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What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

9838 messages,  Last post on Feb 07, 2013 at 10:28 PM

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What is this discussion about? Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, smart fortwo, MINI Cooper

Messages Page 933 of 984

#9318 of 9838 Re: Yippee... [nippononly] by oregonboy

Dec 28, 2010 (12:01 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Dec 27, 2010 9:15 pm)
According to Wikipedia, the xD and Yaris are built on the same platform, so it can't be all that big.
 
"The xD is... essentially a mildly elongated five-door Toyota Vitz. The Vitz is a three-door marketed in the U.S. as the Yaris. Thus, the five-door Yaris was not offered in the U.S. market when the three-door and sedan were launched; however, as of 2009, the five-door Yaris will be offered in the US."
 
Steve's concern about Scion's future appears to be valid. Their sales are WAY down from pre-economic crash days. I would think that a $0.75 jump in the price of gas would get them back on track over-night.
 
(Assuming that a gas-price jump didn't send the economy into another tailspin.)

#9319 of 9838 One thing that might save Scion is... by iluvmysephia1

Dec 28, 2010 (12:06 am)

the new 2011 Scion FR-S drift-able coupe and sedan.
 

2011 Scion FR-S Coupe
 
There was online confirmation on a FT-86 enthusiast's website the other day that Toyota still intends to sell the base model for a price in the low 20's.

#9320 of 9838 Re: Yippee... [steve_] by hpmctorque

Dec 28, 2010 (6:50 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Dec 27, 2010 10:52 pm)
I like the appearance of the xD more than the Fit too. I don't think I'd let Scion's questionable future stop me from choosing that brand, since I'm confident Toyota would stand behind warranties and most parts if it decided to fold Scion into Toyota. Sure, it would be more difficult to find certain Scion body and trim parts in 12 or 15 years than for a Honda or Toyota, but by that time the car would be close to used up anyway.

#9321 of 9838 Re: Yippee... [hpmctorque] by michaell

Dec 28, 2010 (7:24 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Dec 28, 2010 6:50 am)
I've looked at both the xD and the Fit (prev. generation) and there are pros and cons to each.
 
With the xD, as has already been noted, it's a size up from the Fit, Yaris, Fiesta, etc. I think of it as more of a Corolla sized hatch - same 1.8L 128 HP engine, IIRC. Decent amounts of room, and the rear seat slides forward and back, to increase rear seat legroom or luggage space depending on your needs. I didn't like the dash at all, especially the counter intuitive tach / speedo combination. Gimmicky for no apparent reason.
 
The Fit, OTOH, is a nice sized package with lots of flexibility. The one thing I noticed when driving it was that there wasn't really a good place for my left foot when not using the clutch .. has this been addressed with the new version?

#9322 of 9838 Re: Yippee... [michaell] by ateixeira

Dec 28, 2010 (8:36 am)

Replying to: michaell (Dec 28, 2010 7:24 am)
That drives me nuts - Hondas are supposed to be driver-oriented and they often forget a dead pedal.
 
In a clutch car that's inexcusable. I want one even if it's automatic!

#9323 of 9838 Re: Yippee... [ateixeira] by nippononly

Dec 28, 2010 (11:38 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 28, 2010 8:36 am)
The new Fit has a dead pedal and maplights, two things missing from the old model that I would miss if I didn't have them.
 
They offered me $1000 flat off any new 2010 Scion in stock, but among the xDs they had only automatics remaining.
 
They did have an xB manual they wanted about $16,000 for, but they ruined the looks of the xB when they restyled it, not to mention it has piss-poor fuel economy now.
 
All of the reviews on-line, including Edmunds, said the xD is OK as an inexpensive people-mover, but don't expect anything in the way of driving dynamics. And as michaell noted, the gauges are just dumb, with the speedo and tach rotating counter-directionally to each other, and both in the same gauge face. I didn't bother to drive one.

#9324 of 9838 Re: Yippee... [nippononly] by ateixeira

Dec 28, 2010 (12:22 pm)

Replying to: nippononly (Dec 28, 2010 11:38 am)
I don't like center mounted gauges so you don't have to convince me...

#9325 of 9838 Re: Yippee... [nippononly] by hpmctorque

Dec 28, 2010 (1:05 pm)

Replying to: nippononly (Dec 28, 2010 11:38 am)
While I prefer the styling of the xD over the fit, from the reviews I've read I'd choose the Fit. I've also read that the seating position of the xD's driver's seat is uncomfortable for some people.

#9326 of 9838 Re: Yippee... [ateixeira] by nippononly

Dec 28, 2010 (5:24 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 28, 2010 12:22 pm)
No, the xD's gauges are in the usual spot behind the steering wheel.

#9327 of 9838 nippononly... by iluvmysephia1

Dec 28, 2010 (10:45 pm)

And as michaell noted, the gauges are just dumb, with the speedo and tach rotating counter-directionally to each other, and both in the same gauge face. I didn't bother to drive one.
 
This is in the Scion xD? Rotating speedo and tach, different sides of the same gauge face on what...every different start-up of the car? What is that supposed to mean, anyway?
 
The speedometer and the tachometer always stay in the same guage-face but rotate around each other indiscriminately, as the Scion's dashboard computer sees fit for that particular time? This is turning sort of Japanese video-gamish, sort of like the 2011 Scion FR-S' dashboard, which includes a racetrack layout as sort of a gimmick.

Messages Page 933 of 984

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