[MLR]

Just paid the deposit on 2014 Note SL and waiting for car to arrive from another dealer further away.

To learn about my soon to be new car I've been reading reviewers comments only to learn that my almost new car can't handle cold Canadian winters.

Apparently if temps get down to 23F or lower, the engine can not provide sufficient heat inside the car. :surprise

Heck, that's only 10F below freezing, pretty common here.

Anyone on this forum with a 2014 Note (and living in a true four season area of north america) having problems with the heat in their Versa Note?

Thank you for any help and feedback !

 

[MLR]

Poor heat in winter

I read this in reviews of the car for this year:

Day-by-Day Review: 2014 Nissan Versa Note - Autos.ca | Page 4

See pages 3 and 4 of James Bergeron's Review dated Dec 1/13

2014 Nissan Versa Note SL Review: Car Reviews

Mike Schlee's Review dated April 3, 2014. His wife, Amanda, tested the car. He wrote:

"After a couple of days driving the car, Amanda was complaining that when temperatures dropped to 10 degrees Fahrenheit or below, the cabin wouldn’t heat up sufficiently during a 30-minute commute to work. To investigate, we took the car for a drive and I noticed the digital engine temperature gauge didn’t budge from the coldest reading after 15 minutes of driving.

Once we entered the highway, the reading went up a few bars only to come back down again once we exited the highway and sat at a red light. Other writers and owners are experiencing the same heat issues on extremely cold days."

Mike and I exchanged emails and he said:

"Thank you for the email. I have heard no official response from Nissan on the issue. When in motion, the Note heats up fine. It‘s in stop-n-go traffic that the problem persists as when idling, the car’s temperature gauge would continue to lower. As far as other people noting the problem, there is a good thread that can be read here at NissanVersaForums.com. As well, a fellow automotive reviewer in Ottawa had similar heating issues during extremely cold days. His review is here on Autos.ca.

We did just come out of an unusually cold winter that had temperatures far lower than we would normally experience. There would only be a few days this past winter that would cause the car to produce any heat issues. I doubt it is caused by the grille shutters. Most likely it has to do with the small, efficient 1.6-liter engine. It is designed to use as little fuel as possible, so there isn’t much excess heat being produced by the engine. I think you’ll be fine this winter, but let me know if you experience any issues."

My 11 1/2 year old Honda/Acura 1.7 EL kept me nice and toasty warm last winter so my NEW Note should be able to do the same.

I just emailed my dealer, Scarborough Nissan, to see (1) if they know anything (2) asking for full disclosure on HVAC and (3) what are they prepared to do for me IF this becomes a problem.

My car arrives from Ottawa dealer Thurs or Fri and will be ready for pick-up next week so I must have my dealer's Guarantee on this heat thing.

BTW other than this little wrinkle . . . what do you think of your new Note??

Hope this helps, I will let you know. Sorry this is soooo long ! !

PS I haven't yet found the "good thread" here that Mike refers to in his email.

 

[MLR]

What would I do without the internet. Car shopping was a breeze compared to 20 years ago !

 

[MLR]

We have had our Note for a year now and have had no issues with insufficient heat in the winter. We live in Calgary where it gets down to -20C and colder.

Thank you very much for sharing your 1 year experience. Mike Schlee (CarReviews.ca) did say the problem arose in stop and go Toronto traffic. That 'rush hour' style traffic is known as regular traffic here. Rush hour traffic in Toronto is stop and . . . find another route.

 

[MLR]

I have had my car 2.5 days. Did a trip on the DVP (highway route to downtown Toronto) and short trips for shopping.

Now I understand when reviewers said they missed the 'feel' of the road. The steering is very different from my 2003 Acura aka Civic. It is going to take some time to adjust, I'm either over or under steering the car. I do LOVE the electric assist when I'm stationery or moving very very slow, the steering is light as a feather.

My car didn't come with some features I was expecting because I was researching the 2015 model (not yet available) but bought a 2014. It seems my car came with the SV Convenience Package but not the SL Tech Package and this must be ordered and installed by manufacturer. SL Tech is not a dealer retrofit.

Do I need 4 cameras, navigation, etc etc . . . . well I really don't. I have Bluetooth, Rear camera with 4 inch screen, heated outside mirrors and inside seats ;-) what more does a 3000 km a year driver need???

The car is great, I'm gradually liking it more and more each day. My Note is much quieter inside and the ride is far more comfortable than the old car. I love the radio and cell phone (bluetooth) controls on the steering wheel. What all the other stuff on the steering wheel is . . . I haven't a clue . . . yet.

When I get in or out of the car I don't need a winch to pull me up because the Note is so much higher than my old car. When I sit in traffic I can look into the next car's window and see people . . . . old car, sat in traffic and stared a door handles of next car and if a huge SUV the wheel wells or running board.

All in all I'm not missing the old car as much as I thought.