Hi, I need to get a car for my son who has decided to "save" money by commuting to college for his Jr and Sr years. It will save money long term but be a challenge short term because I'll need to get a third car, pay for insurance and of course gas and maintenance.
I've considered used, but I'm the kind of person who keeps cars a long time and likes to have the warranty, no problems, and know how the car has been treated. I currently drive a 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5s (160,000 miles) and on my commute am able to average 30 MPG.
Of course my son has to have an automatic. I asked about a manual and he's not interested. When I was his age I was dying to have a car with a manual transmission and bucket seats!
I've been looking for a couple of months to get educated about small cars and have eliminated a few. Honda Fit - too expensive, Ford Focus/Fiesta - won't do the dual clutch auto, Chevy Sonic - too new and poor MPG numbers.
I seem to have it down to a Kia Rio sedan with manual windows and the Versa base model S. The Rio is fine but feels small. I've driven the Versa twice and I don't mind the base models interior. My son won't care that it doesn't have a tachometer, he'll only care that it has air conditioning and a radio.
He's a very big guy - over 6'2" and about 240lbs and the size of the Versa appeals to me. I like it.
So for those of you that have the new 2012 sedan, help me decide. Do you like you car? All of the professional car reviews have panned it, but it's like they're missing the point. I can get a Versa for almost 2,000 less than the base Rio and it still has a radio, automatic and air.
Should I worry about the CVT's reliablity? That concerns me.
Also, I've heard it is tossed around quite a bit in the wind. Have you had this problem?
How do you like your Versa?
Thanks
I've considered used, but I'm the kind of person who keeps cars a long time and likes to have the warranty, no problems, and know how the car has been treated. I currently drive a 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5s (160,000 miles) and on my commute am able to average 30 MPG.
Of course my son has to have an automatic. I asked about a manual and he's not interested. When I was his age I was dying to have a car with a manual transmission and bucket seats!
I've been looking for a couple of months to get educated about small cars and have eliminated a few. Honda Fit - too expensive, Ford Focus/Fiesta - won't do the dual clutch auto, Chevy Sonic - too new and poor MPG numbers.
I seem to have it down to a Kia Rio sedan with manual windows and the Versa base model S. The Rio is fine but feels small. I've driven the Versa twice and I don't mind the base models interior. My son won't care that it doesn't have a tachometer, he'll only care that it has air conditioning and a radio.
He's a very big guy - over 6'2" and about 240lbs and the size of the Versa appeals to me. I like it.
So for those of you that have the new 2012 sedan, help me decide. Do you like you car? All of the professional car reviews have panned it, but it's like they're missing the point. I can get a Versa for almost 2,000 less than the base Rio and it still has a radio, automatic and air.
Should I worry about the CVT's reliablity? That concerns me.
Also, I've heard it is tossed around quite a bit in the wind. Have you had this problem?
How do you like your Versa?
Thanks