after looking at the nissan cube cubed. I realized that My chances of having a small economy car, with great looks, a solid engine, and a 5 speed transmission, with 6-7 seats for under $20,000 is possible.
I dont feel like waiting for years to see if the nissan cube will come to america, so i am thinking to my self why not build a xb with a third row.
Am i dreaming? or can it come true. I have not purchased my xb yet. Nor have i had a full inspection of the rear seat, cargo area, spare tire area, and so forth. But my conclusion of the looks of it would be possible If I can have the second row seat on a slider, and move it up and lock it at around 4 up from were it is now it might leave enough room for the third row.
For the third row, there are two possibilities. One is to remove the spare tire, and have the seating fold into the now open space. My only concern is what is right after the second row seating just before tray over the spare, Is there a large hump? Or is it possible to stick your feet underneathe the seating if you were sitting behind it. The other possibility is to leave the spare, but have a new type of cover thats thinner, And a seat that is connected directly to the hatch and both the back and bottom of the seat fold. It would need to be a thin cushion, and have a angle so that it will straighten out your back. Then hopefully there would be enough room for legs, and feet to go under the second row. I would also need lap seat belts.
I mean, To me it sounds like a crazy idea, but if its possible i will do it. If anyone can give me detailed pictures of the read cargo area with no cover and no spare, and pics of under the seat i would be greatly appreciated, any and all comments are welcome.

sounds like its possible with enough money, fabrication and time it could be done, but the (now) back seat passengers will have little leg room. I also would be concerned for the safty of the third row passengers, being that the car wasnt designed for it, the locking mechanism on the truck wouldnt be strong enough in an impact, and the whole crumple zone deal could rain on your chances. maybe in the future they will make a bit of on extended xB with a small third row

Maybe if you wanted your occupants to die in the event of a rear end collision.

would there be a car in japan that is small, and fits 7 seats, but is a death trap?

http://www.motormagazinesha.co.jp/medialog/hotmenu/whatsnew/2003_09/030908/

Its a serious question. I grew up with my dad, driving around in beetles and pintos. If im going to die in a car crash, then its my time to die. Although I will try my hardest to prevent such matters. The picture clearly indicates the leg room. When i measured the distance of the side of the second row to the opening of the door, the seat was atleast 4 inchs behind it. In the cube its atleast 4 inchs in front of it. Leaving atleast 7-9 inchs maybe more maybe less.

Maybe if you wanted your occupants to die in the event of a rear end collision.

^^What He Said^^

I think it is easily accomplishable. The 3rd row will be more like sitting at a japanese restaurant on tatami mats but since there is so much headroom, you could easily elevate the 3rd row and just have shorter people sit there.

This is similar to my original plan. I wanted to move the rear seat all the way to the back and put a big screen tv right behind the front seats. That way it would be more like a lounge seating.

if you do manage to fit an extra row of seats in there, the next prob is going to be power... 108Hp and 104ft/lbs isnt really going to move much more weight. When i pack my scion full of my buddies (200lbs each) thats almost a half ton of weight add, and my scion tends to be very sluggish. So if i were able to fit 2-3 more of them in there; well i think that would be the straw that will break the camals back.

from my understanding, the nissan cube cubic is 90-100 hp, and 100-130 tq. While it does have a 4wd system up to 30 mph, I dont think the numbers differ dramatically enough to prevent the xb from performing. With intake,header,exhaust i might yeald 110-115 hp/tq hopefully. Regardless, I know no one who weights above 200 pounds, plus 2 out of the 7 passengers would be toddlers.

