2004 Daihatsu Copen review

It has an engine power equal to four cups of tea, and, at least on paper, about the same power.

But the motorcycle-sized heart of the Daihatsu Copen can confuse the small, quirky Noddy-style convertible quickly enough to wow onlookers.

Taking one of these baby cars to the streets of Perth produces questions directed at the driver’s sanity, prefixed by «What the . . .?»

So Big Ears made rude signs to the motorists and they drove away. Just like in the politically incorrect country of toys.

The Copen – apparently a tragic mishmash of the words closed and open to recognise the car’s convertible nature – would be ideal for Toyland’s lethargic traffic speed.

It is more at home in a big, congested city than the relatively open byways of Perth.

But that doesn't mean the tiny seating two-seater can't give its owner hours of joyful commuting.

This is an amazingly agile and frisky creature.

The steering is direct, the engine is redlined at 8000 rpm, the gear shifts are effortless, and the clutch pedal action feels like it's not tied to anything.

Low power is weak. You're used to giving it a heavy right foot to wiggle the 659cc four-cylinder.

It's not a lot of power. The performance is due more to the Copen's sheer weight of 830kg than to what's under the hood.

Part of the fun is the atmosphere of the car.

Sitting so low, snuggled into the comfortable cabin, it feels like you're traveling in something like a rocket-propelled Porsche.

If things get too muddy, the folding steel roof lifts out of the trunk electrically – similar to the safety benefits of other metal covers such as the Peugeot 206CC, Mercedes SLK and Lexus SC430.

The Copen's trunk is small with the roof up and incredibly small when the top is folded down.

That this is not a long-distance traveler is confirmed after two hours of driving through the countryside, where at a speed of 100 km / h, 4000 rpm appears on the tachometer, and the rear end becomes very numb. Precise handling and tidy city driving also dissolve into body shaking and bouncing on rough tarmac roads.

But in its environment, Copen works.

This is clearly for individual players who work in the city.

Take a passenger and there's no room for a sandwich, let alone a picnic.

Considering the price of $29,990, the level of equipment of the car is high - air conditioning; power windows, mirrors and roof; alloy wheels; dual airbags; MP3 CD player and tire repair kit instead of a spare tire.