Versa v Fit

[Deke40]

I just did a dealer trade and picked up a Honda Fit and drove it 200 miles back home.

My Versa is quiter, more comfortable seats, naturally more power and a better ride.

Fit handles better.

[KimberKenobi]

O.O

why?

How do you feel about the lack of dead pedal?

[NY.AD.MAN]

You forgot to say that the Fit looks like a severed minivan...

Oh yeah, and is a Honda...

[jfanaselle]

It's a sad day when someone buys a fit.

[boxcarbill]

O.O

why?

How do you feel about the lack of dead pedal?

If you mean the throttle lag time, ditto.

[bikeman]

The main similarity between the Fit and the Versa is they're both hatchbacks. Outside of that, they're so dissimilar that I really don't like to see them compared. If the Versa has to be compared to a Honda, I think the Civic is more appropriate. I enjoyed driving the Fit but I wouldn't want to own one. If I was thirty years younger and comfort wasn't a priority, the Fit might fare better.

David

[blindsnyper]

i just cried a little

V this is you < this is me

[Deke40]

Forgot to mention the constant downshifting over slight hills and overpasses. God bless my CVT.

[Rockhound]

So I'm confused...did you trade in your Versa for a Fit? That seems to be the conclusion most have come to in this thread, but you never say it outright.

Oh yeah, and is a Honda...

This cracks me up. I'm a Nissan (& Versa) fan as much as the next guy, but what, pray tell, is so bad about Hondas? Hmmm...solid reliability history, great resale value throughout their lineup, bullet-proof engines. Yeah, Hondas sure suck all right. Tip: There's little reason to look at other cars/car companies as 'competition'. The day I learned to not be a 'hater' but to take a general interest in all cars available was a good day - it only serves to benefit me as a consumer to consider all the options available instead of being a Nissan-only shopper.

I do agree that all the love the Fit receives from the media (and lack thereof for the Versa) gets old - so it's about .3 seconds faster from 0-60 and offers a little tighter handling. Great. On the other hand, lacking a dead pedal hardly makes it a horrible vehicle.

[KimberKenobi]

On the other hand, lacking a dead pedal hardly makes it a horrible vehicle.

Well, It's more of a 'personal comfort' issue... I take several multi-hour trips... I wouldn't want to buy a car w/o a dead pedal if there was one of similar price/option that had one. You need lots of options for positioning when you're driving in 6-50 hour stretches...

[Deke40]

So I'm confused...did you trade in your Versa for a Fit? That seems to be the conclusion most have come to in this thread, but you never say it outright.

No I am still the proud owner of a Versa. I retired at the age of 54 and wanted to stay busy but didn't want to work at a "real" job so got hooked up in my local county with doing "dealer trades" with most of the dealers.

I am now 67 and driving exclusively for the local Honda, Nissan and Toyota dealers and loving getting to drive all the different cars. The only thing is when you drive a real improved car it makes you want one.

The one awesome thing I didn't mention about the Fit was the lights which reach out further on brights than anything I have driven.

Going to put our Altima 3.5SL to good use in late May with a trip to California. We have 420 miles of posted 80MPH in west Texas that will speed up the trip and will all be legal.
Modified by Deke40 at 7:01 AM 12/29/2007

[Ever Victorious]

bullet-proof engines.

... You're joking, right?

Hondas have been the second biggest POSes my family has ever owned, second only to 80's Chrysler products.

Honda is the ONLY marque I truly hate.

[lain]

Honda engines can take a huge beating. They are high rev motors and can handle redline better then Nissans. That would be the only thing I like about Honda. Ask anyone who currently works with imports and they will tell you the same thing.

[Ever Victorious]

I don't have to ask anyone. All I have to do is look at the repair bills for the Hondas that have been in the family. Only 1 of the 3 made it past the 100,000 mile mark without a MAJOR engine or transmission failure.

One of the civics (mother-in-law's) snapped two cranks in half, despite religious, regular maintenance and being driven very cautiously. All that in 120,000 miles.

