You live in arguably the sunniest and most scenic part of the country, what do you drive? Nothing. Take the bus, save the planet! I wanted to do just that but it didn’t work out so well and I needed a runaround. In my experience, many cars are simply not designed adequately for those of us with very short legs. Fortunately, millions of people on the other side of the world are also petite and a Japanese car turned out to be perfect. Allow me to introduce the Daihatsu Copen. 

Laughable to some, loveable to others, this dinky car has been a revelation. Who cares if it’s small? That’s the beauty of it. The first Japanese microcars – kei cars – were conceived as affordable, budget vehicles for the Japanese nation after the Second World War. Small cars proved so practical and popular that they have gone from strength to strength: pick any Japanese road at random on Google Street View and you’ll always see a kei car because they still make sense today. I should add at this point that you don’t have to be short to drive one! I know some very tall engineers that do.

Driving along in a nippy and responsive Copen is a cheap thrill! Being so close to the ground, even 30 miles an hour feels faster. Parking is a doddle, especially on British roads where many car parks and spaces were planned when the average car was tiny by today’s standards. My nippy Nippon, the ‘Noddy car’ to some, effortlessly slots into the most awkward and narrow parking spaces that only Beirutis could handle with ease. I just want to park and go.

The clincher for me was the electric roof. You push-a-little-button and the Copen turns into an Audi TT that shrank in the car wash. On weekdays you’ll see me zip past after work, roof down, breeze in my hair, heading for home via the seafront or scooting up the narrow lanes of the South Downs in time for a saffron-infused sunset. Who’s for a bit of escapism?

The Daihatsu Copen also boasts one other Japanese design virtue: longevity. My car is well over 15 years old and last week’s MOT made me more than a little anxious. Lately I’ve noticed an unpleasant belt squeal, it doesn’t like the cold, and I’ve been turning a blind eye to the rust bubbles proliferating on the doors. Sea air and now gritters on the road… not good for my little friend. Fortunately, I didn’t need to worry as it passed the test again. Like a hyperactive Jack Russell, my car springs to life at the turn of a key and looks set to continue for a good run yet. I’ve noticed a few more Copens on our local roads this year and on my last day at Ricardo I spotted a bright red one in the next row of the staff car park. Was that my influence? I’d like to think so but in any case, it was fun to pass the baton as I drove off.

So here we are at the end of another year. I don’t make many predictions and it’s highly unlikely that this one will come true in 2023, but in the long run, I’m certain this underrated little car will become a classic.