Pockets of Sanity

One Versa

I just realized that I got my car exactly one year ago today.  Happy first birthday, you spunky little Versa you!

I'm just under 15,000 miles on it so far, and so far I really have major no complaints.  It runs like a dream and it still feels like a new car, which is weird considering that I've had it a year now.

Maybe this weekend I'll take it out for a nice wash and some detailing.  Cars like that, don't they?

10,000+ Miles

A few weekends ago I crossed the 10,000 mile mark on my Nissan Versa.  It has proven itself to be a very reliable family vehicle.

The closest thing I can come up with for a complaint is that the air conditioner isn't as strong as I'd like it to be, and it can take a little while to really kick into overdrive.  But considering that I live in Florida where it's 175 degrees in the shade, this might not be a bad thing where you live.

Also, as many of the reviews stated, the brakes aren't as strong as you might desire them to be.  In most cases you'll need to apply a little more pressure to the brakes to bring the car to a stop than you would in other cars.  This takes a little getting used to, and I'll admit I'm still adjusting to it.

While the car looks small, it comfortably seats four people and can seat five in a pinch.  I know because we've been in such pinches before.  Now you wouldn't want to take five people on a trip or anything, but if a bunch of teens need a ride to the movies, it'll do.

I've had no mechanical problems with the Versa whatsoever.  It has been in twice for oil changes, and that's it.  It always starts on the first turn of the key.

Overall, 9 months later, I'm still thrilled with this purchase.  It's a great little car for the money.

Pumpin' Ain't Easy II: Revenge of the Gasoline

Buried within my rant last year about how the simple act of pumping gas has become a chore, I mentioned how distressing it was that the little latch inside pump handles that allows you to pump your gas hands-free was always missing. 

I now understand why.

The other day I noticed that someone had apparently been chewing some kind of industrial strength glue and then decided to spit out a wad of it all over my car's windshield.  Whatever this substance was, it was impervious to my car's windshield wipers and fluid.  I needed gas, so I decided I'd just use the station provided squeegee to get the goo off.

Luckily the gas pump handle had one of those little latches inside it, so I started the flow of gas and then walked around to the front of my car to scrape off some goo.  Scrape as I might though, the goo wouldn't budge.  And it was after about a minute's worth of working on it when I started to hear a loud splashing sound.

I peek around the windshield and notice that there is now gas pouring out of my gas tank like a geyser.  I quickly run over and shut it off, but there is now gasoline everywhere.  The tire is drenched, along with the entire rear corner of the car.  The latch had failed to do its job.

I went inside the store and made a half-hearted effort to explain that I shouldn't have to pay for all the spilled gas because it was essentially the pump's fault.  Basically I was told "you can't depend on them latches, sir".

So let this be a lesson to you.  Be careful what you wish for.  Or something...

The Versa Chronicles: Part Two

Yes, this is part two of a story you haven't read the first part of.  Part one will be posted later.  I know that doesn't make sense, but part one is about the car buying experience and this is just about the experience of having the car since then.  This one was easier to write.

I picked the color of my car because I thought I didn't see many cars that color on the road.  Now that I have it, every car on the road is the same color as mine.  Seriously.  Every single one.

My low fuel warning light came on last night, so it was time to fill 'er up and find out how I did with the gas mileage.  It worked out to 28.2 miles per gallon.  Now I should be averaging between 30 and 36 according to the humble literature provided.  However, I'm not convinced the tank was truly full when I left the dealership, I didn't reset the mileage counter right as I drove off, and I've been running the A/C during every trip. 

This week has been much cooler, and so I haven't had the need for air conditioning.  I reset the trip counter before leaving the gas station, so we'll see around this time next week if the mileage improves.  It's still leaps and bounds better than the MPG I was getting in my Jeep, so I'm quite pleased, but interested to see if it gets even better.  According to my research I should save well over $600 a year just in gas alone.

A couple people in public have taken notice of the car.  The first was in a parking lot as I was waiting for a spot.  The person pulling out had the exact same car that I have (different color though), and upon seeing me, gave me a little wave and a point as if to say "Hey, look at us, we have the same car!  Isn't that keen?"  We're in a little club.  Yay.

The second came when I was in the Wendy's drive thru.  The cashier, who was about as stereotypically Spanish as you can get (not being racist, just saying if you had to do an impression of every sassy Spanish woman cliche you could think of, it would have been this woman), started saying "Ooooo chulo, I like your car man... you think I could ride in a car like that you know?  How much you pay for a pretty car like that chico?  Hey Bobbi!  I want to get a car like this guy has!  $3.72 please.  Your car is so sexy you know?"

Then when I got to the second window I could still hear the Spanish lady talking in the headset to the woman I was now dealing with, and asking her to ask me more questions about the car.  She seemed embarassed for me.

Coming Soon: Part 1 - The Beginning.

It's About Damn Time!

The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here!  The car is here! 

Sorry, but I'm crazy excited.  It's here!

It's About Damn Time... Well Almost

I deserve this.  I absolutely deserve this.

It all started a few months ago when I was in the market for a used car.  I was going to spend about $2K and just go through another couple of years with yet another wonky POS.  You know, cars with "character" which means that you can only roll down a window halfway when the AM radio is tuned to a blank station while the gas cap is only slightly tightened.

There was the awesome gold Caddy for $995, but it was sold by the time I got to it. I had to look elsewhere.

Eventually I just said to myself "screw that noise" (which I've been saying a lot lately for some reason) and decided to get a brand new car.  As in totally new.  As in no one's ever done it in the back seat or spilled soda all over the dash or done it on the dash while spilling soda all over the back seat.  No sir, if anyone's going to be doing those things, I'll be the first.

I've never owned a new car before, and eventually my research led me to the Nissan Versa SL hatchback, which is a brand new car for 2007.  It's never been made before.  I considered all the "cheap" new cars from each maker, narrowing down my choices to the Versa, the Hyundai Accent and the Toyota Yaris.  I took my time and wrote out a full specs comparison chart, detailing the differences between each of the models (one had a better warranty, another had better gas mileage, etc.) and then I studied it for quite a while. 

Then I asked my girlfriend which one I should get, and so, of course, we went with that one.

We went and test drove one on Saturday.  It was the more basic of the two models, with a lot less features than the model I wanted.  However, the basic model drove quite well, and so therefore the advanced one should be even better.  They didn't have any of the advanced models on the lot naturally, so I left a deposit and now have to wait for the dealership to find one of the three matching cars that are somewhere in the southeastern United States.

They seem to think they'll be able to make this happen before the end of the month.  Knowing my luck I don't see this happening, but it'll give me something to blog about at least.  Stay tuned...