I've also never driven a Honda that was around the 100,000 mile mark that didnt' feel like it was about to crap out random parts onto the road.

Sorry, but I'd rather push a Ford than take my chances with a Honda.

[Andrews Chalmers]

My exp with Hondas are rather limited - but the engines seems bear Honda's motorbike heritage and rev higher than other similar auto-engines.

Honda's automatic transmission on their Accord lineup in early 2000 did seem to have issues however...

[2008nvs]

It's a sad day when someone buys a fit.

It's even sadder when someone buy's a yars

[2008nvs]

I'm going to show my versa to my parents tonight and their neighbor owns a fit the same color as mine. I'm looking forward to seeing them side to side and comparing the two. (I didn't look a the fit when I was shopping for a car because of it's starting price)

[NY.AD.MAN]

I should probably explain my dislike for Honda.

Yes, they are reliable and yes, they are cheaper than Toyota... BUT, they have some questionable styling, the interior looks like it was designed by NASA (only with the budget of Kia as their parts tend to break, fade or crack much sooner than other Japanese competitors) and the car doesn't actually drive as an enthusiast would have it drive.

Take the Fit.

It feels like a cheap, small car. It looks like a cheap, small car. It sounds like a cheap, small car. BUT it will probably run forever. WHO CARES?!

If you don't enjoy the drive, why buy a car? Why not enjoy every second with the second largest investment that you'll ever make? The reason why I am a Nissan snob is because they are reliable, enjoyable, powerful and interestingly styled cars. You know you're looking at a Nissan from the second you look at it! Plus, they feel stable and composed. Who doesn't want a car that says:

"Yes, I am built so that you can enjoy every second we share together... Take me on long trips and you won't feel like you were just dragged behind the car the entire way! Take me out just for fun!"

With a small amount of money, the Versa is thousands less than its nearest competitor (equipped similarly), so for the same price you could have a lowered Versa with wheels and a great tint job that looks classy and sophisticated and not just affordable and reliable.

It's kind of like a Crown Vic in NYC... Yes, it can withstand a beating, but you're still driving a Ford...

[lain]

The only Honda's I would ever consider buying would probably be a S2000, 1st Gen CRX (I accually thing the 2nd Gen looks alot nicer but the weight difference is too much), or the newest SI's. They all look fun.

[BBISHOPPCM]

I buy Nissans because they are seemingly bulletproof, provide excellent value for the money, and are very stylish (I even like the "ugly" Nissans, like the 1999 Sentra I used to have). Of all the vehicles my parents have owned, two of them have provided utmost reliability;

1) 1986 Honda Civic; My mom drove that thing for almost 7 years and 150,000 miles with a bad transmission. In that time, we replaced the starter once, and the alternator once. That was it.

2) 1996 Mercury Villager (Nissan Maxima drivetrain). Outside of normal wear and tear, that van was trouble-free for the 9 years and 100,000 miles we owned it for.

Everything else was junk. My parents decided to buy a 2001 Mercedes ML320, which turned out to be a TOTAL piece of junk; traded it in for an even worse 2002 Chrysler Town and Country, which is another HEAP.

Personally, I have had bad luck with Mazda and VW; When I decided to switch to Nissan, all my car problems went away. I will continue to buy Nissans until I have a reason not to.

I have always considered Subaru, but I just can't get past the styling. After all, I have to look at the car, too.

Why won't I buy I Honda? They look and feel cheap; they just don't impress me. Another factor; they seem to have a tendency to burn oil, and they still haven't solved their transmission problems.

[07Vsdn]

we test drove a fit. it was aight.

we like our versa more.

[Ever Victorious]

I have always considered Subaru, but I just can't get past the styling. After all, I have to look at the car, too.

Sadly, Subaru just sits on their laurels as far as design goes. They figure that since all their cars have ABS and AWD, they're perfect. But their designs are O-L-D... Even though the Impreza was redesigned for '08, it is mechanically and dimensionally the same car they brought out in 1993.

