[Tater]

Ok....I saw one of these drive by yesterday, which prompted me to do a bit of research on the Nissan site. The first thing that came to mind was, why do folks make fun of Elements, when there's something like this rolling around? Granted I'm 45, and my tastes aren't as "hip" as they used to be....maybe. However, I still don't wear dark socks with plaid shorts, own a "comb over", added a yarn ball to my radio antenna to help me find my car in a parking lot, and I have absolutely never walked away from a salad bar after just adding cottage cheese and beet slices to a salad that already consisted of iceburg lettuce, grated cheese, bacon bits and Thousand Island dressing! Bottom line is, I think this is one ugly beast! The wrap-around window was the first thing that caught my eye. The interior is pretty "off the beaten path" as well.
So the question is, what say thee?
I thought this might be a good way to start the weekend!

 

[JPH102900]

Ugliest car I have ever seen. Obviously I like quirky/original looking cars since I have an element, but this thing is just ugly. And I am not one of those who thinks that only their car looks good; I love xB's and other "competitors" and I just enjoy cars in general. But this thing must have been styled by someone on acid. It looks like a toy car that some melting the back half with a lighter and the tail-lights started to melt down the back of the car.

And the actual production model is even uglier than the pics you posted:

 

[Jojo]

I've actually seen one of these on the road too.

I figure if I don't "get" it, or understand it, then it must be cool. Like showing your underwear,.....yeah thats it, it's like underwear

Best Auto Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote

 

[JPH102900]

I've actually seen one of these on the road too.

I figure if I don't "get" it, or understand it, then it must be cool. Like showing your underwear,.....yeah thats it, it's like underwear

If that is true, then a cube is dirty underwear with holes and skid marks

 

[protaganis]

So I gotta ask... What the hack is the stick thingy (technical terms, ya know) on the driver side fender? Aux antenna maybe (though it already has one one the roof...)

 

[ORANGEE]

I saw one @ the carwash last week, struck-up a conversation with the owner, he took me for a ride - I have to say I was impressed, I like the quirkyness of this vehicle
who are we to call it ugly?

 

[Dom.five]

I too have been enthused with this quirky little beast. I think the Key word here is Little. Boy is it small! Small inside as well as outside. My shoulder was touching the drivers shoulder during a test ride. Not much room behind the seats to put things.

Still I like it. Not for me, but it's cool.

Dom

 

[_jea_]

There are several rolling around in Columbus. My hubby thinks it's cool and as usual says I am partial when I call it ugly. It is very small but might really be for the youngsters. Jojo's "showing the underwear" thing fits the description of this car (cool but I don't get it).

 

[TOAST_E]

In a day where all cars look the same (really they do, there are like 3 different lines on cars now and thats about it) the Cube is bold, different, and affordable...

My little bro just started college this week, he doesnt care about cars, never had intrest in them or anything like that; but he was ranting and raving to me about how much he wanted a Cube, he called it the "tightest car hes ever seen". While is isnt your typical kid for his age, i think a this will be a popular car for their target demographic, and its safe to say its a good car that is designed properly being that its a Nissan.

 

[kimh]

I was a diehard Nissan fan for years so I did look at these. As we all know here on this forum, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think if my lifestyle was different (older kids, no pets, no canoe, no kayak, etc) I might own one. I saw a little green one in front of a boutique and I thought it was cute. I sat in one and it seemed kind of roomy up front anyway. My son said if I take my back seats out we can store the cube in the element!

 

[in2steam]

Its just a reworked toyota scion, they are incredibly small.
Chris

 

[fcz1]

An affordable, quirky car from a reputable manufacturer... I've got nothing against it. Personally I'm on the verge of a Versa hatchback, which I really like, but for that lower price range it is a bit of all right.

 

[MikeQBF]

I like it! The quirky aspect is part of the appeal. Plus the three Nissans in my fleet history were fine rides, although the 300ZX I had was a boulevardier that handled like a waterbed :-( .

My main gripe is the rear sill requiring lift-over. Seems to be a Nissan design characteristic which I previously griped about on the Versa. Wish the MPG was better considering its size (combined 26), but it does come with a 6-speed manual! Woo hoo!

 

[jiminwantagh]

I parked way back at Walmart yesterday, and a girl pulls in near me with her new Cube. She said she wanted to get an Element, but with "cash for clunkers" she paid only $12K for the Cube. Makes sense.....but I don't like it.

 

[lizzurd]

Its just a reworked toyota scion, they are incredibly small.
Chris

The Cube has been around long before the Scion.

Next week when i am off i am going over to our Nissan store to check it out. Personally i would never buy one....but i have seen a few on the roads here.

 

[siclmn]

I looked at one. The problem is that it is only good for carrying passengers in the back, it is just a people mover small car. You can kinda fold the back seats half way down but there is not much room for putting stuff in the back that way. If the back seats would come out then they would have my interest. I like the quirky look.

 

[catman2130093]

I have a friend that reviews/road tests cars professionally. She likes the E, likes the XB, and she said the Cube was quirky and soft riding, in her words, "more French like". She had very recently kept a Kia Soul, and between the XB, the Cube (and she is a huge Nissan fan)and the Soul, she said her money would go on the Soul. She owns two Datsun 2000 roadsters, both one owner, and a 300ZX.

 

[AYLUBYU]

OG Element Owner speaks up

I remember when I first got my E on '03. ppl said the same things previously here. they just didn't "get it". Funny, the JDM Cube came before the xb (Bb) AND the Element. So it just now comes stateside. so what?

I was one of the first stateside to pick up the Cube. test drive one before you make your judgment. keep an open mind. there's plenty room in this world for squares:

Can't we all just get along?

 

[ToddK111]

I remember when I first got my E on '03. ppl said the same things previously here. they just didn't "get it". Funny, the JDM Cube came before the xb (Bb) AND the Element. So it just now comes stateside. so what?

I was one of the first stateside to pick up the Cube. test drive one before you make your judgment. keep an open mind. there's plenty room in this world for squares:


Can't we all just get along?

I agree. My wife and I have an '03 Element EX AWD 5spd with 95,000 miles (original owners) and we just bought an '09 Nissan Cube S w/CVT. It's funny, we are now getting the same kind off attenion (questions, smiles, etc.) that we received in '03 when we bought our Element.

We love the Element and will probably keep it as a second car. We chose to buy the Cube because it's affordable, fun to drive, has quirky looks, and gets good gas mileage (unfortunately, our Element always averages around 20 mpg). We love both cars...we just couldn't afford another Element and we regret that the Element doesn't do better with MPG.

 

[mumbler]

I am a college student and I have seen 2 Cubes being driven by students in the last couple of days--a silver one and a red one. Personally, they don't appeal to me as much as other cars do, but I can definitely see how they would be attractive to a college student (in terms of function and price).