You can't really tell from looking at these two pictures (and I didn't take a ruler to them) but the gearshift for the Versa (left) feels a lot taller than the Honda Fit's stick (right) and I think because of that, it isn't as fun to drive as the Honda. Your (or at least my) hand sits higher by your (my) side and so the gearshift feels a bit unwieldy when compared to the Fit's shorter stick. With the Fit, I was a mad shifter, moving through the gears with sporty ease. But in the Versa, I felt like I was rowing...
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 9,811 miles
stevecebu says:
09:45 AM, 07/26/07
It looks like it's about an inch taller to me from the pic posted.
How relaible has teh Versa been so far? I generaly don't buy Nissan but might consider it unless the Fit gets some more power for the highway. Th Scion xD is also a possibility as well.
navigator89 says:
02:54 PM, 07/26/07
From the picture it does seem as if the Versa's is taller and skinnier. The Fit's shifter looks cool with those rings at the bottom, and its black. But overall I like the Versa better.
tryan says:
06:47 AM, 07/27/07
Those "rings" are just the creases in a rubber shift boot, circa 1975...=) Actually, I think it's essentially the same part from the last generation Civic Si with the dash-mount shifter.
I've always had this gripe with Nissan's shifters in their current crop of sedans. The Maxima, Altima and Sentra all have a relatively tall shifter that makes shifting into 5th gear a real stretch for some of our shorter-statured people. The action could also use some improvement, most of Nissan's manuals are akin to rowing a metal rod through a bucket of rocks...no "snick-snick" here!
altimadude00 says:
01:10 PM, 07/28/07
The reason for the longer shifter in the Versa might be attributed to the higher driving position in relation to the Fit. Having not driven the Fit, I cannot confirm this, but on a recent test drive, I sat very tall in the Versa.
bimmerjay says:
03:42 PM, 07/29/07
I call shenanigans... both of those shifters are hideous (at least in the pics). ;-)
kevlang says:
10:03 AM, 07/30/07
the fit shifter looks better in person - that's a weird angle. although i have to say i'm really tempted to put the Mugen leather shift boot on mine, and maybe swap in a nice Momo knob.