New car review- Nissan Cube

This one inspired more in-office debate than I thought it would. I'm sure the gallery will have good points to add to the conversation.

Let's review the Nissan Cube.

There are more counterpoints in the system, but I'm waiting on the server cache to refresh so they'll appear. Reader comments will appear right away though...

I love this ugly thing... wish there was a NISMO version!

I'm more of a Soul man than a Cubist.

My 7-year old daughter likes this car. I joked I would rather drive a sphere. She got the joke.

I'm with PS122, I like them ugly little bastards.

I'm not really a fan. I don't hate 'em, but nothing about 'em really excites me other than seeing other people have aneurysms over the asymmetric rear window, which near as I know is only a window on the outside. I'd be much more impressed if the D-pillar was actually deleted and it was real window all the way 'round.

In my area you can't find a Cube with manual transmission AND cruise control, 2 features my next new (or new to me?) car MUST have. There was a Cube with a manual trans. advertised by 1 of the local new car/used car dealers...but it already had 20K on the "clock" and the price was not all that much lower than a new car's price would be

Must Destroy the Cube, the xB, the Soul, the Element and all the other boxes.

Tom, you have a sensitive artist side?

I like party boxes. They're cool.

I'd like it better if it was symetrical. I don't care which side, just pick one or the other. I like these little cubist appliances. My wife has a 1st gen Xb and I think it's great for its intended purposes, you just have to keep thinking "appliance".

DeadSkunk wrote: I'd like it better if it was symetrical. I don't care which side, just pick one or the other. I like these little cubist appliances. My wife has a 1st gen Xb and I think it's great for its intended purposes, you just have to keep thinking "appliance".

So, the driver should be in the middle? And how do you do a symmetrical pedal arrangement? :confused:

I liked the Soul, until I saw the Cube. This kind of thing is right up my alley.

I'd rather have a Ford Econoline with shag carpet.

Personally, I'm happy to see the different opinions for cars that kinda fall into the same class.

1988RedT2 wrote: I'd rather have a Ford Econoline with shag carpet.

same here...or a corvair van.

ReverendDexter, you know what I meant, you're just joshin" me !

Every time I see one all I can think is that's going to be an expensive piece of glass in ten or 15 years.

I think about the cost of that glass also.

I also find it interesting that the car will require an entirely different body structure (and rear glass) for right hand drive countries (if they offer them there).

I rented one for a week in LA. Fun little car, and definitely a unique driving experience. Did ok on the freeway, enough power to merge, tons of body roll, but it's not really a performance car. At the end of the day, it put a smile on my face to drive it, and definitely preferable to an HHR/PT Cruiser/whatever junk's usually in the cheapo rental lanes.

Never driven a Soul, but a buddy of mine rented one for a similar amount of time - didn't have the appeal of the Cube. As odd as it may sound, it wasn't odd enough. That and the steering columns fall out while you're driving...that would impair my enjoyment of the vehicle.

1988RedT2 wrote: I'd rather have a Ford Econoline with shag carpet.

QFT.

Maybe I just don't 'get it', but the Cube looks like a damn front loader washing machine to me.

If I was going to buy one of those mini party boxes, from a styling standpoint it would be Soul>Scion>Cube. From a reliability and utility standpoint, it would be a Scion or bump upmarket a bit and get a Honda Element. Yeah, the Element is funky lookin' like the Cube but in a way I could live with.

The Cube reminds me of the kustom cars from the 60's. Imagine one with a two tone fade paint job and heavy coats of metal flake. If I could get one in a green or maroon w/ flake, I'd drive one.

Hamster commercials and flashing lighted speakers make the soul a non contender for me.

There is something about the wheel arches on the cube, how they jut out at the extreme corners in a "If I were to design a simple and steady rolling box" kind of way that appeals to me.

I want a first gen XB for the wife though.

For some strange reason, I like cars with curves on them.

I think the classic mini is a good 2 box design. The first gen xB looked okay, but was so slow and uninspiring in all ways other than its quirky styling. I think the newer cube like cars (vehicles?) are silly.

I see a lot of retirees driving the Cubemobiles. Elements were popular, now it's Kia Souls followed by the Cube.