Got rid of my Versa...

[Ever Victorious]

It's now been two weeks since the torque rod problem has been diagnosed, and still neither hide nor hair of the replacement part.

So, rather than have to deal with taking the car into the shop every few weeks, I decided it's better to not have a car payment. I got rid of Vince.

Picked up a used Legacy wagon instead. More cargo room than the V. More sophisticated AWD than the SX4. And way more miles than either, but hey... at least I can put the money I was spending into savings instead.

[MIdnkight-lude]

It's now been two weeks since the torque rod problem has been diagnosed, and still neither hide nor hair of the replacement part.

So, rather than have to deal with taking the car into the shop every few weeks, I decided it's better to not have a car payment. I got rid of Vince.

Picked up a used Legacy wagon instead. More cargo room than the V. More sophisticated AWD than the SX4. And way more miles than either, but hey... at least I can put the money I was spending into savings instead.

did you go throught the lemon law? what did you do?

[BenDupre]

Unbeleivable.. I'm sad for you man. But I feel betrayed. You're the moderator, you're doing the fuel study... How can you give up over a tie-rod?

Speaking out of theother side of my a$$: What kind of deal did you get?

Ben

[JuneBug]

yeah how did the whole taking-it-back thing go? did you eat the depreciation?

[ilusha55]

How can you give up over a tie-rod?

Ben

I think (by reading EVs posts) that he went through more than just that and the torque rod was the final obstacle before this decision. I dont know if i would do the same but considering all the probs you were having, EV, taking it back would be a serious option for me.

[Ever Victorious]

I ended up trading it in at a Subaru dealer, where I am buddies with the internet sales manager. He let me pick from their just-traded in Legacies before they got cleaned up and refurbished (so as to avoid their refurishment markup).

I had no luck with the lemon law. Sadly, the same system must fail 4 times. I had 4 different systems fail for a total of 5 times, plus the TPMS still wasn't fixed so we could have easily called that 6 times because we know it would have happened.

Ben - it was more than a torque rod. It was a torque rod, ASCD switch, TPMS system, and the general lack of responsiveness of 2 dealers and NNA. Plus the fact that I feel it might be more prudent as a soon-to-be parent to have a little more disposable income, just in case. Because we all know Just In Case will happen, sooner or later. Especially since the Versa would have been outside of warranty after just 1 year, leaving 2 years of my bum up in the air making payments and hoping a failure didn't spank me too hard. I know this is a visual you did not need.

Ben and June - yes, I had to swallow deprectiation. In WA, even under the lemon law, you would still have to swallow at least part of it. Best case scenario under the lemon law would have netted me a $14,000 settlement for the car, and that would only be if I successfully hid the fact that it was in an accident. I ended up getting $12,000, without having to go through the hassle of having it break again and going through mediation and/or court settlement.

The replacement Legacy cost me $3,000, and I owed $9,200 still on the Versa.

All said and done, I cut a check for $238 and walked out the door with title in hand.

Anyway... the replacement is a '91 Legacy AWD wagon with 97k miles on it (yes, really low!) and only a couple very minor issues that don't affect drivability one bit. It drives and handles very well, and my personal mechanic (from my Subaru days) gave it the thumbs up.

Edit: as a side note, this does not immediately affect my position as moderator. I'll still be running the ship. I'm still running the fuel survey, if anyone else finishes up their data and submits it.

[JuneBug]

well in all it sounds like you're much happier which is all that matters...subarus are definitely great cars. and cheers to being a new daddy soon too

[Ever Victorious]

well in all it sounds like you're much happier which is all that matters...subarus are definitely great cars. and cheers to being a new daddy soon too

Thank you, and thank you.

I am so psyched to be a father, you have no clue. I periodically break out in the white guy dance.

[MIdnkight-lude]

Thank you, and thank you.

I am so psyched to be a father, you have no clue. I periodically break out in the white guy dance.

it really sucks to hear all the trouble you go throught. that why i knock on wood every day.

sigh. i just want an accident that will total the car, and move on. none of these 5 mph bumper hits. but i keep knocking on wood.

i hope things turn out well for you EV

[versabundus]

I know you're down on the SX4, but how do you figure the subaru has a more sophisticated awd system?

[xmaryteresax]

sigh. i just want an accident that will total the car, and move on. none of these 5 mph bumper hits. but i keep knocking on wood.

i hope things turn out well for you EV

!!!Yeah - I guess i could say the same - except let it happen with me NOWHERE NEAR the car!!!

[sixdgrees]

Sorry to hear about all your issues but it sounds like you've made a decision that will work for you..... and congrats on the approaching fatherhood!

However, I for one am still loving my Versa!

[Ever Victorious]

I know you're down on the SX4, but how do you figure the subaru has a more sophisticated awd system?

First, it's symmetrical. The SX4's isn't.

Second, it's a permanent full-time system. The SX4's isn't, saying you can put it in 2WD mode for "fuel economy". However, you are still carrying the weight of the AWD system even when it is not engaged, so that seems kinda bunk to me. Also, as it relies on the driver to actually turn it on, it does not help you in situations where you are cruising in 2WD and suddenly have an emergency because you can't turn it on fast enough, or if you simply forget to turn it on.

