Sorry, I'm a form follows function kind of guy, but I can't drive something that ugly no matter what.
Nismo has once again laid their hands on the Juke, Nissan's zippy crossover. It received the full treatment: Turbo power, manual transmission and a reworked suspension. But is it really the supercar of crossovers?
Does a sporty cute-ute really need seats whose bolsters will attempt to split apart your most intimate areas? Sure, once you're in said seats they're rather comfortable, but it's the first thing everyone notices when they attempt to get up into this car: What is up with these seats? Then they go, Ow, my girl/boy parts now hurt.
On a Lotus Elise, Alfa 4C or Porsche GT3, yes, these kinds of seats make sense. Those cars are designed for maximum performance. The Juke Nismo RS? Well, if it was intended for that league, it wouldn't sit so high off the ground. Instead Nissan would give us an updated version of their SE-R.
Other than the seats--which, I admit, are hard to ignore since you encounter them almost every time you drive the car--the Juke is rather pleasant. It makes good power, offers great visibility, and can be ordered with a real manual gearbox. The Nismo Juke even gets upsized brakes.
Dear Nissan: Put those performance goodies into a sport sedan, and then we can be buds.
Signed, a guy who bought an original Sentra SE-R back in 1992.
It's a cool idea. A crossover that can perform like a sports car. Throw in a manual transmission and a turbo and color me excited.
However, it just doesn't feel well done to me. The gearbox feels like it's a half a step higher than an economy car. And even though it is fairly quick for a crossover, it doesn't really warrant those racing seats and the red 12 o'clock ring. Sure, you may be able to outrun a Ford Escape, but why?
Also, going back to the seats, the side bolsters are high like a racing seat, but they just make it harder (and painful) to get in and out.
I will say it is lighter than I would expect it to be. And it does feel rather nimble on its tightened-up suspension. But it's still a crossover, not a Z, and not an SE-R.
It feels on the verge of being a poser-mobile right now. Make it angrier, and count me in.
Sorry, I'm a form follows function kind of guy, but I can't drive something that ugly no matter what.
bravenrace wrote: Sorry, I'm a form follows function kind of guy, but I can't drive something that ugly no matter what.
This
You know, I don't mind the looks, although I'm still not sure which front lights are the headlights. If Nissan could put this package into a small sedan, they'd have a winner.
In reply to David S. Wallens:
No, if Nissan built the IDx with this stuff in it, they'd have a winner.
It weighs what, 100? 200? lbs more than an SVT focus and has 45 more HP?
I'd take it off some sweet jumps.
you can keep the red trim.... but the Juke is one of the wifes choices in the current car market
Is auto trans still required if you want the awd?
I've always loved the way they look, but I think spiders are neat.
You know, I don't mind the looks, although I'm still not sure which front lights are the headlights. If Nissan could put this package into a small sedan, they'd have a winner.
In typical Vigo fashion I wish for it in a Cube.
jimbob_racing wrote: In reply to David S. Wallens: No, if Nissan built the IDx with this stuff in it, they'd have a winner.
Troof.
If they'd built the IDx, with the proper equipment (i.e. no crappy CVT) I'd have gone and traded the Focus in on it in a heartbeat.
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