Perspective is everything

[srellim234]

The fact that it's all a matter of perspective was really driven home to me this morning. Another family at the girls' school bought a silver Versa SL just like ours. We chatted a little about the Versas in the parking lot and I mentioned that I was a little disappointed in the gas mileage at a 28 average. They were shocked that I would be disappointed since they, too, are getting 28 and are thrilled.

Comparing where we are coming from, our last two vehicles we used as our primary vehicles around town were a Geo Metro and a Civic. Their last two primary vehicles were a Caravan and a Chevy Astro van. The Versa is their first small car.

What a difference your perspective makes!

[DejaWiz]

Indeed it does.

I came from a '90 Saab 900 NA 5spd that was failing miserably by the time I got rid of it after having it for almost 9 years... got me 19-23mpg.

Then came along the '03 GTI VR6 that yielded 19-21mpg faithfully. It started having all sorts of issues at only 68K miles (AC, clutch hydraulics, and a few other things) that would have equated to around $5K in repairs. Traded it in for the V, and I'm really happy with the 28-30mpg I'm getting just commuting back and forth to work and misc errands. Can't wait to see what it does on the road trip to KC next week. Having a warranty for once is quite nice, as well.

[srellim234]

You will probably be quite pleased. I averaged 32.9 California to Florida and back in the Versa using easy accelleration, staying at the speed limit (which included 80 mph in Texas) and once getting to the speed limit just setting the cruise control and not trying to milk the mileage. I would suspect you'll probably do better than that.

Again, it's perspective. The '94 Civic averaged 39.8 on the same trip a few years ago.

[bdu]

Comparing where we are coming from, our last two vehicles we used as our primary vehicles around town were a Geo Metro and a Civic. Their last two primary vehicles were a Caravan and a Chevy Astro van. The Versa is their first small car.

What a difference your perspective makes!

Yup, my father bought a Versa after I purchased mine (and he'd gone for a couple rides in it). Afterwards, I mentioned that I was somewhat unhappy with the gas mileage (regularly coming in around 26, I'd hoped it would be better than my 9 year old Pontiac, which was getting about the same), and with the acceleration rate from a dead stop. He replied that he was quite happy with both, having just scaled down from minivans!

[Shad0wXCalibur]

I'm not bothered by my Versas mileage but I don't like how my 190,000 mile Neon that has a 2.0 motor and a THREE speed automatic gets better mileage. I've managed to get 370 miles to a tank on a roadtrip with the Neon (which has nearly the same size gas tank) but it's a little hard to get the Versa to 300 miles. A Neon with a manual transmission gets insane mileage for the engine size and power it has. Lots of people with manual Neons get in the 40's. Some even high 40s on road trips. I don't understand why engines are getting LESS efficient.

[Knightro2]

I came from a 15mpg Xterra so I'm extremely happy. Although the whole reason I bought the Versa was to get away from $50 fillups and now I'm back to that. But still better than having kept the X.

[Ever Victorious]

Perspective can change as you own a car, too. Having started in the high 31's and having the car deteriorate in mileage is rather discouraging.

We're now completely on summer blend fuel, but I haven't cracked 29 MPG in the last 4 tanks. The one I just put in today couldn't even reach 27. I'm now starting to flirt with the economy I was getting with the V6 Kia I had just before Versa #1.

[frankoV]

What a difference your perspective makes!

I'd like to add that expectation also makes a difference. I'm coming in from a van with pathetic mileage to a V with half-decent mileage . . . so I'm happy . . . but I expected better mileage . . . so I'm unhappy.

EV, VB, and many others with initials had expectations of a quailty-built car, one that wasn't going to spend a lot of time in the shop under warranty, and one that if it did need warranty work would be fixed. Right. The first time. Without being told "it's normal for your car to act like a Yugo".

Perspective and expectation. Somewhere in the balance.

[kc5f]

I actually came from a stick shift Ford Probe which got 10% better mileage than my Versa's long-term mileage, but it didn't have any of the creature comfort features the Versa does, so while I was hoping for better mileage, I'm certainly not unhappy.

Another example of perspective is that folks come to forums like this for the most part to get help with problems. Looking at the tens of thousands of Versas that have been sold and the number of complaints found here (and only a few with problems in common) does put things in another perspective.

[DejaWiz]

You will probably be quite pleased. I averaged 32.9 California to Florida and back in the Versa using easy accelleration, staying at the speed limit (which included 80 mph in Texas) and once getting to the speed limit just setting the cruise control and not trying to milk the mileage. I would suspect you'll probably do better than that.