The ability to lock the diff at 50-50 for the first 25 mph is simply not enough of a benefit to overcome its shortcomings. Especially since the subaru can transfer up to 90% of its power to either set of wheels to compensate for conditions automatically.

[versabundus]

Well for all of it's sophistication, The Subie system sucks off road.I can tell you from experience that the SX4 is far superior in that regard. I went surf fishing with a friend. He wanted to take his brand new Outback instead of my jeep. We got stuck in the sand 50 feet off the road. Upon retrieval by a passerby, we got stuck again on a safer passage. I've been on the same road with an Sx4 and had no problem. Besides, in my opinion, I think a system that gives you a choice of 2w, awd, and LOCKED awd is more versatile.

[proxim2020]

Hate to see you go, but I'm glad you made the best decision for yourself. Hopefully Nissan's watching this topic closely because there's probably a lot more people out there, that aren't members of this forum, that are in the same boat as you.

[Ever Victorious]

I don't need versatility. What very little offroad I would be doing would be on gravel and hard compacted dirt and rock roads. We don't have loose sand here in the NW, except a very very few beaches. It's illegal to drive on a beach here anyway, so that wouldn't matter.

For on-road application, I trust the Subaru far above just about any system. I would really only place Audi's Quattro system on the same level as it.

Anyway, seems I'm not the only one in my 'hood with the same idea. Turns out the place I traded my car into ALSO had another Versa recently traded in.

[Paula]

Dang Geoffrey ! Hate to hear that you got rid of the car. I'm still lovin' mine, as is Mom and Chris. I do understand though with the problems you've been having and the baby on the way. And you're absolutely right..... the "just in case" WILL happen - so better to have no car payment and a vehicle you can depend on (I hope!).

As a consumer tho, if I was looking for a V and saw one on a used lot, I would seriously wonder why someone got rid of a brand new car. This is the second, first generation vehicle I have purchased. Although I've had the 6MT issues and TPMS problems, I trust that my dealer (really GREAT service) will correct any issues I have with the car. All has been good so far and they've provided a free loaner when they needed to keep the V.

The other first gen. car was a GEO hatchback. That thing was a POS, but "most" of the problems were fixed and we rode that thing hard. Gas mileage was great, comfort was lacking, but it did the job (when buttons weren't popping off, the windshield wiper motor was working, and the car actually ran).

As usual, I got off track ............. hope all goes well with the "new" car.

Paula

[mkaresh]

Good luck with the Subaru.

Could be that this was a rare case, or not. We'll start to know when I have enough data on the Versa to analyze. 32 signed up so far--thanks guys.

In the future, I intend to have initial results for a new model 4-6 months after it goes on sale. Currently when there's a hot new model there's no reliability info until it's no longer a hot new model.

Vehicle reliability research

[DocPlez]

Hey EV ... congrats on that whole parenthood thing ... it's a heck of a lot of work but in the long run you wouldn't change it for anything.

Sorry to hear the Versa gave you such a time .. Lemon Law here in Nevada is a bit better but the dealers know a way around it. The car must go into the shop 3 times in one month for the same mechanical failure. Once the car shows up twice the dealers merely give you a free rental to drive and hold your car "awaiting parts" until it's outside the 30 day window. Then they repair it and return it to you and you have to start it all over again. It's cheaper for them to give you the car than it is for them to consider a lemon law return ... SOBs.

Cheers and hope you stop back in from time to time.

Doc

[versainchicago]

Well I'm jealous again EV

I've been debating about giving up my Versa and getting Toyota Yaris for better fuel economy....

[mkaresh]

Unless you drive A LOT of miles, there's no way this would make financial sense. What's the difference, high 20s vs. high 30s? That's what the fuel economy survey on my site seems to indicate (but just two responses for the Yaris).

Real-world fuel economy survey results

Just enjoy the much nicer interior in your Versa.

[kc5f]

Heck, go all the way and get a Vespa. Bound to be more comfortable and stylish than the Yaris, too!

[kc5f]

What's the difference? Well, a quick spreadsheet shows that at $3/gallon, the annual difference between 30mpg and 40mpg would be:12000 miles: $30015000 miles: $37520000 miles: $50030000 miles: $750

So even with my 30000 miles/year and averaging about 7 years/vehicle, I'm paying $5250 more in gas that I might if the Yaris actually got 40mpg. Most folks will be driving less miles and paying less of a "premium".

For seven years of comfort, quiet and class, I'll pay the premium for my Versa!

[mkaresh]

It takes me 2.5 years to rack up that 30,000 miles. You must live in your car. In which case it's a good thing the Versa has comfortable seats.

If I drove 30,000 miles a year, I'd likely have something other than my fun but noisy and rough Protege5.

[versabundus]

If you get the right car in the first place. If you dump your Versa to get a Yaris, You'd have to put about 300000 miles on it to make up for the money you'll lose trading the Versa in.