Stopped in at Peoria Nissan and met up with Kevin Schwartz, sales consultant... While checking out the Cube in the showroom, we decided to take one for a spin.
My first impression: If this is the Versa powerplant, its a hell of a lot better in the Cube than the Versa - Acceleration isn't bad, and the CVT is actually a lot less annoying than it was in the '08 Sentra I drove for a few months.
This car SCREAMS "cool" - It's just weird enough to be interesting, but intuitive in almost every way. The front seats "jack" up and down like those in a Volkswagen (which is cool, given the excess of headroom) - You can drive it with a UPS truck seating position, or lower it down cruiser-style.
The HVAC controls are simple and CLEAN. They just make sense. The audio controls look aftermarket-ish, but are still functionally simple. The bungee cord holsters on the doors are awesome for holding a cell phone (or a sidearm 
), and there's a HUMONGOUS glove box. Lots of bins and cubbies, and a crap-ton of cupholders...
The rear seat slides fore and aft (super cool feature) and it reclines - I could take a nap back there!
Visibility is, as suspected, amazing... and the Cube is super-maneuverable... if you can't parallel park this thing, you should just turn in your license and take the bus.
OK, let's talk sunvisors... These things are the size of a damn road atlas. HUGE. Good touch, Nissan.
Even the base model is pretty well-appointed, and this thing would be a great commuter... Hmmmm.
I need something to drive to work every day during the summer months when it's too hot to drive one of my classics or convertibles... Stay tuned.
Post Title: Re: Went and drove a Cube today! (AZhitman)
Posted by: PapaSmurf2k3 at 7:17 PM 6/1/2009
Post Title: Re: Went and drove a Cube today! (PapaSmurf2k3)
Posted by: NSR_s30 at 7:21 PM 6/1/2009
Here's a phone pic I took:
Post Title: Re: Went and drove a Cube today! (Eikon)
Posted by: AZhitman at 7:29 PM 6/1/2009
| Quote, originally posted by Eikon » |
| How's the handling? The car ragazines like to say it's clumbsy and feels like a bus because it doesn't corner... |
Well, it's no slot car, but it handles a LOT better than I expected.
It's a weird feeling, slinging something around that looks like a damn refrigerator.
If it was dropped about 2", it'd be really, really impressive for its height.
I'd want to see the skidpad numbers for it compared to an xB and an Element... Bet it's comparable if not better.
Post Title: Re: Went and drove a Cube today! (AZhitman)
Posted by: skydragoness at 7:34 PM 6/1/2009
| Quote, originally posted by skydragoness » |
| Ugh... not feeling the wheels.. otherwise I think it's a cool car. Lots of character! They don't come in manual do they? |
Yes they do but only on the 1.8s trim.
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: ewraven at 10:37 PM 6/1/2009
Are those factory rims or an aftermarket dealer accesory?
About the handling; I've read several times that it drives like it is top heavy. Maybe I'd been driving my 4x4 Dakota for too long. I just have not noticed that the Cube seems top heavy at all.
Post Title:
Posted by: AZhitman at 10:41 PM 6/1/2009
Hard for a car to be "top heavy" when all that space is filled with AIR.
It's very much NOT "top-heavy" feeling.
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: MinisterofDOOM at 2:53 AM 6/2/2009
| Quote, originally posted by AZhitman » |
| I can't see why they'd say that, other than they're ignorant. Hard for a car to be "top heavy" when all that space is filled with AIR. It's very much NOT "top-heavy" feeling. |
The center of gravity isn't any higher than a normal car. It's not a truck or a minivan.
Post Title:
Posted by: HashiriyaS14 at 5:55 AM 6/2/2009
I really wanted to like this thing, and I'm glad to hear that it doesn't drive like a dog. Is there a manual transmission option?
I need to go drive one, although I'd have a hard time buying one now that Fiat has confirmed the new 500 is coming to the US.
Post Title: Re: (HashiriyaS14)
Posted by: MinisterofDOOM at 6:10 AM 6/2/2009
I'm sure it drives well and has a killer interior, That's really cool about the rear seats, and seems like they have a good amount of "trunk" space, I just can't get over the exterior styling of it| Quote, originally posted by AZhitman » |
The rear seat slides fore and aft (super cool feature) and it reclines - I could take a nap back there! |
seriously, this is the BEST feature IN THE WORLD, mate!
I just sat in one this morning when I when for the checkup at the dealer and when I discovered that those rear seats could be inclined (an not only like the whole rear section but EACH SIDE INDEPENDANTLY!!!) I instantly said to myself: "O,M,G! why didn't anyone think of that before!!!" this is the coolest econobox JUST because of that feature alone. the rest is just icing on the cake. I'd buy it in brown lool 
Post Title: Re: Went and drove a Cube today! (mcheddadi)
Posted by: ewraven at 2:06 PM 6/3/2009
It basically folded down into a bed. That was the coolest vehicle.
Post Title: Re: Went and drove a Cube today! (ewraven)
Posted by: mcheddadi at 2:12 PM 6/3/2009
| Quote, originally posted by ewraven » |
| My Mom had a 1989 Isuzu Trooper, it was a top of the line one. Besides just being a very fun vehicle. It too had reclining rear seats, that were much like the Cubes, except that one could recline either or both of the seat backs ALL the way down flat to the floor between the wheel wells. It basically folded down into a bed. That was the coolest vehicle. |
wow! you've got a cube! and a Krom one at that!! wtH?! how long to get it from nissan??
Post Title: Re: Went and drove a Cube today! (mcheddadi)
Posted by: ewraven at 2:30 PM 6/3/2009
I just went to the dealer and bougth the one on the showroom floor. The other two they had were just S models. They had it in there with two Skyline GT-R's, I was hoping some of the horsepower would've leaked from the Skylines into my Cube but it didn't. 
Post Title: Re: Went and drove a Cube today! (ewraven)
Posted by: mcheddadi at 2:34 PM 6/3/2009
| Quote, originally posted by ewraven » |
| They had it in there with two Skyline GT-R's, I was hoping some of the horsepower would've leaked from the Skylines into my Cube but it didn't. |
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLL~``111!!!111
Post Title:
Posted by: AZhitman at 2:43 PM 6/3/2009
Dangit, now I want to get the Cube Krome trim... I'll think about getting one in 2013 when this Versa is paid off.
Post Title: Re: Went and drove a Cube today! (AZhitman)
Posted by: nissangirl74 at 11:28 PM 6/3/2009
Couple of FYI details - 6 airbags (standard); maintenance is almost nil. All you have to do is change the oil, rotate the tires, and put gas in it. Nothing else is required until after 105,000 miles.
The bottom line is this. It's a four cylinder Nissan. If you take care of it, it will most likely run for 30 or 40 years. It drives very well, handles beautifully, is practically maintenance free, and will appeal to all age demographics and income levels.
I can't wait to see some of the mods I know are coming. 
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