Again, it's perspective. The '94 Civic averaged 39.8 on the same trip a few years ago.

I hope so. The last vehicle I owned which got awesome mileage was an '88 Escort EXP (88HP 1.9L w/ 5spd manual). Averaged 37-38mpg from Nebraska to Michigan when I moved up there for college. That was attained with about 400 lbs of all my stuff crammed into the hatch, my father and I totaling about 375 lbs, and the A/C running pretty much the whole trip.

While I wish the Versa could come closer to that number, I suppose I really can't complain for the mileage I do get for about an even 50/50 cty/hwy given that it's a 5 door hatchback with plenty of room, lots of creature comforts, and a much more solid/quality feel than the EXP.

[Ever Victorious]

EV, VB, and many others with initials had expectations of a quailty-built car, one that wasn't going to spend a lot of time in the shop under warranty, and one that if it did need warranty work would be fixed. Right. The first time. Without being told "it's normal for your car to act like a Yugo".

I don't think that was a terribly unrealistic expectation either. Things break, I know that. And as you implied, that's what warranties are for. I'm very envious of those who have managed to go the entire warranty period without needing to take their car in for repairs.

[Rand0m0sityxX]

were a Geo Metro

I came to my Versa from a 1998 Chevy Metro ( the first year it became Chevy from Geo) and it got Poor gas milage, even tho it was a 4 cylinder. I don't really know why it did that but it averaged maybe 23mpg. My Versa averages 30mpg.

[superskunk]

i came from an 87 nissan 300ZX n/a.... and on short trips with that i would get like 12 miles... now if i drive sane... i get more then 30, but keep in mind my car is lowered.... also i dont have cruise control.... its all me baby.... lol....

[thezcarguy]

I have a pretty new 08 hatchback SL, CVT. At first I was a bit dissappointed with the mileage the car returned. I got from 27.7 to 30.0 mpg from day one. I now have 5,500 miles on it. Recently with the rise in gas prices I have started to change my driving habits. Doing just that alone, (slow starts, no tailgateing, coasting as much as possible, ect.) my last tank was 35.0 mpg. And this is in L.A. rush hour traffic everyday. To be honest I am only in that bad traffic for about 50% of my 60 mile daily communte.

Also another reason our cars dont get the mileage of some older compact cars is its weight. The Versa isnt the smallest car on the road. And more importantly smog regulations are much tighter now than they were in the 90's. It plays a large role in why we dont get as much mpg now as we used to.

[teenbean]

Considering my last car was a 2001 Galant and I only got about 19mpg.. I'm pretty happy with the 28-30mpg I've been getting. I'd like it to be BETTER, but hey.. can't complain too much.

[NY.AD.MAN]

What the hell are you people doing with your Versas!?

I'm getting 32 average and I live in a hilly area around Athens, GA (UGA)

All I have to say is that with the 6spd manual it's about finding the right match of RPMs to Gear, and I've not had a single tank under 30 mpg average...

Coming from a 1994 Taurus Wagon and listening to my friends talk about their 29mpg average in the new Civic, I'm pretty satisfied!

[DejaWiz]

What the hell are you people doing with your Versas!?

I'm getting 32 average and I live in a hilly area around Athens, GA (UGA)

All I have to say is that with the 6spd manual it's about finding the right match of RPMs to Gear, and I've not had a single tank under 30 mpg average...

I'm getting 28-30mpg average with the CVT. I thought about getting the manual since there is a lot of hilly area in town, but decided against it since the CVT offers much lower RPM's (which usually equates to less noise and more MPG) at highway/interstate speeds.

[lightspeed08v]

I traded in my 04 4x4Titan for a 08Versa S 4speed auto....Took it on a 1100 mile round about road trip...avg prolly around 32 mpg HWY...driving through some mountains of WV ,,I would turn off the Overdrive to give the car a little extra ump up and down BIG hills...the shift shock is not bad @ all..revs about 3500 to 4000 going up big hills...how is the CVT doing the same thing?......

[kc5f]

how is the CVT doing the same thing?

One part of my commute home is a 2-1/2 mile climb up the "Blue Ridge Escarpment" on I-26. The speed limit is 65, and if I keep the rpm's at 3000 it will drop to about 60 by the top (the steepest part). If I stay at 3500 it will hold 65-70 all the way. (If I let the cruise control handle it, there are sections where it will rev to 4000, but rarely higher.)

