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

Thanks to the federal government, I find that my 12-year old GMC Yukon SLT has magically transformed itself into a $4500 credit toward buying a higher-mileage vehicle. (Note: restrictions apply.)

Since we have an 09 TL for the wiffey already, I'm looking at a daily driver - slash - milk run car so I can save my Z for the sunny days. That leads me to cars like the Honda Insight EX and the Nissan Cube SL. (I've eliminated the Fit, all Toyotas, and all domestic cars.)

I'm trying to find something different enough in profile it won't conflict with the two near-luxury cars we've bought already. The Insight I've test-driven, and it handles somewhat like a Chevy Vega (without the tendency to need a new engine every 20K). The Cube is cute, perhaps too-cutesy, and one review called it "peppy but the power goes away above 35 mph". (ROFL!)

But the Cube could carry 4, could carry big bags of peat moss, and I wouldn't be afraid of parking it some places I'd never want to take the Z.

So before I find some teen forum raving about the shag carpeting -- anyone here looking at a Cube for similar use? (Overstock.com shows my best local price at $100 off invoice, and with the $4500 credit, there's no negotiating.)

Hi,

I actually was in the market for a second vehicle doing the same exact thing. I looked at a 2010 Insight, 2009 Cube and 2010 Prius and 2009 Prius. Let me just say the Cube is at the very bottom of the list compare to the other cars. First of all, let me just say I love the way the car looks. Yet the car drives like a total piece of garbage. While the 1.8L provides reasonable power, but it is very noisy and it has TONS of vibration. It has so much vibration that my legs started to shake after I came out of it. Also the handling of the vehicle is almost as bad as a 2nd gen Prius. The center of gravity is too high and the steering was way too light. I would absolutely stay away from that vehicle unless you really need the room. At 16K, you are better off buying a Civic LX. If you need space, go get a Fit. I ended up ordering a 2010 Prius as it was the best out of the 4. It is quieter, almost as quick and more efficient than the Cube by quite a bit. If you can swing an extra $7K and deal with the a$$holes at Toyota, I would go for that. The Insight is okay, but not really worth $20K in my opinion

you said not to but I lol'd anyway

the insight has had terrible reviews. what about a kia forte?

Why not a Scion XB?

http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/n...0z-caption.jpg

:icon17: I saw it in person and it was okay. Nothing out of ordinary. It'll take you from point a to b safely.

On the side note, you can get the optional "Shag dash topper" to make it even more unique http://www.nissanusa.com/img/vehicle...t_designer.jpg :ugh2:

Buy a real Man's Box! (actually, My Element is awesome and quite a bit more civilized...Kinda like a REAL car)....:tup:

I do kinda wish I had one of those shag dash toppers though...

http://images28.fotki.com/v964/photo...ew_copy-vi.jpg

Wait for Infiniti's version to come out.


http://thewallpapers.narod.ru/archiv...024x768-01.jpg

Ah! No reviews said it was a nice-handling car, and I didn't expect much from the Versa engine. But if it can't comfortably maintain highway speeds... I'll file it with the KIA Sportage, then.

Actually don't need a third car under most any pretext, except... I'd like something to carry a canoe, and large, bulky (but not heavy) items. That rules out coupes and sedans.

Looking at a new Prius, someone at the dealership had hand-scribbled "market premium" and tacked an extra 10% ($2700) on the window sticker (!). The car seems OK ... but it'll be a cold day in hell that Galaxy Toyota in Eatontown NJ gets a nickel of my business. Ever.

I'm glad you've gone through a lot of the process I did... what I might do is revisit the Fit, maybe an Element, and see what Mazda's got in the cheaper bulk/peoplemover category. Mazda is probably the cheapest way to get HIDs on a lower-end car, and trading down from a Yukon I really feel a need for carrying space.

Have you looked at the new Kia Soul? Out of all the toaster mobiles out there I actually think the Soul looks the best.

Kia Soul's review is terrible. If it is worse than the Cube, I can't imagine how bad that car drives since I thought the Cube was really bad.

If you need room, Element is about 19K and Mazda 5 is 17-18K with the current rebates. Of course, you might not get 4500 for them, depending on the MPG. Oh and by the way, the Mazda 5 can do circles around the Cube. I actually autox them quite a bit, they don't handle all that bad for a minivan.

