How is Versa to you after driven it? How do you FEEL?

[dudealex]

just give me brief description on how you feel of the car..thanks~!

[Kermee]

just give me brief description on how you feel of the car..thanks~!

Comparing my test drive with a Honda Fit 5AT w/paddles and a Versa 1.8 SL w/CVT, the Versa's drive is a lot more appealing to me than the Fit. Just remember that everyone is going to have their own personal taste. What they say about the Fit being sporty is true. However, I'm not looking for a "sporty" car. VTEC is great once you get the engine into high RPM's. The Versa had plenty of power (CVT helps I'm sure) a lot earlier without having to push the RPM's above 4500 like I had to with the Fit.

The suspension is a lot softer than the Fit but there is a sports package coming out for it later in the year. The OE tires are Continental ContiProContact 185/65HR15 which seems to handle very well. Very soft rubber and very quiet ride.

Hopefully the Versa I want drops on August 6th at the dealership.

Cheers,Kermee

[will1911a1]

Been driving mine for about three weeks now and I'm loving it. It rides nicely, it's quiet, and it's comfortable. I ended up with a 1.8S with the base stereo system, so my only real complaint is that it only has 4 speakers. The sound is still adequate though.

[TheToE]

Im going to be honest. I the versa really appealed to me as way to save money on fuel and just an overall practical car. I will be the first to say that versa's rock! That being said , you are buying an economy car. There are remiders of this everytime I drive it. But for an economy car, its got a lot of extras! Its also way more refined than any other economy car out there.

PracticalGood on GasExcellent ValueSubtle interior refinementGot just enough funky styling to make people say "WTF?"

I really do like mine, hope this helps!

[penpen-commander]

orgasmic.

[Cowboys Fan 87]

1.8 SL - Conv. Package

The CVT is taking some getting used to...I, like others here, have figured out that you have to "virtual" shift the transmission using the gas pedal, especially in "On-Ramp" situataions to keep out of the RED on the RPM's. You gas, let up, gas, let up....eventually you at traffic speed and the RPM's drop to 2400 or so at 70 MPH.

I'm not really impressed with the MPG, but I just filled up my tank since for the second time and still learning how to get the most out of the CVT. I only got 28 MPG out of my first tank, but, like I said, learning the CVT is probably key to 30+ MPG.

The radio is works really well....heck....I found stations that I didn't know existed it picks up so well. And the 6 DISC CD Player with MP3/WMA support is awesome...I have well over 600 songs in MP3 format on 6 CD's and they all play fine.

The Smart Key is really cool and really helpful...if you don't see how it is helpful, then you just haven't used it...no scracthing the paint in the dark trying to find the key hole or no dropped bags while you dig your keys out of your pocket.

The BlueTooth headset works perfectly with my Verizon RAZR phone.

The ride is a little stiff and you feel nearly every bump in the road. Handling at very low speed seems much stiffer than I expected...almost feels like you are breaking if you turn the wheels sharply at < 5 MPH...like turning off of the main street.

It is much easier to get into and out of than the Sentra or even Altima I test drove...the seats aren't so low to the ground you "fall" into the car.

At this early stage, I feel like I got my money's worth....

[BubbaGoose]

Only a drive homean tour of the neighborhood so far( got it at 8p last night )but first impressions are.

• Smooth • Feels much more substantial than it's curb weight would suggest• CVT is gonna take some gettin' used to• It is much bigger on the inside than the outside• Turning radius is amazing• THAT's what I call Red!• Cannot wait for tint• Uh, Nissan??? Body Side Moldings???

[scottiem]

So far the wife love's it, it's her commuter car to and from work. Probably the most spacious car I've been in for its size. I'm 6'4" and can actually sit in the back with the front seats all the way back and not feel like I'm in a sardine can. Gas mileage has been 30 mpg on both fill ups, which is from a mixture of driving.

[tedjamwell]

I'm enjoying it so far. Overall mileage out of 500 or so miles = 32mpg. A little snug around th eknees, bear in mind that I'm six foot eight and 300 + lbs. Anything short of a limo will be somewhat tight. The CVT doesn't seem all that hard to get used to, it picks up quicker in passing situations than my wife's Corolla.

MP3 compatibility on the head unit is cool, I can stuff about 600 songs worth of music into the deck, hit random all disk, and have a my own personal commercial free radio station. Very handy for long trips with questionable reception.

Tomorrow I'm headed to Connecticut to meet with Thule. The plan is to use my car as a test fit vehicle for a Thule fit kit. I know there are some of you out there interested in the results of that venture, so I'll post as soon as possible afterwards either yea or nay about the rack. If they fit it successfully, I'll take pictures and post info for everyone.

