357 posts
2008 SL Sedan, Magnetic Grey, CVT
Ottawa ON
1-1-2008
S Versus SL
8:45 AM 5/7/2008
So . . . I took my 08 Sedan SL in for repairs [5 working days -- what's with that?] and in return I was given . . . an 07 Hatch S.
I am going to try to be objective [really I am] about the ride.
I am going to try to be objective [really I am] about the hatch [even though I am predisposed to believe that the Sedan is better well, for me anyway]. Positive comment: I need to pick up a bunch of bags of soil for my wife this weekend, so it may be easier to get them in and out of the trunk . . . er, hatch . . . and their car gets dirty, not mine!
I've driven a couple of miles so far. There is definitely a different feel to the hatch -- gotta get used to the different sight lines in shoulder checking.
As to the S vrs SL . . . no comparison! First thing I did was fall into the passenger seat because there is no arm rest. Then I had to find a place to put my sunglasses because there was no storage compartment. And it is an automatic instead of a CVT. And the seats don't match up to the SL.
OK, I'm being picky . . . but I've been spoiled (and I haven't mentioned the single-disc CD player or lack of aux audio jack).
Should be an interesting week/comparison test!
4 wheels: 2008 Versa SL Sedan, Magnetic Grey, CVT
last fill: 8.92 ltr/100 km [31.68 imp /26.37 US mpg] long term: 9.57 ltr/100 km [29.53imp /24.57 US mpg]
2 wheels: 1980 Honda 750 CBK, White [on the road!!!] 2 wheels: 1992 Suzuki GSE 500 [RIP]
Got my baby back today, a weekend ahead of schedule (it goes back in on Tuesday -- wasn't happy with one small area on the bumper and they said "no problem" well it was for me but at least they're going to get right to it.
Now . . . the comparison . . .
was feeling pretty snotty about my SL vrs the S and thought I'd better tone it down. After three days: boy I'm glad I bought the SL, primarily for the things mentioned already: upholstery, CD changer, armrest. CVT outperformed the auto -- four months in and already I'm not liking the way an automatic (at least this one) shifts. Had to tromp the auto to get into traffic -- there was a definite lurch in changing gears. Did the same thing with the CVT -- much smoother . . . and I thought faster (wilful blindness?).
As to hatch vrs sedan? Sedan hands down. I guess because I don't need to do a lot of transporting, but it seemed the "lower" trunk area of the sedan was bigger than the same area of the hatch (I even compared them side by side), though if you have taller items the hatch is the way to go.
So fwiw, there you have it.
4 wheels: 2008 Versa SL Sedan, Magnetic Grey, CVT
last fill: 8.92 ltr/100 km [31.68 imp /26.37 US mpg] long term: 9.57 ltr/100 km [29.53imp /24.57 US mpg]
2 wheels: 1980 Honda 750 CBK, White [on the road!!!] 2 wheels: 1992 Suzuki GSE 500 [RIP]
Our purchase of the S was price point only. We needed another car with both kids driving now and the SL was just more than I wanted to pay for basic transportation. The seats are the only thing I do not particulary like, but I do not take long road trips in the S, so not that big of a deal for us. Would I rather have the SL, yes. Do I regret buying the S, no. Besides, the S will head off to a College campus in a year which is not necessarily good for a car.
Understand the price point, but since we drive vehicles until they die, and since I spend time on the road, and since I could justify the "added expense" of an SL by dropping down from a more expensive car . . . that's what I got. If I'd got the S would have been happy with it (though regretted not going up, just as I somewhat regret not upgrading to the sports package [necessary? no. nice? yes]
Further to trunk space, the sedan's is "deeper [back to front] than the hatch, and fit about the same number of bags of gardening soil that I needed to transport.
4 wheels: 2008 Versa SL Sedan, Magnetic Grey, CVT
last fill: 8.92 ltr/100 km [31.68 imp /26.37 US mpg] long term: 9.57 ltr/100 km [29.53imp /24.57 US mpg]
2 wheels: 1980 Honda 750 CBK, White [on the road!!!] 2 wheels: 1992 Suzuki GSE 500 [RIP]
We had a good look at the Versas last week and went out for a test drive in the S hatch version. In the showroom, my husband had an eye on the 2007 S version (blue). However, not liking the light colour inside, I moved over to another Versa which was the 2008 silver with the nice upholstry, 6CD changer, mag wheels, etc.....nice one! Went out for a test drive in a S model (auto) and when we got back realized the difference in the interior appearance. Much preferred the blue/black woven cloth to the plain suede seats, which had given the inside of the car a very basic and spartan look, besides making it more difficult to slide in and out of the car. Anyway, being a woman, I got the one I wanted.... . Boy, am I ever glad I stuck out for the SL despite the price difference. I probably would have regretted it later. b Love the CVT transmission as opposed to the auto on the S version, as well as the little extras such as armrests, sunglasses compartment, 6CD changer so I don't have to keep changing CDs etc. Had a great time trying out the auto speed control as well. I would love to have had the sunroof too...another time.... Still the manual!
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the manual!