Delving into Cubism with Z11s

[yoeddynz]

Somemost of you probably know that I quite like the little Nissan Cube Z11s. Both Hannah and I have been spotting them about, checking out various listings for sale and pondering whether a Z11 might be a better more useful car for trips away with bikes than our existing K11 Micra. But we'd never driven one and had no real idea on how much they could carry.

So we borrowed a mates Z11...

and tried it out for interior size..

It could easily fit two full size 29" mtbs with the wheels removed and just about squeeze one cyclocross bikes in with just the front wheel removed, set at an angle. I quickly sussed out a mounting system I could fabricate that would utilise the rear headrest holes.

We parked it in the covered K11 parking bay. Being only a smidge longer and an inch wider than the K11 it was a breeze in.

We took it for a decent drive too and it was actually way peppier than we both expected. Its the 1500cc version.  Now since there's a couple of engine/transmission options available for Z11s plus other options I think I'll give a quick run down on Cubes for those of you still interested enough that you've not left the party yet.

Z10 - the ugly one. 1998 to 2002. I'd never even contemplate one but they do have some fans out there. Imo its a pretty bland looking small car with no interesting features. Powered by the same CG13 engines as seen in K11s. CVT box.

Z11 - 2002 to 2008. A complete style change from the Z10. Based on the K12 platform. New CA14de engine and either 4 speed auto or cvt option. No manual option.

2 facelifts. From facelift 1 in 2005 they introduced the HR15 engine and a refined CVT as used in the Tiida platform.

There was a 170mm longer wheelbase option with 2 extra seats. badged a Cube3 - referred to as a Cubic. Definitely more usable but a little bit awkward looking imo.

There is also an E 4wd version that has an electric motor driven differential under the back and applies drive to the rear wheels when the front wheels slip.

Z12 - 2009 to 2019. Similar platform although now shared with Renault. A more bulbous exterior design and interior completely changed. Started with 1500cc and for a short period sold outside of Japan.  America (possibly Europe) even got a the 1800cc 6 speed manual version, as per the later Tiidas.  Also diesel options in Europe.

Loads more Z12s available and while I think they are still neat cars they just don't have the same appeal as the Z11s.

Z11s there are numerous styling options with several different grills. The grills are how one can tell the model.

original grill from 2002..

Facelift grill from around 2005 when the 1500 engine option came in. Probably my favourite standard grill.

Facelift 2 grill on the last Z11s..

 

So yeah. Both Hannah and I were becoming Z11 nerds and now the hunt for the right car was underway....

[igor]

If the 1800cc version goes as hard as my stepson's N16 Pulsar it would be a very good thing to have. Wikipedia suggests it's a QG18DE engine but I cannot confirm that. 

[yoeddynz]

We spent ages looking at various Cubes online and it seemed most on offer were in the north island. Gets expensive trying to look at one before purchase and then factoring in the costs to get it south.

We had a few checkboxes to tick. Ideally light blue, green or white. Has to have the original Cube waffle alloys. We were not sure on 1400 or 1500 but 1500 was preferable.

There were some cheap ones ticking the correct boxes that popped up. We avoided a potential nightmare with one when @cletus gave it a quick once over - declaring it a health risk.

I was pencilled in to head all the way south to Dunedin to help my brother move north to Greymouth. It turned out that there were two Cubes of potential for sale in Dunedin. Not listed trademe etc so I never knew of them until @a.craw4d told me about them.

A plan was hatched.

I drove south with my brother girlfriend in her surprisingly capable Nissan X trail. Once down there I checked out both Cubes. This cute little blue 1.4 cvt on waffle wheels that had been lowered extensively. They wanted $5000

I took it for a decent drive involving some proper good hills. It was pretty slow, the cvt didn't quite feel right. Certainly nothing as nice as my mates one we had borrowed. I did a 0-100 test and it was about 14.5 seconds.  The engine was also idling at 1500 and the aircon didn't work.  Bodywork was pretty tidy although it had been given a fresh coat of paint at the rear with some filler evident from what I suspect was a small accident repair. They didn't want to go less than $4500 so I left to try the next one...

