Looking to purchase 08 Versa S - need some advice

[greenwar]

Folks, I am looking for some honest advice from current versa owners. I test drove the 08 versa S with power package and cruise only. I like the way it looks - somewhat european. What drew me to it, is its interior room and the crash protection (gas mileage). Other cars I considered are the honda fit and scion xd. I am strictly interested in the 6spd. Accelaration seemed adequate and vehicle seems to handle ok.

Here is a list of what I am expecting from the versa. Please correct me if you think my expection is out of line:

adequate accelation - I drove a 90 miata for a bit - which is slow (9.4sec to 60) - but coming from a v8 sedan(Q45) I thought that was adequate. I used to shift gear at 4k rpm. I hear versa does 0-60 in 9 sec.

Plenty of room - I liked the abundance of interior space

Decent stock radio - S comes with the 4 speaker system. I figured I will upgrade it using aftermarket stuff if its not adequate.

Good gas mileage - I am expecting 25-28 mpg in city/hwy mixed driving. I plan on taking many road trips so gas mileage is important to me. I am getting the 6spd.

Decent handling - I am not looking to take sharp turns with this car but I would like something that does not handle like a minivan. From what I hear, versa handles pretty close to the fit. Also I am concerned about the wind buffetting. My 2000 I30 is susceptible to crosswind - I can handle some but too much of it may be hard to swallow.

Gear shifting - I thought the gear shifting in versa was ok. It's not as good as the miata of course. I felt the 6th gear was useless as it didn't really do anything to rest the engine. High rpm at cruising does not bother me as i feel that it keeps the car within its power band.

Overall obeservation: Interior parts seemed decent - miata had pretty crappy stuff and I could live with that. Tires looked small - which is good for me as I can cheaply change them when needed. Seats seemed comfortable - I have some back issues and need good lumber support to be comfortable. I thought the engine revved very freely - reached 4k rpm very easily. I didn't push it any further as the car had 62 miles on it.

Now the final and most important question. My dealer is quoting 14650 for a 08 versa with the following option:

Power packageCruise controlmud flapsaluminum kick plate - I could care less about it.Floor and trunk mats

Is 14650 a good price? I have never bought a new car and have little idea on how to bargain. I did notice the invoice price for a similar car is 13999. Where do you think I should start from? I will also need to trade in my 2000 I30.

I hope to hear some opinions from you guys specially on the price.

[cherryball]

I am not sure how much the power package cost. but i bought my 2008 versa HB SL (CVT) for $15500. My versa only has Cruise control, mud flaps,aluminum kick plate and Floor and trunk mats options.

[lain]

I don't believe the 6speeds come with cruise control do they?

The versa is a great car. I take it sliding on rainy days and it handle good aon the turns. cant drift the sucka tho cause its fwd. the miata's are rwd if im not mistaken.

I paid 15000 out the door. I just went in there said I wanted this car this color and they got it for me. I didnt care to even talk about the price I just signed the paperwork and thats the price they gave me. My payments are $250 a month at a 5%.

[greenwar]

I don't believe the 6speeds come with cruise control do they?

The versa is a great car. I take it sliding on rainy days and it handle good aon the turns. cant drift the sucka tho cause its fwd. the miata's are rwd if im not mistaken.

I paid 15000 out the door. I just went in there said I wanted this car this color and they got it for me. I didnt care to even talk about the price I just signed the paperwork and thats the price they gave me. My payments are $250 a month at a 5%.

6spds do come with Cruise. The one I drove had controls on the steering. Also the "build your versa" has the option online.

Miata is rwd.

[biggie]

Yes 6spd can have CC, my '07 does. But there are no SL 6spd for '08, just now you can get more options on the S.

It handles pretty well (for fwd) and getting up to speed with the manual isn't hard. You can feel the wind affect the car, but its not horrible.

I get 31-33mpg for mixed highway/city (more hwy though). You should have not problem getting 28-29 even all city and driving a little hard (I do).

I would say you can get it at the invoice cost.

[Great White Versa]

Are you looking at a hatchback or sedan?

I have the '07 hatch and I really like it. It is very comfortable for everyday driving as well as road trips. Without A/C I got about 35 mpg on my last trip, and that was from Vegas through Bakersfield and on to the CA 99 so I was cruising at above 80 for most of the drive.

I do get a bit of wind buffeting, but that's to be expected with how light and tall the car is. It is not any worse than an old sports car I had, but less than my 01 prelude (heavy, low)

Shifting for has improved over time (the gears/shifting lever move more smoothly) and highway cruising has remained reasonably quiet.

$600 over invoice doesn't seem like an unreasonable starting point as invoice does not include destination charges, etc. You should be able to buy for a few hundred dollars less than that.

[andrew_aj1]

But there are no SL 6spd for '08.

This is not true. You can get a 2008 SL Hatch with a 6-speed (I have one), but the SL Sedan you can only get with the CVT.

[Ever Victorious]

Yes 6spd can have CC, my '07 does. But there are no SL 6spd for '08, just now you can get more options on the S.

Correction, there are no 6 speed SL SEDANS for '08.

There are PLENTY of 6-speed SL Hatches for '08.

To be honest, the SL 6-speed's base price is now what, 14,550 plus destination? Unless your total included tax and licensing, it would make more sense to get a basic SL 6-speed for the few hundred more it will cost. You'll get better interior fabric, front and rear armrests, a MUCH better stereo, and alloys.

[9Blazin]

I agree with victorious, preferably one with bluetooth helps out when your driving manual!

[Great White Versa]

I would agree with that. the base model SL might only be a couple hundred more and will have all of those options plus a few.

[andrew_aj1]

Correction, there are no 6 speed SL SEDANS for '08.

There are PLENTY of 6-speed SL Hatches for '08.

