saw on of those new cubes on the way to work this morning

[qship96]

Just another "box" that is late to the hip party.......the original scion box led the way....now every other manufacturer is bringing their box to the usa market.....too late, the fad is soo over and played out, not unlike the short lived spinner wheel fad.

[paranoidjack]

Speaking of which, I drove my sister in laws honda element the other day.

I have to say, as UGLY as the car is, and despite how painfully slow it is, the interior is really, really cool. I'm a fisherman and I found it quite condusive to my needs.

Regardless I was glad to get back into my 5.9

[MinisterofDOOM]

Just another "box" that is late to the hip party.......the original scion box led the way....now every other manufacturer is bringing their box to the usa market.....too late, the fad is soo over and played out, not unlike the short lived spinner wheel fad.

The Scion was actually not the original. The Cube came first. Nissan just took forever bringing it here to the US. Regardless of who got here first, the Cube is not just the latest to the fad. It was the originator of the fad.

Both Toyota and Nissan have been stupid about the US market in regards to these boxes, though. What we get as the new xB is some US-specific goofiness that has absolutely nothing in common with the original...and that lack of commonality includes the original's appealing simplicity. The redesigned car for Japan is much more in keeping with it's predecessor...still small, square, and simple rather than trying to be the "iCar."Likewise, Nissan waited until they could field a Cube with the US specifically in mind rather than bringing us the quirky 2nd gen Cube as they should have done years ago. So instead of the quirky, attractive version many of us wished for for years, we get a dumbed down Americanized version with both styling and quirkiness diluted heavily.

As for the Element, I have always liked its looks and versatility, but the fact that it does not come with a V6 keeps it from being a valid option in my book. The Element is significantly bigger than the Cube, which can get away with just offering a tiny four. But the element needs something with more than just 160 pathetic ft-lb of hamster-scurrying torque to propel it's 3500lb of heft.

Cube History:

1st Generation (1998--2 years before the Toyota bB in Japan and 6 years before the Scion xB rebadge here in the US)

2nd Generation (2002):The 2nd gen also came in a longer wheelbase 7-passenger variant called the Cube Cubic (written as Cube to the third with an exponent). This is the Cube Nissan should have brought to the US. And they should have done it at least 3 years ago. The interior was below even econobox standards for the US, though, with thinly cushioned flat bench seats and a very cheap dash that would not look out of place in a commercial van. Sprucing up the interior would have been a simple matter compared to the full redesign Nissan went for instead. And it likely would have been overlooked or even accepted as part of the car's quirkiness anyway. Regardless, Nissan would have entered the game with a more unique car much sooner rather than a bland car much later.

3rd Generation (2008):A soft, dulled, characterless evolution of it's predecessor. Everything that was appealing has been lost, and you're left with lots of bland.

[miata007]

I've traded in my 97 Q for a new Q recently. Have to say I love the styling and practicality of it, not to mention over 30MPG overall.

From the response I've received ...50% like it, 50% don't.

007

[Victor]

I saw a strange accident the other day. One of those cube shaped vehicles was laying on its side in the middle of the intersection. Apparently a Saturn hit it and knocked it over. The only damage to the Saturn was a small dent in the front bumper. Apparently it doesn't take much to capsize one of those cube shaped vehicles due to the high center of gravity.

[miata007]

Definately center of gravity is one of the cons of the car. This car is made for the city. Have video of the crash on side impact.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8GSsTX-9dI&NR=1

007

[qship96]

Looks like an aluminum can being squashed!!!! That 14-16K would be better spent on a safer, easier on the eye slightly used vehicle. Lots of interesting choices on the used market for that $$$$.