[Julz]

I love it !!! I mess around with hondas all the time !! could'nt help myself, had to make it a "tad" faster ... Although now it's a bit louder than I wanted, & the mileage.... uh yeah... still goes a ways...

[voltronguy]

Of course this is a great car around town, but I'm finding it truly fun to drive on longer trips. We took out on a nice drive through winding country/mountain roads and found it really smooth and fun. Pop in some nice jazz and w/ the 6 speakers in the SL you have a fun time. We're still in the break-in period so I wasn't racing, but the CVT does just fine on the big hills.

I almost forgot about how big and comfy the front seats are!

[XterraVersa]

It sure doesn't feel like a little car. The seating area feels bigger & more comfortable than my Xterra.

Driving on the mountain passes is a breeze. There hasn't been any passes on the Interstate that has required me to shift out of 6th.

Love the gas mileage. 347 miles and only at 1/2 tank.

[Ever Victorious]

Well, so far, everything has been absolutely great! Very spacious in both the front and rear seats, more than enough room for the parts I need to carry with me for work. Haven't filled up the tank yet, but I'm estimating 32 MPG based on the trip meter.

I too cannot wait to get my windows tinted. I'm going to be checking into pricing at a couple places this weekend.

I have to disagree with the earlier assessment of "feel every bump in the road" and "low speed turning is stiff"... my experience is the exact opposite, the suspension is way smoother than the rental Toyota Matrix I was driving just before the Versa, and the steering is lighter at low speed than almost every car I have ever driven.

Oh, and the 6-disc changer and bluetooth have been absolutely wonderful. I can't wait for the Nissan to release their XM satellite accessory kit for this car!

[Kermee]

... SNIP ...

I have to disagree with the earlier assessment of "feel every bump in the road" and "low speed turning is stiff"... my experience is the exact opposite, the suspension is way smoother than the rental Toyota Matrix I was driving just before the Versa, and the steering is lighter at low speed than almost every car I have ever driven. ... SNIP...

+1

I also have to admit that Nissan picked excellent OE tires for the Versa too. That's probably half the reason why I liked the drive of the Versa on top of the suspension.

... Of course... you can always mod

Cheers,Kermee

[Repo Man]

Sweet guys. I have yet to see one around Indy, but hopefully soon. I think that you'll see better gas mileage as they get broken in. I know when I'm driving new Cadillacs that it takes a while for them to get broken in and get the mileage that they're supposed to.

Love the gas mileage. 347 miles and only at 1/2 tank.

Holy crap. That's awesome. I clicked on your link to the Exterra. It looks like you guys have had some good times! We could use you in the Exterra forum to generate some activity. Would you post a thread about Exterra adventures and such? Tell us some stories!

[XterraVersa]

The gas gauge moves fast after 1/2. Typical of every car. I filled up at 447 miles with only 10.6 gallons ~42 mpg . Mostly rush hour traffic. So much better than my 18 mpg in the Xterra.

My only complaint now is not getting the upgraded head unit with the Aux input. My XM myfi sounds like crap on FM transmission. Time to go shopping with the extra gas money.

[BenzTech Gone Versa]

very fast for a lil 1.8 liter and gas mileage is great for engine size.the car is actually fast for its size/weight and still gets great fuel mileage.its very comfy for the drivers and all passengers.*** i also have a really bad back,the seats are very comfy!!!i drove my versa 4,000 miles and im loving it.i heard the seats have 1/4 inch of memory foam.check it out on: http://www.youtube.comunder seach type in" nissan versa".or tiida.the only2 things that bugs me is:the cvt is very loud at low speeds,sounds like a subwoofer.also when i hit a road bump the rear suspension jumps up and bangs really loud,but if i got 2 ppl back there it doesnt bang,i guess the car is too light and the wheel base is too short even though its almost at the end with very little overhang.

[proxim2020]

also when i hit a road bump the rear suspension jumps up and bangs really loud,but if i got 2 ppl back there it doesnt bang,i guess the car is too light and the wheel base is too short even though its almost at the end with very little overhang.

Another user had this problem. Whenever they would hit a bump, it would sound like the suspension was bottoming out and get a nice thud in the back. It turned out that it was just the spare tire jack was not bolted down all the way and would bounce. I don't remember the topic, but you may want to check back there.

[Ever Victorious]

Another user had this problem. Whenever they would hit a bump, it would sound like the suspension was bottoming out and get a nice thud in the back. It turned out that it was just the spare tire jack was not bolted down all the way and would bounce. I don't remember the topic, but you may want to check back there.

Yeah, what he said.

I've taken my V all over (It's my work car, what can I say?) I had 6500 miles on it before the accident. Anyway, lots of places I go have severe angle changes and/or speed bumps in the parking lot. The only one that makes any noise at all is the one at the top of Penny Drive at Children's Hospital, and that's only if I'm not paying attention and hit it at more than 10mph.