This. An Autech edition. The facebook listing photos showed it to be a pretty messy state of affairs as it was being used by a building apprentice.

But it ticked a few boxes and had a cool front end with a built in bib spoiler plus side skirts that I liked. I had arranged a week in advance to check it out and they had given it a basic clean. I picked it up and took it out for the same test route since it was handily only 5km from the blue cube.

2006 1500cc 109bhp. Fitted with 17" Nismo wheels from a Nismo Note and some Tein lowering springs. It drove so well. Night and day difference. Cruised up the hills. 0-100 in 12 seconds ! (no chuckling at the back you- look at it. Its a box!) Suspension a bit crashy but he'd said they still have the original springs.  $4000

When I returned it and he mentioned it also comes with the original waffle alloys I was sold! Did a video call with Hannah and although a bit unsure about its dirty state she eventually caved in to my excitement.

We paid the man and I'd pick it up when next down after I'd done a round trip to Greymouth driving a truck for my brothers move. His new 11acre bushblock place is so cool. I love the shed with house attached. So much retro stuff kicking about too.

So a few days later we were back in Dunedin and picked the cube up.  Here it is outside his sold Dunedin house. Looks quite tiny..

The following day between moving stuff I visited @a.craw4dAdrians workplace and stripped out a spare door the Cube had come with. He gave me some headlight polish to try out. Worked a treat..

My brother and I loaded the car up with as much of his stuff we could. It was sitting comically low now. Next morning it was up early for the long day mission north to home. Here's some pics..

Finally back home and little Cube was parked up inside..

It ran faultlessly! I was worried about the hills and the climb over the main divide but it romped up every hill with no stress and kept up with all traffic no probs. The cvt makes for really capable quick passing moves. I was also fearing that the boxy shape would lead to pretty poor economy but it returned 6.9l/100kms over the whole trip. Happy with that. Didn't seem to make much difference between open road or in town either (I'd driven about Christchurch to meet a friend for lunch etc)

I have never owned a car that collects so many bugs though!  The windscreen was covered and had to be cleaned several times.

Following morning after a good sleep in I unloaded it. Because my bro and I had been slowly filling the car I sort of had no idea how much we had crammed in the back.

Holyshit!....

Apart from all that timber, the wheels and a worm farm there's also a lawnmower in that lot.  I'm truly impressed !  This lot in a platform that shares the same footprint as our K11.

Hannah and I then gave it a thorough wash. There was green algae in the door jams and it was covered in tar spots from the road works I'd been through. Its come up very nice. Much better than I expected.

I've removed the seats and cleaned out the interior. The carpet came up really good with a bit of vacuuming.

The seats have gone to a mate who runs a local car valet business because I know he'll do a good job on them and I don't want to risk discolouring those Autech spec seat covers.

I've been to the local wreakers and picked up a set of dark grey floor mats from a Cube they have there. Lucky because they seem to get snapped up pretty quick.

Next step is a proper full service on the cvt. Drop the sump, replace the 2 filters and fresh fluid. From what I have learned, both online and from a cvt workshop up north the biggest killer of these is lack of proper servicing. The prescribed interval is far too long and most garages just replace the oil, ignoring the filters and sludge that collects in the sump.

The stock bearings that jatco fit in the cvts are also of cheap quality, with poor hardening and they can start breaking up.  Replacing them with decent Japanese items is the way to go and something I'll look at doing on this in the future (or to a spare box would be ideal)

 

[yoeddynz]

1 hour ago, igor said:

If the 1800cc version goes as hard as my stepson's N16 Pulsar it would be a very good thing to have. Wikipedia suggests it's a QG18DE engine but I cannot confirm that. 