It's crazy with the 3rd gen Prius, everyone is pretty much sold out on the Prius, you just have to put your deposit down and let them ra^e you. I bought mine at sticker, so that's about it. It is a better car than the four cars I drove, no ifs and buts about it. I do look forward to the 51/49mpg rating. The car is quieter than the last one, faster (a lot faster, relatively) and it is comfy. It doesn't handle as good as the Honda, but it also doesn't have a stiff suspension that will break your back.

Honda and Toyota are tough to deal with, you would think in this economy, they would pretty much lick your rear end to get you into a deal. Yet they are still full of themselves, so definitely hard to deal with. Mazda and Nissan are easier, but then just watch for shady people.

I went to Honda today to look at a car today. On the window sticker, they had the car listed at 147xx. Since today they have this huge promotion about $8K off market price, well they just jacked a 199xx number on the windshield and then they would try to sell you the car at that windshield price. The guy look lost when I asked him why the sticker says 147xx and he is trying to tell me to negotiate from 1999x. It's lame!

I hate buying from dealers inside city, I prefer the smaller dealership, much easier to get a deal!

Yes! The problem is, it's a Kia. :( (One time I got a loaner Sportage while one of our cars was being worked on, and it was like a homemade Soapbox Derby car. It could not safely get above 50 mph.)

I'm using the feedback here as a guide ... the Mazda3 5-door requires the Touring trim level to get bixenons, and the overstock.com price is 21.4K. Not bad for HIDs and leather -- better looking than a Genesis coupe! (Snark)

It would also end my family's 50-year boycott of Fords. We nurse grudges over generations... Pontiac's boycott won't end until 2030. (GMC lost its chance to ever sell me another big-*** ute when they advertised on Rush Limbaugh.)

I've always been partial to Elements, but the deciding house vote calls it (and most shoebox/toaster mobiles) "hearse-like". (I assume she means the Black Maria from Charles Addams' comic strips.)

Ford sold Mazda a year or two ago, but they have an alliance

why did you eliminate the fit?

thats my second car and for what it is its great. i have a 2008, not the current. its handles pretty good for its class (maybe the best). its ultra-reliable, it gets decent mileage.

i use it to haul stuff, grocery getter. i can get two bikes inside the back with the seats flat, i can get tall stuff in the back if i pull the seats up.

i would get that.. go up in dollars i would get a 2010 prius.. a hatch, has space to load stuff..

supposedly a real dullard to drive, but it performs where it counts, it gets good gas mileage..

i always have 2 or three cars.. requirements for the groups is: fun performance, around town economy, decent drivability in bad weather, snow, dirt roads...

fit fills out around town, economy and hauling stuff.. and does ok in bad weather snow (though awd like a subaru is better there)...

cube is too weird with no compensating qualities like handling or great mpgs...

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! :ugh2:

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..

Fit sits like you are in a bus, it doesnt handle like the Mazda 5

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.

Sadly, my truck doesn't qualify.

It's a 4-banger, and according to the EPA it gets 22 (or is it 24?) combined MPG...which is VERY hard to believe...

I'd trade it in, but, I doubt I can afford anything that I'd want to take in trade, even if I could get the rebate...

i'd buy a cube if it wasnt for pot holes.......the cube would get stuck in them :shakes head:

also, if i'd buy one would my 14mpg car i have laying around count as 2 clunker cars??

I took one of our demo Cube's out for a day at the beach...we had a great time...now my gf wants one...tons of room, super small and easy to park, back seats fold down for tons of storage room, great gas mileage, and a great value!

I'd rock one...but my Titan plays double duty as my daily driver and tow vehicle for the race car! ;)

I actually saw one here in Milwaukee. If that's what you want, there's more than just functionality. Get it because you like it. It's totally funky, but I drive an '09 FX for my second car. That's an ugly car to some that I LOVE! I think it's beautiful (My FX.) Some people hate it. It's realiable, just like any other Nissan, and has all the bells and whistles. Love your car because you love it. Not what everyone else thinks. That's what makes horse racing, and in this case, that's the perfect phrase.

