REQ: SCION XB 2005 CONSUMER REPORTS

Wando,
the run down was that the car gets a poor mark in the "ride" category,
such that the car would be a bit fatiguing for long trips. Also the
car is called "a bit poky." But still the CR give the xB a recommended
status, and generally piles on compliments about the designs economy
with regards to space use and fuel efficiency. I don't own one and
haven't test driven one, but the thing seems to be the only truly
compact, affordable, and well-built wagon on the market.

ewp

Wando wrote:
> Does anyone have the full article to the Scion XB 2005 Consumer Reports, heard that there were problems with it, can anyone post what problems it listed?
>
>
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> ------= Binary Usenet downloading made easy =---------
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Hard to believe, but true -- [email protected] typed:

>Wando,
>the run down was that the car gets a poor mark in the "ride" category,
>such that the car would be a bit fatiguing for long trips. Also the
>car is called "a bit poky." But still the CR give the xB a recommended
>status, and generally piles on compliments about the designs economy
>with regards to space use and fuel efficiency. I don't own one and
>haven't test driven one, but the thing seems to be the only truly
>compact, affordable, and well-built wagon on the market.

I haven't read the CR blurb, but those items you've entered seem true.
My xB is a bit tiring for long trips; that's what the Camry's for --
the xB gets me to and fro work. It's also "poky", true, but there's
always a tradeoff between fuel economy and performance, so I'm happy.
It IS compact, affordable, and well-built. It's also HUGE inside for
such a small vehicle. I even carried a 27-foot extension ladder home
in mine (OK, it's one of those "Giant" things; it's still impressive.)

Don (happy xB owner)
--
"What do *you* care what other people think?" --Arline Feynman

[email protected] wrote:

> Wando,
> the run down was that the car gets a poor mark in the "ride" category,
> such that the car would be a bit fatiguing for long trips. Also the
> car is called "a bit poky." But still the CR give the xB a recommended
> status, and generally piles on compliments about the designs economy
> with regards to space use and fuel efficiency. I don't own one and
> haven't test driven one, but the thing seems to be the only truly
> compact, affordable, and well-built wagon on the market.
>
> ewp
>
> Wando wrote:
>
>>Does anyone have the full article to the Scion XB 2005 Consumer Reports, heard that there were problems with it, can anyone post what problems it listed?
>>
>>
>>--------------= Posted using GrabIt =----------------
>>------= Binary Usenet downloading made easy =---------
>>-= Get GrabIt for free from http://www.shemes.com/ =-
>
>

I looked at the Xb, and the Matrix / Vibe. I got the Vibe. The Toyotas
didn't have what I wanted (Standard Shift) and they weren't available in
the summer when I needed a car. The Vibe has lots of room in the back,
the back seats fold down, and the sytling isn't quite as radical as the
Xb. The Vibe has enough balls for me, not for drag racing, but it is
good for passing on the highway. The only real compliants that I have
are the seats are too hard, and the steering wheel is too far away from
you, and is positioned wrong so that you have to keep both hands on the
wheel all the time, and you have no place to rest your elbows while you
drive.

John Karpich wrote:

> [email protected] wrote:
>
>> Wando,
>> the run down was that the car gets a poor mark in the "ride" category,
>> such that the car would be a bit fatiguing for long trips. Also the
>> car is called "a bit poky." But still the CR give the xB a recommended
>> status, and generally piles on compliments about the designs economy
>> with regards to space use and fuel efficiency. I don't own one and
>> haven't test driven one, but the thing seems to be the only truly
>> compact, affordable, and well-built wagon on the market.
>>
>> ewp
>>
>> Wando wrote:
>>
>>> Does anyone have the full article to the Scion XB 2005 Consumer
>>> Reports, heard that there were problems with it, can anyone post what
>>> problems it listed?
>>>
>>>
>>> --------------= Posted using GrabIt =----------------
>>> ------= Binary Usenet downloading made easy =---------
>>> -= Get GrabIt for free from http://www.shemes.com/ =-
>>
>>
>>
>
> I looked at the Xb, and the Matrix / Vibe. I got the Vibe. The Toyotas
> didn't have what I wanted (Standard Shift) and they weren't available in
> the summer when I needed a car. The Vibe has lots of room in the back,
> the back seats fold down, and the sytling isn't quite as radical as the
> Xb. The Vibe has enough balls for me, not for drag racing, but it is
> good for passing on the highway. The only real compliants that I have
> are the seats are too hard, and the steering wheel is too far away from
> you, and is positioned wrong so that you have to keep both hands on the
> wheel all the time, and you have no place to rest your elbows while you
> drive.

I test drove an automatic and manual transmission model xB, so I don't
know why you would say Toyota does not have a manual. Perhaps this was
only at your local dealership. I would still buy the xB if they put the
2.4 L Camry engine in the vehicle. The 1.8 L engine was a "bit pokey"
even with the manual transmission and the AC was useless. The 1.8 L
engine is fine in the lighter Echo, but not in the xB.