Comments on: Scion xB Review http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/scion-xb/ The Truth About Cars is dedicated to providing candid, unbiased automobile reviews and the latest in auto industry news. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:28:48 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: CecilSaxon http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/scion-xb/comment-page-1/#comment-1548105 CecilSaxon Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:31:14 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1519#comment-1548105 Scion is marketing to the wrong folks. Fickle teens can't afford cars now and they don't want something not "hot". The new xB is an awesome family car with solid reliability and features. I can fit 3 kids and groceries in my xB with ease, for less than a Corolla or Civic. Scion is marketing to the wrong folks. Fickle teens can’t afford cars now and they don’t want something not “hot”. The new xB is an awesome family car with solid reliability and features. I can fit 3 kids and groceries in my xB with ease, for less than a Corolla or Civic.

]]> By: doug s. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/scion-xb/comment-page-1/#comment-1546397 doug s. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:03:59 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1519#comment-1546397 it is clear that ponchoman49 has never opened and closed a gen-1 xb's doors, never been inside one, never driven one, (in a straight line, on the highway, *or* around a corner), never had to fuel one. my experience after having put 20k miles on my '04 xb since i bought it 9 months ago. (it now has ~72k miles): -solid doors -sparse but excellent quality interior -fantastic handling, around corners, and at highway speeds up to 90mph. (and, i have been driving alfa romeo's since 1992, so i know about handling.) more than adequate stock rubber at 185-60-15 on 5" wide rims; upgrading to 205-55-15's will improve handling even more. -decent enough performance, tho certainly no head snapper. ($1k investment for new intake/exhaust manifolds, cold air intake & cat-back exhaust will certainly improve things.) -fantastic maneuverability, at ~20" shorter than my wife's mind-numbingly boring 2004 honda civic. -fantastic interior room. -great gas mileage, as high as 37mpg, never below 30mpg. -excellent hvac, even in disgusting heat/humidity of dc area summers. -still exceptionally tight, completely reliable. and, it gets driven vigorously. ;~) ohnonothimagain & gslippy are spot-on about the 2nd-gen xb's - big fat pigs, no thanks! doug s. it is clear that ponchoman49 has never opened and closed a gen-1 xb’s doors, never been inside one, never driven one, (in a straight line, on the highway, *or* around a corner), never had to fuel one.

my experience after having put 20k miles on my ‘04 xb since i bought it 9 months ago. (it now has ~72k miles):
-solid doors

-sparse but excellent quality interior

-fantastic handling, around corners, and at highway speeds up to 90mph. (and, i have been driving alfa romeo’s since 1992, so i know about handling.) more than adequate stock rubber at 185-60-15 on 5″ wide rims; upgrading to 205-55-15’s will improve handling even more.

-decent enough performance, tho certainly no head snapper. ($1k investment for new intake/exhaust manifolds, cold air intake & cat-back exhaust will certainly improve things.)

-fantastic maneuverability, at ~20″ shorter than my wife’s mind-numbingly boring 2004 honda civic.

-fantastic interior room.

-great gas mileage, as high as 37mpg, never below 30mpg.

-excellent hvac, even in disgusting heat/humidity of dc area summers.

-still exceptionally tight, completely reliable. and, it gets driven vigorously. ;~)

ohnonothimagain & gslippy are spot-on about the 2nd-gen xb’s – big fat pigs, no thanks!

doug s.

