Decision

[stevenjb]

Have been looking at 3 vehicles; 2007 Honda CRV; 2007 VW Rabbit and the 2007 Nissan Versa SL.

I need a vehicle for extended drives, my business takes me away on journeys. One that is comfortable and a pleasure to drive.

Currently leaning towards the Versa. The Honda CRV during a "sit-in" test, I found the seats to be "very" firm, almost like sitting on a park bench. The VW Rabbit sit-in test found the interior to be of nice quality, but a bit confined. The Versa sit-in test found the interior to be spacious and the quality of the interior to be of good build.

I would like to get the input from other folks here who own the Versa. I am interested in the SL, fully optioned out.

Do you like the car?What don't you like about the car?Have there been any issues with the car, and have they be resolved?and anything else you would like to contribute.

Thanks for reading and your input, it means a lot to my research efforts.The car will be driven in Northern California.

[msb0b]

I have a Versa now and used to have a previous generation VW GTI. Both are great cars. The previous generation Jetta and Golf revived VW of America from deathbed. The new Rabbit is an improvement over the Golf. It even won the Automobile of the Year award.

Be aware that the weakest links in the VW ownership experience are the below-average reliability and poor dealership networks. I only had 2 or 3 minor problems and my dealer took great care of me. I hope the rest of the dealerships have shaped up.

Back to the cars...

For the Rabbit, you get a lot of car for $15 grand. The interior is probably the nicest of all 3. Practically all equipments come standard, especially safety ones like ABS. The gas mileage is on the poor side for a car at 25 mpg in real world condition. Back seat room is a bit confined. I would hate to be a back seat passenger especially in a 3 door model.

Versa SL's interior feels pretty luxurious. The soft cloth material in the door armrest makes a big difference. I like the roominess for both the front and back seat passengers. I don't like how ABS is not standard, and the 6th in manual transmission is a little bit short, resulting in high rpm at highway speed. I am getting about 28 mpg in city driving, rarely exceeding 40 mph.

I don't know much about CR-V, but if you are taking many long trips, fuel efficiency will probably be more important. SUVs will consume more fuel than cars. The Honda Fit Sport competes in the same class as Rabbit and Versa SL. Have you considered it?

[Bubs daddy]

Do you like the car?An emphatic yes. The materials are of high quality, as you stated it's spacious. I'm getting 30+ mpg in combined city/highway. Nice touches on the SL version. The CVT is really smooth. The car is exceptionally quiet for a smaller car.

What don't you like about the car?I would say the cupholders could be closer.

Have there been any issues with the car, and have they be resolved?and anything else you would like to contribute.No issues. It's a lot of car for the money, especially the SL version. No regrets whatsoever. I did a lot of comparing and shopping, test drives. Kept going back to the Versa. Glad I bought it.

[campersand]

The Honda Fit Sport competes in the same class as Rabbit and Versa SL. Have you considered it?

If you're concerned with comfort, you DO NOT want a Fit. Those are just about the worst seats I've ever sat in. Talk about "park bench"...

[Bubs daddy]

Not to mention none were even remotely available in this area. Dealers didn't have a one. They would come in just a few times a month and even then just two or three of them. After seeing a Fit on the road, I prefer the boday style of the Versa.

[OKVersa]

I don't know anything about the VW, but I actually had a CRV as a loaner for 24 hours.

We sold our LOADED 2000 GMC Jimmy 4WD to buy the Versa.

The Jimmy was more comfortable both in city and on the highway than the NEW CRV.

Keep in mind that the CRV we had those 24 hours was a "sport" package. It had the fold out table for tailgate parties.

So when we test drove the Versa we were shocked about how comfortable it is.

Have you sat in the backseat of the Versa? That was what sold us. It had more leg room than our Jimmy!

The CRV had a "bench seat" feel - like a Ranger pickup. Most of our miles are highway miles and there is no way we would have enjoyed the ride.

The Versa? I have to drive on road trips (love it!) because the seats are so comfortable my husband falls asleep.

Now, we have the SL CVT, so it is VERY quiet as well.

I had not had a small car since I got married which was a Mercury Lynx. LOVED that car.

Since 1988, I've driven a pick up, a minivan, another pickup, a Blazer and a Jimmy.

