Trying to get a Versa

[andrew_aj1]

I believe this is only my second post here, but i have been reading this forum ever since April. I started looking for a replacement for my current car back in October 2006. I looked all around and could not find the right car for me. Finnally I came across the Versa and instantly loved the car.

In March 2007 I was finnally ready to buy the car. I looked at many reviews and would spend 3 or 4 hours a week at Nissan's website figuring out exactly what I wanted in my car. I went to a local dealer and they had two Versas on their lot; both S models with an automatic transmission. I talked to a couple of salesmen for about 45 minutes about the car. I kept stateing that I did not want any of the two cars they had to offer. First I wanted a Versa with a manual transmission and second I did not want the car in the colors they had.

They finnally stoped trying to sell me the cars on the lot and started talking about special ordering one; which sounded great. Not much time after that they started stating that I would have to commit to buying that vehicle no matter what and a down payment before I even get to see the car. Thats when red flags started poping up in my head. These guys did not want to even let me try out the manual transmission before I bought the car. So finnally I said no and left the dealership.

Two days later I found a Versa with a 6-speed transmission at a dealership about a hour way, eventhough I was told by the first dealership that there was none here in northern California at all. I went up there and test drove the vehicle and loved it. The sales person I worked with knew I did not want that car they had on the lot and did mention to me they can order what I wanted. I mainly went there to test drive the Versa with the 6-speed.

Everything seamed to be going well. I had to wait for a few days for an answer about the car. I never heard anything after over a week so I called up there and spoke to the salesman again and he stated that he was still working on it and would call me back tomorrow. I never recieved a call. After calling two more times and hearing the same thing I gave up on that dealership.

A business friend of mine got me in contact with the owner of a dealership about 3 hours away. This guy has been great to deal with so far, but we have had a few problems. We have ordered the car twice now and still haev not been able to get one built for us. The first one we placed an order for was an '07. We were told that they did not make it because it was the last ordering cycle for that year of the car and they were just trying to get rid of what they had left. That was fine with me and we placed another order, but for an '08.

Today I just found out that they are not making the vehicle I want this cycle. The dealership told me we can try again, but we still dont know if they will make it the next cycle. This is starting to really suck for me and the dealer. The owner stated that he hates this because he has a customer that will buy a car, but he cant get it.

The car im looking for right now is:

Versa SLBlue OnyxCharcoal Cloth6-speed transmissionSplash Guards (I was told they were required)Convnience PackageABS Package

I would also like to get the Moonroof Package which I know requires the upgraded audio and satellite radio. I could live without this though.

I feel a bit better after typing this rant. Please wish me luck with getting my Versa. I hope to become more active in this forum, but I dont feel like I should say too much till I actually own the car.

Also if anyone knows if there is anything else I can do besides waiting to see what happens please let me know.

Thanks

Andrew

[Ever Victorious]

he said that they weren't building them this cycle? odd... sounds almost exactly like the car Woogie is getting, which should have arrived today (and it was confirmed that the car WAS coming, and they knew exactly when).

inventory of '08's should start showing up soon in the system. I'd look for you, but there aren't any listed here yet.

[Woogie]

Well, mine has the CVT, and it was actually a car that the dealer was getting anyway and not a special order.

Didn't I read somewhere that the majority of the SLs were being made with the CVT and not the manual transmission?

[andrew_aj1]

They are not building a Versa close to what I want. I was told the hard part is getting it with the 6-speed transmission. A few years ago i was basically forced to drive a '86 CRX because my transmission in my car before that stoped working. The CRX was a 5-speed. I had about a hour training on how to drive a manual and i was on my own. I killed that car 50 times in the first week. After I got the hang for it I loved it. Now I dont want to go back.

The dealership said the only ones close was a Blue Onyx with beige cloth or a Magnetic Gray with most of the options I want. The grey does not look bad, but I really like the blue.

Ever Victorious, are you a dealer or something? If you can get any information about a versa like the one I stated above that would be great.

Woogie, you replyed right before I clicked on post. I was about to look and see what you were getting. In the back of my head I was thinking yours was a CVT.

I might have to actually get mine in a CVT, but im not willing to yet. Personally I dont mind waiting to get the car I want because I dont want to walk out to my car every day and say something like "why the hell did i get that color/feature/etc." If I was told they would make my car, but it would not be ready till December I would be cool with it.

[Bubs daddy]

Andrew,

I was feeling the same way you are back in December. I went on the lot absolutely convinced I wanted the 6 speed. They had one and the next day I went back it was gone.

Just for giggles, I test rode the CVT transmission. Loved it. I told myself I'd never want the auto transmission but this one was so different so I bought it, SL with ABS.

