Nissan Needs A Caveat on HP Rating

[achr]

I've owned over 20 different vehicles and have never seen such a dramatic performance difference between a warm summer day and a cold winter morning.

When the vehicle is fully warmed up, it actually feels somewhat peppy and adds credence to the 122 HP rating. On a winter morning however, it feels like about 60 HP. A whole lot of throttle, lots of engine noise, but not much action. Brings a whole new meaning to the word SLUGGISH.

Anyone else notice this? Perhaps it's a CVT anomoly until the oil thins out as it warms up.

[Versagirlie]

I havent noticed a difference, though I live in southern Cali, soooo there is a big difference between our winter and yours. I think the coldest its been was like low 50's.

[bikeman]

Anyone else notice this? Perhaps it's a CVT anomoly until the oil thins out as it warms up.

In Winter, I'm sluggish but the Versa does just fine. It's a good idea not to push the car too hard until it's warmed up sufficiently but that doesn't take but several minutes even in near zero (F) temperatures.

David

[frankoV]

Anyone else notice this? Perhaps it's a CVT anomoly until the oil thins out as it warms up.

I've been thinking the same thing.

In Winter, I'm sluggish but the Versa does just fine. It's a good idea not to push the car too hard until it's warmed up sufficiently but that doesn't take but several minutes even in near zero (F) temperatures.

Then you've got the city fathers who have seen fit to punish those of us who warm our cars: get caught idling your car for 2 minutes in Ottawa and a hefty fine comes your way.

And bylaw officers always seem to find you! Jumped out of the car one day, ran into a house to pick something up, was being "printed up" [no more writing -- a hand-held does a much better job for them ] Asked the guy and he said he'd just come on shift and happened down the street. Bah.

Back to topic: sluggish until warm-up then fine.

[vpnavy]

I haven't noticed a difference at all. I don't really push the V until the "blue light" goes out though... Also, I have the 4 speed automatic (not CVT) so that might make a difference.

[frankoV]

And might I say . . . you don't live in Canada?

I know you aren't in the sun belt, but perhaps your weather is a tad better than here.

[jmaclean]

Then you've got the city fathers who have seen fit to punish those of us who warm our cars: get caught idling your car for 2 minutes in Ottawa and a hefty fine comes your way. And bylaw officers .

" 'Holy crime-stoppers Robin,' " big brother has it 'out-for-you' there!! Is this a provincial law or City of Ottawa ordinance? Are bylaw officers the same thing as what we call 'meter maids' here in Minneapolis? Although I can do it in the suburb where I live, it's against the law to leave your car running unattended, even if it's locked in Minneapolis. But, they don't time how long you warm the car up. Who knows though, with the way gas is increasing in cost, they may follow your suit.

[frankoV]

City of Ottawa ordinance. Meter maids? How un-PC!

If they can find a way to take a dollar they will.

[Andrews Chalmers]

We drive torque - talk about HP.

[bucksnort]

City of Ottawa ordinance. Meter maids? How un-PC!

If they can find a way to take a dollar they will.

One word.

Blow up doll or mannequin

[Great White Versa]

it's against the law to leave your car running unattended, even if it's locked in Minneapolis.

I'm pretty sure that its against the law almost everywhere.

As for myself. I can notice a difference in how my car perform by how i warm it up. If i drive too hard before its warm the engine sounds different than if i drive cautiously until it warms.

[frankoV]

What does "warm up" mean in LV?

[Ever Victorious]

What does "warm up" mean in LV?

Similar to a lizard... let your Versa bake on a rock in the morning sun for a half hour.

[Great White Versa]

What does "warm up" mean in LV?

Haha. It was below freezing once or twice this year

I get into my car, turn it on, and then do about a minute's worth of lacing up shoes, making sure i have my work gear and adjusting the music. I then drive slowly out of my neighborhood. It takes a few more minutes before i get to any major streets, and by then my light has gone off. At which point I start enjoying the drive

Its the same thing that i did while living in Utah where it does actually get cold. Just, it doesn't take quite as long to do here.

