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  #1  
Old 07-19-2011, 12:00 PM
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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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Last edited by Mr.Kenny; 07-19-2011 at 12:29 PM.
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  #2  
Old 07-19-2011, 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr.Kenny View Post
This car is marketed to youth, but is perfect for stiff geriatrics.
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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Old 07-19-2011, 12:22 PM
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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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Old 07-19-2011, 12:37 PM
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Originally Posted by lutzTD View Post
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.........
Yeah, those silly asians
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Old 07-19-2011, 01:21 PM
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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.
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Old 07-19-2011, 01:49 PM
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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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Old 07-19-2011, 01:57 PM
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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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Old 07-19-2011, 02:02 PM
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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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Old 07-19-2011, 02:03 PM
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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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Old 07-19-2011, 02:13 PM
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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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Old 07-19-2011, 02:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tjts1 View Post
Yeah, those silly asians

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)
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  #12  
Old 07-19-2011, 07:37 PM
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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  
Old 07-19-2011, 09:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.Kenny View Post
This car is marketed to youth, but is perfect for stiff geriatrics.
I was cracking up, I guess Honda is targeting the new Civic at 50 somethings who want to downsize.

Car & Driver says it drives like a small Lincoln.
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Old 07-19-2011, 09:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Hatterasguy View Post
I was cracking up, I guess Honda is targeting the new Civic at 50 somethings who want to downsize.

Car & Driver says it drives like a small Lincoln.
All American-market cars drive like small Lincolns compared to the equivalent models in other countries. Sadly.
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  #15  
Old 07-21-2011, 06:40 PM
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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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