You could always do that Volva thing. Have two rear seats facing each other. Keep in mind, both the xB and Cube rear bumpers are lower than even most cars. With those gas guzzling SUV's and Trucks that only carry groceries, it may not be a good idea.

i be damned if i would put toddlers in some home made contraption like that man. what are the demensions of the cube vs. xb? this may be why they are able to make accomodations for a third row. also doesn't the cube have some crazy transmission that enables it to pull like ____ or something? to sum it all up the other idea of making lounge setting in the xb by moving rear seat back is cool. but third row for toddlers is out of the question

Keep in mind that these cars are designed with crumple zones as one of the safety features. Designed to crumple inward to a degree and absorb impact in the event of an accident. What you are proposing would potentially push passengers into this zone. If it were a novelty item for shows and cruising it would be one thing, but you are putting your KIDS in there. I wouldn't risk my kids to some modding...

Plus the hardware to do it is going to cut into your Max payload weight, then you're going to add more people? The risks are increasing. If you need to haul my than 4 passengers, the xB isn't right for you, IMO.

Can it be done? Sure. Cabn it be done and they be functional for normal size people to sit in? No. Think of the Lexus sc430 and it's rear seat. That's about how mouch room you would have for your legs.

NISSAN cube is cute but french engineering and poor reliabilty...uh no THANKS. As far as modding the xB to have all those seats...there is definetly room...but, good luck on steep hills with 7 people aboard. Prepare to be honked at.

Look at something else if you need that much people-carrying ability in a small package.

Maybe a first generation Honda Odyssey.

Base model MPV van. They have the seats the safety and a big rebate.
xBs are not a three row vehicle for a reason. Trust me, if in Japan you could get three rows they would have done it .

Stretch it. If you're gonna go to so much trouble to make an xB uncomfortable and stupid, you might as well stretch it. There's no way you're gonna make that idea work for under $20k including the cost of the car...unless you use milk crates as seats. Stretch it into a limo and throw a bigger powerplant into it, and then a better transmission and then you'd be better off buying a Tahoe or Suburban. These kids today and their 3rd row seat ideas. :roll:

Or here's an idea...buy 2 Kia's and you can fit 10 people, and you save a bunch of money. You can graft them onto one another and make a long 8 wheel kia with dual engines and transmissions. It will run on cornnuts and the exhaust will smell like cotton candy, and you can press a button when you run out of gas...I mean cornnuts, and unicorns will fly down and pull it like a magical chariot, while Leprechauns navigate for you.

:lol:

It's all in good phun.

-Z

This ain't gon' work, you should just buy a mini van or a station wagon. I wouldn't even think of putting toddlers in that kind of situation.

Base model MPV van. They have the seats the safety and a big rebate.
xBs are not a three row vehicle for a reason. Trust me, if in Japan you could get three rows they would have done it .

I totally agree with rickbreitenfeldt. The Mazda MPV would be a way better vehicle to get if you need the seating, and they aren't to bad looking either. $23,260 base price isn't bad.

Vicki : )
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/images/photographs/pho_veh_gallery_MP2_exterior06_lg.jpg

I wouldn't do this but this may be your best option (if you really wanted to).

first, move the back seats forward around 6 inches.

Next, get the seats out of another hatchback (the rear seats from a celica, or somesuch, should be small enough to work).

Take the spare tire out and strip that area, get a jeep style mount and mount the spare to the back door (maybe, you'd probably have to get new gas struts to be able to lift the rim/tire along with the door).

Clean the area out where the spare was.

Now, take the celica back seat and mount it facing the back door. Use the spare tire well as a foot area.

You'd need to lift the 3rd row back seat up some, but you should be able to fit people back there decently. Also, you could mount seatbelts up using the same stock locations as the current ones. Though you'd need longer bolts. (shouldn't be a problem as there are very few wrecks that the seltbelts would be stressed by both people sharing a mount.)

It would be a lot like the back seats in old station wagons. But you'd have no room for cargo if you had it full of people.

From my search on the internet, i have came up with the the weight, length and other specs available for each vehicle.
The scion-
Fwd, front motor, 4 cylinder, five speed manual 108 hp, 105 tq.@4200
curb weight- 2,425. length 155.3 inchs, width 66.5, height 64.6, wheelbase 98.4.

