Grogu - YZ11 Nissan Cube Autech Rider

[ben]

Oh wow, you imported this from Japan?

 

[StevenRB45]

Cool car, this generation was soo much sharper than we one we got imported officially.

 

[blu73]

Oh wow, you imported this from Japan?

Yup, took an absolute age to get here but well worth it I feel over getting on here already if you know exactly what you want.

The wife really really wanted this colour and it seems the rarest colour - could only find a couple for sale in UK and everytime i rang the seller it was already sold. They were all lower spec than this one and up for £6-6.5k.

Its a Autec Rider edition which comes with different bumpers, skirts, different interior, the wind deflectors, different rear lights, grill etc etc. The spoiler is a Rider one but is optional extra, most don't have that.

The actual final auction price in Japan only equated to a smidge over £1k, but all in this cost me £5,130 - so cheaper than all the ones I could find for sale here. But that price includes everything, cost of car, auction fees, shipping, transport in the UK, VAT, import duty, the importers fees. But it also includes the extras I asked the importer chap to do, which was convert one rear reverse light to a fog, change the speedo to mph one, new spark plugs, engine oil & filter, CVT gearbox service (flushed and filled with oem nissan cvt fluid and new filters), general check over of important stuff like brakes and underseal the floor, inside the arches and also got him to drop the rear bumper off and underseal behind there as it seems thats where they start rusting first generally. Oh it included 6 months tax as well. It literally turned up at the house and all I've had to do is insure it. So i think it was totally worth the wait to import one, and it was (is) super clean car.

Heres some pics i was sent before it got here, there from when it was still in Japan

Then here is some pics from when it got to the importers place in Southend-on-Sea

And then he sent me more of it all undersealed

I've ordered some new wiper blades are they are a bit crap, new wheels going on tomorrow and the screenwash sprays on the floor rather than the windscreen so hopefully the pipes just split or just got pulled off, will have a gander when I'm swapping the wheels.

 

[chris3234]

And people said the multipla was ugly
Still a rather unusual car only ever seen one of the things looks quite practical however

 

[blu73]

And people said the multipla was ugly
Still a rather unusual car only ever seen one of the things looks quite practical however

the multipla is ugly, and if i could find one in same condition as this I'd buy one lol. I love a marmite car

 

[ben]

And then he sent me more of it all undersealed

Yes! I was going to say about the undersealing - in Japan they don't salt the roads, so the bottom of the cars are always in great condition. When I was trying to import the 300zx, that was always something they said needed to be done when it got to the UK.

Did you have to do the SVA test too (I think it was called that)

 

[blu73]

Yes! I was going to say about the undersealing - in Japan they don't salt the roads, so the bottom of the cars are always in great condition. When I was trying to import the 300zx, that was always something they said needed to be done when it got to the UK.

Did you have to do the SVA test too (I think it was called that)

no, just needed a normal MOT which is then sent off with the registration documents, DVLA send it back with the V5C document

I know from registering my old seicento that was imported from Jersey that the form to register a car is a bit of a nightmare but this time all part of the service from the company that handled it all for me - who obviously does it a lot and knows what to do

Grogu update, my daughter turned the interior light on and we didnt notice so its been sat with it on all night and the battery is completely flat - so batteries in the garage on the charger now, back to Square-life shortly lol.

 

[Eklipze3k]

It looks awesome, I can't wait to get a poke about of it!

 

[blu73]

It looks awesome, I can't wait to get a poke about of it!

Its been way to long fella, we are well overdue a catch-up! Keep meaning to message or call you but been working 15-18hr days all year cause of a project I have on with work - I'm submitting all the reports in the morning though, I've literally just finished all my bits now, think my dad might be up a few more hours finishing his bits off though bless him.

I dunno if the wife mentioned to you (I know the wives will have been talking lol) Cash-Cash has hyperthyroid and now needs meds twice a day every day so going away as a whole family is not really possible for a bit - hopefully he will get better at taking them and someone can look after him while we are away but really not sure when we will all be able to visit all together again in the foreseeable But I'm sure we can sort something, I need to come see Charlie, he looks so big in all the pics now!!

