Jalopnik 
Enter your username and password.
Detroit, 2:45 PM
Sun Nov 15
9 posts in the last 24 hours
Tip your editors:
tips@jalopnik.com
Editor-in-Chief:
Ray Wert | Email | AIM
Road Test Editor:
Wes Siler | Email
Weekend Editor:
Murilee Martin | Email
Associate Editor - Houston:
Matt Hardigree
Associate Editor - Detroit:
Ben Wojdyla
Editor-at-Large:
Mike Spinelli
Contributors:
Mark Arnold
John Krewson | Email
Andy Didorosi
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
11/01/08
10/31/08
I didn't even know there was a Versa sedan. I guess I wasn't crazy when I thought I saw a tiny Sentra...
10/31/08
10/31/08
10/31/08
10/31/08
-mid/late 1990s BMW 540i
-nice late 1980s Mercedes 560 SEC
-LS-1 Pontiac GTO (might have to wait a couple of more years for the depreciation to get down to my level)
-late 1990s/early 2000s Mustang GT
-nice BMW E36 or E46 2 door coupe, maybe even a E36 M3
-just spend about that on a crate motor, manual transmission swap, new interior, and paint job for my 77 Corvette
Everytime I hear Nissan Versa all I can think of is Hiro on "Heroes" screaming for a blue Versa at the rental car counter. I guess the in-show advertising is paying off for Nissan.
10/31/08
Small car with an epa estimate that you could get by buying a 10 year old dodge neon for $2000.
10/31/08
But seeing all these Aveos every day means that plenty of people still value cheap + new + warranty.
And frankly, Nissan is more likely to still be in business in a few years. Chevy, who knows?
10/31/08
10/31/08
10/31/08
10/31/08
10/31/08
10/31/08
1.6L I-4 engine (standard)
Transmission (optional)
Windows (standard)
Front seats (standard)
Rear seats (optional)
Mirrors (optional, required by most states)
Exhaust (optional, also required by most states)
Steering knuckle (standard)
Steering wheel (optional)
Front brakes (standard)
Rear brakes (optional)
Brake pedal (optional)
All for $9,990? Sorry, I'll go buy a used LeMons racer. At least there's a slim chance it might have A/C!
10/31/08
It would be a lovely idea to have someone else run 'team creative accounting' and try and sell $8,490 off of a brand new Versa to run at LeMons, though. The blog would be a great read, as would the BS inspection.
10/31/08
10/31/08
10/31/08
Wait . . . what?
10/31/08
10/31/08
Nice car, poor marketing strategy.
10/31/08
10/31/08
10/31/08
which begs the question - wtf do you need a 6spd for in a car w/ a 120hp?
10/31/08
10/31/08
10/31/08
The CVT in these cars feels even worse, but supposedly gets better fuel mileage...which I could't substantiate.
10/31/08
10/31/08
10/31/08
And I've been considering one as my next purchase...
10/31/08
1) The car is usually a stripped-down model, so it's already the worst example.
2) Rentals are treated like crap, so usually things are worn/loose/whatever.
3) Cars take getting used to. With a few days in a car, you'll never get around to figuring out where you like to keep your cell phone, change, wallet, etc, so you're unlikely to really bond with the car.
...and if this is your only exposure to that model or brand, what does that do for your perceptions thereof?
10/31/08
Given my plan to reduce my daily driver to something suited for slugging through traffic with minimal cost, while working for a true weekend racer project, this new Versa is exactly what I'm looking for in a daily driver. With Fits selling for $20k, Cobalts at $17k and Yari, well, undriveable, this doesn't look so bad at all.
10/31/08