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Nissan Versa Test Drive reports

74 messages,  Last post on Oct 23, 2009 at 2:26 PM

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#36 of 74 Re: Drove the 6 speed [bsbc] by flightnurse Jul 19, 2006 (6:27 am)
Replying to: bsbc (Jul 17, 2006 3:30 pm) Kia is a bottom feeder car company, thier cars are cheap for what you get. I had a 06 RIO for a day when my Versa's windows were being tinted and man, what a crude car. Wind noise, was a roar, the engine was working much harder then my Versa, the ride was choppy. There is no way to compare the 2 cars. I couldn't wait to get my car back..   The Versa was NEVER designed to be a sport car people... It was designed to be a very well made, larger on the inside then your tpical sub compact and at that the Versa does it well, and better then any other car in its class...   Tony Replies to this message: bsbc (Jul 19, 2006 7:27 am) flightnurse (Jul 19, 2006 9:57 am)
#37 of 74 Re: Drove the 6 speed [flightnurse] by bsbc Jul 19, 2006 (7:27 am)
Replying to: flightnurse (Jul 19, 2006 6:27 am) I agree completely about the Versa (not enough experience to comment about Kia).   The thing I like is that styling (excluding wheels) is exactly the same between base and SL. Unlike the Fit where the ground effects on the sport really make it or break it IMO.   J Replies to this message: flightnurse (Jul 19, 2006 9:57 am)
#38 of 74 Re: Drove the 6 speed [bsbc] by flightnurse Jul 19, 2006 (9:57 am)
Replying to: bsbc (Jul 19, 2006 7:27 am) There is a sport package on the SL, which will give it a more sporty look, thats all it will do, again the Versa is not a sport sedan, the new Sentr SE-R will take care of that.   Tony
#39 of 74 Re: Nissan Versa Test Drive reports [Sylvia] by alexk3 Jul 23, 2006 (10:28 pm)
Replying to: Sylvia (Jul 17, 2006 10:34 am) I test drove both the Versa 1.8SL CVT and 1.8S 6MT today. A few days ago I drove a A/T Honda Fit Sport. Before test driving today I was pretty sure I was going to buy a Versa with manual transmission (based on my internet reasearch). This is my unbiased opinion. People are saying the Versa is bigger, smoother, quieter than the Hinda Fit. I agree! It is a very nice car and you get a lot for your money with the 1.8S model. What I didn't like is the transmission and engine power band. First of all, the manual transmission is geared too high in first gear and too low in top gear. You would think that a 6 speed manual transmission would have a wide range of gearing... but alas Nissan has managed to screw that up. I was going 66 mph and revving 3000 rpms in 6th gear. Does that sound like "tall" gearing to you (the sales brochure says it has "tall" 6th gear gearing)? Also in first gear if you don't rev it way up before letting out the clutch, the car accelerates so slowly you think something is wrong with the car. Seriously, the 1.0L my '92 Geo Metro has way more low-end torque than this engine. I can't believe Nissan would put such a close-ratio 6 speed transmission into an economy car. The CVT transmission is much better but the car I test drove with CVT cost $3000 more than the manual trans model. The CVT model is still very slow off the line. Once you get over 15mph or so it moves pretty nicely. Overall I thought the Versa was much more refined than the Fit and felt like a more expensive car. I would be a proud owner right now if it wasn't for the stupid manual transmission gear ratios. For those that are wondering, the Versa uses a timing chain, not a belt like the Honda Fit. For me, a timing belt is a deal-breaker. I have once had a car self-destruct from a broken timing belt and they are expensive to replace. The Yaris also uses a chain (my next test drive) Replies to this message: wulfgar (Jul 24, 2006 9:20 am) flightnurse (Jul 24, 2006 10:41 pm) fit_ness (Jul 28, 2006 7:00 pm) crimsona (Jul 31, 2006 2:40 pm) bobw3 (Sep 22, 2006 8:00 am) bendupre (Sep 22, 2006 5:47 pm) and 15 more...
#40 of 74 Re: Nissan Versa Test Drive reports [alexk3] by wulfgar Jul 24, 2006 (9:20 am)
Replying to: alexk3 (Jul 23, 2006 10:28 pm) A very fair report and I "tend" to agree on the 6-speed. The revs have yet to bother me at speed but my opinion is that Nissan did one of two things: A)Placed the gearing such that the engine stays in the meat of the torque curve at highway speeds (?). Better roll-on, I guess. B) Put a 6-speed in her just for the sake of marketing and didn't do much matching of the ratios.   Like I said, hasn't been a problem for me but you wonder if it could get better gas mileage with relaxed gearing in 6th.   The vehicle gives every impression of being a more expensive car compared to the competition. Not as sporty as some but that is not what my wife was looking for. And the timing chain/belt issue was a make or break issue for me, as well.   Good luck in your next test drive!
#41 of 74 Re: Nissan Versa Test Drive reports [alexk3] by flightnurse Jul 24, 2006 (10:41 pm)
Replying to: alexk3 (Jul 23, 2006 10:28 pm) the CVT 'learns' how the driver drives. I really don't find much of a problem starting from a start with the CVT, it does take a while to get use to the CVT..   I havent driven the 6 Spd Man, I need to take the car back to the dealer and have them install the X< sat link for me and while I'm there I'll see if the salesman well let me drive the 6 spd. Tony
#42 of 74 Absolutely right about the 6sp by bendupre Jul 25, 2006 (5:57 pm)
You'd expect a 6th gear to overdrive wouldn't you?   I drove the MT and CVT and couldn't beleive the difference. The 6 speed tached about 3500 at 75 while the CVT settles in at 2500. Going up a hill or touching the gass will see the tach spin up as high as 4000, but that's not as bad as dumping into 5th on the 6sp.   The manual I drove also seem to race every time I put in the clutch, even with my foot all the way off the gas. Did anyone else notice this or was the model I drove defective?   All in all I think NISSAN got the ratios all wrong on the 6 speed, but the CVT is great.   Ben Replies to this message: wulfgar (Jul 25, 2006 6:29 pm)
#43 of 74 Re: Absolutely right about the 6sp [bendupre] by wulfgar Jul 25, 2006 (6:29 pm)
Replying to: bendupre (Jul 25, 2006 5:57 pm) Apparently, the pre-production model's throttle "raced" a bit when one pressed the clutch in. Supposed to have been corrected when the production model appeared but a few people have reported the same occurrence as you. Ours sort of does this - not trying to sound wishy-washy but the flywheel feels really light and I think the slightest touch of the accelerator causes the sensation. Or it could be in the drive-by-wire - We'll know more after a few more weeks of acclimation.
#44 of 74 Throttle racing by bendupre Jul 25, 2006 (7:54 pm)
Without a hard linkage to the throttle plate it's either a software bug or servo lag. Engine compression is more than enough to immediately drop the rpm under 1000 with a closed throttle. Naturally it should at least be "on the way down" to catch up to the next gear when shifting. This is problem if not with all 6 speeds, certainly with the one I drove.   Ben

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