The best specs i can find for the cube is the cube ex 4wd, I cannot find the specs on the cube cubic, But to my understanding the exterior specs did not change.
Its a fwd, with 4wd staying on from 0-30. 4cylinder, 95 hp, and 100tq @3200
Wheelbase 95.7, length 146.9, width 65.7, height 65, weight 2513.

I dont know the max payload of the either vehicle. If in fact I found the specs for the cube cubic it would probably make the vehicle slightly heavier then 2513. But ill use 2513.

The scion is 2425, An extra seat plus hardware would be maximun of 60 pounds. thats 2485. I have no idea of what the actual crumple zone is on the scion, but. They did not make a new car for the nissan cube cubic, the redesigned the interior to fit 7 seats, having nothing to do with any safety configurations specially build for the extra people.

I wouldnt put my toddlers in the last row, rather any extra passenger would go there. From my understanding any third row in any vehicle is dangerous. If i move the middle seat up 6 inchs, and go on from there i really cant see the problem.
Getting hit by a giganitic suv or truck is not good in any vehicle. Its manly going to be for the option of having an extra 2 seats to go somewhere around town in. And i highly doubt it would cost me more then 1500 to have to professionally done. If safety was a concern I could always have some sort of extra support welded into the rear hatch.

Can someone tell me the max payload, thanks. more comments welcome, but in the end im still getting a scion, The price is right, and i really dont want to get a larger more expensive minivan, or buy used.

ps-everything is in inchs and pounds.
pss- here is information the transmission "Powering the Cube is a 1.4-liter engine teamed with the newly developed XTRONIC CVT-M6 continuously variable transmission, incorporating a 6-speed manual shift mode. Steering wheel-mounted switches enable the driver to upshift or downshift easily with one thumb. "

Exmple A: Why this is a bad idea.

http://overboost.com/picture.asp?a=1254&i=IMG_5936.jpg

Example B:
http://overboost.com/picture.asp?a=1254&i=IMG_0740.jpg

Even the person in the second row would be hurt if not killed.
Ok i read the story, and well... I dont understand, How this takes away from the safety of a thirdrow. No car has a trunk, and if a car is smashed into by another car at a high volume of speed, the likely-hood of injury and or death is great.
The crash seems like it actually hit so hard that it pushed the bottom portion of the rear into the rear of the drivers side wheel well.. And to my basic measurements, this is were the rear 3rd seat would actually be ending. Due to the fact the that im moving the second row up dramatically, and the second row as it sits now ends right before the rear wheel well.

The story is on overboost.com, But it basically he had to stop on the freeway and something behind him didn't. but it shows how much it is designed to crumple at any rate. back seat people could have had a chance, a third row would have had none.

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2004/scion/xb/100257481/photogallery.html?pg_type=Wagon&imgsrc=%2Fpictures%2FVEHICLE%2F2003%2FScion%2F100076289%2F022093-T.jpg

And if you look through the pictures you will also see one of the side profile of the second row, As it is now it the back part comes to an end at the crease of the door, but in the cube, the back part comes to an end were the black coin compartment/handle thing is on the xb.

My point is, Is if the cube has 7 seats, so can the xb. and both would have basically the same safety. Because the 7 seats were built into, not built for.

Oh yeah, those people in back would be sitting atop the gas tank. Just one more thing for you to think about.

Im sure the person sitting on it will blow up, but the person next to it wont... And what exactly are the chances of that happening?

Remember the toyota previa, or van, the engine was right beneathe the drivers seat. Did this pose a threat?

Just build the 3rd row rearward facing and start hanging out with more midgets (sorry...little people). Ever hear that song...Short people got...no reason..(etc.)...according to the song, you don't have to worry about rear end collisions in this case.


This was not in any way a serious post and anyone who was offended, and specifically short people, have my fullest apologies. Was kinda funny tho..... :wink:

Hmmm, if you're THAT pressed to do it. The early to mid 90's Land Cruisers and Land Rover Discoveries used to have fold down seats in the rear, that came down from the sides of the interior. Brackets, reinforcement and seats, you could MAYBE do it. Then, then could fold up and you'd have some room available.