So I was REALLY hesitant to buy a car. I did NOT want that "butt dragging the pavement" feeling like my dad's Taurus gives. We test drove a Vibe, a Sentra and a Civic, and the Versa hatch gives you the illusion that you are in a SUV. Until we are next to a Expedition or a semi, it has the SUV "feel" going down the road.

The comfort and that "feel" was what sold me. Hubby wanted the Civic, but gave in to me after test driving the Civic and realizing he would have to pay $4000 more for the same features the Versa had.

And the Versa was more comfortable.

The CRV is a nice "drug store SUV" package. If you want an SUV get a REAL SUV...but if you want comfort...then the Versa wins.

[kc5f]

Do you like the car?One more emphatic yes! (SL/CVT w/13,700 miles since September)

What don't you like about the car?The only thing I wish is that the center armrest were higher. The height adjustable driver seat is very nice, but anything above the lowest position and I can't rest my right arm on the armrest. Definitely not a big deal, though.

Have there been any issues with the car, and have they be resolved?Just the passenger airbag cover issue, but they've been good about replacing it in about twenty minutes each time. (Twice, and it hasn't yet popped up again...)

Anything else you would like to contribute?My roundtrip commute is 107 miles, so I spend lots of time in the car and still love it. We have a Honda Odyssey minivan, and it's hardly ever used any more other than for my wife's commute. In fact, we recently took a 500-mile trip with four adults and took the Versa because it was more comfortable than the Odyssey and had plenty of room for our luggage!

[proxim2020]

Do you like the car?First the gas mileage. I'm coming from a HEMI ram. We normally make 2 trips a week to the gas station. When we are driving the V, we are lucky if we stop once a week. I also love the responsiveness and power of the car. I really didn't think something so small could be so powerful but it is. The back seat has tons and tons of room. This comes in very handy once you've filled the trunk. You can put your extra in the backseat and the passenger still has tons of room.

What don't you like about the car?You have to unlock the doors in order to get out of the car. I should be able to pull up on the handle and get out. I don't enjoy the seats on long trips. The seats in the S could benefit from more adjustibility and more support for the back. These are only an annoyance on long trips. It would be nice to be able to unlock the hatch from within and have a button to press for the domelight rather than a switch on the roof.mThose are the only real gripes I have, but they aren't big issues by a long shot.

Have there been any issues with the car, and have they be resolved?I haven't had any issues with my car yet that need to be resolved.

and anything else you would like to contribute.It a great car and I love it. I find that it's an excellent value for the money. A nice sporty six speed with a lot of pep. It doesn't look that sporty from the outside, but it sure feels like it when you drive it. It's a very fun drive with very nice gas mileage.

[Ever Victorious]

Time for a slight twist on the thread. Go me!

Do you like the car?I had a love/hate relationship with mine. Loved the concept, loved driving it when I had it, hated the fact that literally 50% of the time I owned it, it was in a shop of one sort or another. A large amount of that time was through no fault of the car or Nissan, but too much of that time WAS.

What don't you like about the car?About the design of the car, I can really say only one thing: No automatic headlights. Since the headlights to NOT turn off with the ignition, and there is dash illumination with the headlights off, I often forgot to turn on my headlights at night. This is more than a minor irritation: this is dangerous. Either they need to shut off dash illumination, or better yet, make the headlights automatic.

Have there been any issues with the car, and have they be resolved?

If you have not heard my saga, here it is in a nutshell:

ASCD switch moved out of position less than 24 hours after I purchased the car, causing the clutch to slip badly and nearly disabled the car.

The factory robot that installs mirrors onto the door dented my driver's door right under the mirror, causing a bad wind rushing noise over 40 mph.

The TPMS system failed twice.

I was rear-ended at a dead stop by a Ford pickup doing at least 25 mph.

The car cracked a torque rod at 7,800 miles.

Most of these issues were resolved. The TPMS system, however, was never fixed as the Nissan dealers just kept resetting the system as opposed to trying to figure out what was actually wrong with it. The torque rod was the straw that broke the camel's back. It was never fixed, I waited more than 2 weeks for the part and it never came. That, the TPMS system, and the fact I was driving a car that had nearly been totalled, made me literally sick every time I looked at the car.

and anything else you would like to contribute.