I also love the show "Kings" on NBC that's getting cut. It's getting awful ratings on TV (though one of the top downloaded shows on the net), but I think it's the best show I've ever seen. My opinion, of course.

Prepare for a lengthy but thought out opinion friends... lol
Hey wats up guys! Just throwin in my two cents really quick. I saw that they mentioned
Kia. Actually the car and driver review came out pretty much tie to the xb.
Scion was more refined but kia was a better handler. One thing we must remember that
From 1968 till about 1984 our japanese cars we love so much got the same exact
Reviews that hyundai was getting b4 98. Kia has been strong for 3 years and hyundai for 10.
I was going to mention the kia forte. It shares a lot of tech with the genesis coupe.
That car I test drove the 3.8 and it performed so well that I was planning to purchase it.
The genesis is one of those cars. U won't believe me till u drive it.
I decided to wait and save an extra 8g grand cuz one day I went to service my 3.5se
At the dealership. N they know me so well there that when they saw me lookin at the 370z. They just through me the keys. Lol well after 45 minutes I was in luv. On my way to buy a genesis coupe,
I passed a nissan dealership for one last test drive. After another 45 minute test drive. I didn't get the genesis. But my point is. The genesis was truely comparable to the performance of the G37 for 10k less.
The Z's 2 seat platform gives it an edge with less weight and wider tires.
But hyundai surprised me BIGTIME. So I recommend if u consider a hyundai/kia?
Test drive it. As we know... reviews can be very deceptive when the bigger companies have more money to endorse the magazines.
Just as BMW has been buying there reviews. I've driven these 2. They are great handlers. And powerful.
But honestly nissan is most definately comparable. And has been for at leaast 3 years. But magazines act like nissan is just catching up now. Honda often gets better reviews than nissan.
My wife having owned a couple of accords I can tell u the altima whips its butt. She drives nissans now as well. I guess my dragged out story is saying. Lol
If it interests you? Just test drive it. In 2009 2010. There's a lot of comp cuz everyone has a superior segment right now. Even hyundai kia.

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

If you like one get one. Don't let anyone tell you different, get what you want.

PS: Don't forget to show us pics of what you decide to get. :)

I would add that this third car has to be city parkable. With the Yukon, I've always been able to cheat a little because it has steel bumpers, but there aren't many cars on the road like that any more. You can actually see the back pretty well from inside -- I've been able to parallel park with less than a foot of extra room, front and back.

But many modern cars are designed like the Nissan Murano, where you've got no clue there even is anything in back. The blind spots on the Z don't bother me when I'm driving, but when I back into a parking space using mirrors, I tend to leave an extra 6-8 feet behind me. (Force of habit? Desire not to replace the rear bumper and exhaust in the first year of ownership? :) )

Here the Cube actually scores well enough, because it's neatly squared off and you've only got the hump from the rear window wiper motor to obstruct your view. The (upright) Honda Element would be better than the Fit. The Mazda 3s 5-dr hatchback, not so good, but I think on the trim level that has HIDs they also include a rear "proximity warning" thingie, which is something I'd have to test on a TD.

(I'm prepping myself to expect the Cube to be like a big white delivery truck -- think of an International step van -- so anything better wins the low expectations game.)

The EPA numbers have always been screwy. They say this Yukon is 13 mpg combined, but for 11 years I've always gotten 16.5 mpg on regular. For my friend the retired racer's old Dodge pickup, the EPA combined estimate is 3 mpg the OTHER way -- he always gets much worse than they project.

A lot of people I know would really love to have a 10-year old POS worth $4500 credit toward a new car, but the government says, "because you were prudent back then -- 'no soup for you' ". (In my defense, I actually needed the Yukon when I expanded the house, then kept it a few extra years to carry around the dog in my avatar. But he's gone, now...)

Under the restrictions I can't give this $4500 credit away, nor can I sell it to someone and have them get the credit. I'd have to buy something that someone wants (new), then sell that to them. But the highest possible value is like I said at the beginning -- a "milk run" car (so I can keep the miles off the Z).

Go drive an xB. I have one and I LOVE it. Practical and unique.

