Nissan Versa Brake Questions
cali_driver
Member Posts: 9
in Nissan
The answer may be obvious to some, but I haven't owned a car in almost nearly a decade.
Do I need ABS if I am to purchase a Versa? What are the benefits vs. whatever the standard brakes on the Versa are?
Do I need ABS if I am to purchase a Versa? What are the benefits vs. whatever the standard brakes on the Versa are?
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Mark
I get the same problem on the NissanUSA website. When trying to configure a Versa SL with ABS, the options for the convenience, audio and sunroof packages are not available. Also, if I select just the sunroof package I am forced to get the convenience, audio and sat radio packages as well, but no ABS.
I hope it is just a glitch with the "build your own" configurator on the NissanUSA website, otherwise Nissan has some explaining to do! :mad:
The new brochure also states that the sedan will not be here until early 2007 - may be old news to some here but that is the first I have heard of it. No worries for me as I prefer the hatch anyway.
A fully loaded (hi tech package for SL combines both the music and the bluetooth options as one) CVT transmission Versa comes out to a whopping $1500 CAD cheaper than my Fit Sport Auto.
Buyer's remorse? Perhaps...
I had my dealer do a search for a SL w/convience package and ABS he could not come up with one in the western US..
Tony :shades:
Tony :shades:
Tony :shades:
From what I've seen thus far, you're the leading provider of first-hand knowledge among the initial Versa owners so keep up the good work! I'm very interested to see what your intial fuel economy numbers when you get to your first fill-up.
So far, what's been the reaction of people to the Versa when you're out and about?
Pete
Also, the deal where you can't build a Versa SL with ABS if you include all the other options...that has to be a glitch in the configurator as others have pointed out. It obviously doesn't make sense that by including things like convenience, sunroof and sound upgrade that you'd have to delete ABS. It also runs counter to how the car has been equipped in most of the reviews thus far. But it's amazing to me that Nissan has let this slip. For anyone following this car via various discussion boards, everyone is pointing this out. You'd think Nissan would have had it corrected on their site within a few hours, not to mention it should have been picked up while testing the Versa page in the first place. (or maybe they've lost their minds at the 11th hour when putting together option packages??)
Every government study and IIHS study on ABS reaches the same conclusion regarding ABS. There is no benefit at all.
I know you don't believe me so feel free to follow these links:
http://www.iihs.org/news/1996/iihs_news_121096.pdf
http://www.iihs.org/sr/pdfs/sr3504.pdf see page 6
THATS CORRECT, the IIHS FOUND initally THAT ABS OWNERS ARE AT A HIGHER RISK OF BEING IN A FATAL CRASH THAN NON ABS OWNERS!
“Despite their impressive performance on the test track, there still is no evidence
that antilock brakes are producing overall safety benefits,” says Institute president
Brian O’Neill.
ABS cannot reduce your stopping distance on Dry Pavement!
ABS cannot compensate for Speeding.
ABS cannot compensate for Tailgating.
ABS cannot compensate for just plain BAD or AGGRESSIVE DRIVING
ABS' only advantage is to allow you to steer while pressing your brakes as hard as possible. Accordingly, if you are in a situation where you have to brake as hard as possible and still steer to avoid the accident, you were: a) probably speeding and/or b) probably tailgating.
Now will all this in mind, according to the order guide.
Nissan decided that ABS will be put on 5% of S and 10% of SL.
Mark.
I say time to run to Scion and buy the XA.
ABS definitely becomes more important as a vehicle becomes heavier.
It is very easy to allow for longer stopping distances that occur in wet/slick conditions.
Go Slower and leave a greater following distance.
I know that "unexpected" things can happen, someone cuts you off for instance. However that isn't really unexpected. You should always assume that the idiot in the lane next to you will swerve into your lane without warning.
The law in NJ places absolute liability for rear end collisions on the striking vehicle. No matter what crazy thing happens in front of you, if you rear end someone in NJ you are liable.
If you want to protect your family. Focus on your driving habits.
ABS is just an example of Auto Makers stuffing expensive options down our throats to make the more profit for themselves.
Nissan clearly concluded that if they charged $595 for ABS, no one would buy it. At $250 though its not profitable. Solution. Don't make many cars with it.
Mark.
Looks like today well be my day to fill up, So later on I'll post MPG..
Tony :shades:
There is nothing in thier parts computers and will as Service computers for the Versa.... (this was as of yesterday)
NMAC (nissan fiancial) computers have none of the lease information loaded in thier computers either... (This was as of Monday) When I leased mine on Sat, everything had to be done by hand, THEN loaded into the computer..
One would think all of these things would have been loaded before the dealers got the cars... Its frustrating for all parties...
But in 3 car mag the test Versa was fully loaded, with ABS.
Tony :shades:
Most people rely on ABS to stop them in a shorter distance but that isn't what ABS is for, its to HELP you steer your way out of an accident. Since the wheels on a car with ABS well continue to rotate you can steer out of the way, but more people panic and just hold on to the wheel and hit the car in front of them.
Here in Phoenix, with temps between 107-112 (the past couple of days) the A/C in the Xa's and Xb's can't keep the cars cool enough, so far I haven't had that problems in my Versa.
The difference between a Xa and Versa is too great to list here. The better car is the Versa, for the same price as a Xa the Versa is bigger and newer Technology.
Tony :shades:
I do. But I can't control everyone else's driving habits. And despite the best training/coaching, people (such as teenagers like mine) make mistakes. Safety features like airbags and ABS help mitigate those kinds of mistakes and behaviors by others that we can't control. Given that states like NJ place blame on the car that hits the rear in a rear-end collision, all the more reason to have aids like ABS to help avoid those kinds of collisions.