]]> By: ponchoman49 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/scion-xb/comment-page-1/#comment-1129702 ponchoman49 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:56:58 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1519#comment-1129702 The first time me and my friends saw one of these things on the road we all fell to the ground in fits of laughter busting our guts in the process. It was a box tin can with lawnmower wheels and a lawn mower engine to go along with it. The interior looked insanely cheap, the dash was mislocated in the middle which is distracting, the price was affordable but the mileage is nothing to write home about and the doors sound like hollow tin cans that flex more than Richard Simmons in an exercise contest. Add in a sloth slow bogged down Echo 1.5 liter engine, dangerous high speed handling with the undersized lawnmower tires, bug collector wedge box front end and terrible air conditioning and this sorry excuse for a vehicle really should be in a freak show at the local zoo. The first time me and my friends saw one of these things on the road we all fell to the ground in fits of laughter busting our guts in the process. It was a box tin can with lawnmower wheels and a lawn mower engine to go along with it. The interior looked insanely cheap, the dash was mislocated in the middle which is distracting, the price was affordable but the mileage is nothing to write home about and the doors sound like hollow tin cans that flex more than Richard Simmons in an exercise contest. Add in a sloth slow bogged down Echo 1.5 liter engine, dangerous high speed handling with the undersized lawnmower tires, bug collector wedge box front end and terrible air conditioning and this sorry excuse for a vehicle really should be in a freak show at the local zoo.

]]> By: gslippy http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/scion-xb/comment-page-1/#comment-685031 gslippy Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:48:37 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1519#comment-685031 I traded my 02 Passat for a new 05 xB. I had no idea how wise this decision would be. 30 MPG in town and lots of passenger volume (I'm 6'7") makes me everybody's new best friend when it's time to leave the office for lunch. It's the best car I've ever owned. My kids and their friends still think it's cool. The 08 got heavier, fatter, uglier, and uses much more fuel - what's not to like? No thanks; I'll stick with my 05. I traded my 02 Passat for a new 05 xB. I had no idea how wise this decision would be. 30 MPG in town and lots of passenger volume (I’m 6′7″) makes me everybody’s new best friend when it’s time to leave the office for lunch.

It’s the best car I’ve ever owned.

My kids and their friends still think it’s cool.

The 08 got heavier, fatter, uglier, and uses much more fuel – what’s not to like? No thanks; I’ll stick with my 05.

]]> By: ohnonothimagain http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/scion-xb/comment-page-1/#comment-300082 ohnonothimagain Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:21:55 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1519#comment-300082 I still want one of these toasters with wheels. I like the idea that it's not like every other car out there-different is good. I can now purchase a low mileage 2006 for less than I can most new cars; and I see more of these older xB's on the road than the new ones-at least so far. I priced a new 2008 xB with decent options, and it prices out at about 24,000-25,000 with major goodies. While that must seem ok to most for a new vechicle, it's excessive for what a new one really is-a minivan that a elephant stepped on. Scion-remember what made you more than just a son of Toyota and return to your roots. You'll thank me later for this advice. I don't charge much either. I still want one of these toasters with wheels. I like the idea that it’s not like every other car out there-different is good. I can now purchase a low mileage 2006 for less than I can most new cars; and I see more of these older xB’s on the road than the new ones-at least so far. I priced a new 2008 xB with decent options, and it prices out at about 24,000-25,000 with major goodies. While that must seem ok to most for a new vechicle, it’s excessive for what a new one really is-a minivan that a elephant stepped on. Scion-remember what made you more than just a son of Toyota and return to your roots. You’ll thank me later for this advice. I don’t charge much either.

]]> By: JuniorMint http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/scion-xb/comment-page-1/#comment-92525 JuniorMint Thu, 13 Dec 2007 02:04:18 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1519#comment-92525 This rotten little vehicle has turned my once-normal family into one of those bizarre collectives where 3 or more relatives own the same make and model of car. At first, I just wanted something unique but practical, but then I experienced 50,000 trouble-free miles, the interior of a cargo van, and consistent mid-30's mileage. The real trouble started when I let my sister-in-law borrow it and she told everyone how great it was. Now every Thanksgiving, my driveway looks like a Scion meet. At least we all bought different colors. Curse this charming little toasterbox! This rotten little vehicle has turned my once-normal family into one of those bizarre collectives where 3 or more relatives own the same make and model of car.

At first, I just wanted something unique but practical, but then I experienced 50,000 trouble-free miles, the interior of a cargo van, and consistent mid-30’s mileage.

