New Car

[icarl]

I'm in the market for a new car and am curious about the versa. Here are my questions:

I don't like how the seats don't fold flat. Do the rear seat backs come off or is there some other way to fix this issue? I was thinking also maybe a false floor could be made to raise the floor to the same level as the seat backs and then use the underspace as a small storage area.

The fuel economy web site says the cvt is better than the 6spd for mpg. Is this true?

Would you recommend the versa as a good work vehicle that needs to haul boxes of parts/equipment?

[Ever Victorious]

I don't like how the seats don't fold flat. Do the rear seat backs come off or is there some other way to fix this issue? I was thinking also maybe a false floor could be made to raise the floor to the same level as the seat backs and then use the underspace as a small storage area.

The seat backs can't be removed (easily, anyway)... there is a cargo tray that inserts in the trunk floor that's available overseas. Versaspeed.com was trying to get a couple to test out, I haven't heard whether or not he succeeded. Also, this device reduces the amount of cargo space you have available, because it effectively raises the level of the floor. Yes, you can still put smaller items in there...

However, I think it's kind of irrelevant. Continue reading to find out why.

Quote »The fuel economy web site says the cvt is better than the 6spd for mpg. Is this true?[/quote]No. In real-world driving, 6-speeds average better economy overall, and the economy record holder on this board is also a 6-speed. The CVT seems to do QUITE well if you are cruising at a constant (and not excessive) speed... but the key is constant, which is a condition that rarely happens in the real world.

Quote »Would you recommend the versa as a good work vehicle that needs to haul boxes of parts/equipment?[/quote]Yes! This is actually what I do for a living, and we use personal vehicles (with mileage reimbursement from the company)... I do computer and server repair, so my boxes can be as small as a package of RAM, or as large as a boxed 23" monitor or other odd shaped equipment like blade enclosure power busses... (which are 6 feet long, 18" wide, and 4" thick when they're boxed).

I don't often have to use the rear seats unless I'm carrying a bunch of monitors, and most of the time, the parts load I carry will fit in the trunk under the package shelf, completely out of sight.

The fuel economy has been good on the job, too.

[Great White Versa]

Would you recommend the versa as a good work vehicle that needs to haul boxes of parts/equipment?

When I first got my V i was working as a souvenir rep which included making deliveries to the various stores that I serviced. Lots of big boxes in and out of the back all the time. My car loved it. The around town mpg seemed to be quite reasonable and it was still fairly peppy even with a full load.

[bikeman]

I don't like how the seats don't fold flat. Do the rear seat backs come off or is there some other way to fix this issue? I was thinking also maybe a false floor could be made to raise the floor to the same level as the seat backs and then use the underspace as a small storage area.

I built a false floor by using two 1x10x8's. For the few times I've needed it, it's worked great. The best part is the portability. I don't need to leave them (there's two sections) in the Versa when I don't need them. It's the best of both worlds. And it's a cheap fix.

David

[my_new_v]

Hey EV, question for you lol. When I went to the dealer to buy my V the sales guy told me the CVT does better on highway and does just as good intown as a 6spd. And the gas mileage on the stickers were the same except for the highway mileage was higher on the CVT. So im kinda lost now lol cause I know dealers will lie to get you to pay more for a car. So Im curious now.

[CARI0CA]

The rear seat issue is the only thing the Honda Fit has over the Versa. If you are not going to use the rear seats & use your V as a delivery wagon (a Combi in some countries), take 'em out (but now where do I put 'em?). I saw @ the local car show a Chevy HHR that had rear window delete (all rear windows) like a van. Interesting concept.

[bikeman]

The rear seat issue is the only thing the Honda Fit has over the Versa.

I believe the front passenger seat of the Fit also folds flat. Not a big issue but a bit easier to work with.

David

[themanfromvlad]

Let's not forget that the Fit's seats are awful, hard, and uncomfortable, whereas the Versa is incredibly comfortable, even for long trips. So if you care about human comfort levels, the Versa is a great choice.

