Nissan Versa 1.6S

[ARCOgraphite]

Originally Posted By: oilmaven
I can get 32-33 mpg on the highway with my 2008 Impala (200 hp V6 and far more comfort). 30 mpg with a 120 hp Versa is ridiculous.
what do you get combined? I get near 40 COMBINED in my Yaris. 32 Combined is just fair and nothing to write home about in a MT car - speaks to an unrefined ECU and engine. But the Yaris blows away its CAFE ratings and maybe the Versa does too? Depends on if youre getting your e10 blended properly.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Originally Posted By: HyundaiGuy
..

... That said, Hyundai offers a better warranty. I also hated that the instrument cluster is in the center of the dash on the Yaris...
But, The Hyundai require way more servicing, frequent service trips and cost to maintain your warranty than the Toyota. BTW I find the center cluster BETTER than the typical "through the wheel" paradigm, but my car only displays MPH and Fuel remaining. I will say the Rio 5 handling was lighyears better than the Toyota and incredibly well sorted. In fact most any competing car drives better than most any Toyota

 

[HyundaiGuy]

[/quote] But, The Hyundai require way more servicing, frequent service trips and cost to maintain your warranty than the Toyota. [/quote]

I think that is way overstating the facts. Assuming one follows the Severe Service schedule, one will need 27 oil changes for the Hyundai per 100,000 miles driven. Assuming Toyota requires 5,000 mile OCIs (the most common number I have seen here) one needs 20 oil changes per 100,000 miles driven.

The other stuff is about the same. The only other difference my be changing the cabin air filter every 10,000 miles (a 10 minute DIY job that costs $20.00.)
I don't know if the Yaris even has one.

I'll gladly change my oil 7 extra times. I would be keeping up the other maintenance as well, because I plan on driving these cars for well over 200,000 miles. In exchange for this Huundai offers a 5 yr/60000 mile bumper to bumper warranty and a 10 yr/10000 mile power train warranty. Seems like a fair deal to me.

Way more servicing? C'mon...you make it sound like an old Fiat or something.

I wonder what Andy (the OP) is thinking. A Versa still?

 

[odie]

Try out a FORD FIESTA . Those go for under $14,000 with plenty of safety features . The 5 speed manual transmission shifts smooth and the clutch is a breeze . Then there's the 2011 MAZDA 2 . The VERSA gives you very little for the money . The center mounted display of the YARIS grows on you very quickly . The 3 door can be had for under $12,500 if you shop around . Our '08 sedan with 4 speed automatic has been averaging 40 m.p.g. thanks to the warm weather ( YARIS is cold blooded ) . The overall average for 2 years and 3 months is 38 m.p.g.. This includes cold temps of fall , winter , and spring .

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
I my commute was 85 miles, I would want something more comfortable (and safer) than any of the cars mentioned in this thread. Does the budget allow for a 4 cyl midsize?

Also it might be a better idea to start with a used car, taking a new car and piling miles on it just makes it worthless quickly. You might as well start with a half worthless car to begin with! A used XFE cobalt will do far better for mileage and should be alot cheaper than the new versa.

 

[javacontour]

It's hard to argue with a new car for 10K. But if you are planning to put 85 miles a day on a car, you might want to rent one for a week and see if you like it before buying.

Frankly, I'm of the opinion that for high mileage commuting, the best solution is a used car. Sure, the new car has a warranty, but with the high mileage, it won't last very long. Get a $5K-$10K car, pile a bunch of miles on it, and dump it at 250K+ miles.

I just did that with my 1994 Geo Prizm. I bought it at 106K for $2500, drove it almost 150K in 7 years and sold it for $1200, costing about $0.123/mile over that 150K miles in TOTAL costs. Or about $18K for everything, gas, insurance, maintenance, repairs and tags.

Just replaced it with a 2004 Pontiac Vibe with 112K on the ticker and will come close to the same. Although this car will probably be passed to one of the kids when they head off to college in the next year or two.

