Anyone thinking of a Cube? (Don't laugh)

jginnane

I might be cheating myself. Because every car review I've read in this econo sector gets to the last paragraph, and it always says something like, "...but not as sporty/economical/roomy as the Fit." Everybody loves them.

Well, a neighbor who I often disagree with has a first gen Fit. (I was talking about the Jazz for a year before it got here. Then when he grabbed one before me, I said nuh-uh. But that's not really a reason, and yes I've been looking at it for years now.)

BUT it still misses HIDs and leather, unless I do custom (probably would).

Much as I like the specs of the Mazda3 5-door hatchback, I get the sense this is more of a starter/single car, and the cargo area is only 17 cu ft. I'd almost sooner wait for them to reintroduce a Civic wagon.

I really hate to be bouncing around like a yoyo on this, but it's like Goldilocks in the three bear's house. Cube is weird, yes -- and if I could handle it, I've certainly driven the worst from Detroit, then it would be offbeat enough to maybe work. It's not the car you want to take to Chesapeake Bay for a crabfest (unless you're bringing home a couple gross live blue crabs.)

But the Fit promises to avoid all that "learning experience" crap I wasted a large part of the first 50 years suffering through.

Tomorrow I'm going to reboot and start thinking this through again. The Prius is nice -- it's a grownup car, instead of the Insight, but that almost makes me want to encourage Honda all the more.

Decisions, decisions!

Modshack

You may be cutting yourself short by not considering the Mazda 3 5 door. Quit reading specs and go out and drive some cars. I bought a 2005 M3 5 door for my daughter a few years ago. It now has 110K miles on it and has required an 02 sensor and a set of brake pads period. It's also a great driver and screwed together well. All the Mags put it at the top of the pile a few years ago in the economy car shoot-outs. It feels like a much more expensive car than it is, and is available with all that stuff you find important..

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jginnane

Yes, I need to drive them -- after I get a short list. In 04 I bought my wife a TSX because I fell in love with the specs, and didn't even look at the car. She, OTOH, didn't like going down from an ML-320 (tank) to a 4-banger. (A year later, she got a TL, and has been happy since with a FWD V6 ... until she took my Z out a couple times.)

Test driving the Cube won't be a problem since I'm due for an initial Z oil change at the dealer in a week or so. I'm predisposed now not to like the Cube ... part of my evaluation involves availability of a Thule rack and mounting a 58# Penobscot 16 on +the roof (ABS canoe). [The coefficent of drag must be slightly worse than a Boeing 747.]

The Fit has to be on the short list. A base Element is, too. Regrettably, hybrids won't make the cut (this time).

Mazda3 5-door hatchback (not Mazda5) is on the list. Manual, grand touring. (Finally, I get a stick.) The only negotiation is whether they'll meet the best price from overstock.com, $500 off invoice, or whether I have to travel 80 miles to that dealership (after the local test drive).

It's odd shopping a third car. No Bluetooth, moonroof, sat radio -- yeah, we got that stuff already on our good cars. HIDs are one luxury I'd allow myself, but easy fog or driving light mounting points would be almost as good.

There's room for one more on the list, then I'll post the configurations (with overstock.com price) to throw out the 2 low ones.

Sashimi

The cube looks alright, but I haven't driven one though.

Side note: I know no ones talked about Yaris, but do not get that car, I had to drive one for a week, it's terrible. I like small underpowered cars, but this car had to be one of the worst other than maybe a Chevy Aveo, or kia

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