Nissan Versa Maintenance Schedule and Questions

7 messages, Last post on Feb 23, 2006 at 4:14 PM

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What is this discussion about? Nissan Versa, Hatchback

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#5 of 7 Re: maintenance specs, timing chain? [herrkaleu] by peteinmpls Feb 23, 2006 (3:10 pm)
Replying to: herrkaleu (Feb 23, 2006 12:42 pm) Hi there Herrkaleu. Looks like we have a few things in common! I'm also looking for a second car. We have a VW Passat wagon for our family-mobile, so I really have the freedom to get just about anything. When it's all said and done I'm just sold on the utility of a hatchback, not to mention I think they often look better. The Versa hatch vs. sedan solidifies that point in my mind, though looks are a matter of taste. My first car out of college was a '92 Mazda Protege LX which was a great little car...so I've definitely got a place in my heart for Mazda. In fact, I also look at the Mazda 3 5-dr as sort of my "standard bearer" in this search. I'll also be looking at the 5-dr GTI (on the high end of my budget), the standard Golf V, Dodge Caliber and Honda Fit in addition to the Versa & 3. I've been following the emergence of the "B" segment since I started to hear news of it last year...that's how I picked up on the Versa. If you're not familiar with Nissan, they've had a great performance and solid reliability heritage in N.A. However (like Mazda) they sort of lost their way in the mid to late-90's. They found their way with respect to performance/styling in recent years, but quality has been a concern as recently as the past 5 years. Back when I bought my Protege, I strongly considered the original Sentra SE-R, which at that time was a fantastic little pocket rocket. I was just convinced I needed 4 doors. From the Australian reviews I've read of the Tiida so far, I think you can expect the Versa to be a solid performer, but not with the sharp edge you're used to in a Mazda 3 Touring/Grand Touring. I see the maintenance/warranty and proven record of the '3' as being major positives, along with the dynamics and pride-in-ownership which it seems to have in spades. In the Versa, I see what looks like a funky European hatchback, at least in the higher trim levels. It seems to have a stance like a VW Golf where the other B-segment cars look a little cartoonish to me. Also the potential of ~40 MPG in a hatchback with a ton of space/features for around $15-16,000 loaded sounds tough to beat for a commuter. I hear mixed stories about the 3's real world fuel economy...I'm convinced I'd get on the high end of the estimates, but even then the Versa (on paper) looks to be nearly 10 mpg more efficient than the 2.3L in the Mazda3. I'd be interested to get your impressions on how the 3 is working out for you in that regard. I'm also a U.W. grad and grew up about 50 miles north of Madison. As much as I love Minneapolis, I could see moving back to Madison one of these days. Once a cheesehead, always a cheesehead! Cheers!
#6 of 7 Re: maintenance specs, timing chain? [peteinmpls] by bumpy Feb 23, 2006 (4:14 pm)
Replying to: peteinmpls (Feb 22, 2006 12:16 pm) Only decent picture of the MR18DE I could find was this: Probably runs coilpacks under the vanity cover, but that's just a guess.

#5 of 7: Re: maintenance specs, timing chain? [herrkaleu] by peteinmpls; Feb 23, 2006 (3:10 pm)

Replying to: herrkaleu (Feb 23, 2006 12:42 pm)

Hi there Herrkaleu. Looks like we have a few things in common! I'm also looking for a second car. We have a VW Passat wagon for our family-mobile, so I really have the freedom to get just about anything. When it's all said and done I'm just sold on the utility of a hatchback, not to mention I think they often look better. The Versa hatch vs. sedan solidifies that point in my mind, though looks are a matter of taste.

My first car out of college was a '92 Mazda Protege LX which was a great little car...so I've definitely got a place in my heart for Mazda. In fact, I also look at the Mazda 3 5-dr as sort of my "standard bearer" in this search. I'll also be looking at the 5-dr GTI (on the high end of my budget), the standard Golf V, Dodge Caliber and Honda Fit in addition to the Versa & 3.

I've been following the emergence of the "B" segment since I started to hear news of it last year...that's how I picked up on the Versa. If you're not familiar with Nissan, they've had a great performance and solid reliability heritage in N.A. However (like Mazda) they sort of lost their way in the mid to late-90's. They found their way with respect to performance/styling in recent years, but quality has been a concern as recently as the past 5 years. Back when I bought my Protege, I strongly considered the original Sentra SE-R, which at that time was a fantastic little pocket rocket. I was just convinced I needed 4 doors. From the Australian reviews I've read of the Tiida so far, I think you can expect the Versa to be a solid performer, but not with the sharp edge you're used to in a Mazda 3 Touring/Grand Touring.

I see the maintenance/warranty and proven record of the '3' as being major positives, along with the dynamics and pride-in-ownership which it seems to have in spades. In the Versa, I see what looks like a funky European hatchback, at least in the higher trim levels. It seems to have a stance like a VW Golf where the other B-segment cars look a little cartoonish to me. Also the potential of ~40 MPG in a hatchback with a ton of space/features for around $15-16,000 loaded sounds tough to beat for a commuter. I hear mixed stories about the 3's real world fuel economy...I'm convinced I'd get on the high end of the estimates, but even then the Versa (on paper) looks to be nearly 10 mpg more efficient than the 2.3L in the Mazda3. I'd be interested to get your impressions on how the 3 is working out for you in that regard.

I'm also a U.W. grad and grew up about 50 miles north of Madison. As much as I love Minneapolis, I could see moving back to Madison one of these days. Once a cheesehead, always a cheesehead! Cheers!