The Murano CrossCabriolet

[nissangirl74]

We did it. Even though we didn't really want to, we went and test drove the Cabriolet today. Here's the review.

Cliff notes: interior is beautiful, it rides well and isn't boring to drive, the shell is still horrible

http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/nico-e ... drive.html

[Jesda]

If you guys had some crummy roads (AZ is fortunate in that regard) you might notice the nasty cowl shake observed by Automobile Magazine.

[asoomal]

Why Nissan, Why?

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I pretty much had the same feelings you did when I got in it.

[chompsticks]

I gotta admit, i saw one at the LDS and it's not half as bad as I thought it was going to look.

[nissangirl74]

If ours had been the baby blue one, I'm not sure I could have gotten in and closed the door.

[numbnuts240]

i hate the taste of stomach acid.

[MellowZ32]

^then don't drink it.

[Jesda]

From Peter Delorenzo's editorial this week:

"Believe it or not the Pontiac Aztek, as a concept, set the table for all of the crossover vehicles that have come after it. It wasn’t successful, but it did have a groundbreaking role.

The Nissan CrossCabriolet enjoys no such distinction.

It’s going straight to the “The Answer to the Question Absolutely No One is Asking” Hall of Fame because it defies logic and common sense in such a glorious mishmash of poor taste and whimsical insanity that it will leave people speechless for decades.

When talking about a monument to automotive mediocrity – should one ever get built – the CrossCabriolet will be on the pedestal, the symbolic center of automotive tedium, an excruciatingly painful reminder that the no one said “WTF are you guys thinking?” at the meeting when it was needed most.

But in a way I’m happy to see examples of abject stupidity in this business like Mercedes-Benz and its re-launch of Smart – complete with its classic egomaniacal German thinking for all to see – or Nissan with its Murano CrossCabriolet, a monument to ill-conceived and misguided thinking the likes of which we’ll have to wait another 25 years or so to see.

Why? It’s a very stark reminder that in this era of “no bad cars” there’s a lethal formula lurking under the surface that can wreak havoc on the most well-intentioned car companies.

And that formula goes something like this:

Loss of Focus + Too Much Unchecked Ego = Unmitigated Disaster.

The kind that results in product disasters like the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet"

http://www.autoextremist.com/

[Bubba1]

I think the Murano CrossCabrioletdown is destined to become one of those very rare cars so ugly that the first question that pops into your head is WTF.

Others on that special list include
Ford Edsel
Pontiac Aztec
AMC Gremlin
Citroen 2CV

[AZhitman]

For me, all it did was make me appreciate the regular Murano all the more...

For what it's worth, as Jesda said, we're blessed with beautifully smooth roads here in AZ. I did take it out of a highly-peaked driveway exit at an angle at a higher speed than I ordinarily would, just to assess chassis flex. I didn't notice any, but that assessment might change with washboard / potholed surfaces.

The first thought I had was that there's easily 7-8" of ridiculous wheelwell gap, even with the tall-profile tires. Even if you wanted to lower it, you'd be hard-pressed to maintain any useful suspension geometry with that drastic of a drop.

I'm pretty convinced there'll be a lot of SC430 drivers proclaiming it "fabulous".

[Encryptshun]

Becky, I am always impressed with the quality of your prose. You are an excellent writer. Great article!

Would you all maybe consider putting the author's name at the top rather than the bottom? I was halfway through before I realized that it was Becky and not Greg who authored it.

Also "Greg let me drive first"? Really? Like you expect us to believe that he wears the pants in your family?

[AZhitman]

...I've spent less time behind the wheel in the last 2 years than I ever have in my life.

Then again, I've worn pants a lot less frequently as well.

[Encryptshun]

Jesda: wears pants, drives lots

Greg: sans pants, drives less

I'm starting to put this whole NICO cosmology thing together. Mind = blown.

[ADDirishboy]

Then again, I've worn pants a lot less frequently as well.

I thank baby Jesus that you have always had pants on when I come over.

[Encryptshun]

Is that his name for it?

[BusyBadger]

Is that his name for it?

Oh dear God....



Can't...stop...laughing....hard...to breathe.

And my abs hurt.

Priceless!

[nissangirl74]