Hello everyone

I am looking at purchasing a Copen 13.l in a few days. If all goods well....

Is there any common issues with the vehicle that I should know? So when I see the vehicle I know what to look for when I take it for a test drive.

Do you know where I can download an English owner and/or service manual for the car? I have managed to download a marketing brochure, but there are no dimensions for the vehicle? Does anyone have the technical specifications? Car dimensions, etc???

Are there any English car test drive videos?

Thanks a million for all the help!

 

Thank you so much Afron1 for the information!

I test drove the little car yesterday and I have fallen in LOVE! So hopefully soon she will be parked in my driveway!

Have a great day further!

 

Good day,

We purchased the 2007 Copen with 120 000km on the clock last weekend and have been spending a little time with the car to see what all needs to be repaired. The overall condition of the car is very good, you can see the previous owner relied on service centers to maintain the vehicle. I must admit that I am deeply disappointment with the workmanship of service centers in South Africa. I have found so many faults that are just pure neglect.

A clutch was done on the car about a year ago at 83000km, I found this strange. I normally drive my cars over 150 000km before I need to consider replacing the clutch. I am not soft on a car either, so my first question is this normal for the Copen`s clutch to need replacement on a car that is so light?

The other major fault that has me a bit stumped and I suspect SA crappy workmanship, the clutch cable connection by the clutch pedal is not correct from how I would understand it should work. The link on the end of the cable seems to long for were the arm on the pedal must engage it. In other words, the pedal moves freely with no cable engagement for more that half its travel then only near the bottom about 40mm from the fire wall the clutch only gets activated by the cable. I studied the manuals I downloaded from this site, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT!!! and what I saw in the manual versus the car is very different. Is this normal or is it incorrect as I suspect?

I have also found that the light behind the Rev counter is not working to illuminate the Rev counter at night, as well as the center console the rotary dials for the fan, temperature and vent selection does not light up either. I suspect it is only the light bulbs. The rear fog light switch also does not light up when the front fog light and rear demisted switches do.
Any tips or warnings on changing the lights in the instrument cluster and center console?

Advise and suggestion are always welcomed as I am very passionate about cars, especially cars that I feel was made to be unique but to the best standard the manufacture could without costing the buyer a fortune.

Kind regards

 

Good day,

Thank you for the advise, will use it when I do the repairs. I saw in on of the other forums that the bracket above the clutch pedal can deform due to the fact that it is made of thin metal. I will have a look at that as well. Drove the car last night, I am really impressed with the little car, so much fun. It is my wife`s car actually but I still get to drive it. I have a lot of little thing that I want to fix on it as I really cannot handle owning a car that is not in perfect working order.

As for the land expropriation and expelling white warmers, I am not sure what the media on your side shows but I always find it so sad how sensationalism is always more important than fact. The one thing people don`t realize about South Africa is that our current government is so corrupt but also not very intelligent. The best they can do is make a big noise over something that will gain them attention so they can feel important. The majority in South Africa is more image and status aware that intellectual or forward thinking. They only live for today and what they can take today. But they have a vital flew, implementation and enforcement. They can put on a show, make the right noises but it always ends the same, nothing gets done. So yes they will try to expel a few farmers, the other farmers will just stop there operations and leave the farms. The majority will take the land, loot it, let it go to ruin. Then a few months later there will be a desperate plea for farmers as the price of food is to high because none of the farms are producing any crop because they are lazy and want every thing handed to them. This is going to be one of those events that will make news around the world then just die.

Please don`t misunderstand me, I love South Africa, it is a beautiful country with massive potential. Our biggest problem is having uneducated people as a majority and a government that wants to keep it like that because "dumb" people are easier to manipulate and control. This is not going to last forever as to many people are starting to see them for what they are and this is making them nervous and to do these harsh decisions to try to stay in power. Their days are numbered and they know it. African polities are all the same, just look at the rest of Africa. The only differance here is that there are too many people that love this country and will not just give it away to people that don`t accidentally deserve it.

All I can say is watch the news and media if you are interested but don`t believe it as fact.

Thank again for the information.
Kind regards

 

Good day all,

So I got a few things fixed on the car, all dash and center console working. Fitted new clamps on the inner CV boots. All head lights and fog lights a working to spec. Must say, not a bad little car to work on just amazing how compact they got everything to fit. I saw the metal bracket above the clutch pedal is broken and this will be a royal pain to repair but will get it done. Did a service on the engine and could find most of the parts but nobody not even Daihatsu SA has a air filter so I am making a alternative plan. Found a K&N filter that could fit in the standard air box. Should hopefully get it soon, had to import from Australia. Thanks for all the advise and will post again soon.

 

Thank you Salieri for the air filter information, I have looked here in SA but only the local dealers can get the filter with a lead time of 3-4 weeks. Not to mention the price. I will see if my idea with the K&N filter will work, if it does I will give some feedback. What I would like to show is the real reason we bought the Copen, my wife has her own business in which she makes edge lit night lights. We bought the car because she loves the car but also because we thought it will be the perfect marketing tool for her business as well. The Copen`s do draw attention where ever she drives it so why not use it. It is a small cute car and she makes small cute night lights. So we made a edge lit light for the Copen and it came out very well. As the panel in mainly clear it does not obstruct rear view visibility to much but when the car parked and she switches it on it is very eye catching. I have attached some photo`s. Let me know what you think.