I think few used cars cost more in repairs relative to the depreciation loss. So there is seldom any real savings by buying new.

 

[javacontour]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: dishdude
I my commute was 85 miles, I would want something more comfortable (and safer) than any of the cars mentioned in this thread. Does the budget allow for a 4 cyl midsize?

Also it might be a better idea to start with a used car, taking a new car and piling miles on it just makes it worthless quickly. You might as well start with a half worthless car to begin with! A used XFE cobalt will do far better for mileage and should be alot cheaper than the new versa.


+1 as I just said above.

 

[odie]

you can get a 2010 CHEVY Aveo for under $9,000 at this time . The 1.6 ltr. VERSA does have plenty of headroom for front and back . If it had more safety features such as V.S.C. and T.C. would consider one . They can get close to 40 miles to the gallon . Looked at the VERSA oil filter and drain plug for oil change ease and is blocked by protective cover . Could be messy .

 

[Andyge]

we will be keeping are 1997 Nissan Sentra 1.6 with 5 speed manual.

I am pulling in 38-45 MPG it just madders how hard I push it.

Andy

 

[IndyIan]

That's the conclusion I've come to as well, just run what you've got into the ground. 60,000 miles ago my Neon was worth maybe $2000, now its worth $1200 and will stay at that until its no longer safe to drive. I've put about $2.5k in parts and labour into it, a headgasket replacement was alot of that. So its about 5.5 cents a mile to run plus gas and insurance for another 15 cents a mile, which is far cheaper than any new car if you account for depreciation. Plus I can take it to a track day have little worry about something bad happening to the car and learn to work on it as well.
A new Versa probably doesn't do anything better than your 1997 Sentra anyways? I doubt its quieter, or better on gas, or more comfortable? Maybe safer but you as a driver are a far greater factor in your safety then a 40 mph offset crash rating. I try to drive like I'm sitting in a wet cardboard box...

 

[Cutehumor]

Originally Posted By: odie
you can get a 2010 CHEVY Aveo for under $9,000 at this time .


is that with stick only? I got 2300 in GM card earnings with 1500 bonus earnings for a total $3800 off a new GM car until 9/7. hmm...

 

[odie]

yes , 5 speed stick . Test drove a 2008 5 speed and was very easy clutch along with good shifting . Wouldn't think the 2010 be any different . The '08 was $7,999 . No A/C .

 

[odie]

the AVEO' LS now has daytime running lights ( deduction for insurance ) , side impact air bags , ONSTAR Automatic Crash Response ( free 1st year ) , 5 year/100,000 mile Powertrain , 5 star frontal crash , tilt steering , seat height adjustment with lumbar , etc.. BUT , no A/C and no A.B.S.. A/C/ installed by dealer at your cost ( $1,500 last we knew ) . There's a $2,500 rebate . www.chevrolet.com/pages/open/default/family/aveo.do .

 

[Shadowscraps]

I test drove a base model 1.6 Versa with the 5-speed manual a few months ago, just to see how a $10,000 brand new car felt, and I was impressed! Keep in mind that this was a stripped-down base model...didn't even have a radio...but it got right up to freeway speeds and handled well for a cheap little car. The only thing I could find to complain about was that the dash tended to 'creak' a bit till the cabin warmed up....but I probably wouldn't have noticed it if the car had a radio!

For the sake of comparison, I also test drove a Hyundai Accent, and it was on par with the Nissan. It'd be tough to pick between the two, but being a life-long Nissan/Datsun guy, I would buy the Versa.

That said, the Sentra costs a little more but is a lot nicer, with even more interior room. A base model Sentra doesn't give up much in terms of fuel economy, but it offers a big step up as far as comfort goes.

The Versa wasn't uncomfortable, just kinda stark. The Sentra is just nicer all around.

There...that's my two cents worth!!

 

[rat]

Did you look to see what kind of hose clamps they used?