Nissan Cube - your thoughts

[treeroy]

they probably drive like st but they look quirky. they are surprisingly popular in America, saw quite a few when I went there couple months ago.

[RobM77]

None of the voting options apply to me, but whilst the Cube doesn't interest me at all from a driving or owning point of view, I like to see something different on the roads as an antidote to the curvy blandness of most cars.

[HustleRussell]

I'm glad they exist because different but have no interest whatsoever.

[classicyanktanks]

Hmm, My other rides a Thai bride?

[Freakuk]

Had one for a few days whilst in Japan 2 years ago, fun car lots of space/visibility not exactly quick but I'd be tempted as a daily for sure.

[99dndd]

Looks a lot more interesting than other city cars out there.

I imagine the driving experience would be similarly bland.

I'd consider it if I was in the market for a city car.

[designforlife]

friend has had a couple.

good-
-quirky styling
-masses of room inside
-easy to drive, amazing visibility

bad-
-possibly the slowest thing on 4 wheels, painfully, painfully slow.

[Planet Claire]

I have a soft spot for the Cube; I love 'em. I don't really have a need for one, but I would definitely drive it. I also like the Nissan S-Cargo so I must have a tendency towards quirky.

[JohnoVR6]

Used to love them, but over the past few years I've seen less clean ones and increasing numbers of horrifically modified ones. Shame really, as there needs to be more asymmetrical cars on the road.

Have to agree on the obscure Japanese stuff livening up UK a bit - have an odd soft spot/ hankering for the Nissan Pao. Really not sure why either.

[kambites]

designforlife said:

bad-
-possibly the slowest thing on 4 wheels, painfully, painfully slow.

Anyone who thinks it's the slowest things on four wheels needs to drive some older cars to get some perspective.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 23 January 15:25

[Tempest_5]

I sort of like them, cheekily different. Like the Juke, I probably wouldn't want one on my drive but the roads would be a little bit duller without them.

[loose cannon]

I must admit to liking them,
Did they ever do one with a manual box ?
I’ve never seen one

[caelite]

I really like boxy cars, just seems like an efficient, logical use of road space. Maximising useable interior space whilst minimising vehicle footprint.

That being said, don't think I'd buy one unless they did a hot version.

Edit: upon further deliberation, the car is almost the antithesis of the Juke. Both small hatchback sized vehicles. The Juke with its high waistline and sweeping roof being devoid on usable space in the rear, the cube aiming for the opposite. Hell they do a Nismo version of the Juke which is supposed to be fairly fun to drive, a Nismo cube would be great.

Edited by caelite on Tuesday 23 January 16:52

[CO2000]

The only one I remember seeing a few years ago was a beige one with a 80 odd year old couple in it going to the shops.......no more is req'd!

[Kev_Mk3]

in a strange way I actually like them but I bet its a horrible thing to drive

[Alex_225]

I like the quirkiness of them, they actually have a bit of character and are an interesting design.

That said, I wouldn't spend my own money on one but I quite like them.

[designforlife]

kambites said:

designforlife said:

bad-
-possibly the slowest thing on 4 wheels, painfully, painfully slow.

Anyone who thinks it's the slowest things on four wheels needs to drive some older cars to get some perspective.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 23 January 15:25

i used to own an 87bhp ford ka, so yeah, I have a frame of reference. That thing was at least nippy around town...the cube is quite a bit heavier.

[Richard-390a0]

Thumbs up from me too as the Cube is quirky good whereas the Juke / Joke / Puke is quirky bad. It could've been a bland box but the asymetric design has given it a real lift IMHO.

[loose cannon]

Anybody know much about the supercharged
Impul version can’t find any stats for it

[ian_c_uk]

We / wife had a mk3, 1.5 CVT, Kaizen.

+
Design - if you like it, you will never tire of it - not only the outside, but interior touches also.
Very comfy, soft seats and suspension - drove from Lancs to Paris, no problems.
People wanting to talk to you about it - either good or bad - I love a car that makes people have an opinion.
Other owners - majority wave like lunatics, and the forums / meets were a good laugh.
Tardis - as you'd expect from a box, felt huge inside, but small on outside.
Visibility - sat high / can see edges easily.
Rear "bench" very good for three teenagers.

-
Not as neat a design as the mk2 - but that had a lapbelt for centre rear seatbelt.
Plastics felt cheap.
Technology - whilst lots thrown at it, felt dated rather quickly.
In no way fun to drive quickly - only suited loafing along.
People will sit alongside on motorway and just stare - not great if you want to change lane!

...and the reason we got rid of it:

CVT always had a slight rattle in reverse. Despite coming towards the end of it's Nissan "cared4" warranty, they would not investigate unless it "failed", and the cost to replace (sealed unit) was not far off the value of the car. May never had failed, but the cost was too great to risk.

Replaced it with a Mk2 Kia Soul - much better built and actually quite fun to drive in a french hatch kinda way, but nowhere near as "interesting" a design in comparison.

It did get under our skin - wife still refers to it as "the companion cube" and has t-shirts etc, just a shame the CVT gearbox was made of rattling things.

Oh, and kudos for them making LHD and RHD differently.....