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What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

9838 messages,  Last post on Feb 07, 2013 at 10:28 PM

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What is this discussion about? Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, smart fortwo, MINI Cooper

Messages Page 978 of 985

#9763 of 9838 Re: The List: [ateixeira] by nippononly

Oct 15, 2012 (12:40 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Oct 15, 2012 12:35 pm)
Around here, the base 500 and Mini both have $199/mo lease deals. The only difference is that the 500 is sign-and-drive, while the Mini wants about $2000 up-front.

#9764 of 9838 Re: The List: [steve_] by kyfdx HOST

Oct 15, 2012 (4:11 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Oct 15, 2012 10:45 am)
Versa? Really?
 
Can't say I like anything about them...
 
Other than the Fit, most Fiestas are way above the price point of the cars on that list...

#9765 of 9838 Re: The List: [kyfdx] by steve_ HOST

Oct 15, 2012 (4:18 pm)

Replying to: kyfdx (Oct 15, 2012 4:11 pm)
Well, they're bulletproof. Just ask Sneakers. He's got two of them now and drives them into the ground going to all those basketball games (never have a kid who's a sports star!).

#9766 of 9838 Re: The List: [steve_] by kyfdx HOST

Oct 15, 2012 (4:20 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Oct 15, 2012 4:18 pm)
At least it's not a Caliber..

#9767 of 9838 Now that the Caliber's toast... by iluvmysephia1

Oct 15, 2012 (4:29 pm)

Dodge can make some real progress in the compact category. If I didn't already have a '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS I'd be really, really interested in the new Dodge Dart. Indeed.

#9768 of 9838 Versa: pretty simple really by maxx4me

Oct 16, 2012 (3:58 am)

I don't understand the confusion. The Versa hatchback has adult room for the driver and front and rear passengers, not muppet leg room like the Fit and other highly touted vehicles. Headroom and visibility are also outstanding. Recent year models can be had with bluetooth and radio controls on the steering wheel, unlike again, the Fit which is a minimalist car that Honda forces you to buy expensive and an unnecessary navigation package before you can have bluetooth. Shoppers have figured it out, which is why you see so many of them on the road.

#9769 of 9838 Re: The List: [steve_] by pf_flyer HOST

Oct 16, 2012 (4:11 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Oct 15, 2012 4:18 pm)
Technically, I sort of have 3(4) Versas. My daughter bought the 2007 from me and it has about 102,000 on it. Only issue we had with that one is due (I'm certain of this) to ethanol in the gas leading to more water (as a combustion by-product) in the exhaust, which cause a flange right in front of the muffler to rust out from the inside in 2009. Then we had a 2010 for about 90 days before a car stopped for deer in front of my wife, she stopped for that car, but the F-150 coming up behind her did not. Totaled the Versa, but the car did it's job and crumpled around the wife and she didn't have a scratch. The car was hit hard enough and bent to the point where the front seats were no longer in line with each other. So I'll give it good crash safety, at least in the type of crash we had. And we currently have a 2011 (wife's replacement) and 2012 in the driveway. About 60,000 on the '11 (as Steve said, basketball travel) and almost 16,000 on the 2012.
 
As long as they keep making them in 6-speed manuals, I'm good to go! Oh yea, my only nit pick, and my kids agree with me on this... it either needs to be a 7-speed or just move each gear up slightly. First gear is good for about 10 feet before you need to go to 2nd, and it just feels like a 7th gear would work on the highway. But this is a minor nitpick for us.
 
Interior room is really good. We've moved my daughter into college with one car having all her stuff and the two of us in. I think the most stuff I've ever put in was moving string orchestra instruments to a concert. I had two full-size double basses, three full-size cellos, and assorted violins and violas tucked in corners, along with a front seat passenger and all doors and hatches closed with nothing sticking out of any windows.
 
Guess I'm Versa-tile

#9770 of 9838 Re: Versa: pretty simple really [maxx4me] by bpizzuti

Oct 16, 2012 (5:33 am)

Replying to: maxx4me (Oct 16, 2012 3:58 am)
Have you sat in the back of the Fit? It's surprising. I'm a big 6 footer, and after I adjust the driver's seat for myself, not only can I sit in the rear seat behind the driver but I can do so COMFORTABLY.
 
If the car was *ahem* fitted out the way I wanted I'd consider it. But no auto climate control, MPGs aren't as good as the Mazda3, and it doesn't handle quite as well. Maybe the next redesign.

#9771 of 9838 Re: Versa: pretty simple really [bpizzuti] by andre1969

Oct 16, 2012 (5:56 am)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Oct 16, 2012 5:33 am)
I agree...given how tiny it is overall, the Fit's not bad inside. Too small for my tastes, but with the front seat adjusted all the way back for me (6'3"), I was still able to fit in back. However, the side curvature made me lean inward, and overall it had a claustrophobic feel about it.
 
As for the Versa, one reason it might be selling well is that the recent restyle made it look like a much more expensive car than it is, IMO. However, I think it's just the sedan that was restyled and not the hatchback.
 
I remember sitting in a hatchback Versa, and being impressed at the back seat. I'd say that if you need 4-passenger seating, the Versa's a better pick than the Fit. But if you value cargo space, the Fit seemed better suited in that regard.

#9772 of 9838 Re: Versa: pretty simple really [bpizzuti] by maxx4me

Oct 16, 2012 (6:10 am)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Oct 16, 2012 5:33 am)
I have sat in and crawled around every inch of the Fit. It is not as comfortable as the Versa by any stretch of the imagination. Foot positioning for the rear passengers is poor and the knee room is not as good as either the Versa Hatchback nor Elantra Touring. I have not driven a Fit but have driven the Versa and found it very smooth and cushioning on the road. Moreover, used Versas are much more competatively priced than Fits by a wide margin. While reaching the oil filter is more of a pain in the Versa and the rear seats don't collapse for a flat floor, and while it bothers me that it is assembled in Mexico and not rated as high in reliability as the Fit, I feel like I am getting much more for my money with the Versa hatchback. Honda simply needs to stop minimilizing its cars and forcing customers to pay a lot more for common options. If they haven't figured it out yet, they aren't the only ones with an H on the front of the grille any longer.

Messages Page 978 of 985

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