If Nissan can't make a profit on ABS for $250, they should charge more, then let the market decide how popular the feature is, rather than artificially limiting production because they can't make a profit. What has happened is that Nissan has decided to stuff the limited availability of ABS down our throats rather than letting buyers decide for themselves. A dumb business decision, IMO.
Tony :shades:
ABS is standard in all cars sold in Europe, even the cheapest ones. ESP is more the thing coming around there.
and the studies don't take in account how the accident happened. Traditionally in old days more powerful cars had ABS, maybe thay are driven by fast drivers, which explains more fatal accidents. i don't see there where it says that in a specific situation wiht the same car w/ and w/o ABS and same speeds etc. the ABS car was not better than the one w/o ABS.
no reasonable person in 2006 makes a study like that. Only manufacturers that don't have ABS say ABS is not important (and the sales persons apaprently say that too ;-)
apparently that is what they consider safety,.... if you down the hill in ht esnow, you wish you had ABS. Drive that w/ ABS once and you never want to drive w/o ABS..
In my line of work, I see accidents all the time, I hear people say, "Why didn't I stop faster, my car has ABS" my standard reply is, ABS doesn't make cars stop after just because if has ABS... All the car magaiznes have proven that cas without ABS can stop faster then cars that have ABS.
Tony :shades:
but with ABS and brake assist the average driver will stop sooner. Well, even if you push the brake as hard as you can, locking tires slide over the aspahalt.
And under bad conditions (water, snow, ice) ABS definitely is better.
Or do you say there is a conspiracy (governments all over the world coopareate with the eveil car manufacturers) to make you spend money on ABS to make the car less safe? To counteract overpopulation, or so? Like when they never went to the moon :-)
I suppose manufacturers that don't have ABS standard usually have worse brakes anyway, so their few ABS cars are not much better. But manufacturers that have ABS standard, usually have better brakes an brake assist (because then you actually can use all brake force that you can achieve).
with ABS it makes big sense to install brake assist and powerful disc-brakes an all 4 wheels.
I havn't seen a serious car magazin that claimed that ABS is worse than a car w/o ABS. And technology developped and improved. As electronics got faster and cheaper there is more room to adjust settings.
Maybe the American companies didn't improve ABS, because they still sell the very same cars they sold 20 years ago with a new chassis, but car manufactureres that sell cars in more countries than just the US had to and did improve ABS significantly. If there is a manufacturer that hasn't improved it since the 1990s, then don't buy from them. Even ESP, which is way newer than ABS, already exists in 2nd and 3rd generations and improved over the old ones. The same for ABS. ABS went from mechanical systems, to electric-mechanical to electric,... and those always improved.
If ABS is still bad, than show me a study from this millenium, not from the last one.
In Michigan, where the roads can turn to ice at the drop of a hat, I can honestly say it's saved my bacon more than once.
ABS is probably not going to keep you out of the "really bad" accidents, but it does keep me from at least one fender-bender a year - and I"m not talking me hitting a car in front of me. It's the lunatics behind me for whom ABS is a godsend.
24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Tesla Y LR / 03 Montero Ltd
I AGREE!!!
Nissan blew it.
Their logic here is absurd. :confuse:
What other alternatives to the Fit have U checked out?
Just curious. . .
Peace!
Pretty much all the Versas that have come out so far have not had ABS. They've given every dealer at least one base S and one loaded SL. The loaded SL should have come with ABS, but none of the obligatory first shipments had it. Methinks it's a parts shortage. Other more profitable lines are getting the ABS parts.
Ben
From what we have been told from our dealer, the ABS / Conv package website issue is just a glitch. In fact, they said a vast majority of the ABS models released will have the Conv package or the Power package (depending on if it is an S or an SL).
Pretty much, at least in the early stages, ABS will only be put on near fully equipped Versas. From what our dealer has said, the chances of us getting a non Conv-Package or non Power-Package Versa with ABS anytime soon is slim to none.
On a side note, I absolutely can't wait for it to come in. My wife and I sold our truck a few weeks ago and are now sharing a single car. With different work schedule and such it has not been easy. We're hoping for Silver, Gray or the Blue. :shades:
I'm assuming that they will start hitting lots either that week or the week before (probably starting in Phoenix, Dallas and southern cities like then then moving North?)
Tony :shades:
We really wanted ABS and could deal with just about any color so we told them that we wanted the first ABS in stock. The mfg has told them that they would get a fully loaded ABS (as fully loaded as they can get at this point) on the 28th.
But yeah, it is weird that they don't know a color yet? I'd be very happy with the Silver, Gray or Blue but could deal with anything. I'd prefer not white or black but oh well.
Funny thing is that if this Versa doesn't come in on time then we will have to go with a different model. My wife is starting a new job first part of September and once that happens then carpooling is out. :confuse:
We first saw a Versa on July4th and put a deposit on one the very next week. We are very excited about it and from what I've seen/read/gathered from test drives, it is going to be the perfect car for us (we sold my 01 Ford Explorer Sport Trac which averaged 17 mpg and drove like a freakin boat).
;-D
Tony :shades:
From what my dealer led me to believe, at this point Nissan is just shipping what they can ship. I was told that for the foreseeable future, no Nissan dealers could really pick and choose what they got.
Each dealer was promised one base model, one fully loaded ABS model and the rest were allocated randomly to the different dealers?
I'm just working on what I was told. This dealer got about 5 in towards the beginning of July and hasn't received any since.
Ben