Today on Shitbox Showdown, we’ve a treat:
A pair of Nissans, ready to impress.
Though since they’re neither fancy, fun, nor fleet,
I fear the choice may cause you some distress.
But be good sports, read on, and play along;
Come on, you know me. Would I steer you wrong?
(If you all don’t mind, I’ll switch back to plain prose for the rest of this. That iambic pentameter shit is hard.)
Before we get to today’s Nissans, we should look at the results from yesterday’s Mercury battle. Since both cars were cheap, and filled different roles, I gave you a rare “both” option, and quite a few of you chose that path. But even more of you wanted the little Capri roadster on its own. The poor pink Tracer wagon was left out in the cold.
That Capri is a hell of a deal, and I assume it won’t be for sale for long. I still think the pair would make a great cheap two-car garage, but if I had to choose one, it would be the Capri. It would fill 90% of my Miata jones, for a lot less money. I just wish it wasn’t red.
OK, no more bad poetry, I promise. But when you’re talking about cars with names like Stanza and Versa, it had to be done. Neither one of these is exactly exciting, but they both look like decent used cars for a reasonable price. Let’s check them out.
1992 Nissan Stanza XE – $3,500
Engine/drivetrain: 2.4-liter OHC inline 4, four-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Anaheim, CA
Odometer reading: 159,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
This car was known as the Nissan Stanza here in the US starting in 1982, but in Japan it went by a more floral name: the Violet. At least, until this generation it did. This one is a renamed Nissan Bluebird. Lots of Japanese imports have different names in the US, but in the case of Nissan, I almost always prefer the Japanese name: Fairlady, Silvia, Sunny, and so on. Stanza is a pretty good name, though, and it’s a pretty good car, too.
The Stanza is powered by Nissan’s KA24E four-cylinder, and in this case, a four-speed automatic. The seller says it runs and drives well, and just passed a smog check, but that’s about all they give us. 159,000 miles is pretty low for a car like this, though, so if it has been maintained properly, it should have a lot of life left.
This is about the best look we get at the interior, at least in the front. There’s a decent photo of the back seat in the ad. I don’t know if they’re trying to hide wear or damage on the front seats, or just bad at taking photos. They do tell us that the air conditioning is nice and cold, so that’s something.
It looks really clean outside; California cars just don’t seem to age. I’m sure most of you living in the Rust Belt haven’t seen a Stanza in years. It’s kind of a non-color, and the Pep Boys wheel covers aren’t all that attractive, but it has a nice early ’90s nostalgia vibe to it.
2009 Nissan Versa SL – $3,500
Engine/drivetrain: 1.8-liter DOHC inline 4, CVT automatic, FWD
Location: Redlands, CA
Odometer reading: 180,000 miles
Operational status: Doesn’t say, actually
Remember what I said about liking Nissan’s Japanese names better? Yeah, it doesn’t apply in this case. In Japan and other parts of the world, this car is known as the Nissan Tiida. How do you even pronounce that? Tee-dah? Tie-dah? Whatever. Here in the US, it’s the Versa, and it did a fine job of anchoring the bottom end of Nissan’s lineup until last year, when it was unceremoniously dumped. This is a first-generation Versa hatchback, in the “fancy” SL trim.
Power for the Versa comes from a 1.8-liter four-cylinder. Three transmissions were available: a six-speed manual, a four-speed automatic, and a CVT. Guess which one this one has. But you know what? I don’t see that as a problem. I’ve rented a few Nissans with the CVT, and I don’t hate it. And after the abuse that has been heaped upon our NYC taxicab and Murano CrossCab, I don’t worry about its longevity either. This Versa has 180,000 miles on it, and it seems to be in fine shape.
The Versa’s interior has everything you could ask from a cheap car. It has a basic complement of power features, air conditioning, cruise control, and a Bluetooth stereo. What more do you need? I’ve always admired cars like the Versa that aren’t trying to be anything more than what they are. It looks like it’s in good condition, too.
This Versa has the Sport package, which includes a sunroof and a rear spoiler, as well as alloy wheels. It’s definitely fancier than any Versa I’ve ever driven. It’s in good shape, especially for the mileage. Economy cars tend to get used pretty hard, but someone took care of this one.
$3,500 isn’t a lot for a used car these days, but both of these feel like good deals to me. No, they’re not thrilling to drive, but they both should be plenty reliable. There’s a decade and a half between them that you might want to take into account; the Stanza should be a little more accessible and DIY-friendly, while the Versa is probably a bit safer and more efficient. Which attributes are more important to you?
Gotta be the Stanza. That boxy look turns all the ladies’ heads when you’re driving down the boulevard.
The Blvd at the Villages
Drove a 1st generation Versa as as a rental while my car was being fixed. one of the worst cars I ever drove. Stanza
As a vice… Versa.
YEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHH
Opened the site and felt a quick frisson
When up popped a Stanza and some other Nissan.
The hatch is an error you could never reversa,
as ugly and woeful as a bad case of MRSA.
The gulf twixt the two yawns vast as an ocean,
A CVT shitbox versus beige Major Motion.
The Stanza may only be part of a poem
but it’s comfy, half-stylish and around here, that’ll show ’em!
MFCOTD
The Stanza reminds me of our 94 Accord that folded like an Accordian in a minor front end collision. The Versa makes so much more sense as a daily driver. What else would you use either of these cars for?
I respect the 1st Gen Versa. They’re cavernous inside, and just generally no b.s. Cheap cars get a bad reputation because they’re bought by people who resent having them, so then they trash them. This one has been cared for, and while a CVT wouldn’t be my first choice, if 2 (or 3) transmission service receipts were produced I’d consider. Honestly, a cheap 5-door hatchback with a sunroof is all the car most people ever need.