But, safety would still by my main concern.

forget the third row seat... stretch it like this...

http://popularmechanics.com/automotive/car_care/2003/5/2003_sema_ias/images/lg_scionlimo2-lg.jpg

This ain't gon' work, you should just buy a mini van or a station wagon. I wouldn't even think of putting toddlers in that kind of situation.

Look at ur title or registration lately? ids ur box insured? it IS a station wagon....sry just being a dick

i think the rear facing seats would be best, like he sed just take out the tire and clear that whole area, there's another post around here somewhere about moving the spare tire under the car if u can move that black sensor box thinger....if u can get that done, then voila! ur in the money!

--Jeff

Hmmm, if you're THAT pressed to do it. The early to mid 90's Land Cruisers and Land Rover Discoveries used to have fold down seats in the rear, that came down from the sides of the interior. Brackets, reinforcement and seats, you could MAYBE do it. Then, then could fold up and you'd have some room available.

But, safety would still by my main concern.

Same problem as putting the spare on the door "jeep style", I don't think there's anything strong enough in there to attach them to

Hmmm, if you're THAT pressed to do it. The early to mid 90's Land Cruisers and Land Rover Discoveries used to have fold down seats in the rear, that came down from the sides of the interior. Brackets, reinforcement and seats, you could MAYBE do it. Then, then could fold up and you'd have some room available.

But, safety would still by my main concern.

Same problem as putting the spare on the door "jeep style", I don't think there's anything strong enough in there to attach them to

Very true, you'd have to go down to the structure of the car if you'd want to make sure you could even possibly get enough support, for the seats, let alone another ~60 pounds of some kid.

Hey go for it, when you're rear-ended by that SUV riding 18" higher than your rear bumber, and your child is smashed into a bloody pulp after the first 6 inches of clearence are crumpled in to reduce the impact, I'm sure the court will understand that it was "just their time to die", then it will be your time to face jail time for child endangerment, negligent manslaughter, and probably some other moving violations for such a mod. Then it will just "be your time" to be sodomised daily by your new roomates, but hey, you'd have enjoyed that cool third row back there... :wink: Or I can imagine your friend's face when you say, "sure the kid fits better back there, but I'm not stupid enough to risk their life in the back. That's where you sit..." I guess negligent homocide and being sued into oblivion still leaves your kids to visit dad in jail.

Seriously, saying it's ok to do because it's an occasional use and thus safer makes no sense. It's like saying, "why don't you sit on the hood today honey, just this one time, that makes it safe." Try moving the driver seat up to about 5 inches from the wheel, disable the airbag, and get in an accident to see how well a potential rear seat passenger might do. They'll become part of your crumple zone.

Sorry about ranting, but it's a lot of effort to make a gimmick that is also a death trap. Take 2 cars if you have 7 people. I'll get off my little soapbox now. :D

Wouldnt it be easyer to mount a tailer hitch to the XB buy a small tailer and bolt a couch to it then you'll have room for 3 more :lol:

Or here's an idea...buy 2 Kia's and you can fit 10 people, and you save a bunch of money. You can graft them onto one another and make a long 8 wheel kia with dual engines and transmissions. It will run on cornnuts and the exhaust will smell like cotton candy, and you can press a button when you run out of gas...I mean cornnuts, and unicorns will fly down and pull it like a magical chariot, while Leprechauns navigate for you.




Bwa haa ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (cough cough) ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!.....

They've already got a 3rd row seat vehicle, with great safety features and a V6 for under $20K. It's called a used minivan/SUV.

Aren't your kids or your friends lives worth the $3,000 to $5,000. more you would spend getting something that will seat 7.

You know what, I think you should add the two/three seater in the back, make it face backwards, and then you should sit back there so that when some dumbass decides to rear-end you, you can watch it all happen. Wouldn't that be a fun nightmare! :shock:

would it be possible to replace the front seats with a bench?