I am finding it just a little disturbing that so many people dislike the XA. I like it and have one ordered, should be here in a couple weeks and I guess that is all that matters. When I couldn't get onto this forum yesteryday, I visited some other car forums, and searched posts about "scion". I couldn't believe how negative a lot of them were! The car is not all that different than a lot of them already out there. The mini cooper site was kinda funny though. They seem very threatened by the xa. I don't get it, they are very different cars. I wanted something unique and dependable, the XA is perfect for me. I guess I'll just have to get used to it!

I also find myself obsessing about the car. It will be better when it finally arrives. I have been waiting 6 weeks already. Soon it will be here, I hope.
:P

I also find myself obsessing about the car. :P

welcome to the club, the obsessing has only just begun

Welcome to the xA family :) And yes, the obsession will only get worse once you've got the car. I still find myself checking it out and smiling when I see it in a parking lot, lol.

Congrats on your xA! you'll love it!
I've had a few peeps ask what it was...but never anything negative

A lot of it is negative associations from the initial "shock" factor from the brand itself. You know, I was part of that group once too, until I saw a PW xA on the road. I was thinking, "what the hell is that?" I stared so much I almost got into an accident, as well as about 10 others on the road. Good or bad, I like it. And the more I looked into the car, the more I fell in love. Now I own a PW xA, and I am VERY happy. My parents live in a very well off community, and there aren't any Scion's there at all. You should see how many people stop and get out of their cars just to take a look. I have so many hand print marks from people looking in. . .
when people actually SEE the xA in person, they tend to like it.

And you can hardly call it small, with the sea of new beatles, golfs, and mini's out there. Slow? Hardly. 0-60 in 8.8 in the 5spd. That's faster than a stock civic baby!

Welcome to the club!

that doesn't make sense 4 people 2 single out the xa, they might as well also be bombing the matrix, vibe, golf, and all those cars, its not like the styling on it is anything 2 different 2 where anyone should hate it, if u like it, have fun.

I myself had the Xa, and love the Xb....and hate the TC...the only problem on the XA was the AC.....very cheap are on all the scions....does not cool at all...but overall i was happy with it....I bought a benz yesterday and after driving the Xa for 5 months the benz felt much more solid...and had so much more power.....but the Xa was still a good little car...

Everytime I tell people I got a Scion they say "Oh you got that boxy thing?" and I'll say "No, its the more round one" "Oh the tC? tC is badass" "No, not the tC, I got the xA" "Oh... you should have got the tC."

There is very little love for the xA.

But if you ask me in a couple of years when they stop making all these first gen Scions I bet people will start liking the xA more since its the most rare one of all of them.

I was down in Phoenix with the locals today so I got to look at there xB's, I still want to check out a xA. I cant wait to get mine, so congrats on you getting one.

Those who are afraid and don't understand tend to dislike or hate...it's the problem with most of society.

You hit the nail on the head - they feel threatened. You may validate their fears that they bought the wrong car or didn't get enough for what they spent...

The Echo doesn't get a lot of love either but is really a good little car... There's just not a lot of middle ground, either people like them or don't and the ones that don't seem to need to vocalize it...

Welcome to the xA family :) And yes, the obsession will only get worse once you've got the car. I still find myself checking it out and smiling when I see it in a parking lot, lol.
Heheheh....I'm the exact same way.

Thought it's weird, when you're standing right up next to it, it seems somehow long...though obviously it's a rather short car.

The MINI is like a micro-sports car (albeit a hatchback), the xA is a micro-SUV...very room, strong looking, but parks like a tiny car (though I wish it had a tighter turning radius...)

Everytime I tell people I got a Scion they say "Oh you got that boxy thing?" and I'll say "No, its the more round one" "Oh the tC? tC is badass" "No, not the tC, I got the xA" "Oh... you should have got the tC."

There is very little love for the xA.

But if you ask me in a couple of years when they stop making all these first gen Scions I bet people will start liking the xA more since its the most rare one of all of them.

Just say it's a mini matrix, they normally pick it up then :)

Welcome to the xA family :) And yes, the obsession will only get worse once you've got the car. I still find myself checking it out and smiling when I see it in a parking lot, lol.

EXACTLY.