Ever Victorious,

That was a close race between us to get that information out, less than a minute difference.

[monkeybear]

If that is the out the door price then I wouldn't sweat it although if the SL was a cheap enough upgrade it would be worth looking into.

If thats not the OTD price find out if any of the Nissan dealerships in your area have an option where they let you get a quote on a car via email. I got an 08 out the door with all the options and an automatic transmission, which is an extra $800, for 14,600 including destination and TTL and I didn't even have to haggle, well not about the price. I just got an email explaining what the invoice price was and that it would be my price too. My understanding is that the guy who answers the emails doesn't get a commission, now if they want to call you with a quote thats a different story. Not sure if it is true, just what I heard and my expierence.

[greenwar]

Thanks for all the inputs guys. I will what you guys mentioned and see what kind of deal I can get. SL did look like a good deal for the money.

[lain]

I agree with victorious, preferably one with bluetooth helps out when your driving manual!

LOL i hated that. trying to drive while on the phone shifting gears and turning at the same time. I usually just tell the person, "Hold on!" and drop the phone on my lap. After the turn I pick the phone back up and start talking again. I'm a very carful driver, and when you grow up in an area where there are alot of asian drivers, not bring down the asians but if you live where i lived you would know where i'm coming from, there are so many times I have to avoid other cars hitting me. its really funny watching them drive. they bust u-turns out of know where when there are other cars coming at them...everyone slows down and honks and they act like they did nothing wrong :/

[07Vsdn]

"Is 14650 a good price?"

Invoice for your car (edmunds.com) $13,996MSRP for your car (nissanusa.com) $14,650

The absolute best price you could possibly get for your car is invoice. (There are currently no incentives.) I don't think there is any way you'll get invoice. I would expect that you could negotiate at least $250 off MSRP. Edmunds.com says that for your car the average selling price, what they call their True Market Value (TMV) is $14574. (At least for my zip code.)

I would offer them $14k. They won't take it but maybe the'll come down a bit. Try and get them to ultimately meet you half way. If you've got another Nissan dealership close by, work them against each other.

Also, be very careful about documentation fees. I had a dealership try to charge us $350 in doc fees and another dealership, the one we bought from, only charged us $50!!

You might really consider going with Ever Victorious' suggestion of a base SL. You are looking at $15,465 but you will get some worthy upgrades.

The only problem with that is I bet it will be hard to find an SL with no other options added...

Other then that I think you have some pretty fair expectations of what the Versa is and what kind of performance you will get from it. Having said that, I would suggest test driving the Fit and Scion xD. I'm not a big fan of the Yaris but the Fit and xD are great options. The discount and incentives my wife and I got on our Versa sealed the deal for us...

[Ever Victorious]

You might really consider going with Ever Victorious' suggestion of a base SL. You are looking at $15,465 but you will get some worthy upgrades.

The only problem with that is I bet it will be hard to find an SL with no other options added...

True, it is hard to find an SL with absolutely NO options, but it's very easy to find an SL with just ABS... a $250 option that's very worthwhile, as non-ABS versas are prone to fishtailing under panic braking.

[Vahagn23]

I got a Sedan S, with nothing but the floor mats, and convinence package I think, I had no idea what i was getting, because my dealers are all ****ing asswholes, thye told me they would get me the car with magentic gray, and told me all the cars come with CVT transmission, so im like okay cool, then they call me and tell me there is no Magentic Grey and they get me a white color im still cool, then I pick up the car im thinking I got a CVT transmission and all the stuff, but they took off the window sticker and never gave it to me, and i found out here a week later that S doesnt come with CVT and that its illegal to take of the sticker.

and yes I did go back to the dealer, the asswhole said why would I need CVT Trans or the sticker, and thats it.

[BillyBeaneBall]

They have to give you the window sticker....that's totally illegal...did you talk to a lawyer...they should have to take the car back!

[greenwar]

I got some pretty decent responses from local dealers. I can get a fully loaded 6spd SL for around 17k.

Does anyone know how much the versa weigh?


Modified by greenwar at 12:22 PM 10/22/2007

[Ever Victorious]

Does anyone know how much the versa weigh?

2718 pounds for an SL manual, no options.

[Bubs daddy]

Vahagn23,

Toward the bottom of the sticker it reads:

"This label is added to this vehicle to comply with federal law. The label cannot be removed or altered prior to the delivery to the ultimate purchaser."

[stwrynight0]

i just purchased an 2008 sl cvt with the convenience pkg and i love it. It has evrything i want and more. I finally figured out and programmed my bluetooth

[07Vsdn]

if you are still looking there are incentives on the versa.

2007 Versa Sedan 1.9% APR financing for up to 36 months or 2.9% APR financing for up to 48 months or 3.9% APR financing for up to 60 months for qualified buyers OR $1,250 cash back*

2007 Versa Hatch 1.9% APR financing for up to 36 months or 2.9% APR financing for up to 48 months or 3.9% APR financing for up to 60 months for qualified buyers OR $1,250 cash back**

[zgol]

I have a 6speed '08 HB. I'm getting decent gas mileage ~30MPRG. This is mostly suburbs/highway. On a trip from NC to MD ~450 miles I got ~33 MPG.

I find the gearing a little annoying and seems like the potential they had with 6 gears was wasted.

Comfort - I tested the fit, yaris, aveo, scion xd and the versa was the most comfortable to me. I don't know if it matters to you but everyone who has been in the back seat has said it's big and comfortable. Ok I guess when I had 3 adults in the back they didn't say it was comfortable but they weren't complaining after the hour long trip.

I got my versa out the door (tax, tags, BS fees etc.) $17k. More than I wanted to pay but that's a long story.

My last car was a minivan so I can't complain at all about the versa's handling.