They certainly make far less manuals than autos because their buying public wants the automatic. But keep searching, I'm sure you'll find one although probably not with the exact specs you desire.

It was fun test driving the manual, I liked it but once I got into the SL with CVT, there was no going back.

Hope you find what you're looking for.

[Woogie]

The one I am getting is magnetic gray with charcoal interior (the only interior it comes with, actually), CVT, the convenience package, and ABS. Like you mentioned, you have to take the splash guards if you want both ABS and convenience package. Better than the '07s though, where except for a very limited number, you had to take a fully loaded SL to get both ABS and the convenience package.

I also liked the blue onyx best, but magnetic gray was my second choice, so I took it.

[Ever Victorious]

Ever Victorious, are you a dealer or something? If you can get any information about a versa like the one I stated above that would be great.

No, just a guy who's bought two V's, both blue onyx with charcoal interiors.

I had forgotten that Woogie was getting a CVT.

Yes, there will be more CVTs than manuals because sadly, Americans have a preference for automatics.

[andrew_aj1]

Due to what Bubs Daddy said I might have to go try the CVT out. I just like being in control of the power in the car. Maybe ill like it. When I talked to the dealer today the owner stated that the earliest we will know anything will be mid next week. Hopefully I will finnally hear some good news by then.

Ever Victorious, is both your Versas CVT?

[Ever Victorious]

No, they are (were, don't have #1 anymore) both 6MTs.

[Bubs daddy]

I really enjoyed the six speed during the test drive. Had it been there the next day, I would have bought it. I know what you mean about being in control of shift points and such.

Enjoy the ride and keep us posted on what you get.

[andrew_aj1]

Ever Victorious, what interrior color do you have. Also what packages do you have for your Versa? I looked around the forum and could not find exactly what you have.

[Ever Victorious]

Ever Victorious, what interrior color do you have. Also what packages do you have for your Versa? I looked around the forum and could not find exactly what you have.

Both were blue onyx with charcoal cloth.

First one had convenience package. Second has ABS. Both are 07's, so I coudn't get both packges w/o the moonroof.

[biggie]

I was definately not ready to give up the feeling the shifts and then given the 6MT versus the 4AT; the 6MT won easily (for price and mpg).

The SL w/ 6MT was rare on '07s, mine was the only one in this state last month when I got it.

GL on the search.

[andrew_aj1]

Thanks everyone for your help and support. Im glad that there are Versas out there like the one I wnat to get. It give me hope that this long wait will be worth it. And like I said before I dont mind waiting as long as I get what I want.

[blacksmaru]

Sounds j ust like what happend to me. I tried to special order one with a sport package, audio, conv. and abs. They said they wouldn`t be making anymore 07`s and then they were adding more options you would HAVE to add on in order to get what i originally wanted.

So having money down from my order we went to the dealer saturday and left with a bright blue cvt, conv. and power package. Eventho i wanted black, but they wifey loved the blue so went with that. I wanted to VIP style it too...

[N4M31355]

Getting an SL with M/T is a little harder because sometimes you have to wait for the to produce so many. It's like they do a batch of A/T, a batch of CVT, and then the M/T. One of the people I work with had to wait 6 months to get the car she wanted. Another thing, I pretty sure once you get the convenience package, you lose the ABS package. And splash guards aren't required.

[Ever Victorious]

It was actually only the very first batches of V's that couldn't have convenience and ABS together. Starting about January of 07 you could get both together, but you also had to get the sunroof and audio packages.

For '08, you can get just the convenience and ABS without the sunroof/audio/satellite package.

[andrew_aj1]

Okay, time for an update.

On Tuesday this week I called to check on the status of our new order to find out that it was not approved for this batch. That really sucked, but i told the dealer lets try again. The dealer said he is going to keep trying this order until he gets it; even if I decide not to buy it for some reason. So another order will be placed for the next batch.

On Wednesday I thought to myself how else can I get this car. I thought of working my way up the Nissan corp ladder till I find someone who can help me get it. I started off with just sending a e-mail to Nissan's consumer affairs. Today I recieved a responce from them. In the e-mail they seamed to be slightly concerned and wanted more information from me by either e-mail or phone. I decided to call because I would have a faster responce. I talked to someone there for about 35 minutes. The person said this is the first time that he has heard of anything like this because if you can build it on the website they can build it in the factory. He took my information and told me that some regional persion (sorry, I don't remember the exact title) would contact me by the end of Fridy.

Hopefully I'm getting closer to owning my own Versa. We will see and I will keep everyone here updated.

