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#1
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Rental Car Cubed
This is what Advantage car rental gave me when I requested a small car. 11 days & 1250 miles of funky ride. This was a great rental;... roomy, roomy front and back, wide open doors lets you just slide in, tall upright seating, head room for Abraham Lincoln (with top-hat); peppy, easy driving & easy parking, electronic stability control worked well on Hwy1, CVT lets you have both power and highway cruise without a shift. Absorbed bumps well, was tight and fairly quiet for a box. Averaged 30mpg city & town. Controls were easily at hand, no searching. It was like driving a, uh...Cube. You always knew you were driving a cube; a box. Dislikes, all the Mirrors are way, way the heck out there; the wide upright windshield was a speed limiter and made the Cube feel wider than it is in traffic. Poor right side visibility and interior glass reflections, created 'phantom' cars on the right side and hid 'real' cars. The short wheel base and upright stance made it darty and directionally unstable on freeway grooves and over 65 mph. The wide track caused me to be continuously riding on the bots dots on curvy roads, (but I wouldn't change that). People giving you funny looks they save for eccentrics and crazies..... or thumbs up....the car evokes strong opinions from strangers. Bottom line: I liked it for a rental; it's a great city car... But I wouldn't buy one. This car is marketed to youth, but is perfect for stiff geriatrics.
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"Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration... don't Fail Us Now" Last edited by Mr.Kenny; 07-19-2011 at 12:29 PM. |
#2
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Reminds me of the ugly/weird Scion, Element, Aztec etc. Marketed to young people who can't afford new cars and ends up in the hands of their parents generation instead.
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CENSORED due to not family friendly words |
#3
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I just love Asian styling, they knew they wanted to move the rear axle as far back as possible, all the way to the corner. oops we need a fender, slap one on.........
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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale 2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold 2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably) 1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast) 1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style) 2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails) |
#4
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Quote:
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CENSORED due to not family friendly words |
#5
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Nissan had a 'Cube' back in the late 80's as well. It was called the Sentra Wagon in the US. In Japan it was the Prairie.
Everything Mr. Kenny said about the Cube applies to the Prairie, and the Prairie was not a big success. It sold well in Japan as a delivery car, but on US interstates it was pretty weird to drive since you felt like you were driving a John Deere at 70 mph. If you reclined just a little your arms would not reach the steering wheel so you had to sit bolt upright the entire time. Kind of a bumper car feel, and the box shape kept it to about 30 mpg. I like the Cube as a delivery car, but I would hate to take it on a long trip. |
#6
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I like the seat height in the Cube and the Scion that looks like this. I think they make it easier for an older person to enter/exit the vehicle.
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Jim |
#7
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I have a Honda Element...toaster on wheels...and I use it to haul my dogs to the beach and other utility errands. When there is too much sand and dog hair, I just hose it out. Very comfortable with lots of head room...all wheel drive, XM radio, decent mileage. What's not to like?
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"Life is tough...it's even tougher if you're stupid." John Wayne Dave Pawleys Island, SC '79 300CD |
#8
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Interesting car. We have an 04 Element AWD. As the CarTalk guys say, "nice box, where's the car that came in it?"
It's been absolutely bomb proof. It's darty too on the highway, but part of that is me. I don't drive it often and am not accustomed to FWD handling. Doesn't bother the wife. The usable interior space is pure genius and the interior has worn very well at 130K Arizona no-garage miles. The seats have never been comfortable for an old guy with a spine made of chalk. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat. We're looking now as they've been discontinued. I mentioned the cube to the wife but she says they're funny looking. "And your Element is what, SEXY??"
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You're a daisy if you do. __________________________________ 84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold 04 Honda Element AWD 1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler 1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4 1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting |
#9
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Oh and the really BIG plus for me at least with the Element.
Timing CHAIN. Woo-hoo!
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You're a daisy if you do. __________________________________ 84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold 04 Honda Element AWD 1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler 1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4 1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting |
#10
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That is good to know about the timing chain in the Element. The wife purchased an 05 model within the past month for the youngest step daughter to drive. I have not even had time to change the fluids in it yet to start it's maintenance regime.
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Jim |
#11
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completely different, look again at the rear fenders on both
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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale 2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold 2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably) 1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast) 1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style) 2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails) |
#12
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If I wanted a CVT, I'd get a snowmobile. The only 2-pedal transmissions that are slightly acceptable are the kind that are in electric cars. Either torque split device, or a direct electric drive.
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#13
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Quote:
Car & Driver says it drives like a small Lincoln.
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1999 SL500 1969 280SE 2023 Ram 1500 2007 Tiara 3200 |
#14
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All American-market cars drive like small Lincolns compared to the equivalent models in other countries. Sadly.
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#15
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check my signature
Yep, the box vehicles scored a hit with us too.
After 2 years of ownership, we've has ZERO problems with the Scions. Lots of fun to drive, great seats, but a little choppy for the long trips, but 4 adults have plenty of room. Seat comfort is just fine, and my spine's full of stainless steel.
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Nate Stanley (Currently Benzless) 1985 F-250 6.9l 170K 2009 SCION XB 36.5K 2003 LS430 78K 2012 Kubota B 2320 |
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