I was hoping, for example, that Subaru would redesign the Impreza's interior to be a little roomier and more comfortable, given that the Versa is physically nearly identical in all exterior aspects. Subaru failed... the car feels EXACTLY the same as the 1st gen.

They're even really slow at bringing out "new" technologies. Don't expect to see Bluetooth in one until 2010.

I grew up with Subarus, and used to love them with every fiber of my being... but I couldn't justify the cost and the poor fuel economy for a car that is now so dated.

Oh yeah, and they STILL have head gasket issues with the EJ series engines.

[rwanttaja]

If you don't enjoy the drive, why buy a car?

Mmmmm....to get to where I need to go?

To me, a car is 100% transport of the corpus, not of the soul. It should maneuver and accelerate well and provide good visibility for safety's sake, it should ride well, be easy to enter and exit, and have a comfortable seating arrangement for comfort's sake, and should contain the appropriate appointments to make life easier on the road. I could have afforded a more expensive car, but the Versa met most of my needs at a price that freed up more money to splurge on my true weaknesses.

The funnest car I ever owned was a 1946 Willys Jeep. A wheelbase shorter than a VW Bug, a stance about a half-foot wider, iron suspension that did NOT permit body roll, a roaring Willys "Go-Devil" 4-cylinder engine, and a windshield that folded down so your knees were in the breeze. No seat belts, no doors, no roll bar, no energy-absorbing steering column, and you're sitting directly atop the gas tank. Damn, that was fun....

Ron

[Rockhound]

Hondas have been the second biggest POSes my family has ever owned, second only to 80's Chrysler products.

I'm no Honda "fan" by any stretch of the imagination, but reliability data suggests that Hondas are some of the most reliable cars available. Sounds like your family had the misfortune of buying several defective Hondas...and I completely understand how that's ruined the brand for you.

When I was growing up, my dad was a "Ford man". I watched him get burned by 5 Fords in a row, everything from 3.8L V6 headgaskets (three times), Taurus transmissions (twice), 3.0L V6 oil consumption, and general crappiness all around. As a kid, I was always buried in car magazines - and I kept telling him to buy my mom a Nissan Maxima for her next car instead of another horrible Ford product. So he did, and thus began my family's move to being a Nissan family.

I know full well that Honda has had some transmission issues (transmission shared in cars such as the Acura CL and TL) among other gremlins. Or what about Toyota's late-90s oil sludge issues? And Nissan's genius move from the SR20 to the QR25? No car company is bulletproof across the board, but Japan's "big 3" (Toyondassan) has historically been far more reliable than both American and European makes.

[lain]

I own one of these cars. It has never been a problem. Now I just have it sitting in my Dad's garage. It will runs and I have driving it around before. It just needs alot of work on the interior.

Maybe this Saturday I'll take a picture of it.

[evoxpisces]

Although I do prefer Nissans, Hondas are by no means bad. I can understand that some people don't like them. There are plenty of people who don't like Nissan I'm sure. My first car was a 93 Honda Civic with 400,000+ miles on it. Hard to believe, yes I know. Original engine, original everything (except the obvious tires, brakes, etc). And it still ran very well. My dad who was an auto mechanic for 25+ years even said how well it ran even after having 400K miles on it. I have rarely even seen a car above 200K, let alone 400K. Every car dealer messes up sometimes, but Honda is still one of the most reliable car companies today, and that's good enough reason to see as many Hondas on the road as I do.

With that said, the Fit is not a bad car, though when I took a look at it, it did feel cheap. It's still up in the air what kind of car I will be getting within the next few months (I currently own a 97 Altima) but the Versa is the most likely outcome.

When it all comes down to it, it's all opinion. Some people like Hondas, some people don't. Personally, I like them, I just prefer Nissan. I personally don't like Toyota, but that doesn't mean I think they're a bad company. They make great vehicles, I just don't like the styling, think they're a bit overpriced, and underpowered, but again that's my opinion.