[blacksmaru]

good job dude, keep us posted on how that goes, i tried to get the versa i wanted but they kept telling me that the 08 models had to have more options added on that i didn`t want... stand your ground, lol

[andrew_aj1]

Thanks for the support. Im going to work my way up to the CEO if I have to. It will be a lot of work, but my social engineering skills are good. In the end it will be worth it.

[Ever Victorious]

Way to be resourceful there. I hope it pans out for you.

And if you DO make it up that high... say hello to Carlos Ghosn for us.

[andrew_aj1]

If I have to as high as Carlos Ghosen I will tell him hi from everyone here. I'll also be sure to invite him to join us here on the Versa Forums.

Right now im still waiting for a phone call from someone at nissan. I was told I would have a call by the end of today. Im keeping my fingers crossed.

[andrew_aj1]

Its been a month since my last post so I thought I would update everyone on whats going on.

I have made at least 30 phone calls to a dozen numbers trying to get my Versa with no success yet. Everyone I talk to is very nice and they try to help me, but in then end I get to someone who says the only way to do anything is through the dealership.

I don't have much free time because my college classes started again about three weeks ago and my business is keeping me busy too. I do call and try to find someone who can get the car from me whenever I can though.

I have another order placed through the dealer right now and the status as of friday is pending. So I'm still crossing my fingers and hopefully one day i'll get my versa.

[BillyBeaneBall]

Reading this thread made me want to cry. really it did. Before I owned my V, I had a 5MT on my previous car and loved it...but I hated always having to be the DD if I drove or making sure I was in proper driving condition (IE...not tired) if I was out late because NO ONE..and I mean NO ONE knows how to drive manual transmission here in the States anymore. So I knew I wanted an A/T in my new V. Here's what I learned though...I LOVE my CVT. If you haven't tried it out, I suggest you do so. But I understand that you know exactly what you want and settling for anything less would probably not be as exciting either.

Though I suggest trying this if you decide to go CVT...go to a dealer and ask them to look for any 2007 V with the rest of the options you want in it...you can get a really good price on a fully loaded one right now (if the dealership can find one for you) I did, and if I had my heart set on a MT and I had gotten a CVT for the price I paid for the one I have now...the cost would have made up for it in my mind.

Good luck on your search!

[lain]

It was hard for me to get my Versa too. I went to a few dealerships none of them had the color I wanted. But one had a 6speed so I test drove it, wasnt really happy with the speed but I wanted the car anyways.

The salesmen was really cool he was like a 40 y.o. Japanese dude and drove a 240sx. Well I was driving the versa I asked him if I can push the car and he said go for it just be carful so I downshifted and gunned it...it was alright. My girlfriend liked the car so I said ok I'll buy one but not this color.

The next day I called about 20 dealers in the area and none had it. I was looking for:

6speed MTBlack ExteriorBlack Interior

That was my only requirments the rest I didn't car about. One dealer close by said they he had one but he had to made a trade with another dealership that was about 3 hour drive away somewhere in the desert so I had to wait until the next day got my car (had 220 miles from the trip) signed the paperwork and took off in my V. Forgot the reverse you had the pull the thingy up and went to 6th gear...stalled..said oo0o0o. I forgot.

[Vahagn23]

I find all these dealers are rip offs, and they dont want you to buy anything thats not what they have on the lot, I wish we could just order right from the NIssan factory or something, or online through nissanusa.com like when we build the cars.

[KimberKenobi]

I had no problem placing an order at my dealer... they're just giving you a hard time. Probably because they've already gotten their shipment of cars... the best time to 'place an order' is when they are preparing for a truck and they can get the car as part of that shipment (so they don't end up with extra cars).

[andrew_aj1]

Ok, I have some good news. I found a Versa close to what Im looking for. Its a 2008 SL Blue Onyx, Charcol cloth, splash guards, Convnience, and kick plates. I really wanted the moonroof, but its not really required. This also does not have the ABS package, which does suck because its a saftey feature.

The biggest thing though is that the car is about 500 miles away. I don't know if the dealer I'm working with will be able to transfer the vehicle up here on a truck or what. I don't want some kid that just started working at the dealership to drive my car the first 500 miles. If they can get it up here on a truck that would be cool. If not maybe me and a friend will take a weekend road trip down there.

I don't know. What do you guys think?

[Woogie]

If you want ABS, then I would wait, as it's not something that can be added later.

[andrew_aj1]

I do want ABS, but ive been waiting for five months now. Just placed my fifth order over a week ago.

This car is close to what i at least wanted. Its only missing that. So close. I dont know if I should hold out or go for it.