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Nissan Versa Cold Weather & Snow Driving

30 messages,  Last post on Jan 14, 2008 at 5:24 PM

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What is this discussion about? Nissan Versa, Car Safety, Hatchback

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#21 of 30 Re: Versa in cold weather? [doromachi] by lemonhater Feb 17, 2007 (10:41 pm)
Replying to: doromachi (Oct 03, 2006 7:42 pm) Well I have had a versa SL sedan with the CVT for a week now. No abs (ugh), but still love it.   As for snow driving, well so far just a week, not a lot of experience, but it is a little worse than the old Trecel in the snow probably for several reasons. The wider tires and longer wheel base tend to make the car want to ride over slick snow rather than cut into it (and hit ground for traction).   In addition I suspect the transmission gearing may play a role too. It seems to move best in snow with the overdrive off and it seems to do better when you don’t drive it aggressively (unlike the trecel which needed a little uph to get through). Otherwise it will tend to spin it’s tires.   On a whole while the snow driving is a little worse, it is still very deal able and I wouldn’t call it bad. It just isn’t amazing like the trecel. Replies to this message: faction (Jun 13, 2007 6:14 pm) cph (Jul 11, 2007 2:45 pm) blueversa (Jul 12, 2007 7:52 am) cph (Jan 14, 2008 2:31 pm) and 1 more...
#22 of 30 Matrix NOT good in snow by matrixowner3 Mar 01, 2007 (12:06 pm)
Hello! I own a 2005 Toyota Matrix, and it is not good in the snow. I live in Canada, where snow is a reality 6 months of the year. I ended up having to put better tires on my leased Matrix (basic model) and it still slides, while everybody passes me by! Even in smaller cars they zip past me.   Incidentally, I've owned many cars and driven front and rear wheel drive and have never had as many problems as with this car. In other ways it's a great car, just not in snow. And I've heard all the jokes about it being my 'heavy foot' but since I've driven a ton of other cars and it's never been a problem till this one, I have to wonder if it isn't the car. At the very least, test this car in snow and ice conditions.
#23 of 30 Not bad driving in snow, but I notice... by pf_flyer HOST Mar 18, 2007 (12:06 pm)
We had a fair amount of snow recently and the Versa has handled very nicely in the slippery conditions. One thing I've noticed is that the snow REALLY tends to build up in the wheel wells. This morning it was a bit of a problem since it had really built up one day when the temp was right around freezing so the packed snow was very wet. Then the temp dropped a lot and the stuf turned into a very lagre solid block that pretty much was touching all four tires for the entire length of the wheel wells. The ice block also extended down behind the wheels as well. There really was no room for any suspension travel. Going over a small bump would REALLY make a noise as the tire hit the ice. Took about a half hour to chip enough of it out to feel safe from having the ice cause problems.   First time we had the Versa out in the snow, I noticed the designof the wheel wells tended to cath a bit more snow than my other vehicles. This time was probably a unique set of circumstances Replies to this message: cloned (Mar 19, 2007 3:41 pm)
#24 of 30 Re: Not bad driving in snow, but I notice... [pf_flyer] by cloned Mar 19, 2007 (3:41 pm)
Replying to: pf_flyer (Mar 18, 2007 12:06 pm) We've only had our Versa for about 1000 miles but part of that was through the Midwest blizzard. Didn't do much driving in the snow; probably would have bottomed out most of the time. But it handled well and all is well.   But, I agree with you in that the fender wells almost seem to be designed to hold as much slush, snow and mud as possible. I usually try to knock it off before driving into the garage but it's impossible to get it all. I can see that it could build up to being a solid mess.
#25 of 30 Re: Versa in cold weather? [lemonhater] by faction Jun 13, 2007 (6:14 pm)
Replying to: lemonhater (Feb 17, 2007 10:41 pm) The only problem I had with my V in the winter was getting it stuck in drifts 2 or 3 times before I figured out that it wasn't as much of a bull as my old Taurus. Otherwise I didn't have any problems driving. Replies to this message: cph (Jul 11, 2007 2:45 pm) blueversa (Jul 12, 2007 7:52 am) cph (Jan 14, 2008 2:31 pm) versa7 (Jan 14, 2008 5:24 pm)
#26 of 30 Re: Versa in cold weather? [faction] by cph Jul 11, 2007 (2:45 pm)
Replying to: faction (Jun 13, 2007 6:14 pm) So we are thinking about a Versa but we live in rural Massachusetts. We are also looking at the Vibe. We've heard the Vibe/ Matrix is very bad in snow, but haven't heard much about Versa. Mostly we drive in slush and 1-2". For heavy snow, we've got a Forester. What do you think? Better than Vibe/ Matrix? Replies to this message: blueversa (Jul 12, 2007 7:52 am) cph (Jan 14, 2008 2:31 pm) versa7 (Jan 14, 2008 5:24 pm)
#27 of 30 With the manual my Versa was fine by pf_flyer HOST Jul 11, 2007 (5:53 pm)
We've been driving nothing but manual transmission Dastun/Nissans since 1979 and the 6 speed Versa handled as well in the snow for me as any of my Sentras or Altimas have. OEM Continentals seemed to handle things OK, although I'll be changing to the Kelly all-seasons when time comes for a tire change.   I'd actually say the Versa handled a bit better in snow than my '96 Sentra as it is 300# heavier than that Sentra was.   Only got the Versa in February, but we did have a solid week of driving in snow with it. Will have a little more to say once I get through a full winter, but I'm not expecting any real issues.
#28 of 30 Re: Versa in cold weather? [cph] by blueversa Jul 12, 2007 (7:52 am)
Replying to: cph (Jul 11, 2007 2:45 pm) I live in Montreal Qc. and frequently drove my versa around town and to ski hills last winter. Snow performance was quite acceptaple with the winterforce (firestone) winter tires I had installed. I braved quite a few snowstorms and the car was still predictable in slippery conditions with the understeer remaining manageable. A limited slip differential would be nice, but those things are not usual in this category.
#29 of 30 Re: Versa in cold weather? [cph] by cph Jan 14, 2008 (2:31 pm)
Replying to: cph (Jul 11, 2007 2:45 pm) Well, we bought the Versa with ABS, based in part on some of the comments here. We have absolutely loved it. We put great snow tires on it, not studded, and the thing has been performing much better than we expected. We live in a pretty rural part of the Northeast and this winter has been very snowy. With the exception of my old Subaru Legacy wagon, this might be the best car I have driven in the snow - including our AWD Forester!   I agree about the wheel wells, though, they really plug up.   So, 5 stars, Nissan! Replies to this message: versa7 (Jan 14, 2008 5:24 pm)
#30 of 30 Re: Versa in cold weather? [cph] by versa7 Jan 14, 2008 (5:24 pm)
Replying to: cph (Jan 14, 2008 2:31 pm) What brand/model of tires did you buy? Also, what transmission do you have? I have the 6 manual and am looking for a snow tire.

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