Hmm. Well, I have a problem with the nearest Toyota dealer. They're the ones trying to sucker Prius buyers with a 10% over sticker "market adjustment".

I drove the Mazda3 5-speed HB last week. It's a nice little car ... but off the short list. My experience is: single drivers try to "zoom zoom" my Z, or it's used as a loaded-down family-wagon. But the real issue was -- I couldn't stand that dealership. (Open Road Mazda, East Brunswick, owned by the same group we got the Acura from). There are two dealers closer, but they're both smaller.

Now when you line up the Fit, Cube, and Element, it's more like Goldilocks. I know both Honda and Nissan local dealers, but might buy out of the area to save a few $$$s.

Trying to sucker a buyer isn't the same thing as refusing to make you a deal you can live with. Go drive the xB :)

:iagree: The second generation xB is great. Good power for its class, decent gas mileage, great looks, priced right. I bought one for my company to wrap for advertisement and it has been a great vehicle. It went with the company when I sold, but it had over 13,xxx miles and no issues. Everybody at the office really liked it.

This thread is being resuscitated to say I finally got the short list down to ONE. And the "winner" is ... a 2009 Honda Element 4WD EX.

Drove the Nissan Cube. It had great EPA numbers, 28/30. BUT the front door panels were about six ounces of high-density foam. Nothing to them. And I drove on a country road with normal crown, at highway speeds ... and it felt like it was going to flip over on its side. The shuddering motion, which was mentioned here, was also quite noticeable. This would be a better car for banging around in the City at speeds not to exceed 40 mph.

The Mazda 3i 5-door hatchback was also a disappointment, but for a different reason. For an inexpensive car it had a great ride. But it, too, was afflicted with a lot of shoddy plastic. One parallel parking mishap could leave you with a $2000 body shop bill -- either front OR back. Unacceptable.

The Toyota Scion xB I studied only through the website and from seeing a few on the road. I got terminally frosted seeing the "Bluetooth option" a simple handsfree link for cellphones, listed at $300. Hey guys -- the Bluetooth SIG mandated the chip circuitry was to cost no more than five bucks. Get it? FIVE BUCKS. Or maybe, like Verizon, Toyota has decided to market only to people with double-digit IQs. Between this affront and the premium being tacked on to the Prius, I've got enough hard-core hate of Toyota not to put them on my list, ever. Even if they still make very good cars.

The Element is in its 7th year of production. Long in the tooth would be an understatement. 3500 pounds, instead of 2800 like the Cube, and obviously not as peppy. But you know what? That extra unibody steel just might make the car last an extra year or two. It can handle my canoe with ease. It can even carry a tiny trailer behind it. EPA combined @ 21 mpg is 40% better than what they said my old Yukon got, but the owner forums are reporting 26-28 mpg as common. 4WD (actually, FWD with AWD) means I don't have to drive the Z at all for 3-4 months of the year if I don't want to. And the overstock.com year end price was $500 off invoice (plus the CARS $4500 clunker credit) putting it in line with the best prices we got on the Z and the 09 Acura TL this year.

Finally, the Element has actual 5 mph bumpers. But i'm still going to miss the solid chrome steel on that old Yukon!

j,

I just picked up a cube for the little woman a couple of weeks ago. It's not a car I would pick for my daily driver, but I like it nonetheless. She went with the moss green SL with preferred package, and it's a color you don't often see (even on the lots). Highway driving (75-80mph) does not feel nearly as stable as driving my S, but it's not bad at all for a brick on wheels. I didn't expect much out of 122hp, but the CVT helps make for a surprisingly peppy and smooth take-off from the line, and unless you're carrying an entire family has a decent enough amount of pull at speed.

I really wanted to like the Cube. It's 80% the price of the car I wound up with, and maybe 80% of the car. But I just couldn't get my head around the long-term durability issue. I've driven Hyundais and Kias, and I've NEVER felt a door as light as on that Cube.

It wouldn't be surprising to see them come out with a real premium trim level (not the "Krom") that addresses this, because so much else on the car was likeable or otherwise acceptable. However ... I also don't think it would work if you wanted something to drive cross-country, like NY to Montreal by way of coastal Maine. (That's what the Z is for. :)