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I don't feel any less safe in the Versa than I do in my Altima or than I did in any of my Sentras. Truthfully, I worry more about avoiding that front end collision than how my car will handle it. The safety ratings on the Versa are very good, but only a fool would think that just that makes a driver safe. The biggest piece of safety equipment is any car is you behind the wheel.
Heaven help us if a car ever comes out that's touted as "100% safe"
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Since you are concerned about safety, consider getting the optional ABS though--braking tests without it showed long stopping distances, even on dry pavement.
What seems to be odd about this is that IIHS's testing is generally known to be more vigorous than NHTSA's. And yet, the Versa did not get the highest score with NHTSA. It goes on to show that the testing procedure and/or measurement protocol can change the results in a material way.
For me, the IIHS tests carry more weight than the NHTSA tests. The offset frontal test is well known to be a more severe test of the car's structure than the NHTSA's test, and the IIHS side test includes head injuries (well, duh!) when determining the rating and simulates impact by a small truck or SUV vs. a passenger car.
I looked out of the Versa's windshield and I thought...wow, I can see the ground in front! Makes me want to not go any faster than 30mph. I suppose I could pretend it's a Volkswagen Vanagon. LOL
Thanks for the input, guys, keep it coming.
Emboldened by my 113 miles trip to Monterey, I took it all the way to LA (400 miles) the next weekend. This is definitely a great freeway car - stable steering, quiet, plenty of power, strong air conditioning. Will report on the mileage later - I saved the gas receipts with mileage, but they are still in the car (I'm driving the Fit for the commute this week).
This car matches the Impala in terms of interstate-worthiness.
The speed control is a lifesaver in terms of avoiding two types of fatigue: (1) foot fatigue and positional fatigue from holding the accelerator pedal down; and (2) high speed driving fatigue - without the cruise I drift up to 80 mph all too easily (current driving speeds along 5 are up from 80 to 85/90, believe if or not, even with the Highway Patrol pulling over as many speeders as they can). On the way down I limited my speed to an indicated 74 mph.
In terms of economics, the cost of my 2008 Versa (12,000) vs. the payments left on the Impala ($11k) actually favored the Impala - the increased mileage on the new Versa doesn't make up for the added capital cost. BUT I like small cars.
For those of you considering a small car to save fuel, remember that the difference in gas costs usually isn't enough to sway a deal, unless you have gone through the usual life-cycle on your old vehicle. You'll end up trading-in an almost paid off poor mileage vehicle for a great mileage vehicle, but your car payments will overcome the difference. The first rule of economy - which I violate frequently - is to change cars only every 5-10 years.
That was not what I said, or what anyone here said. What I did say is that if you are looking at small cars, like the Versa, it's one of the best small cars in crash protection based on published tests.
Keep in mind that frontal crash tests can not be compared across different weight classes. It's one thing for a 2800 pound compact to hit a barrier at 40 mph. It's quite another for a 5000 pound SUV to do the same. But please do research crumple zones etc., and good luck with your car shopping.
Thanks at least for wishing me luck, and I will read up on those "crumple zones".
The driving after my initial fill-up was about 98% freeway - from Monterey back to Oakland, park the car for a week, then drive down to L.A. and back. Monterey to Oakland was around 75-80 indicated mph; on the drive to L.A. I used cruise control on the way down to hold it down to an indicated 74 mph, coming back the speed often crept up to 80 mph.
In the past, with other cars, my best mileage has been the drive to Yosemite, where country roads hold down the speed and mileage is best despite the hill-climbing (perhaps partially balanced by the subsequent hill-descents). Compared to my freeway commute, where speeds are more in the 50-70 range, I usually "lose" about 2 mpg driving to L.A. due to the wind resistance at higher speeds.
On this L.A. trip my fill-ups were at 271.6 miles, 274.2 miles, and 295.5 miles, with an indicated 1/5 of a tank before empty. Gallons on fill-up were, respectively, 8.203, 8.810, and 9.617, all at different stations but each on level ground with a cautious "top off." MPG calculate to 33.11 mpg, 31.12, and 30.73.
I also totalled the gallons and miles (rather than averaging the mpg figures above) and came up with 31.59 overall mpg for the LA trip.
31.59 mpg for interstate speeds is quite good.In comparison, my 2007 Yaris liftback with 5 speed returned an average of 36.14 mpg on the same route also at an early stage of break-in; I got about 30 mpg with the 2007 Dodge Caliber 5 speed.
So the Versa returns slightly better interstate mileage than the Caliber, much less than the Yaris, but is quieter than either one and feels safer on the interstate than the Yaris.
I'll keep my fingers crossed and as I accumulate commute miles on the Versa, will report back on commute mileage.
Using it on the highway in spring, is no real test. Any car's a/c should seem fine at this time of year with mild spring time weather.
You should never get rid of a car, let the car get rid of you.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Yay's: Comfortable, roomy for it's size - my tall hubby can actually sit behind me without feeling cramped, Airbags......
Nay's: 6 speed manual doesn't shift and sound as smooth as the Automatic version, A/C is not as powerful in MO and the blower is so loud that I have to turn up the volume on the radio - very bothersome
Other than that I really have no complaints.