Mr18 I think they have. Can be easily swapped into the 1.4 models with minimum work..

 

[igor]

When is the swap happening Alex?

[yoeddynz]

Never. I've enough other projects to finish. 

[locost_bryan]

1 hour ago, yoeddynz said:

Nice of Nissan to provide a compartment under the driver's seat for stashing things you don't want the plods to find.

[mlracing.co.nz]

As someone who has a Nismo note, those wheels look way better on the cube !

[yoeddynz]

1 hour ago, mlracing.co.nz said:

As someone who has a Nismo note, those wheels look way better on the cube !

I didn't know what they were off until @xsspeed told me (on one of our late night nissan chats) 

[yoeddynz]

Also - while I was at the wreckers yesterday they told me about a Note they had in for a repair. It has 3 cylinder engine and  a supercharger! 

I never knew such things existed. I've heard of the impulse cubes that have a charger but I didn't know of a 3 cylinder HR engine. 

 

[tortron]

2 hours ago, igor said:

When is the swap happening Alex?

 

[locost_bryan]

11 minutes ago, yoeddynz said:

Also - while I was at the wreckers yesterday they told me about a Note they had in for a repair. It has 3 cylinder engine and  a supercharger! 

I never knew such things existed. I've heard of the impulse cubes that have a charger but I didn't know of a 3 cylinder HR engine. 

 

Nissan HR engine - Wikipedia

HR12DDR

[edit]

Nissan HR12DDR

The HR12DDR is a 1.2 L (1,198 cc) supercharged straight-3 engine, equipped with timing chain and direct injection. The engine dimensions are the same as for the HR12DE. It produces 72 kW (98 PS; 97 hp) and 143 N⋅m (105 lb⋅ft). Designed for small-car applications, this gasoline engine incorporates a variety of technologies to minimize CO₂ emissions while providing practical levels of power output.^[2][8]

Some of the pertinent features are:

• Compression ratio of 13.0:1
• Continuous Variable Valve Timing Control System (CVTCS)
• Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG)
• Miller cycle^[9]
• Supercharged
• Variable capacity oil pump
• Hydrogen-free, diamond like carbon (DLC) coated valve lifters and piston rings
• Sodium filled exhaust valves
• High efficiency

It is fitted to the following vehicles:

• 2010 Nissan Micra
• 2012 Nissan Note

[AllTorque]

The supercharger has a magnetic clutch, and bypass valve so switches between N.A. and boosted. They go alright but nothing to write home about.

[yoeddynz]

I think that a tiny little turbo could be easily fitted to the HR15 engine and the ecu would probably deal with it.

Not that I would.

but just thinking.

[igor]

23 minutes ago, yoeddynz said:

I think that a tiny little turbo could be easily fitted to the HR15 engine and the ecu would probably deal with it.

probably should do that.

 

[a.craw4d]

One of the bookface groups you lead me to just had a post about a k24 swapped z12 that going to be made 4wd. I’m watching with interest.

Love your cube btw.

[xsspeed]

3 hours ago, mlracing.co.nz said:

As someone who has a Nismo note, those wheels look way better on the cube !

What spec is yours? I have the 1.6 manual one

[yoeddynz]

32 minutes ago, a.craw4d said:

Love your cube btw.

We'd not have it if it weren't for your heads up 

[Tiger Tamer]

It's cute and cool. Not quite as cute and cool as a Commer Cob like mine but nearly. Surprised you can fit two 29" wheeled bikes in the back with the wheels removed. I can't fit two in the back of the canopied Colorado. I have to put one on the bike rack. Surprising amount of stuff you fitted in there. We had a Suzuki Swift sport with a CVT transmission that played up every now and then (though not when you took it in to be problem solved ). They told us they weren't really rebuildable and if it did die it would need to be replaced. Though we know you will find a way if you need too.  

 

 

[ThePog]

And typically I have just seen a cube.