I just washed it the other day and it's looking as sexy as ever!!!!

[quote=fugeelama]
The MINI is like a micro-sports car (albeit a hatchback), the xA is a micro-SUV...very room, strong looking, but parks like a tiny car (though I wish it had a tighter turning radius...)

An xA is in no way an SUV by any means. xA is more of a short wagon than an SUV.

I have had my xA for about 4 months and I have never heard a negative remark about it except from the occasional xB owner. :roll: They assume I wanted and xB and had to settle or somethng, but nothing could be further from the truth. :lol:
For the price, I don't think you can get a better handling car. The xA is progressive, futuristic, rare and in my opinion a slightly better platform for performance. You are going to love it!

Well considering everybody keeps telling me "Glad you got this one, that boxy thing is ugly"...

I would say that I haven't heard any negative remarks either :)

Welcome to the xA family :) And yes, the obsession will only get worse once you've got the car. I still find myself checking it out and smiling when I see it in a parking lot, lol.

Man, that is so true. I get a smile every time.

My husband is not crazy about the car. He wanted a tc, but since I will be driving it, we got the xa. One thing everyone says when I show them pictures of the car is "that is such a Becky car!" So, at least I know it fits me, even if they don't like it. So glad I stumbled upon it. Was reading an article about the tc in local paper and looked up the web site and there was the xa, looking fine! I was sold. Then I found out about the RS 1.0 and put down my deposit. Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!! I'm 34, and too old to be obsessing about cars. Early mid life crisis? :wink:

Becky Sue,
My wife drove he new XA RS1.0 over fifty miles last night by herself. She came home with the biggest smile. She loves it. She said when she starts off from a light, she looks back and she is way ahead of everybody. She said she loves the way it goes around corners. I won't tell you her age, but I will tell you she has two sons ages 15 and 17 and Your going to love this, her name is Mary Sue.

[quote=fugeelama]
The MINI is like a micro-sports car (albeit a hatchback), the xA is a micro-SUV...very room, strong looking, but parks like a tiny car (though I wish it had a tighter turning radius...)

An xA is in no way an SUV by any means. xA is more of a short wagon than an SUV.
I dunno. Porportion wise, to me it feels like an SUV, just because it's so tall relative to its length. Plus, like some of the small SUVs, some people think its engine is a little underpowered. And it has such a nice amount of room in the front seats, and rides a little higher than it should be entitled to...I like it.

Nothing at all wrong with any Scion. You need to pick the one that suits you. For me price is not object, and right now I'm leaning toward the XA.

When I first saw the xA, I though, Oh God, but I was a huge gawker/lover of the xB, even before it was a Scion and was only the bB. Then I started looking at them up close and fell in love. It is HUGE inside, except for the trunk. People are constantly asking me what it is. With the new TRD clutch in it, I am flying from the stop(tighter clutch took some getting used to), the TRD exhaust is hummy enough for me, but not offensive like all the civics in MD, and the ride is even better since I got my strut bar installed. I love it and people can kiss my ___ if they don't like it. My wife said something like "That thing is so ugly," to which I replied "You don't have to drive it." She immediately changed her mind once we went for a ride. It is one of those love hate things.

Nothing at all wrong with any Scion. You need to pick the one that suits you. For me price is not object, and right now I'm leaning toward the XA.
Yeah...I was thinking of a Cooper, which is a pretty fast car for the money but definately more than the xA, but then someone pointed out how much more animated I was describing the xA over the MINI. It really is a better fit for a lot of people, MINI feels a bit yuppie to me now.

[quote="The xA is progressive, futuristic, rare and in my opinion a slightly better platform for performance. You are going to love it![/quote]
I tottally agree....and If your smart with your money...you'll see in the long run the xA will rule as scion's best overall used car....I think the value is evident and the used market for these cars will be always great..

Don't think of the xA as the bastard child of Scion/Toyota....it will outshine the box in due time.

Yup, the xA's a fantastic car. And very unique.

I'm also in front of most cars off a stoplight, and that's under 5K rpm. If I really want to, I'd shift at 6K.
I pass cars easily on the freeway. I do 80 now easily and it even feels quiet in 5th. I go down to 4th if the freeway is curvy to get more responsive steering and throttle control - as I like, don't slow down for curviness. :lol:

It goes uphill well. What else. It's not the fastest car, but it's far from the slowest car around. I laugh when people point out that it only has 108 hp.
But that's just me.

