[AGCube]

Consumer Reports just released its full review of the Cube. They said the headlights were :

"The low beams are barely adequate: They provided good intensity and width but not much reach, and they have a sharp upper cutoff. High beams project much farther forward but leave the foreground too dim."

Anyone notice such?

 

[TheirMightBeBlood!]

i noticed that as soon as i stared driveing up hill on a canyon road. road turns and i can only see nearly 10-20 feet
sometimes. miss my old car, could use low and high beams at same time.

 

[chompsticks]

I can def relate to that. The headlights really aren't as bright as most cars and there is a great deal of scatter with the headlight beams. I changed to HID's and they are super bright. However I do notice that the low beam really doesn't light up the road up ahead and the high beams do leave the foreground rather dark as compared to most cars. This is really only a problem if you are driving on a curvy road with no street lights. You will find that it doesn't light up the road as far ahead as you would need it to.

Well that is my opinion and I would agree with consumer reports that the headlights are barely adequate.

 

[none]

The headlights work great for me 8)

Consumer Reports is a joke. If you correlate their reviews with their sponsors, you will find that Toyota & Honda always come out on top... coincidentally the two marques who pay them the most money.

 

[AGCube]

I changed to HID's and they are super bright. However I do notice that the low beam really doesn't light up the road up ahead and the high beams do leave the foreground rather dark as compared to most cars.

Did you just change the bulbs, or did you add a system which include a ballast?

 

[claancy]

I've mostly used the low-beams around town and haven't noticed any real issues with them. However...

"High beams project much farther forward but leave the foreground too dim."

I've definitely noticed this. I need to install some relays so the low-beams stay on when the high-beams come on.

 

[fotomoto]

I knew something was up when I found myself leaving the high beams on but no one was flashing me. :-[ I've found that low beams with foglights are a decent combo and might upgrade the high beams to a higher wattage.

 

[ChristineK]

Maybe I have not noticed anything as I run the fogs at the same time. I see fine, at least I think I do. I was looking at the HID option but would like to see it in real time first.

I added a new light kit to my old 97 S-10 that stock had square sealed beams. I added a kit to go Halogen and bought some Silver-stars that were disappointing. I found a set of bulbs on E-Bay to fit the kit that I expected to suck and turned out to be awesome!

Not HID but 200% better than stock and 150% better than Silver-stars. 5 Years later those blue E-Bays still work and shine bright.

I think I paid $20.00 for them too.

 

[chompsticks]

I changed to HID's and they are super bright. However I do notice that the low beam really doesn't light up the road up ahead and the high beams do leave the foreground rather dark as compared to most cars.

Did you just change the bulbs, or did you add a system which include a ballast?

I added the HID system which includes a ballast and the head lights. I amy just have to aim the lights a little higher.

 

[TheirMightBeBlood!]

since to topic came up, i decided to go shopping and would like your opinion on these.
http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=4816489

 

[inyubasha]

yeah driving on empty country roads the low beams were terrible, like they were adjusted way too low

i've yet to adjust them

 

[chompsticks]

since to topic came up, i decided to go shopping and would like your opinion on these.
http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=4816489

I would recommend a HID kit that has a ballast system, not to hard to install at all. If you are getting just bulbs though you may want to watch out for the wattage. I had a 95 toyota camry and the new bulbs ran so hot that it melted the wires around the housing.

 

[AGCube]

I added the HID system which includes a ballast and the head lights. I amy just have to aim the lights a little higher.

If you don't mind me asking how much did you pay for your kit and where did you get it.

I've also heard about HID bulbs melting things

 

[chompsticks]

I paid 130 for mine. I got the xentex bixenon slim ballast kit. THere are cheaper ones out there, but some of the cheapers ones do not have bixenon which means you would lose your highbeams or the ballasts are a little bit thicker. I also had a friend who has the same kit and he likes it alot. I ordered mine off ebay. You can chose the color for your bulb too. I chose 6000k, I think it is a smidge too blue though. I think 5000k would look like the stock headlights I believe.

 

[elDizzle_foShizzle]

I knew something was up when I found myself leaving the high beams on but no one was flashing me. :-[ I've found that low beams with foglights are a decent combo and might upgrade the high beams to a higher wattage.

i drive pretty much with the headlights/foglights on all the time anyways. night time is no problem with this combo. no oncoming drivers flash or anything. i'm saving for HID and maybe amber bulbs for the fogs. i just don't want any fogging-of-the-lens issues if i do that.

 

[dink74]

Spoiled, I say you are all spoiled Compared to the headlights on my Ram or my old Neon i may as well have the sun duct taped to the front of the Cube. I have no complaints about the headlights.

Dink

 

[none]

Hey Dink I'm with you!

 

[zinker]

The headlights work great for me 8)

Consumer Reports is a joke. If you correlate their reviews with their sponsors, you will find that Toyota & Honda always come out on top... coincidentally the two marques who pay them the most money.

Um - Consumer Reports has no sponsors just for that reason. They work very hard to maintain a reputation for unbiased reporting. They buy all of the products they test rather than accept test products from the manufacturers. In fact they buy the products they test exactly the way you and I do. Their team of buyers go into stores and car dealerships to get samples. They also go after any company that uses a Consumer Reports report in it's advertising.

It's Consumer Digest you are thinking of. They have ads and allow reviews to be quoted in advertising. When you see a car ad mentioning a "Consumer's Digest" rating, take it with a grain of salt.

 

[HRWatson68]

The headlights are inadequate for country driving. I work in the country and night driving is kinda scary. The high beams are pretty good, but the low beams leave something to be desired. I wish to upgrade my system to HID soon.

I also am looking for the lights and switch for a driving light install.

 

[none]

zinker, thank you for that clarification! Digest must have been it (along with Motor Trend and Car & Driver). I am constantly astounded by the decisions of those magazines...