So my official word is: Check your tire jack, make sure it is properly secured. Barring that, the V is telling you that you're driving over the bump too fast.

[BenzTech Gone Versa]

WooooooW And Holy Crap Is All I Can Say!Can Every1 Please Take Time And Look At How Your Jack Is Held On To TheCar............Freakin' RubberBand!!And Its Loose As Hell.

[SVersaS]

i love it, my favorite is the electric power steering, man it is smooth!! the ride is great and its really comfy too. the only thing id add is a little more hp, if i could.oh and it gets unusually noisy when u rev the car up to like 3000 rpms other than that its great!

[Althalus]

WooooooW And Holy Crap Is All I Can Say!Can Every1 Please Take Time And Look At How Your Jack Is Held On To TheCar............Freakin' RubberBand!!And Its Loose As Hell.

My rubberband thingy is rather tight actually.

And I totally agree with the statement that the radio picks up alot more. I get like an extra three stations with my versa vs. my dodge neon.

Also, I've had no problems with turning tightness, then again my neon's turning was getting to be pretty bad so I might just be used to that.

[klacan]

I've had my Versa for about a month and it has just over 4000 miles already. After a 6 hour drive,its still very comfortable.Nice seats.Good padding.Its an S 6sp manual with the Power Package. Very responsive,nice feel to the power steering and even though it could use a little more power, it "pulls" really well. Nice bright headlights,rear windshield wiper is a little noisy though.The seats are comfortable and I quite like the beige,even though its not the upgraded interior.The cup holders take some getting used to but other than that.Love it.

[jelliott2000]

I am new to this Forum....did you ever post anything on the Thule Racks.???..looking for one that will fit perfectly

[FlightNurse]

I feel like the old man of the group here, I bought my Versa the first part of July, and have 4200 miles on it. This what I think:

First off, the ride isn't 'stiff' people, well to americans, yes, but to europeans it isn't. This car has lots of European features, the ride and seats are the two things that set this car apart from a true japaness car and a European car. The ride is firm, but not bone jarring. the Versa rides better then our 05 Altima SE.

The CVT does take a while to get use to, but I love it, its so smooth. I have finally figured out how to keep the engine in the sweet spot to get the most use of the torque the engine produces. Now I can zip through traffic with out much problems.

The layout of the dash and feel of the controls are a mix of japan and europe.

Parking this car is a dream, the turning radius is amazing.

The Convience package is a bargin, $700 you get features that cars twice its price don't offer, and once you start using the Intelli-key you wont want to go back to the old Key Fob deal....

Last night a teamate of mine (play softball) was looking at my car, and started asking me questions about. I told him everything that I just wrote about the car, my only biggest ***** is the MPG this car is getting.... I trully think someone is mis quoting the figures... So on a scale of 0-10, I give this car a solid 8....

Tony
Modified by FlightNurse at 5:12 PM 10/12/2006

[FlightNurse]

It sure doesn't feel like a little car. The seating area feels bigger & more comfortable than my Xterra.

Driving on the mountain passes is a breeze. There hasn't been any passes on the Interstate that has required me to shift out of 6th.

Love the gas mileage. 347 miles and only at 1/2 tank.

I have to say t his in public, I do not beleive you have gone 347 on a 1/2 tank, if this is true you would be almost doubling the EPA mileage for the versa...

Tony

[proxim2020]

I have to say t his in public, I do not beleive you have gone 347 on a 1/2 tank, if this is true you would be almost doubling the EPA mileage for the versa...

Tony

I too have achieved gas mileage like this in my truck while traveling through the northeastern mountains. 63.5 mpg to be exact. Granted that it was all down hill, I had the truck in neutral, and there was nothing but coasting the whole way.

[Ever Victorious]

I too have achieved gas mileage like this in my truck while traveling through the northeastern mountains. 63.5 mpg to be exact. Granted that it was all down hill, I had the truck in neutral, and there was nothing but coasting the whole way.

Well, of course, we've already established many things.

1) The V's gas gauge can give you a false sense of UberMileage if you don't know how to read it and..

2) XterraVersa is a freak of nature with his 40-ish MPG economy. (And yes, he really IS getting that... makes me wish he could find a way to print out a copy of my tracking sheet so I could include him in my study...)

[proxim2020]

Well, of course, we've already established many things.

1) The V's gas gauge can give you a false sense of UberMileage if you don't know how to read it and..

2) XterraVersa is a freak of nature with his 40-ish MPG economy. (And yes, he really IS getting that... makes me wish he could find a way to print out a copy of my tracking sheet so I could include him in my study...)

The nice thin air up there in CO maybe helping out some.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Thin air would make it worse, though, not better.