I offered him a chance to drive mine and see if it changed his opinion... He came up today and I let him take the Cube for a rip. He said he had a lot of fun. He's gonna do a write-up on my car.
You think his review is bad..? You should see how the guys on my Mustang forum have roasted me. I'm surprised no one has come to my house and burned the car up.
You think his review is bad..? You should see how the guys on my Mustang forum have roasted me. I'm surprised no one has come to my house and burned the car up.
Oh, c'mon. Mustang guys think that mullets are cool!
Budget mods round out Nissan Cube
MARK RICHARDSON/TORONTO STAR
Chris Kasparian stands proudly beside his slightly modified Nissan Cube.
Nov 14, 2009
Mark Richardson
Wheels Editor
Last month, I wrote a scathing review of the Nissan Cube, in which I called the funky little trucklet "the worst car I've driven this year – bar none."
That article attracted a lot of attention from all kinds of quarters. Cube owners reviled me for insulting their beloved choice of transport, and a high-profile Nissan salesman even wrote in to say that "your middle-aged unhappiness has taken the best out of your talent, which is openly displayed on your article."
Plenty of other people agreed with me, though, including many members of the automotive media. "I wish I could have written what you wrote," I was told by several auto reviewers, censured by their lack of clout to offend.
But perhaps the most interesting correspondence came from Chris Kasparian, a corrections officer from Orangeville, who bought a Cube this summer and has been tinkering with it since.
He invited me up to drive it, and so this week, attracted by the prospect of an afternoon's ride through the Caledon Hills in the last of the fall weather, I took the bait.
As soon as I saw him, I realized why the Cube had appeal. He's a big guy, 6-foot-4, the kind of man who might have difficulty fitting into the majority of cars.
The Cube, though, has exceptional inside ceiling height, clearing his head by at least a hand's width.
It fits him better than the Mini Cooper S he sold in 2005, the year before he bought his current other car, a Ford Mustang GT that he fiddled with so that it now makes 435 rear wheel horsepower. "I've owned a lot of cars," he told me.
He has a motorcycle, too – a new Suzuki GSX-R750 sportbike that goes like stink. He's a guy who appreciates performance.
So why the Cube, which wheezes its way to 122 hp with its little 1.8L four-cylinder engine straight from a Versa?
"I'd never seen anything like it," he said of the day he walked onto his Nissan dealer's lot.
"It really stood out. I could see it had potential."
There were a few things he wanted to fix, of course. A bit more power, a better ride and a refined look. For the extra power, he bolted on a Stillen cold air intake and a new muffler, which – amazingly – gave him about an extra 21 hp.
For the better ride, he installed coilover suspension by Tanabe, which dropped the body almost four cm, and a strut tower brace under the hood, for more stiffness.
The dropping made the 17-inch wheels sit more fully under the arches, while a clear-coat and tinted tail lights added some discretion to the final package.
Most importantly though, he picked up on one of my major gripes and ripped the driver's seat apart to fit some stronger side bolsters in its back. The seat now hugs his body better, and doesn't throw him off to the side when he goes around corners.
He handed me the keys and we went for a drive on the winding roads of the area. It's still fairly gutless, though it makes a decent sound when the revs get up above 4,000 or so. But it sticks to the road now like a box on an airport conveyor belt, and held me in place at the wheel. Far more relaxing – less white-knuckle – than the original.
It was noisy, like the original, but at least the muffler compensated a little. It still wastes its interior space by not having rear seats that fold flat, but Kasparian doesn't care. He makes a long commute every day down into the city and so far says he isn't disappointed.
So after the extra $2,000 spent, is it a better vehicle? Sure it is.
Does Kasparian deserve the ribbing he gets from his friends at the Greater Toronto Area Mustang Club (www.gtamc.com)? Of course he does. But he doesn't care.
Too many people settle for their cars just as they come from the dealer. But with a bit of thought and a little extra outlay, nobody needs to settle for second best.
One persons review is only their opinion. The Cube does have a little wind & road noise. I don't recall seeing Lexus printed anywhere on the body. The Cube is a Love or Hate kind of ride. I had mine for a week and really enjoy the Look & Function. It has a lot of great features. And I'm having a few good laughs. I tell people that dogs chase after the Cube.
I'm getting busted on a Chevy forum. These guys are killing me. I challenged anyone to a Pinks race. They think I'm serious.
My other rides:
2006 Chevy SSR
2002 Procharged Mustang
2007 Modified Rubicon
White (Silver) Cube - You're right -- our own opinion is the only one that counts, and it is a love it or hate it kind of car, just like my PT Cruiser was when I bought it in 2001. Guess I just love funky looking vehicles -- all the other cars look alike!
Keep on Cubin'!!!
Our Other Rides:
1999 Dodge Ram PickUp Truck - husband's vehicle
2003 GL1800 Goldwing with a 2005 Hannigan Trike conversion - Ours - great on trips!
2008 Harley-Davidson Street Glide - my husband's bike
2008 Can-Am Spyder - my bike (again, a funky looking vehicle!)
__________________
Jo Anne
Our other rides:
Dodge Ram Pickup - Hubby's
Can-Am Spyder - Mine
Harley Street Glide - Hubby's
Goldwing GL1800 w/Hannigan Trike Conversion - Ours
oh yeah....criticize a ride because of the seats, cargo cover & cup holders?
Just my .2.....the seat is fine (and better than most). Cargo cover does it job.
Cup holders?.....Who needs em. I'm busy driving. I never have a drink in the car.
I think the steering is very good. Especially at slower speeds. The brakes grab quickly. I like them.
Has anyone driven a Scion lately. Talk about poor seats.....and a boring interior.
Sorry Mark Richardson...your review is not very accurate or constructive.
You simply just don't like the Cube.
I think that the people that own Cubes are what you call a "Breed of Their Own" and that is meant to be a compliment. My wife told me when I decided to get a Cube so I didn't have to drive that "gallons per mile" truck of mine that the Cube was made for me. Now yes, I may be a little weird, off key or kilter or however you want to put it, BUT WHO CARES!!!!! I also ride Harleys and play Acoustic Guitars, so what. I'm happy and that is all that counts!!!!!!
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