The real trouble started when I let my sister-in-law borrow it and she told everyone how great it was. Now every Thanksgiving, my driveway looks like a Scion meet. At least we all bought different colors. Curse this charming little toasterbox!

]]> By: Sherman Lin http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/scion-xb/comment-page-1/#comment-44423 Sherman Lin Mon, 09 Apr 2007 00:21:52 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1519#comment-44423 With the new XB it will remain to be seen if Scion can maintain the fun to drive factor along with the great utilitarian minimalist styling. This car also reminds me of my old rabbit in a good way without the mechanical breakdowns. I have consistently averaged over 30 MPG and the car is a blast to drive. It is more fun to drive a "slow" car fast. With the new XB it will remain to be seen if Scion can maintain the fun to drive factor along with the great utilitarian minimalist styling. This car also reminds me of my old rabbit in a good way without the mechanical breakdowns. I have consistently averaged over 30 MPG and the car is a blast to drive. It is more fun to drive a “slow” car fast.

]]> By: olddriver http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/scion-xb/comment-page-1/#comment-42085 olddriver Fri, 23 Mar 2007 12:31:40 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1519#comment-42085 Bought an Xb in 2005 and another (for my wife) the next year after 20 years of VW's, autocrossing and other forms of mayhem. A wise auto wag once observed that it's a lot more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slowly - the Xb is simply a lot of fun. Of course it has roll bars fron and rear - it would behave like a telephone booth on slinkys otherwise. As it is they missed on the ride quality a bit as it is stiffly sprung; they might have traded a little more of the spring rate out in even stouter roll bars. Another apparent miss is in the target market - they were aiming for twenty-somethings and hit a lot of people more than twice that. For me (54) this little car reminds me of the simpler cars of my youth, utilitarian, frugal, and possessed of some fun to drive, largely due to their light weight. It does not talk to me or turn its light on or lock its own doors and I'm grateful for that. The trim - sill extensions and the like - is cheesy and somewhat fragile, but the basic package is unbeatable for the mostly urban driving that I do. It has never dipped below 30mpg regardless of circumstance. In many ways (utility, economy, space/footprint ratio) it is the most European car sold in this market. Dorky was never so beautiful. Bought an Xb in 2005 and another (for my wife) the next year after 20 years of VW’s, autocrossing and other forms of mayhem. A wise auto wag once observed that it’s a lot more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slowly – the Xb is simply a lot of fun. Of course it has roll bars fron and rear – it would behave like a telephone booth on slinkys otherwise. As it is they missed on the ride quality a bit as it is stiffly sprung; they might have traded a little more of the spring rate out in even stouter roll bars. Another apparent miss is in the target market – they were aiming for twenty-somethings and hit a lot of people more than twice that. For me (54) this little car reminds me of the simpler cars of my youth, utilitarian, frugal, and possessed of some fun to drive, largely due to their light weight. It does not talk to me or turn its light on or lock its own doors and I’m grateful for that. The trim – sill extensions and the like – is cheesy and somewhat fragile, but the basic package is unbeatable for the mostly urban driving that I do. It has never dipped below 30mpg regardless of circumstance. In many ways (utility, economy, space/footprint ratio) it is the most European car sold in this market. Dorky was never so beautiful.

]]> By: chanman http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/scion-xb/comment-page-1/#comment-39778 chanman Tue, 06 Mar 2007 06:30:15 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1519#comment-39778 I do find that in a bizarrely handsome little thing in person - quite surprising given how awekwardly chunky it looks in some pictures. I do find that in a bizarrely handsome little thing in person – quite surprising given how awekwardly chunky it looks in some pictures.

]]> By: Torokun http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/scion-xb/comment-page-1/#comment-37188 Torokun Thu, 22 Feb 2007 00:23:01 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1519#comment-37188 I went from WRX to Civic Si to Xb! And loving it! I went from WRX to Civic Si to Xb!

And loving it!

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