Update. Happy Camper. Buy An Import. They Last Forever. Or not.

[twinrider1]

And the Cube is actually an import, made in Japan. Not just an Import badge built in Tennessee, or Georgia, or Ohio.

2012 Nissan Cube, a few months past warranty, 19k miles.

Hey, my exhaust sounds louder. Hey, what's that clanging noise?

It turns out rusting through/breaking of the flanges where the mid-pipe connects to the muffler is common on the Cube and the Versa, which share the same platform.

And there isn't much of an aftermarket following, in either stock or hi performance parts. I don't want a fart can, and I'm not buying Nissan parts that I already know will crap out in 3 years.
I'm taking it to an old fashioned muffler shop tomorrow and see if they can just cut out the flange and weld in a section of pipe.

If that's the worst thing that happens, I'll be very happy. But for now, Nissan is on probation in my book. Can't recommend them.


Update: http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=37676574&postcount=11

 

[boomhower]

All imports aren't created equal.

 

[snoopy7548]

You'll be able to get a sleeve welded on. I have an '07 Versa and the same exact thing happened to me twice, and both times I had sleeves welded on. The first time, I took it to the dealership (bad, I know, but I wanted reimbursement and the first thing they ask when inquiring about being refunded the cost is, "was the work performed at one of our dealerships?"). The second time, I found a trustworthy local mechanic and he welded on a sleeve, and so far it's holding far better than when Nissan first "fixed" it.

 

[MongGrel]

YMMV, as a general statement that hasn't been true since the 70's, when Domestic US cars were going downhill.

You still need to research cars, which isn't that difficult these days.

Or you could just buy a Yugo.

 

[Torn Mind]

Nissan has no real reputation for reliability. Just that folks way back when found them "better" than American cars in the 80s/90s and that they are piggybacking off their fellow Japanese companies in Honda and Toyota for being "reliable". They seem to be aiming for cool these days.

 

[Leyawiin]

Live in California - you don't have to worry about rust.

 

[fralexandr]

top 10 best and worst cars for rust resistance supposedly ranked by the APA
http://www.theautonet.com/en/2013/10/09/top-10-best-and-worst-rust-resistant-cars
nissan ranks 7th worst

 

[SparkyJJO]

top 10 best and worst cars for rust resistance supposedly ranked by the APA
http://www.theautonet.com/en/2013/10/09/top-10-best-and-worst-rust-resistant-cars
nissan ranks 7th worst

Some things look accurate on that list, but others are a bit crap. First they can't even spell some of the models properly (Buick Rendez-Vous, what the heck), and they list sister vehicles different ranks when there is no difference structure-wise (Mazda Tribute and Ford Escape for example).

 

[996GT2]

Your problem isn't that you bought an import. It's that you bought a Nissan.

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah, sorry. Rust doesn't discriminate.

 

[twinrider1]

Update: Took the Cube to a local muffler shop. Always apprehensive taking a car into a shop. You just never know how bad they'll try to ream you. I don't mind making your car payment, just not your house and boat payment too!

Turns out this place is great (Buckeye Muffler). Small, clean but not too clean, and everyone was nice but on the ball. One hour shop time, $80, they cut out the rotten flange and welded a sleeve and I was out of there in less than an hour. Nice.
And nice to have found a good shop for any future work I might need.

 

[BurnItDwn]

2012 Nissan Cube, a few months past warranty, 19k miles.

It means the car just sits there most of the time and rarely gets driven. Or it means that lots of short trips are done....

A car thats 4 years old which has about the same mileage as the average car gets in 1 year ....

 

[Drako]

Lesson learned, don't buy fugly cars. :biggrin:

 

[Yuriman]

I'm happy with my aluminum car, with plastic underbody panels covering the bits that aren't aluminum. Going on 16 without a spot of rust.