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Article Comments - 2008 Scion xB First Drive

50 messages,  Last post on Feb 13, 2008 at 11:55 PM

You are in the Scion xB Forum.

What is this discussion about? Scion xB, Wagon

Article comments for First Drive: 2008 Scion xB - The 2008 Scion xB reminds you of what was accomplished by the first 2004 xB, a car so shocking that the entire Scion brand still revolves around it. (more)

Messages Page 5 of 5

#40 of 50 Re: Article Comments - 2008 Scion xB First Drive [KarenS] by panelpro40

Aug 04, 2007 (6:44 am)

Replying to: KarenS (Apr 26, 2007 11:26 am)
I have owned the new XB for 2 weeks, did a trip to Elmira, NY last weekend in it, What a ddifference between our old 06 model and the new 08, night and day, and also being the owner of an Element, 04, it is a lot closer to the Elements stature, but it handles better, The E turns very sharply in a circle, old xb did not, the new one turns equally as well if not better than both other cars.
Fuel milage is about the same, 2 or 3 miles difference per gallon, but the safety fetures out wiegh the negative fuel. side curtain airbags, 4 w disc brakes, smoother ride, \
Just a fun car to own, and drive, Last night I insstalled the factory fog light kit along with the lighted door sill plates, it is too cool.
if looking for accessories for this model. contact the scion dealer in ?Ma. SULLIVAN BROTHERS TOYO KINGSTON MA
 not a plug, but saved several hundred dollars with my order, and installed it easy enough.
Mark

#41 of 50 Re: element [bearcrkrd] by tauber

Aug 16, 2007 (11:00 pm)

Replying to: bearcrkrd (Jun 28, 2007 2:50 pm)
I have owned both the Element 4x4 2005 and now own a Scion xB 2008. After living with both cars, they really is no comparison. To compare them is a big mistake....makes no sense to me. The Element is fairly LARGE, has tons of usable space inside, made well, solid, easy to clean inside and is an SUV. The Scion xB 2008 is NOT an SUV it is a Wagon. It is clear when you drive the xB that it is a low, smallish, FAST, nice automobile. I love mine!
 
The reason I switched away from the Element was for 3 reasons: Bad gas milage, stopped being in love with the shape and BLIND SPOTS. I was almost hitting people in it. Cars and pedestrians. Ask one who owns one. I thought I was getting old. Oh, I AM getting old but once in the Scion xB 2008, I was very comfortable. EASY to drive. A pleasure to own. I love it. NO where the feel of an SUV and it can't handle much cargo (like an Element) but it is such a pleasure to drive.
 
To drive it is to buy it... so good luck with that:)
 
Alan

#42 of 50 Get both by stlxb

Aug 17, 2007 (11:47 am)

Tauber's comments are correct. The element and xB are different markets. I have a 03 EX Element and my wife just bought a 08 xB. We love both of our cars, but the Element goes for the Home Depot, mild offroad, snow and ski trips. The xB is more of our highway, grocery getter.

#43 of 50 Both cars by tundradude

Aug 17, 2007 (3:21 pm)

I have a 07 Element and 05 xB. Seems to be a trend.

#44 of 50 Honda Element by toledo73

Aug 27, 2007 (8:59 am)

No offense to the Element owners, but I was very disappointed with my test drive. As is the case with most Hondas, I found the Element to have a very choppy ride and the road noise seemed excessive to me. The Scion XB was much smoother and quieter. It's a no brainer for me.

#45 of 50 Under floor "storage"?? by zmass

Sep 23, 2007 (2:27 pm)

Has anyone actually found anything that can be put in that under floor organizer? Its so shallow! I havent found anything, yet.

#46 of 50 floor by girlbuffalo1

Oct 16, 2007 (7:56 am)

I put maps under there--

#47 of 50 Awesome car by shinjakuroi

Dec 15, 2007 (11:16 pm)

Ok, so I've owned my xB for a couple of months now. I spent a LONG time looking for a car before I made my decision, just to get it out there I also test drive the Nissan Altima Coupe and Sedan, Honda Accord Coupe, Honda Element, Nissan Rogue, Ford Fusion, Dodge Caliber, Mitsubishi Lancer, Kia Rondo, Scion tC, VW GTI, and a used Pontiac GTO(5.7L).
 
Like many I most compared the xB to the Element. Honestly, huge differences. It's obvious the Element was designed from a more utility perspective, with no carpet, the suicide doors, and a more solid feel from the suspension, along with the option of AWD. I also like that the Element stereo sounds a lot better but I'm the type to upgrade a car stereo very quickly so in my case this wasn't a factor to consider.
 
I am 6'6", a very large man. I barely fit in the Element, in fact the salesman suggested after seeing me squeeze into it that I go for a Pilot instead. I know they appear to have similar interior room but my legs feel like they have a lot more room to spread out in the xB, and I definitely have less trouble getting in and out of the xB.
 
Someone earlier in the thread posted about his HHR running circles around the xB. I would have to say don't speak to soon on that one. I was coming out of a sports car(92' Mitsu VR-4) into this thing(hence all those coupes I test drove) so performance was at least a consideration when I made my decision. I'm a member of a rather large car club where I live and have run my xB against a Cobalt SS that uses the exact same 2.4L engine as the HHR. I beat the Cobalt by .5 seconds(15.8 for me to his 16.3) average out of 3 runs. Now yes he had an auto and I have a stick, but I doubt putting a stick in the HHR will make it that much faster, if they even offer a stick. Another thing I wanted to point out. Car and Driver got a 16.0 out of the xB, while they managed a 16.1 from the HHR, so even in their comparisons the xB is faster.
 
Anyone can look at the HHR and tell it's a blatent reimagining of the PT Cruiser(with some old 1949 suburban sprinkled in), which is getting rather old. The xB has a very modern styling to it that I actually prefer vastly to the PT Cruiser and HHR.
 
I'll admit I've had a lot of people tell me my new car is ugly. They've done it right to my face. And every single one of them found it odd that I actually liked that they thought that. I think it's mostly because most people nowadays refuse to see a difference between the words "ugly" and "different."
 
Also, one thing I will say the HHR does have on the xB is color options. I think they have some very striking colors available for that thing whereas the only "different" color the xB has is the somewhat lame looking Hypnotic Teal Mica. Where's the yellow, green, or orange that see popping up in newer cars? Or even a cool blue like the Tacoma, Highlander, or Camry can be purchased in?

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