The Toaster, the Lego, whatever

May 2006

My fiancée and I had grown tired of our elderly vehicles: a very trust-worthy 1990 Honda Accord and a pathetic 1994 Bonneville (yuck). We're not car-fanatics, so we searched for a reasonable, functional, inexpensive car. More specifically, our criteria demanded a car that would grow with us (children, trips to Home Depot, CostCo, carrying restaurant equipment, etc.).

We looked at several cars, including the Honda Fit, Dodge Caliber, Toyota Matrix and a few others. The Fit was our second choice with its peppy performance and deceptively roomy interior. The Caliber was less impressive. I couldn't sit in the car without bumping my head (I'm 6'3"). The Matrix we loved, except that it lacked the room and the inexpensive price tag of the xB. However, it more than made up for these shortcomings with its impressive performance. I could have gotten in so much trouble with this car. But alas, we chose the xB.

Driving it home on an interstate, a nasty storm fell upon us. High winds, heavy rains a dime-sized hail made the trip home rather intense. It also gave us a chance to test the xB's traction control, wind resistance and exterior shell. The car handled wonderfully, except for a little wind sheer. We both watched helplessly as a larger Ford SUV spun out of control in front of us. We stopped to make sure he was ok, and we were on our way again. Got home anxious to check for hail damage. Not a single ping or dent.

We've been driving it for about a week. We both love it. It is a bit underpowered, but don't forget, this thing weighs less than 2,500 lbs. making it more than capable in any situation

There is more room than you can imagine - especially in the back seat. I seated myself, my dad (6'8" 270lbs), and 3 smaller passengers easily and comfortably - with room in the back for groceries. The stereo is average, but great for such an inexpensive car - plenty of sounds for us, with MP3 compatibility so I can put my 20 or so Ani Di Franco albums on one MP3 CD. The front seats are very supportive; takes some getting use to after riding in a 16-year old Accord. The back seats are a dream; enough room to stretch out proper. Plenty of leg-room and lots and lots of head-room make long trips pleasant.

My fiancée (5'0" 98lbs.) demands a vehicle with great sight-lines and a higher seat. The Honda Element, for example, featured back-windows so narrow, she could barely see to reverse. However, the Scion xB offers wide, plentiful sight-lines in both the front and back. The blind sides to take getting use to, but my vision soon adjusted. The seats allow one to actually sit up, like a dining room chair. I find this more comfortable, especially on long trips, and also safer when navigating through Birmingham traffic.

The design - well as I've heard, you either hate it or love it. We love it. It definitely stands out, and people almost always give us a second look. Ours is like a midnight blue with grey/black interior. Also, the interior offers many cubby holes for things that don't fit comfortably in pants pockets (cell phones, extra keys, etc.). The odometer takes a little getting use to.

Coming to a close, there is nothing about the xB I don't like. I do wish for a little more power, but never at the expense of gas mileage (which we enjoy at around 34 MPG). It's great driving for 10 days on a tank of gas. Although, some do hate the design and the small engine. They snicker at the 90 degree angles. I snicker driving past gas stations.

July 2006

It's been almost 3 months since we purchased the Scion xB. I have to say, I am totally in love with this vehicle. One of my few qualms was the lackluster stereo system. After fiddling (Southern word meaning "to change or alter") with the controls a bit, I've come to realize this system is better than I thought.

The gas mileage is still great - steady at about 34 MPG. We're really starting to appreciate the small size. We often have to park downtown for doctor appointments, recreational outings and whatnot. This thing is a dream come true for families living in urban areas. We now can fit into almost any parking space. It's almost magic - an external observation leads one to think this car to be cramped. But when you enter the vehicle, it's almost as if your eyes are deceiving you. The interior space is unbelievable.

One of the most important things you learn about the Scion xB are hidden at first. For example, the braking and traction control systems are phenomenal. I've been tested often driving in Birmingham traffic, and the xB has always been very impressive. One instance: I was on highway 31 in Shelby county traveling south when a large sedan pulled out in front of me. We were doing about 55mph, and I knew we were going to clip the moron. It had just finished raining and I braced myself for a collision. Surprisingly, the Scion did not skid a single inch. We avoided a collision with room to spare. The peace of mind of knowing that your fiancée is out in heavy traffic in this safe, reliable xB is worth much more than we paid.

Now for some disappointments. Note: there are only a few. A couple of weeks after we bought the Scion, the brakes started to squeal. This happens only for a few seconds after not driving for 8-12 hours. I'm thinking this is just the result of the car being so new (Toyota recommends certain driving behaviors during the first 1,000 miles, including not slamming on the brakes).

Next, the doors do not always shut properly. This may be because they are so light-weight.

The interior's texture (dashboard, doors, stereo and a/c control panel) is somewhat difficult to clean - although very cool looking. I entered the vehicle the other day somewhat dirty and grimy. Some dirt ended up on the door panel. I tried to wipe it off with a dry towel - it just smeared. I'm sure this is easier to do with some sort of cleaner and a damp towel. However, I rarely carry this stuff around with me.

The driver and front passenger seats are high, as I mentioned before. This provides for more storage space under the seats (I found the other day that my basketball had rolled underneath them). You can really store a lot of stuff here. The higher seats are also more comfortable for us, and they allow us a better point of view in traffic. However, the cup-holders and the gear shifter, which are located near each other, are sometimes hard to reach. I find myself taking my eyes off of the road to reach down for a drink. They're really just too low.

As you can see, these are very small, almost insignificant problems. I reread my original post and realized how biased it must seem. But this really is a great car with tons of pros and very few cons.

More updates to come...