in 2002 and has been hugely popular in Japan ever since, thanks to its small ‘kei car’ size that exploits road tax laws. In the UK it’s actually quite rare, which gives it a somewhat exclusive quality. Armed with a metal folding roof, which is usually unheard of on a car this size, the Daihatsu is a great little runabout for urbanites or people who really don’t want to spend much on motoring costs.
With its quirky shape, grinning front end and excitable persona, the Copen is certainly a good looking car. It’s charming and adorable, and looks like a child’s toy rather than a real car. The bright colour schemes accentuate its liveliness even further. The Daihatsu is a tiny car, and as such there’s not a great deal of room inside, but still comfort isn’t a problem. It has a good finish with some nice dashes of colour, but there’s a lot of cheap plastic too. You’ll also see a surprisingly large amount of kit, with optional Recaro sports seats. With the roof up there’s a small boot, but this vanishes once you put it down.
You’d expect this car to drive well, and it really does. The low centre of gravity, good balance and short wheelbase make it brilliant in the corners, and some incredibly responsive steering lets you kiss every apex on the way through. It’s like a dodgem combined with a go-kart and really is a lot of fun. While the original 659cc engine has been replaced with a1.3 litre petrol, it’s still not particularly fast. But then again it’s not that kind of auto as huge speed could ruin the experience.
Motors.co.uk is definitely one of the best places around to get your hands on a cheap used Daihatsu Copen. Not only is there a vast selection of quality second hand cars for sale, but prices are seriously discounted too. Basically you’ll pay less for a car that’s not that much different to one straight out the showroom, and that’s the definition of value for money.
What you get with the Daihatsu Copen is a tiny car with a huge amount of character. It looks fantastic and drives just as well, with some good economy figures. With a hard top convertible roof, no shortage of equipment and a snug but comfortable cabin, it’s a wonderful little auto to drive around town or to cruise around country roads when the weather is fine