Daihatsu Copen (2003-To Date) Car Review

When shopping for a used roadster, most buyers like to play it safe. TheyÕll look at a Mazda MX-5, an MG TF or possibly a Fiat Barchetta if theyÕre feeling a bit adventurous. The trouble is, thereÕs a whole lot more fun to be had if you could just broaden your view a little. Those who do a lot of city driving will often find these cars straining at the leash a bit in town, often resembling energetic dogs that just want a bit of space. Better to choose something that can take the cut and thrust of city traffic in its stride and offer the added security of a hard-topped roof. ThatÕs where DaihatsuÕs Copen comes in. You may never have heard of it and if thatÕs the case, youÕre forgiven. ItÕs not been a sales hit in the UK and as a result, used buyers can snap up some low mileage bargains.

History
We have Japanese K-car regulations to thank for the Daihatsu Copen. The same set of taxation rules that brought us fun tots like the Honda Beat and the Suzuki Cappuccino have given us a car that offers the same recipe but updated for a post millennial clientele. The first K-car to be imported with a folding hard top, the Copen was a little more expensive than other cars of its ilk but some customers reckoned it worth the additional outlay for the benefits in safety and security the metal roof bestows.
Introduced in June 2003, the Copen has been largely unchanged since launch. In July 2004 a Vivid limited edition model was offered, featuring red paintwork, heated cloth seats, a leather Momo steering wheel and a rear tonneau. This retailed at £12,995 on the road. The original 660cc engine was replaced in the spring of 2007 with a less buzzy 1.3-litre unit. This delivered better economy and performance, prices were under £11,000.

Opinion
The Copen looks good value, especially when one considers that many of its customer base will be young professionals looking for a second or even third car. It may well prove a little too cutesy for some, but with only 1,000 cars imported per year, thereÕs still an element of exclusivity about this car. You might expect said element of exclusivity to prop up residual values nicely, but the fact that the Copen has been on sale in Japan for a while and is priced from around £8,000 means that a few have reached these shores as grey imports but not in the sort of numbers to seriously undermine the carÕs UK valuations. Importers know that there is other fare that will sell far more easily than the quirky Daihatsu.
The CopenÕs chassis is based on a truncated version of the Cuore hatch and it feels agreeably stiff, the seat of the pants driving position giving the little Daihatsu a genuine sports car feel, although the Momo steering wheel may be a little too large for those with prop forward thighs. The gearbox is fun to snick the lever through and overall packaging is helped by the fact that the Copen utilises a compact front-wheel drive layout. At just 3,395mm long, it is simplicity itself to nuzzle into a tight parking spot.
The roof is the CopenÕs party piece and the car looks good with the hardtop folded or deployed. Fabricated from aluminium, itÕs a lightweight structure and it flips neatly up and down, courtesy of a series of electric motors, in 25 seconds. There are two catches on the header rail to flip and then a dash-mounted button does the rest. WhatÕs more, a proper metal roof makes a lot of sense in the city proving a less tempting target for knife-wielding idiots. A more basic version of the roof is offered in Japan which may well help to explain some of the price differential, watch out for imported models featuring it. The interior is nicely, if a little unadventurously, styled and features a compartment behind the seats for odds and ends. Otherwise the boot space is briefcase-sized, due to the fact that the roof ÔcassetteÕ impinges into the luggage bay. If you commit to driving with the roof up, youÕll achieve more room.

Cost
Prices for the Copen start at £8,100 for a 53 plate car with around 29,000 miles showing on the clock. ThatÕs the book price at least. In reality, the prices will vary quite significantly, often because these cars tend to cover less than the usual 12,000 miles a year annual mileage. YouÕll need around £8,700 for an 04-plated model. Vivid special editions kick off at £9,000 for a 54 plated car. Insurance for all Copens is a very reasonable Group 9.

Problems?
The Copen is a tough little thing but the big ticket item in case of a fault is that folding hard top. Raise and lower it several times. Check the seals, check that it sits squarely in the boot cassette and ensure that it hasnÕt been damaged in any other way. Aside from that, precious little problems have been reported. Check the alloy wheels for kerbing and make sure the log book is well stamped up. These cars run better on 98 RON petrol than standard 95, the difference feeling quite marked in terms of outright performance.

Parts
(Estimated prices) A clutch assembly will cost around £130, and the front brake pads approximately £50. A radiator will be in the region of £145, and an alternator £220. A broken starter motor will require £260 to replace.

