Hi all, Just bought a 2008 Silver Copen. I love it. My boys say it's a girls car and am taking stick from them and their mates. I don't care and one by one, as they each have a ride in it (usually involving high g forces!) they shut up and change their tune.....a bit. They still say it is " a bit gay". Well if loving a Copen makes you gay, I'm gay....just don't tell the wife. My first car was a 1973 MG Midget. This is a modern MG Midget. I love it. Brake pedal is a bit spongy. Is this normal? I took it to a main dealer and they adjusted the shoes and bled the brakes. This has taken some slack out of the pedal but is still a bit spongy (although she stops fine). Is this normal? Anyway to improve it. Braided hoses? Paul
Congratulations Paul, I get exactly the same reaction from people about my Copen. Who cares what others think? To own one is to love one. I posted a Facebook picture of mine on my driveway & my daughter commented that it makes my house look bigger… Never found my brakes to be spongy, but hey, as long as she stops… I'm in East London/Essex - 2009 silver Copen give me a firm-wristed wave if you see me.
East London and firm wrist! Hi, Thanks for reply. I play in a band. The rest of them are from Loughton, Leyton. Ilford etc. so often travel east. Will be ready with the firm wristed wave! Paul
I'm a fan of the frog eyed sprite but I can't practically own one. I've read the Copen described as a modern day Sprite and it's one of the reasons I bought mine. The brakes shouldn't be spongy, I'd change all the brake fluid rather than just bleed the brakes.
Brakes and Tail slide Hi, Spongy probably was the wrong word. There is travel that needs to be taken up on the pedal which improved after the garage adjusted the shoes. I am used to it now but my ford felt solid with no initial travel. Is it normal to push the brake a bit before you feel any resistance? Not driven any apart form mine. Also discoved the back end is a bit lively in the wet! Caught me out but no one else around, a wide road and recoved it quickly. Any one else experienced a rear brake away in the wet? Probably got too used to how good it is in the dry and was expecting too much ion the wet. Paul
Weird In the wet mine does the opposite when I really push it, it wants to go straight ahead insead of turning in (understeers) - this is fine as losing the front end is a gradual thing and not a heart-stopping moment which losing the back can be. As for the brakes, mine have no sponginess nor a lot of free travel. Neither does the other half's Copen. I've had that abs juddering a couple of times when breaking really heavy (- good to know that it works)
I wonder if it is the tyres? The front are Bridgestone. The rear are Eco contact. Mind you I did sort of chuck it into the turning so maybe I provoked it!