2000 miles on it now.
yea's: the big one: it really is a quiet car (main consideration for me buying it)
decent pickup
good room on the backseat for passengers
quality interior
love the keyless driving
nea's: sub-par mpg for the class
i miss my outside thermometer
now the big one: 2000 miles on it and it has brake problems. apparently the rotor gets deformed very easily. the dealer's mechanic admonished me not to do so many sudden stops. It heats up the brakes and deforms the rotor (did I mention that I only have 2000 miles on the car?). "many sudden stops"? i live in a metropolitan area. Of course you'll have to do the occasional sudden stop, if you don't want to run into someone doing something nutty. And I never had any kind of rotor problems with any of my other cars. Major design flaw. Check the forum for the brake thread. I'm not the only one with that problem. Can't wait for the recall.
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081203/AUTO01/812030333
I'm really jazzed on a Cube as my next car but NOT if it is a mirror image of the Versa. I'll look to a Fit or new Insight, perhaps.
The Cube that we get will be fitted with a CVT, right? Different engine or same? Cube is made in Japan - is the Versa assembled in NA?
Is there a JDM version of the Versa that is different? Are there Renault parts on the NA Versa?
Thanks. (Sorry about dbl posting in another discussion by mistake)
FWIW it does seem to be true that quality control on American and Mexican made vehicles is equal to or better than on Japanese made vehicles (by "made" I mean country of manufacture, not nationality of manufacturer). I expected better quality on my Japanese-made Yaris and Honda Fit than on my Civic made in America, but the quality was actually lower. I guess the Japanese domestic market hit a plateau while the plants in America and Mexico kept pushing for more quality.
BTW the low marks for reliability seem to pertain only to the Versa Sedan. My Versa hatchback was perfect.
The Sandman
What's your spin as to the poor reliability of the Versa Sedan?
Do you think this bad showing relates to ALL versions of the sedan?
Hope to hear from you...
Thanx-
Peace!<-AladdinSane-<- :shades: -
I gather noise and road bumps are muted...they were on my local road test drive.
but I'm wondering: how's the seat after a few hours? driving position for legs/knees/etc?
anything else of note?
thanks very much for any and all insights!
The automatic versions may give similar freeway mileage to the stick shift, since while they are intrinsically less efficient, they have lower freeway r.p.m.
A highly recommended car - midsize inside per EPA, while compact exterior and good gas mileage.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
It's based on the same mechanical platform as the Renault Clio so I suppose you could look at it as "made by Renault" if you'd like. I just turned over 47,000 on my Versa the other day. The semantics of who it's made by have not been a factor for me. :shades:
I'd like to know why Nissan saw fit to eliminate the Sun and Sound package from its options list for the Versa SL sedan. Anyone have an idea? The automaker claims it's due to lack of interest on the consumer's part...that customers just don't seem to want that package with the sedan. I disagree, speaking for myself. A sunroof and high powered audio system with subwoofer would really make the sedan an attractive buy, again speaking for myself.
One other thing: Is there a strong possibility that Nissan will offer traction control/electronic stability control with the Versa for 2010? All of these optional equipment features I've described above would certainly make the SL sedan/5 dr quite a strong contender. It would be a deal maker for yours truly, next model year, for sure!
Peace!<-AladdinSane<- :shades: -
I have always been partial to "tall cars" and I especially like the look of the sedan.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Peace!<-AladdinSane<- :shades: -
Thanks
Thankyou!! That was it. If I hold down the red and white button for 2 seconds, the beeping starts. Thanks for the answer!!
TM
What I did to tie down the hatch was to anchor the rope where the hatch latches down and then run the ropes around to the outside of the hatch and tie the hatch down. I used some rags/old towels to protect the edges of the hatch doors so the rope couldn't rub the paint, but it worked fine. We were moving several 6 foot long tables and had to transport them about 45 miles, most of it at highway speeds and everything worked out just fine.
Thanks. I checked it out, and yes, it looks workable. Don't know why I didn't see it before !! Thanks.
I for one have never understood the obssession with the sunroof/moonroof. I have had multiple and would rather not have one in any vehicle I ever own. It usually takes up headroom, raises the temperature, adds weight, costs money, but for some reason is loved by many. For some, acceleration, fuel economy, reliability, safety, and cost are nonfactors as long as it has a sunroof.
Other people don't care if there is a stereo or air conditioning in their car. Different strokes!
when i used a paper towel to wipe up the the spil i noticed that my red paint came off. everytime the gasoline dissolves the paint it will make it more porous allowing the water / water salt mixture to penetrate down to the metal to make it rust. there are also overlapping surfaces under the lid making the whole situation worse.
anyone else have this problem ? and what to do about it.
Nays: Mileage isn't great, just OK.. Need cushion for lumbar support. WINDOWS FOG UP VERY EASILY. Even on a clear day, if it's humid, the windows will fog up, if you put the heat on. You can cure it by putting on the defroster, but who wants to wear out the compressor (the a/c compessor comes on when you turn on the defroster), and lower your mpg ?
You don't burn that much unless you are parked for along time, like warmning car up in the morning. I don't know
the reason for the change :confuse: .