Road
The Copen manages to pack a lot of goodies into a tiny footprint but the tape measure dictates that it will always feel very comfy for two, especially for bulky western shoulders. Head and legroom isnÕt such an issue and the pedal box is surprisingly spacious. Luggage room is at a premium, but the Copen is never going to be a car youÕd plump for if you were planning a fortnight away.
Its 660cc engine fizzes, whooshes and zings all the way to 8,000rpm, a bobbin-sized turbocharger helping the tiny powerplant develop 63bhp. True, thatÕs not going to generate retina-detaching acceleration but due to the fact that the Copen weighs less than some cars ownerÕs manuals, it will sprint to 60mph in an acceptably brisk 11.7 seconds before topping out over 100mph. ItÕs well up to the cut and thrust of a motorway journey, although on longer inclines you may have to drop a gear in order to realise some meaningful acceleration. It feels astonishingly vivid at normal speeds, the constant chattering of that engine giving the impression that itÕs travelling a good deal quicker than it is. Zip the Copen along a set of country lanes and youÕll feel as if youÕre achieving some heroic velocities only to realise thereÕs a Kia Pride in the dinky rear view mirror impatiently trying to get past. ItÕs huge fun.

Overall
If youÕre prepared to think outside the box a little, a used Daihatsu Copen could be a smart solution. ItÕs got just enough about it to satisfy those who enjoy driving but wonÕt punish you during the sort of city trips that many of us have to put up with. As long as you donÕt take yourself too seriously, the Copen offers a fun, vaguely exotic, alternative to more prosaic roadster offerings.

By ANDY ENRIGHT.

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Daihatsu Sirion (1998 Ð 2005) Car Review

Someone needs to have a word with Daihatsu. With the Sirion, they upset the applecart by offering a car priced and marketed as a supermini, but as big as many of the cars in the next class up. That sort of behaviour will not endear them to Seat Arosa, Nissan Micra and Volkswagen Polo owners. Getting more for your money is a used car motto, and on this basis, the Sirion looks like an interesting buy. ItÕs certainly an individualist proposition. With its vaguely retro styling and strong fuel consumption showing, a used Sirion is worth looking at if low budget, stylish urban transport is on your shopping list.

History
The Sirion is one of those cars that probably shouldnÕt exist. Daihatsu has a small car range that includes the Cuore and Charade models, not to mention the Grand Move micro MPV for those who need more room. Finding a gap in this product range is a tricky prospect indeed, but find one they did. The Sirion was introduced in June 1998 as a model more spacious than a Cuore but still offering the benefits of the three cylinder 1.0-litre engine. In fact, with all of the niche models in their range, the Sirion is probably the most mainstream item, competing head on with its supermini rivals, at least on price.
Upon launch, the range consisted of a base model and a Sirion+, with added equipment. The range then remained to all intents and purposes unchanged until October 2000 when a revised E and EL trim structure was introduced for the 1.0-litre version and a new 1.3SL version added at the top of the range. This had the option of clever F1-style gearchange controls. In mid-2002, the line-up was facelifted and smartened up inside. A 4-wheel drive Ô4trakÕ model was added to the range, as were hot hatch ÔRally2Õ and ÔRally4Õ variants. A new Sirion arrived in 2005.

Opinion
The Sirion is so stylish itÕs debatable as to whether the effect was intended or accidental. There are 1950s industrial Japan design cues all around the car, with so much that is noteworthy and interesting. The stretched headlamps give the car an appearance of its hair being pulled back, and sit over a trim chromed bumper. This tapers off to a point along the SirionÕs flank, guiding the eye back to the kicked-up bustle tail. Not even the Ford Ka could rival the Sirion for cafŽ society cool. All it needs to complete the look are some stylish wheels and a funky old-school colour scheme, like orange or lime.
Equipment-wise, the Sirion makes a good case for itself. Both models have power steering, twin airbags, electric mirrors, an engine immobiliser and headlamp levelling, itself a rare feature in cars of this class. The Sirion+ adds side airbags, air conditioning, central locking and electric rear windows. Anti lock brakes, a four-speaker stereo, 14" wheels and tyres and a roof spoiler also mark the Sirion+ from its more humble sibling.
Despite offering more space inside than many of its rivals, the Sirion is still quite a tight squeeze for five passengers. Four is a more realistic prospect, and even then, taller passengers will have to sit splay-kneed. Front seat comfort is aided by the standard fitment of adjustable seat belt anchors. This also helps prevent ÔsubmariningÕ Ð the action of slipping under the belt in the case of an accident.
Safety is a big feature of the Sirion range, especially so with the Sirion+. As well as its ABS, twin front and side airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners, the Sirion+ is also fitted with side impact beams, a door release system which unlocks the doors in an accident and also brake assist. This is a system which was pioneered by Mercedes, helping to apply maximum and prolonged pressure to the braking system if it detects a panic-braking manoeuvre.

By ANDY ENRIGHT.