First Open-Top Drive with My Copen

 Today, I drove my Copen with the roof down for the first time.

My wife sat beside me as we took a winding road up to Minoh Falls.

At the front of Hankyu Minoh Station, I started the electric roof operation.

With a soft whirring sound, the side windows lower, the trunk lid opens, the roof folds in, and the trunk closes — all fully automatic.
The manufacturer says it takes about 20 seconds, but it felt even quicker.
Honestly, it happens in the blink of an eye!

It’s so effortless.

And the attention you get when opening the roof is incredible.
Everyone nearby stares with a clear "Wow!" face.
It’s a little embarrassing! (lol)

Driving up the winding road with the top down, you hear the engine and exhaust sounds more clearly, which really pumps you up.
When the roof is closed, my hair almost brushes the ceiling, and there’s a slight feeling of being cramped.
But when it’s open — total freedom. (Well, obviously!)

As you pick up speed, there's a fair amount of wind swirling around inside.
It might be tricky if you’re wearing a wig! (lol)
Still, the wind wasn't as bad as I had feared.
I thought it would be colder too, but with the heater on high, it was perfectly comfortable.
My friend RUM, who owns a Toyota MR-S in the Tokai region, once told me:
"Driving with the top down is like being in an open-air hot spring."
And now, I totally get what he meant!

The seat heaters work so well that I ended up turning them off midway.

Interestingly, with the roof closed, you sometimes hear a slight rattling noise where the roof panels meet.
But with the top down, there’s no rattling at all — it’s super quiet.
Of course, since the roof isn't welded but mechanical, some minor rattling is expected when closed.

I live in Ikeda City, Osaka — the home of Daihatsu headquarters (there’s even a neighborhood called Daihatsu-cho!).
I’m pretty sure Ikeda has the highest number of Copens per capita in Japan.

I see Copens almost every day.
Sometimes as many as five in a day!
The most common color I spot is silver.
I often see them at convenience stores or at the parking lot of Mayuyama Gymnasium, where I do weight training.

Maybe next time,
I'll try striking up