I test drove a friend's stickshift car, then I went back to the xA and realized just how easy the clutch is on the xA. It's practically foolproof.

people why do you care what the dopes in tha usa think about your scion please no.1 and give all tha rest a big old faaat bird!!!!!

bondobob

I've noticed that folks who dislike the XA are those who've not let go of their USA #1 concept & big gas guzzling vehicles.

My wife and I have lived in Europe, Japan, and all over the place and just couldn't wait for a foreign motor company to finally release these types (xa & xb) vehicles here to compete with the self-centered big 3. And thank goodness they did...so we bought 1 each.

Hate to be a TC basher but since they were made for Americans, they have the same feel as a Saturn to me...nothing special about them. They were made for those Americans who couldn't choose between the pride of an American made car and the exoticness of a Honda...

I've actually found the opposite to be true. I've had my xA for just over a month and I have had many positive compliments. :) The only thing I clarify is when I say, "I bought a Scion." They always say, "The box looking one?" I politely tell them that Scion has other models as well. I wasn't a huge fan of the xB, but it's growing on me.

At first, I was constantly looking for other xA's in my town, but I am kind of glad I have a unique car. :)


~sciongirlCA
2005 Polar White xA

I've actually found the opposite to be true. I've had my xA for just over a month and I have had many positive compliments. :) The only thing I clarify is when I say, "I bought a Scion." They always say, "The box looking one?" I politely tell them that Scion has other models as well. I wasn't a huge fan of the xB, but it's growing on me.

At first, I was constantly looking for other xA's in my town, but I am kind of glad I have a unique car. :)


~sciongirlCA
2005 Polar White xA

Cool car, I also have a Polar White xA!!!!!! You have good taste.
We get extremely positive comments because we live in CA, where it is popular to be a nazi anti-american hippie. Anything anti-american is cool here.
It's odd because for some reason SUV's seem to be the only exception, but it's like seeing David and Goliath on the highways. . . packed with Mini's, Beatles, Civic's, Prius's(damn soooo many of them), H2's, Suburbans, etc etc etc.

I could imagine being in rural America, and not getting as warm a welcome as here in CA. Most of the "haters" are usually VW owners (golf, beatle) and Mini's. . . at least that's what I have found. . . oh and quite a few from the Honda camp, they seem to hate anything made by Toyota.

I get mixed reactions with my xA. Some people like it alot and some don't. It all depends on taste of style. I remember once at my college some guy thought it cost $30 grand and told me he liked the styling.

"Cool car, I also have a Polar White xA!!!!!! You have good taste."

Thanks! :) I love white cars. You have a PW xA, too! Very awesome! I noticed that on your post you are from Sacramento, CA. That is where I am, too!

I know what you mean about CA. We are known for being a little bit more hippie -ish, and having different looking vehicles. I know what you mean about the Prius. I see those everywhere -- as well as those Honda Elements. I imagine I get a few looks from those driver's, but I don't care. I am so happy with my xA!

~~sciongirlCA
2005 Polar White xA

I loved mine.....but hated the AC....

do you go to CSUS? I think I've seen you driving around the overflow lot. . .
you should come up to the NVS meets in Citrus heights. . . I'm kinda lonely being so outnumbered by the xB's :oops:

do you go to CSUS? I think I've seen you driving around the overflow lot. . .
you should come up to the NVS meets in Citrus heights. . . I'm kinda lonely being so outnumbered by the xB's :oops:


Nope, I don't go to CSUS. Acutally, I am a UC Davis Alum. :)

What are the NVS Meets? I'd like to hang with fellow Scion owners.

~~sciongirlCA
2005 Polar White xA

Now that I finally have my car, I haven't received any negative comments. People approach me at the gas station to ask about it and I've seen people peering in the windows (kinda creepy). I love it and am so glad I have a unique car!
Becky

i find my BCP Xa DAMN GOOD LOOKING

but i must say the front end does looks like a much cutier baby version of the Tc though

but maybe thats just with my car