[Ever Victorious]

Hey EV, question for you lol. When I went to the dealer to buy my V the sales guy told me the CVT does better on highway and does just as good intown as a 6spd. And the gas mileage on the stickers were the same except for the highway mileage was higher on the CVT. So im kinda lost now lol cause I know dealers will lie to get you to pay more for a car. So Im curious now.

It's not a lie if they don't know any better. EPA estimates show the two as the same in the city, but the CVT has a better highway rating.

Of course, we've had the conversation about fuel mileage a billion times before, and we all know that the EPA estimates are just that... estimates. Real-world data seems to indicate the 6-speed at being a little better overall than the CVT, despite what the ratings say.

Cair0ca- if you think the V's blind spots are troublesome, you should see the blind spots in that HHR Panel that you described...

[my_new_v]

Oh ok. Thanks man

Good thing I have the 6spd lol

[CARI0CA]

Chevy HHR "panel van:" I agree, one would have to totally rely on mirrors driving that rig. I have to with my deisel work van, an extended '95 E-350 & I pull a trailer also! Nothing like the noise & stink of a power stroke deisel in the morning to wake the neighbours...

[srellim234]

Real world reporting for the 2007 models at both True Delta and fueleconomy.gov has the 6 speed getting at minimum one mpg better than the CVT overall. Depending on the configuration (2008 v 2007, sedan v hatchback, etc.) the 6 speed is reported up to 5 mpg better than the CVT.

[icarl]

After looking closer the cargo 'hump' looks very intrusive. It must stick up at least a foot. What were they thinking? I can only imagine the engineers designed that seat late one night after having one too many. So to me that rear seat would have to come out. How easy is it to remove the rear seat?

[bikeman]

After looking closer the cargo 'hump' looks very intrusive. It must stick up at least a foot. What were they thinking? I can only imagine the engineers designed that seat late one night after having one too many. So to me that rear seat would have to come out. How easy is it to remove the rear seat?

This shouldn't come as a surprise to most of us but maybe to you. Engineers make compromises. Should the seat fold flat? Should the seat be comfortable? Should the seat have legroom? Should the seat take precedence over other features? What compromises are you willing to accept? These are the compromises that Nissan made. I'm comfortable with their decisions. You need a different set of engineering decisions. There's lots out there.

David

[Ever Victorious]

After looking closer the cargo 'hump' looks very intrusive. It must stick up at least a foot. What were they thinking? I can only imagine the engineers designed that seat late one night after having one too many. So to me that rear seat would have to come out. How easy is it to remove the rear seat?

The rear seat design was not last minute. It was thought out with what Nissan had in mind for what they wanted the car to have, which was unprecidented rear seat leg room and comfort, while still having good cargo space.

To achieve this, Nissan moved the rear seat back and up, and sat it on top of the gas tank.

In order to achieve the flat floor that you so covet, they would have to remove either the spare tire or the gas tank. Which, pray tell, would you rather drive around without?

It's obvious that a flat cargo floor is at the top of your "needs" list, and passenger comfort is much farther down. That's fine, not everyone has the same needs. But buying a Versa and removing the back seat because you want a flat floor is rather silly. Go look at a Fit or Forester or something like that.

BTW - removing the seat pads is only the beginning for making a flat floor. What are you going to do about the hooks that the lower seat pad slide into? In order to TRULY make the rear flat for your cargo, you'll have to grind these off, and then your rear seat can never be reinstalled again.

what exactly are you transporting that absolutely REQUIRES a flat floor?

[icarl]

I have to transport boxes of electronic/computer equipment. I don't mean to offend anyone but I can't see the hump being a good design at all for cargo storage. No other hatchback has that large of a protrusion. It renders the hatchback much less useful IMHO. Hopefully Nissan listens to such criticisms to improve future models. I drove the honda fit but it is too uncomfortable for me. My back got sore after driving for only 1/2 hour. There isn't much else out there that offers the comfort and conveniences of the versa at this price point. I had ruled the versa out previously because of the hump issue but now the versa is being offered for 0.9% financing here so it has become tempting and i am just looking for ways to get around the hump issue. However i may just have to pay more and get a pontiac vibe or toy matrix if i want a flat floor vehicle that is comfortable to drive.

