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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.- Your Host is KCRam@Edmunds
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)
#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?
- datumj (Feb 13, 2008 11:55 pm)
Replies to this message:
#50 of 50 Re: Awesome car [shinjakuroi] by datumj
Feb 13, 2008 (11:55 pm)
Replying to: shinjakuroi (Dec 15, 2007 11:16 pm)
The HHR also has a massive recall under its belt for poor crash test ratings.
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