I voted Versa. Like yesterday, I’m not interested in either of these cars. Both of these cars are things you drive because it beats walking. Given that, I think the Versa is the better choice. It is a modern car that appears to have been kept up reasonably well. I’m not sure it is a great deal at $3500, but it is probably a better bet than the Stanza. The Stanza might have been a far better car when new, but it isn’t and hasn’t been in decades. You would have a very hard time convincing me any 30+ year old car is a good choice for a daily driver for the average person.
Stopped reading at “CVT”
If you overlook the terrible reliability, the driving experience is really bad. Last time I drove a CVT was about 15+ years ago, in a Subaru. The lack of gears is incredible annoying and it just makes constant weird drone noise.
For Nissan it is the terrible reputation for longevity. it will be scrapped with everything else working as soon as the Jatco Gives up the ghost. a 5 speed Clutch is doable at home if that had been the option. the Stanza 4 speed is still probably a grand or two for a rebuilt unit or can be rebuilt at aamco for about half of the replacement cost of a Jatco. but I doubt that would be the issue that stakes out the Beige wonder here.
But after the CVT goes put in a 6 speed
If you overlook the terrible reliability, the driving experience is really bad.
You think you hate it now, but wait ’til you drive it…
I had that Versa with the 6-Speed manual, it was very good to drive around, the gearing was kind of short (similar to the Miata I am driving today) and that made the car “faster” off the line. For some reason, Nissan used their normal cheap plastics on the dashboard but the door cards were plush, they felt nice and not limited to the front doors (cof cof VW, GM, Ford, etc), the back doors also.
CVT = CP
I’ll contend the first gen Versa is not a terrible car. I knew a few people who were served well by them. The second gen is truly the miserable shitbox version. This one is fine.
Still picked the Stanza though.
I buy salvage cars for a living. I STILL see the occasional Stanza and early Versa around to purchase BUT I see many of the newer Versas, 2nd gen out there already… the newer ones are trash.
Pretty staunch “Never Nissan” person. The one exception is the only one I owned, an ’88 Stanza. Actually liked it. Good power. 5 speed.
I got mine cause it needed a distributor. If you’re familiar, these had 2 spark plugs per cylinder for emissions. I got lucky and found one in a junkyard in western NY. It worked.
Also, being a poor college student in SAE working at an auto parts store, I built my own flex coupling for the exhaust, which worked and saved me about $350.
It also had no front shocks for a while, and I would bounce it into red lights, almost hitting the oil pan on the ground.
Also the vehicle I did my longest nonstop drive in (this was a morning dump question a few weeks back). ~420 miles from Buffalo NY to Ridgefield CT non stop. Boy did I have to pee and rolled in on fumes.
I can’t remember why this car died, but it didn’t last long, being a PIECE-OF-SHIT Nissan.
Picked the old one because CVTs suck!
Doing the Stanza because it was Nissan when Nissan was still Nissan.
(also, not seeing the poll for some reason, so this vote commentary is strictly ceremonial)
“Aaaahh my Staaanza!” Doug’s going to kill him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU-YQfu2Kto
He never finished paying him for it. Doug is justified.
“I can’t believe that whore stole my Stanza!”
“I can’t believe that whore made it past the lake of acid!”
Nissan Stanza: the car that says “I was driving an Altima before they weren’t cool”.
Alas, our two choices, it’s plain to see,
Ain’t nobody picking the CVT…
As a Gen X’er I choose a familiar face,
Even if that Stanza will never win a race.
A tale of two Nissans and while neither car rocks,
Both earned a place on this showdown: Shit Box.
I’m probably still recovering from an unknown mild respiratory illness, but I voted Versa because at least it pretends to be interesting. And has a CVT, which if I must vote CVT at least once, might as well be against something forgettable.
The Bluebird was a good car. I’ll take it.
Drove a Versa as a rental once. Hated it. I’ll take the Stanza.
Same! Don’t know if it was first gen or second gen, but I’ve never driven a worse car.
Had a 2nd gen as a rental in Detroit years ago. The smiling Hertz employee at the return lane: “How was it?”
Me: “I can’t see why anyone would buy one of these on purpose.”
Her:” Not the worst comment I’ve heard”
These Versas are true garbage, I’m shocked it’s lasted this long and certain it won’t make it to 200k, so Stanza it is by a mile.
Stanza, for two reasons.
One: my wife, who generally has no opinion on cars beyond does it start when she needs it to, and does the AC work, DESPISES Nissan Versas. She had one as a rental once, and something about just positively grated on her. She would be quite upset if I brought one home.
Two: Henchman 24 in The Venture Brothers had a powder blue Stanza, so I could say “My Stanza!!” like him every chance I got.
Say, does that Stanza have motorized mouse seatbelts? Oh well, I’m still picking it over the Versa.
Back in high school my buddy Cory had a Nissan Stanza that he inherited from one of his grandparents, I think. I remember him doing 100mph in it; that was the first time I’d gone that fast in a car. He smacked it hard into a curb doing e-brake turns in the school parking lot after band practice. I don’t remember seeing it much after that.
I’m picking the Stanza today.
The Stanza was built before Nissan turned to shit. I am confident it will still be on the road well after the Versa is in the shredder.
As long as the AC is cold, I’m sticking with hatches. I miss a sunroof too.
I’m always surprised at the amount of people who dislike sunroofs. And not “I had one that leaked once, so…” but the actual thing. To me, anything that adds more immediate connectivity to the outside is desirable, but it’s a minority view at this point I guess.
I’m the same way. I love sunroofs. Especially in today’s era of ever shrinking greenhouses.