[Ever Victorious]

I carry the exact same thing, and I've never had a problem with it.

[srellim234]

Boy, you sure ignore the obvious. ......... I guess this is the wrong place to ask about modifying the versa hump.

Pot calling the kettle black.

So far on this thread you've been given the explanation as to the design of the car. It was designed for creature comforts first, THEN the cargo utility. Hence the raised, comfortable back seat. You admit the Fit is uncomfortable. There's a reason for it. They designed their car for boxes, not people.

You've been presented with the plans from someone who has already modified the "versa hump" to make the cargo area flat. You chose to ignore them and continue railing against the car's design.

Someone on this forum carrying the exact same thing as you in the car tells you he's not having a problem with it and you choose to attack him rather than listen to a voice of experience.

Fold flat rear seats would be nice, but that's not the way Nissan designed the car. I'd like a pickup truck that gets 250 miles to the gallon and costs under $20k, too, but it simply isn't available right now. So, you find the closest thing to suit your needs, buy it, and move on. But don't attack people who are only here trying to help you.

By the way, the people here will confirm that I am not a staunch defender of the car. I'm one of the more critical Versa owners here. As for big boxes, though, I've even pitched a rocker/recliner, two card tables and four folding chairs in the back of my Versa with a quite a bit of room to spare.

[bucksnort]

Boy, you sure ignore the obvious. It is a bad design. Just because you have never had a problem doesn't mean other people won't. Every review i've read about the versa meantions the same hump flaw as well. I'm not the only one who doesn't like it. I guess this is the wrong place to ask about modifying the versa hump.

I'd rather have comfort for rear passengers. You've seam to be set on the Fit. That's fine. Sit in the rear seats and compare. If you want to haul boxes and cargo and such get van. This is a compact versatile machine. I myself am planning a trip to NC this summer and am getting a hitch put on and putting a hitch cargo hauler on for extras. I don't want to put more on top but whatever trips your trigger.

[icarl]

I thank you for all your comments but this thread is starting to become less helpful. And, I do not wish to attack anyone or be attacked because of opinions. I especially thank EV for his helplful comments. After looking at the versa again i can see how you could still use the space above the hump and still get by. Unfortunately the hump is such an abrupt change that it would make it more difficult to slide objects onto it from the rear. i think Nissan could have alleviated this somewhat by making the rear fold down at an incline like many other folding seats. The raised floor is an interesting idea but like EV said you loose a lot of height space when you do that because the hump is quite high. Another idea is to make a wedge or incline so you could slide things up onto the raised area. i would still be interested in knowing if anyone removed the rear seats or not but it is probably impracticle.

[srellim234]

I'm not sure about removing the seats; EV is the expert on that kind of thing. I would imagine, though, that the vast majority of what you are carrying could be loaded directlly onto the backs of those seats through the side rear doors so you wouldn't have to try to lift things up there from the rear of the car.

If you travel alone on your work most of the time, you can pull the passenger seat all the way forward, put that front seat back vertical, and have a lot of room to load through the rear side door.

[icarl]

I misread what EV and others said earlier when I made that comment and apologize for it and i have deleted it since it is wrong. i thought i was being attacked for my opinions and reacted wrongly.

[Ever Victorious]

The couple of times I've loaded fully boxed servers in my car (Compaq DL380 G5, for those who care, I was able to easily and comfortably load them from the rear. I was also able to put other items in the well (my tools, a folding hand truck, and a half a dozen hard drive boxes) and was able to access them just fine.

I understand where you're coming from, icarl... and there are a couple loads I've come across that the Versa just didn't cut it for. But that's been a grand total of 2 loads over 2 years, and both of those were easily handled by my wife's Tucson. Actually, that's not a bad little vehicle either if you don't mind compromising fuel economy somewhat... it's very comfortable, safe, great visibility, and has a flat floor + a fold-flat front passenger seat.

Good luck in your search, let us know what you end up with. And don't sweat the petty stuff.