Vintage Racing - Mosport 2009

The Vintage Racing Association of Canada (VARAC) celebrated it’s 30th Vintage Racing Festival at Mosport this past weekend.

Perhaps for some, Vintage Racing is an opportunity to relive or embrace the past, for others, it’s all about the mechanics and less about the electronics, carburettors verse fuel injection, skill rather than power, or just having a good time among friends.  Whatever the reasons, vintage racing events are a joy to experience.

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Although the cars and technology were from a era long gone, some things cannot be retro’d.  Things like the concrete walls and banks of tires, or the catch fences for example.  These are all for driver and spectator safety, and while on the subject of safety, drivers today wear the latest helmets and wear modern fire suits.  The cars have seat harnesses and roll cages or bars. Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s look under the hood

The hood release is under the steering column right next to the gas cap cover release.  The actual hood catch is nicely positioned just to the right of centre (while facing the hood).  It would so much easier to find if it was painted yellow instead black, but once located, it’s easy enough to operate.  Moving on - we now have to support the hood.  I’m not a fan of support posts for hoods for two reasons - one, most of the time they are inconveniently placed and therefore get in the way.  Secondly, they need two hands, one to hold the hood and he second to position the support bar in its receptacle.  In the case of the Nissan cube, the support is off to the right hand corner so it’s well out of the way - nice!  However it still requires two hands and Nissan decided to make it a mystery as to where to position the foot of the post.  I did find a spot to put it and once it was secure it was evident that that was the proper position.  It would have been nice if this receptacle was clearly marked, as in painted yellow. Read the rest of this entry »

Rear seats in normal position

People need stuff and we also need to move that stuff around with us.  Hence passenger vehicles need a cargo area, a truck a place that isn’t designed as a seating area.  The Nissan cube has a cargo area.  It’s not large but it’s bigger than it looks.  That’s because the floor of the cube’s cargo area is recessed.  Not only does this add considerable space, there’s a lot that can go into this area without fear of it falling out when the rear door is opened. Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s get down to business. The bottom line is - once we’re past a certain level of practicality, we buy vehicles because they tell the world about us.  Some people may disagree with that statement, but if it wasn’t true, there would only one type and style of vehicle, not to mention the fact that everyone would be dress exactly the same.  Regardless, what does the Nissan cube tell the world about you - the proud new owner?  It says you are practical, economical, like to attract attention for all the right reasons and that you are not swayed by the herd mentality.  OK - enough of the patronising street smart quasi -psychoanalysis.  The reality is, the Nissan cube is a practical and economically means of transportation for the individual, the couple or average sized family.  Its unusual design is attractive and full of trend setting potential. Read the rest of this entry »

The main purpose of any passenger vehicle is to move people from one place to another.  More often than not, how they feel at the end of the trip greatly depends upon how they were delivered, so with that in mind, let’s look at passenger comfort.

The first thing to consider is accessibility.  With some vehicles, it’s a torture test.  Not so with the Nissan cube. Getting in and out of the cube is a delight, and when I say that, I mean for everyone - young, old and everyone in between.  Parents with children who need child seats will love the accessibility of the cube.  While getting into the rear seats there are no contortions required, no ducking of heads or climbing past folded seats.  There are no restrictions as where to place one’s feet or when seated, having to lean forward, backward, sideways or tilting of one’s head so as to avoid rubbing the scalp against the roof lining. Read the rest of this entry »