[superskunk]

i too have a 60 mile round trip from downtown LA to the port of Long Beach..... im really not too worried about gas mileage.... i drive how i want, but sometimes i wish i could drive slower.... but pretty sure that certain areas and states have different gas blends.... like cali has really strict laws when it comes to smog.... and maybe detergents in gasoline plays a part in overall mpg.....

[Avidshifty]

I might not belong posting in this topic since i dont track my milage like some of you, but using my crappy math i seem to be averaging 29-30mpg in my '07 hatch automatic versa.

And i drive like a madman. when the light turns green i go, i do at least 10+ over the limit on normal days (80mph+). altho most of my trip is highway.

50 miles a day, 5 days a week. i fill up about once a week. im very happy with it. altho paying $41 a fillup is getting real old and when no end in sight....

[bigdog]

it seems to me when it comes to mpg the ones with the cvt seem to have more complaints than anyone else,but thats just my perspective on the subject,btw my 2007 s auto avg. is 30.5-31.5mpg. no complaints from me.

[frankoV]

I'm just glad to be going as far on a $50. fill-up this year as I went last year at this time.

[stinkyenglishteacher]

I went from 17 mpg in a Pathfinder to 28 mpg in my Versa. It's awesome - and so are the 40 dollar fills. I was about to start drilling for oil in my backyard to get to work.

Oh, and I'm new to the forum. (I know, you're thinking, "Thanks, Captain Obvious!!") 08 Versa Sedan SL, sunroof, convenience, audio pkg. I'd really love to slap a cold air intake on her, lower her springs and add a nice strut, but being a new mom and a teacher, we're on a tight budget. I want to autocross her, though, at some point.

[Red Devil]

The main reason older cars got such great mileage was weight. Our "compact" versa's weight around the 2700-2900 mark. You look at an Old CRX or something and they only weigh around the 2000 mark. Weight is the killer of mpg.

The reason for weight increase? Safety standards. My 1990 240SX doesnt have even 1/2 of the safety my Versa has. Chassis reinforcement, airbags and other redundant technologies have pushed weight up. My 240 doesnt have 1 single airbag while the Versa comes standard with SIX!

A good look at what minimalist weight does? Ariel Atom. It weighs under 2000lbs, I thinks its under 1500lbs even, has a Supercharged Ecotech 4 cyl(in America, its a K20 in europe), does 0-60 in 2 seconds AND gets 36 mpg highway.

I mean, you've got A/C standard on most cars when it used to be an option. You've got powered steering(again, used to be an option), ABS, the multiple airbags, CD players and the like, heavier chassis, e.t.c. Thats why you see the mpg's being equal or less than your older compact econocars. Stricter regulations on safety than previously imposed, more "luxury" options becoming standard features, emission regulating equipment and the like push weight up and efficiency down.

I'd be interested to see someone put a 1.8l MR18 out of the Versa into an older "malaise era" Nissan and see the mpg.

[KimberKenobi]

its all me baby.... lol....

rofl...

[VersaMG08]

My previous car, '98 Honda Civic 2dr I bought was 5 years old used with 63k miles. That car ran fine for a few years, got 33-38 mpg. After it hit 80k, it started having problems with the ECU.

I didn't think to much about it, but when came the time for emissions in Colorado after I moved out of Washington state for my license plates, I had to find out the price of the ECU. It would be around $900 or so from the Honda dealer in Westminster. I was like screw it. The O2 sensor went bad, changed that, the wiper blades didn't work quite right on intermediate, fixed that. The amount of money started to add up fixing the car.

Afterwards, I got my full cat-back exhaust installed on my car and the stock SI spoiler. That car was broken into two times, stereo stolen twice, once outside Bestbuy, second, outside my home including my amp and sub. On top of that, some idiot was going to make a left turn and I was to the right of him. He didn't have a blinker on, turned, and swipped the left side of my fender and bumper. Didn't fix that because I was going to get rid of the car, I held up the damage with duct tape for a while.

I basically got tired of hondas in general and sold it to my sister, had about 115k miles on the odometer. Didn't want to deal with anymore problems I had with the Civic. The reason I got the Versa was prior experience driving Nissan's. My dad owned a '82, '87, and '97 Sentra and I learned how to drive in one. Overall experience driving the Versa was much better than the Civic.

[superskunk]

I went from 17 mpg in a Pathfinder to 28 mpg in my Versa. It's awesome - and so are the 40 dollar fills. I was about to start drilling for oil in my backyard to get to work.

welcome.... and i service oil wells for a living here in cali.... its not as easy as you think.... Jed Clampet was full of it! lol.....