For what it's worth, the car is INCREDIBLY safe. The Ford was a contractor's F150, and specs show it weighed at LEAST twice what the Versa did. It hit at 25 mph. I was back at work the day after the accident... sore, but otherwise ok. I had no serious injuries, just had to go to a chiropractor for a month and a half.

It got great gas mileage, averaging 30 mpg. I thought the seats were always comfortable, even on road trips.

People have complained about the "clunkiness" of the 6-speed. Having driven so many vague (which other people would call "smooth and silky") manual transmissions, I can say I LOVED the way the manual felt.

The stereo in the SL was awesome, expecially with the added-on XM satellite. Bluetooth rocked my world, iKey was great...

I think the Versa is a great car. MY Versa, however, was not.

[stevenjb]

Everyones input has been great ! The good and the awful. Most appreciated.

[rbswimrun]

Almost purchased our car in Concord as i grew up in Walnut Creek. professional sales people but they were around $1,000 over what we are paying. they did not budge what so ever. So, for the first time in 15 years, we bought in Chico. We took it up and down a 9% grade near the dealerships and it ran fantastic. this was with a CVT. We are not getting everything but ABS are coming with it, Convience PKG., Kick plates and this will work for us.

[Slither]

Might be a bit late as you've thanked...

Do you like the car?

Yes very much.

What don't you like about the car?

Mileage, compressor a bit buzzy.

Have there been any issues with the car, and have they be resolved?and anything else you would like to contribute.

None.

[motoguy128]

For long trips, you might like the new Honda Civic. Much better mileage. IF you need to carry more luggage. IF you were considering hte CRV, I'd also look at the RAV4. The V6 version will smoke most sportscars and you get more cargo capacity.

For long trips, the Versa is still a small car that's a little nervous at high speeds, susseptible ot crosswinds, and the engine is a little buzzy. I still miss my Honda Accord on long trips. The Civic with the automatic, was slose to my Accord is how it drove.

If your under 5'10, the Corolla is also an excellent choice.

If nothing else, it may be boring, but few midsized cars swallow up long miles like a Toyota Camry. Especially with the new V6 and 6 pseed automatic, it's basically a $24k Lexus.

I'd only get the Versa if you don;t want ot spend more than $15k.

[sambot]

Still waiting for my V - it's been off-loaded from rail & is in the compound - but I'm not thrilled with Volkswagen. I don't have a rabbit, but am selling my TDI Beetle, primarily 'cause the less than indifferent service I get at the dealership. The other thing I've heard from other volkswagen owners (other models too) is the same problem I have with the always on check engine light. Can't get a + safety inspection until the light comes off.

[dalversajock]

I love my Versa SL. I've had mine for a little over two months and really like the quality of materials that were used to built this car. I like the ease of getting in and out of the car and the quiet CVT engine. I was very fortunate and lucky to find my car when my 2001 Xterra SE broke down and the repair was going to cost me $2700. It was time to buy a new car so I traded my X and bought a V!

What I didn't like about the car are the tires. The OE tires are Contental brand tires and they are crappy tires. I feel that they are very unsafe as well. Even though the V is the heaviest in its class, I could still feel the car pull in high wind situations. If you buy a V, get new tires and/or wheels. It makes a BIG difference. With my new wheels, I don't hydroplane anymore or get pulled by the wind.

Overall, the car is great. I get great mileage (37mpg highway, 33 city)- and this is from being very easy on the car for the first 1200 miles. The backseat is extremely roomie for your guest passengers. The arm rests and center armrest are made with memory foam and are very comfortable. The seats are not too hard and not too soft but just right.

If you get a V, get the SL and load it up. I was lucky to find one that had all the bells and whistles: sunroof, CVT, Rockford Fosgate subwoofer, bluetooth, etc. I wish they made ABS for all four wheels standard for the SL. I also wish they gave you the option to upgrade the wheels/tires. I like the fact that the sound system is more than decent BUT I wish the LCD read out would show the entire song name scrolling across the screen when using Sirius satellite radio. The front aux input for MP3 devices/iPods is ok but wish they had a better way to connect to the iPod where you can scroll through your playlist via the LCD screen on the stock stereo system.

Hope this helps.