As for wanting a reliable car, who doesn't? In the long run I think almost any car can last you 10 years if you take good enough care of it. Even Fords.

[Rockhound]

As for wanting a reliable car, who doesn't? In the long run I think almost any car can last you 10 years if you take good enough care of it. Even Fords.

You make some good points. Today, the reliability gap has closed sufficiently between most makes to allow more subjective factors (styling et al) come to the forefront.

While I know what you're getting at, the problems my family had with Fords (1980s and 90s) were not avoidable through 'proper maintenance'. Shoddy engine design made sure that even the best of upkeep didn't matter. Poorly designed transmissions also weren't built with longevity in mind. Fords today have vastly improved, but I cannot help but be leery of them after seeing issues like this pop up, car after car.

I will say that when I was shopping for my first car back in the day (I was sticking to the used lots, of course) most of the high mileage cars I saw were Hondas, Toyotas, and to a lesser extent, Nissans. Saw so many late-80s 200k+ mile Civics I couldn't believe it. Wound up with a 103k mile B13 Sentra that was problem free for the duration that I owned it.

[sooner4x4]

One of the things I like most of this Versa forum is the lack of trash talk of other brands that can occur on many other forums.

Everyone knows someone or has personally experienced a (insert any car name here) that was unreliable for some reason. Where the discussion takes a wrong turn is when someone then labels the entire brand a POS.

The primary difference between Honda/Toyota/Nissan and the American nameplates is, it is easy to find someone who experienced a Chrysler Transmission failure or a Ford Taurus engine or AC failure. It is well known that some companies built a lot of cars with defective parts year after year, resulting in a high percentage of these vehicles experiencing common and expensive repairs. This practice of cranking out lots of defective vehicles just isn't seen very often in the Honda/Toyota/Nissan vehicles. I am not saying they build perfect vehicles, but it has been my personal experience that the Hondas and Toyotas in my life have been way way way more reliable than the GM and Chrysler vehicles I have owned. I may eventually try an American nameplate car again someday, when I am convinced reliability has improved.

The Versa is my first Nissan and hopefully it will age as well as my Hondas and Toyotas have.

[Rockhound]

Well said, Sooner.

[tehferret]

I drove a versa and a fit.I have had 2 240sx and 1 1991 Honda civic hb and just traded in my 02 subaru wrx in my 5 years of driving

Let me just say one styling which is based on what u like and there is no right or wrong way to look. My statments are based on function over form. I am more interested how things work and how they interact wiht each other rather than "looking cool".

Versa- cool features(ie. bluetooth) but everything else is lackluster. Car did feel soild but lacked in the fun department. Drives more like a small curse liner even though sub-compact. Very good car but felt like could of been better. although the more HP was nice as having to keep a car in its power band to pass a geo metro is not fun

Fit- Not as many features as versa but everthing is well placed and serves a purpose. More function over form!!! Great handling felt more sportier and more stable. Great sterio and speakers and the magic seats are a plus!!!! My friend owns a versa and lets just say the ladies ride wiht me. And what can i say its a honda.....best resale value bar none(i was a car salesmen at one point and our used car lot was full of left over nissans vs the honda's that were non existant. A better over all rounded car vs one or two high points of the versa(ie..dead petal....although nothing 30 bucks and 10mins cant fix ).

One of the things I like most of this Versa forum is the lack of trash talk of other brands that can occur on many other forums.

Everyone knows someone or has personally experienced a (insert any car name here) that was unreliable for some reason. Where the discussion takes a wrong turn is when someone then labels the entire brand a POS.

Sorry sir but no matter where u go there is always gonna be some trash talk. Its what makes us enthusiasts its because we care deeply for our car and car brand. So saying this bored is completly trash talk free is wrong and your fellow nissan buddies here have proved it.
Modified by tehferret at 12:47 AM 1/20/2008