Friday morning Bex and I took delivery of a 2009 Nissan Cube 1.8 S in KH3 Super Black.

I'd been wanting something with an automatic (and a warranty) for my 2-hour commute in stop-and-go traffic, but didn't want to drop a ton of cash or incur a new car payment...

Initially, the dealer didn't want to work a deal, but I think once I pointed out that they hadn't sold one in over a week, they needed to move a unit. (After I bought mine, they sold 3 more in the next several hours).

I've put almost 100 miles on it, and I'm really digging it.

Granted, it's not fast. But I already have some fast cars. It's not super-flashy, but again, I have plenty of attention-grabbers.

What it DOES do right is get you from Point A to Point B in quiet comfort, very conveniently. It's so roomy, you don't feel like you're in a vehicle. The seats are more like a couch than a bucket seat. Ergonomics are top-notch, and visibility is incredible... Feels like being in a control tower at an airport, with 360-degree views.

The reclining and sliding rear seats are super-cool, and today we loaded a crap-ton of groceries in the cargo hold...

For around $18K out the door after tax, title, license, fees, etc., and 4.6% interest, it's a great deal.

NOW, for the part you've all been waiting for:

You KNOW I can't leave anything stock. Lowering springs were ordered 2 days before I picked the car up. Wheels are on the way. And, with the help of Mehdi (from altimacoupe.com), I've designed a paint scheme that can be translated into a full vehicle wrap... Here's the concept picture:

Thoughts / feedback welcome!

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Looks f***ing great! Official Nico Sponsor car?

Quote, originally posted by Koshin »

I haz a fellacio addiction

Nice score.

-Nissan and Infiniti Factory Service Manuals HERE

A symmetrical lower-key paintjob would do the Cube much better than a bunch of random interesecting lines.

They totally break up the uniqueness of the Cube.

Might as well have bought a used Xb for cheaper instead since you won't be able to tell what kind of car it was after the paintjob.

Busy paintjobs belong on Mexican lowriders which no one cares about, not cool new cars like the Cube.

OMG EDITED FOR CONTENT.!!

Quote, originally posted by Jesda »

gulatimagic (12:57:15 PM): wow, I have New Kids On The Block on my iTunes library

Quote, originally posted by JimmyMethod »

Obviously I'm gay

profit.

I'm not concerned about the "lines" since it's not a terribly well-designed car from a pure "design" standpoint.

It's actually got some really BAD execution in its design, but it's to be expected for a sub-$14K car.

And I didn't get the Krom because I don't need any of the extra stuff that comes with it, nor do I like the Krom front bumper. The extra $5K can be put to better use elsewhere.

They look pretty sweet i checked one out at my local nissan dealer.

I am a fan of the Cube, just not the new one...well, certian aspects of it. I don't like what Nissan did with the face and tail end of it.

It's mostly the same as the last gen one here, but it still just doesn't look good to me.

Now, if they stayed with the same interior that the last gen had, then I can get past the exterior looks. The inside is comfy, roomy and quite.

Last I knew, Nissan only used the 1.5L here in Japan, so I am hoping the 1.8L is decently peppy, even though the 1.5L is not a bad engine.

The Eddie Van Halen strips would make a funky car funkier, but beauty is all in the eye of the beholder.

Enjoy the LOLBOX.

I love the interior... it's really an odd car to drive, it feels like a transport pod or something.

The other cool thing is, it'll turn around in a VERY small space. Super-maneuverable!

thanks greg.

or "bandit" it out. I'm not really a fan of that photoshopped paint job.

Someone photoshop a bandit cube.

You ****.

Whose idea was it?

Thanks for the props.

i gave you props 2 months ago when you suggested it, for my car lol.

what you did is like me saying "hey greg, we should snag the domain name somenewnissanfanboycar.com for a portal" then i would register it out from under you and say "well it was my idea"

Nope.

Didn't happen.

At all.

But it's ok. Got the quote for the wrap today... $3K (possibly more).

a good wrap is as much as good paint.

ever tried to put a flat sticker on a round surface? haha

Quote, originally posted by AZhitman »

I figured it needed some old-school flavor. I love the interior... it's really an odd car to drive, it feels like a transport pod or something. The other cool thing is, it'll turn around in a VERY small space. Super-maneuverable!

Think you can post up some interior photos of it before it becomes molested? I'd like to see how it compares to the last gen Cubes.

I hope you know what wrapping a car costs, its not really cheap... I would also have NICO and the domains worked into the design to some extent!

I got to check out a cube the other day, I got a parts delivery from Nissan, and the guy showed up driving a Cube.

I was impressed.

The interior is a whole different world. 2nd gen cube's interior looks like something that fell out of GM in the 1980s. The new one is intentionally funky. The dash curves away from the passenger and driver in a sort of wave. There's so much open horizontal space on the dash that there's actually an extra cupholder on the left of the steering wheel, behind the turn signal stalk (and, rather stupidly, right in front of a vent). Big change from the old vertically oriented dash.
The ceiling has a goofy (but kind of neat) design like ripples in water around the dome light. The whole interior is very curvy and ergonomic, as opposed to the 2nd gen's cold, square, flat, simplicity. I think Nissan's really trying to make the Cube stand out from the other ultrabasics as far as interior design and they've succeeded in my opinion.
Oh, and the shifter's not on the column anymore. Thank goodness.
I still don't like the barely-bolstered seats (which are the one thing that hasn't changed much from the 2nd gen) in theory...but I've never sat in them, so maybe they're better than they look. For some odd reason there was a black Krom at the airshow I went to at HAFB a couple weekends ago, but there were so many people checking it out I didn't get to check out the seats.

Nissan's own interior pics to tide you over:
http://www.nissanusa.com/cube/...hotos/

What a great car for sightseeing! Huge windows means everyone gets a good view... the kids were comfy in the back seat, there was room for our luggage, and the iPod interface was awesome!

I'm really digging this thing - It gets a lot of attention, and aside from being a little underpowered, it's a pretty damn cool car.

damn it.

makes me want to sell the J and the 13 sooner than later.

I want CUBE

It's got VDC, opera lighting (interior lighting dims after the doors are closed), more cupholders than seatbelts, sweep-at-startup gauges, a hell of an HVAC system, spectacular headlights... and I got the base model.

...oh, and none of those crappy Bridgestone OEM tires. The Cube comes with Toyo summer tires!

I really like the lit up door sills. I want those... and the stupid little lights by your feet.

Nope. For me, "climate control" is silly. I think A/C and heat should have 2 settings: ON and OFF.

Setting a predetermined temperature seems absurd. I set my G climate control to 60 degrees, full-blast in the summer and 90 degrees, full blast in the winter. Simple.

I passed on the door sill crap too. I'd rather spend my money on one of my boosted cars.

My J only had 65 to 85 range.

hey hey hey, eaaasssssy on the negativity, dr. doom.

Those door sills aren't crap. BOOST is crap.

You're gonna get hit by lightning, lol.

Agreed. I actually thought about swapping the auto climate control the Q45 to manual. I don't see the point of "automatic" climate control. All it does is remove yet another degree of control.