[frankoV]

Haha. It was below freezing once or twice this year

Since Sunday.

Quote »I get into my car, turn it on, and then do about a minute's worth of lacing up shoes, making sure i have my work gear and adjusting the music.[/quote]I get into my car, turn it on, then do about five minutes worth of scraping windows and adjusting the music.

Quote »I then drive slowly out of my neighborhood. It takes a few more minutes before i get to any major streets, and by then my light has gone off. At which point I start enjoying the drive [/quote]I then drive slowly out of my neighbourhood, making sure that I avoid snowbanks ans tuck vehicles. It takes a few more minutes before I get to any major street, and a few more before I get to my office, and by then my light has usually gone off.

OK, it isn't that bad . . . but close.

Modified by frankohabs at 10:51 PM 3/4/2008
Modified by frankohabs at 10:52 PM 3/4/2008

[gotak]

There's a light that tells you when the car's finished warming? I don't have that in the Sentra.

I do notice what you mean about the different feeling when it's cold. It's not really a differences in the power from the engine just the CVT is acting weird. For example normally to go at 60 kph on flat road the engine only needs to run at 1.1k rpm anything higher and it starts to accelerate. When it's cold it's stuck around 2k rpm going 60. However, with the engine running at that speed it heats up rather quickly. Not sure if that's a bad thing but if you aren't going the speed limit or above people try to run you over so not much of a choice.

Nissan does say not to use the shifter paddles until the CVT is warmed up or I could have unexpected operations. Whatever that means.

[07V84Z]

There's a light that tells you when the car's finished warming? I don't have that in the Sentra.

thats because the Sentra has a Temp gauge. the Versa does not, hence the need for the light. the blue (signifying COLD) is on until the car is at Opperating temp. then it goes off.

as for the OP problem...i dont understand that...? if the ambient air is colder, and the car is at Opp. Temp. the car should run BETTER. cold air is more dense, and therefore burns better. as for the car being sluggish...i mean, it's just a Versa. yeah it's a little peppy when needed (in my experience anyway) but its an econo car. a GREAT one at that. i've actually recomended it to people, and THEY BOUGHT ONE!

[boingo82]

I also have noticed that the Versa is sluggish and LOUD until it is warmed up. I am in NM, but not the Albuquerque part. We saw temps below -10 this year.

[blacksmaru]

good thing i live in hawaii, our "winter" consists of rain and big waves, lol

[Zadkiel]

Last time I checked the Versa wasnt a performance vehicle so I'm not worried about acceleration.

[kcourtad]

I'm pretty sure that its against the law almost everywhere.

where i live at... its mostly country and they call it a city but its not a real big one... cars are left running all the time and most cars are left with the keys still in them... the biggest crime out here is just speeding where i live at... dont hear of many cars being stole...

[KKaWing]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't Canadian V's come with block warmers standard? The cord should be bundled right in front of the battery? Should make a huge difference when starting on a cold day.

[CARI0CA]

ANY car wil feel sluggish when cold. Ever try driving a 4WD truck @ -35 C ? Especially if you have conventional gear oil (say thick syrup) rolling around both diffs, transfer cas & gear box. Not to metion the front wheel bearings!

Not sure yet on my CVT. I have and under-drive garage she sleeps in, so a fronzen car is a rarity...

[07V84Z]

i know in MD it is illegal to leave a car idling for more than like 5 minutes or something? but the law states that it is illegal unless the time is necesarry for the car to reach opperating temp.

are we talking about the car being 'cold' as in not at opp. temp.? or its a cold day outside? they are two completely different things. if the car isn't at opp. temp. and its cold outside (or not) yes, the car will probably feel slugish. but if the car is completely warmed up, and its cold outside performance would increase. not a lot, on cars with more HP, or those that use forced induction, the colder the intake air the better. colder air is denser, and therefore burns much more efficiantly. on the Versa it probably doesn't effect it much, but it certainly wont be worse if the ambient air is cold.