Street gawkers and bluetooth microphone issues

[calebu2]

Before I get to my actual question about issues with the bluetooth microphone, a funny story - wonder how many of you have experienced this.

So I'm backing out of a parking space at CVS doing a 157-point K turn because I still haven't learned how small the car is and don't plan on doing so by bumping into SUVs. This woman who is heading for one of the cars next to me gestures for me to roll down my window (I'm now thinking "Please tell me she doesn't think I hit her SUV"). She asks "How do you like the car?" and proceeds to ask me 20 questions about it.

I haven't experienced this in almost three years since I was one of the first in the area to show up with a 2004 Toyota Prius (At least then you kind of expected the questions because people's first interaction with the car was usually once they had stepped blindly in front of the silently moving vehicle). At the risk of upsetting everybody here - is the Versa really that "intriguing" that people are stopping you in the street to ask about it? Before I started doing my research into a new car I don't think I could have pulled a versa out of a line up of Yarises, Fits, Focii etc.

Anyway, my actual question: I have the convenience option with the bluetooth microphone and I find that

a) The voice recognition has no clue what I am saying (despite doing the training). It keeps imagining that I say additional numbers. I can't even program the phonebook as a result

b) People tell me I sound like I am in a tunnel when I talk. I'm 6'2" and have the seat positioned so that there is probably 12-16" between my mouth and the microphone. If I was that close to my phone in speakerphone mode, the audio quality would be excellent.

c) Recording memos on the car, my voice does sound a little tinny.

Have other people experienced this? What kind of audio quality should I be expecting? (I'd have hoped that a $700 package could at least match a $200 aftermarket bluetooth adapter)

I plan on having it looked at when I go for my 1200 mile checkup shortly. Given that the microphone is not completely dead (you can hear me just not clearly), I am a little concerned that the dealer will declare it as a non-issue. I've seen thread after thread of people with Infinitis who have this issue, so I'm sure Nissan corporate is aware of it. Does anyone have any advice for how to get the dealership to get the thing working correctly?

(It's a pity I can't persuade Nissan corporate to let me do a beta test for an upgraded bluetooth module that supports A2DP and AVRCP. Why no cars on the market with bluetooth have these profiles built in beats me).

Steve

[cyberdeity]

Yeah, I get people asking about my V all the time while I'm out & about. I never see any other Vs in my area, so that might have something to do with it. I've not customized the appearance of it yet either, so that isn't what's grabbing people's attention. Funny part is, if I had to guesstimate ages, I'd say no one under 45 has asked about the car tho, which I found surprising.

As for the bluetooth, I also have had the same complaints with sound quality. I gave up on the bluetooth and turned it off - I've had much better luck with the standard ear-clip. It's a shame cause I really enjoyed how it would auto-mute the stereo when a call came in and it's much easier to hear people thru the radio instead of the ear-clip but oh well :-) Maybe eventually I'll tinker with replacing the Versa roof mic with a better one or something.

[tractor07v]

I didn't get the built in bluetooth so I cant give any imput on that(i just use a head set) but I was surprised at how many poeple were amazed by my car, and the ones who didnt really like it at first I just had them sit inside and they were shocked at how much room you have. And also I have yet to see a single V sedan in my area but have seen 3 hatch's. But personally I like the sedan a little more overall even though at first I liked the hatch but it all comes down to preference

[Scuba Steve]

My experience with the bluetooth....I use it a lot and based on my friends & family the sound quality varies, I've noticed that if they have a good phone it's clear sounding no problems whatsoever, but others have said they can't here me talk, no changes in head units volume. I keep the volume at 22to24 on the dial. any lower they won'te hear you...any higher they will hear backfeed & echo. So try the volume at the level 22 to 24 and see what happens.

[Ever Victorious]

Here we go again on calling it a $700 bluetooth package. It's far more than just BT.

But anyway, if you read the FAQs on the nissanversa.org page, it touches on the issue of sounding like you're in a tin can. It's designed that way, nothing you can really do about it. If your speaker phone on your cell can outperform the V at that distance, then use it. At the same distances, my BT phone is completely inaudible. Especially if I am moving.... so the speaker phone function of the V was about three hundred times better than the function on my phone.

As for it adding extra numbers, you might take it in to the dealership and see if they can figure something out. If it does it with more than one person, it's a fault in the system, not the user.

[proxim2020]

I thought this topic was about Catcalling while driving a V. I'm so disappointed

[markkingston]

I've found that the Bluetooth generally works very well for me. In the early days I did have it get the odd word wrong but then I did the voice training and found it to up the accuracy quite a bit.

The only time I found that the system 'added digits' was when I called out the first half of a number and a friend called out the rest. I don't have a theory as to why.

[Cowboys Fan 87]

I haven't had very many issues with the BT...I find it very easy to use. I've listened to my voice when using it (leave yourself a message on your voice mail) and basically I talk really loud to overcome the short comings of the Mic.

As for using the built in address book....I've had no problems using it either. One thing I did when I programmed my address book was turn the blower on as high and loud as it will go, this way the system hears my voice combined with noise, which is how you really use it.

Just my 2 cents...