To think when I started on this mission to find an Aqua Mint Green Cube was last time I was at your house is kinda mental, that seems like so so so long ago!

 

[Didge3]

Love the colour and the little spoiler really sets it off. As you know I like a bit of an oddball/marmite and have looked at Cubes in the past... you've tempted me to look again No I have enough cars as it is! Need to sell one of them probably
How are you finding the CVT? Always found Fiats speedgear quite good but a Toyota we had was a bit rackety. Currently have a Micra K12 in the family with the 1.4 and slushbox and that's a bit **** too

 

[blu73]

It's weird, gonna take some getting used to. Its smooth and quiet though

New shoes fitted today

 

[blu73]

No exciting updates today, just a new set of wipers front and rear... the screenwash pump has decided it'd really rather not hold water as way of thanking me - new one on way. And some belt squeak on startup one time today so, I'll have a gander and decide whether i'm gonna tighten it or just order a new belt.. Little annoyances but it is a 16 year old car at this point so few little issues are to be expected. Cannot wait to get it properly cleaned and polished - having time and the weather being suitable is always an issue this time of year though lol

 

[blu73]

Again not an exciting update - new battery fitted today, as big as would fit which has taken us from a weak 40Ah 330CCA one to a 50Ah 450CCA one, starts on the button now
The washer pump has been fitted at which point i discovered 3 of 4 front jets were completely blocked - blown through with air and all good.
I confirmed the squeak is just the aux belt as well but Amy needed to go out and I couldn't immediately see how to get onto the tensioner adjuster so I'll sort that soon - think i might have to take the grill off to access it or maybe I can get it from underneath if I take the undertrays off - we shall see.
I'm totally used to driving a CVT now and I have to say I'm converted, its such a chill car to drive - perfect for its job of calm daily ferrying the family about

 

[blu73]

With a little help from my little pickle we now have a clean shiny Grogu

 

[blu73]

Grogu peekers added

 

[Didge3]

View attachment 405029

I like the matching step

 

[blu73]

I like the matching step

3rd person to say this lol.. I hadn't even noticed, we've had the step for years - originally for amy to get stuff from top of the kitchen cupboards and now the step my little girls uses to washer her hands and teeth at the sink, and now also so i can reach to roof to clean it lol

 

[blu73]

So i suppose I should update even though theres not much to say really. It has been here a little over a year so I've serviced it and its had its 2nd UK MOT, no issues or advisories.

Since then the only thing thats really happened was the front pads got low, after little looking around discovered a cubic (the slightly longer cube) and the k12 micra have slightly bigger calipers and discs - so i just bought a set of refurbished micra calipers and new mintex discs and pads and set about swapping the front brakes. Feels much better now, whether thats the bigger brakes or that i completely flushed and renewed the brake fluid that was probably the original factory fluid i can't say but the brakes are much improved

Old disc vs new disc

all fitted up

At the MOT, in feb iirc

Some random pics between last post and now

And lastly, last wash

 

[blu73]

A lot of you know me outside of here and already know this but Grogu had an accident I'm afraid.

Mrs Blu was t-boned by someone who just drove straight onto the roundabout without looking or slowing straight into her. This was 2 weeks ago now. No-one was hurt or anything and they admitted full responsibility immediately. This was literally at the end of our road so i was able to be there in moments and drive it home etc. It actually took it pretty well, drove spot on still but the sill was all bent and the b-pillar and the rear quarter panel as well as load of interior trim etc.

I should have taken more stuff off really but i just took the wheels back to standard and swapped the japanese headunit back in before the insurance took it away for the assessment which we all knew what would be.

As much as I love it and it is fixable i just couldnt be bothered with any of it, agreed value with insurance (more than i paid originally as they have gone up in value like everything else). Deposit has been made on another cube, its on a ship as i type, i nmy view significantly fancier and cooler one so watch this space. Hopefully we will have it before xmas.

RIP Grogu, you were good car!