And the xD wins!

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=121117



Although I do note the Scion has their own "Magic" seat. Honda's folds and stows magically, but Scion's reclines and slides.

The Fit was a car that I was considering to get instead of my tC, and I still really like them. I know that they aren't really comparable cars, ones a definite sports/cruiser and the fit is an econo-box with a hip look.

Did Edmunds say expect the xD to start around $16,368? I wasn't expecting to be that high... major disappointment. :(

I don't think the xD will start that high. It better not, unless Toyota wants to bring over a loaded Aygo as the xE priced at the xA's price point.

Actually, the above article said "expect the price of the xD to begin at about $15,080". However, in their First Drive article, they say "Unlike the xA, the 2008 xD will be tough to overlook. Particularly if, as expected, Scion keeps the car's base price down near $14,000 when it goes on sale this August."

I also saw $13,5k estimated somewhere. Who knows what they'll end up on. If it DOES come in at $15k, they can kiss my white arse goodbye (I'll be over on the Toyota side of the store buying a decked out Yaris!).

~SM

I did estimate that at one time I hoped it would start near $13.5k, but there's a whole story behind that (I also though the xB would be priced near $19-20k to compete with the Rav4 [same engine], but that didn't happen so I had hopes that the xD would also be priced low).

If it does start at $15k, I think they will be making a big mistake and they'll be leaving a large market struggling to purchase this car. And if it did, I'm not sure a Yaris would be good enough, imo. I've been reading some poor reviews of that vehicle, have you seen how poorly the brakes performed?

That test vehicle came equipped with VSC.....about $650 worth of electronic wizardry.

And they were only guessing at the price. Pure guessing.

http://www.dieselstation.com/news/automotive/honda-fit-vs.-scion-xd.html

here's another site to claim a price of $15,080 . . . who knows?

Woot woot, go xD! :P

I liked the side-by-side pictures... Really gives you a feel of how the xD will look on the road.

I think, in these pics, the Fit looks better. The bodykit, foglights and wing (all standard equipment) give it the advantage. Also, in the interior shots, that "single" gauge pod behind the steeing wheel looks kinda funky compared to the more traditional Honda gauges.

The MPG numbers for the xD really surprised me! I thought the new 1.8 would get the same or better numbers than a Corolla. Closer to 40mpg hwy... Guess not. At least it's on par with the car it replaced.

As for price, the xD should match the Fit Sport in price. Around $15,300 for the stick. $16,300 for the auto. That was Scion's target IMO. Sadly, I'm sure (like the new xB) you'll find loaded xDs with Navi on dealer lots priced all the way up to $19k. Pure price!

The xA started around $13,500. The Base Fit starts around $14k. You'll never get an xD for that.

-THE DON

Remember - the 2008 model year uses the new, more realistic, EPA calculations for gas mileage.

Under the new numbers the 2007 Corolla would get 26 city/35 automatic - so its only a couple miles per gallon difference.

As to the price - I hope the xD comes out at least 1000 less expensive than the Fit Sport. You can negotiate the price somewhat on the Honda, you cannot on the Scion.

When my girlfriend needed a new car, we looked first at the fit. Even though they say the Fits price is under 15,000, dealers out here are charging some king of "demand" fee, (Lack of availability?), and jacking the price close to 17 grand. I asked straight up. Can I get one of these for around 15? No!! Went to toyota....13,300 or so, pure pricing, xa out the door.....she loves it. :lalala:

Even though they say the Fits price is under 15,000, dealers out here are charging some king of "demand" fee, (Lack of availability?), and jacking the price close to 17 grand. I asked straight up. Can I get one of these for around 15? No!!

My local dealer was doing the same thing for the first six weeks that the Fit came out, they made $3k profit on each car. They weren't able to keep any of them on the lot even with that price, I couldn't even test drive it without a $500 deposit. So, I didn't. :nope:

Now they say they aren't allowed to mark up the vehicles, and the most that each salesperson makes off of one is only $100, no matter what. Of course, that's what they say, but I don't know if that holds true. What is true is that the last time I saw one, it wasn't marked up crazy at all.

My local dealer was doing the same thing for the first six weeks that the Fit came out, they made $3k profit on each car. They weren't able to keep any of them on the lot even with that price, I couldn't even test drive it without a $500 deposit. So, I didn't. :nope:


Amazing, isn't it? It's a $15,000 car -- not a freakin' Ferrari. I'm glad you took your business elsewhere.

I am very excited to see the xD in person. I like the Yaris' looks better, but we'd like a four-door hatch in the future and the xB2 is out of the question.

My girl bought her 07 Honda Fit the day before it actually came out (4-19) and the dealer "tried" to charge a $3k mark-up, but it didn't happen. She still got it under MSRP.

The price dealers charge depends somewhat on demand, but if you can successfully negotiate with a salesman who is desperate for commission, you can get the price you want.

As for "pure price"... Sure, they can't mark it up, but they also refuse to budge on the price of added options, which are ridiculously overpriced. At my local dealer they don't have one tC under $20k. They're all loaded with useless options. When the new xBs came out I was getting my car serviced and checked 'em out. They almost all had rims or Navi or both, and none was cheaper than $19k. :nope:

I kinda wish Scion didn't have pure price, because I have faith in my ability to negotiate a better deal.

-THE DON

!!!

If it does start at $15k, I think they will be making a big mistake and they'll be leaving a large market struggling to purchase this car. And if it did, I'm not sure a Yaris would be good enough, imo. I've been reading some poor reviews of that vehicle, have you seen how poorly the brakes performed?

I dunno about being a mistake, but it's too rich for my blood. They'll still probably sell, and probably better than the Fit. The Fit, for all its Honda glamour and sporty packaging, still looks like a midget minivan.

Fit = Fugly.

I'd still probably consider it, but knowing I could get a Yaris totally decked for $14k would probably edge me over to the Toyota brand instead. I'm a fan of the Yaris bodywork anyway, and still undecided on that xD body.

On the Yaris topic, I've been a member over at yarisworld.com for a year now, and haven't noticed any complaints at all other than thin paint on the hood and the need for more HP (which is probably the most common complaint about any car under 200 hp... we're insatiable! :P ).

~SM

If it does start at $15k, I think they will be making a big mistake and they'll be leaving a large market struggling to purchase this car. And if it did, I'm not sure a Yaris would be good enough, imo. I've been reading some poor reviews of that vehicle, have you seen how poorly the brakes performed?

I dunno about being a mistake, but it's too rich for my blood.

On the Yaris topic, I've been a member over at yarisworld.com for a year now, and haven't noticed any complaints at all other than thin paint on the hood and the need for more HP (which is probably the most common complaint about any car under 200 hp... we're insatiable! :P ).

~SM

Here's some test info from April's 2007 Car Report:

In the Dry Braking test (from 60mph) it recieved the 'worst' award, tied with the Nissan Versa (no ABS). It stopped in 163 feet.

In addition to that, I (this is just me, probably others too) really don't like the lack of a tachometer in the dash. On the hatchback it is entirely unavailable no matter what packages or options you add onto it (it comes with the 'sport package' on the sedan I believe). I know this seems like a small thing, but even my older '99 Saturn SL came with one, and that thing didn't even have power steering!

But that's just my argument. Take what you want with it.

When you consider that the fit has not had any significant redesign in 6 years, its a pretty sweet car. The design and lack of hp are not acceptable to me but its still not a bad car when you consider its 6 years old. The fit and the mazda 3 will come out with redesigns next year. It should be a hot market for little cars.

I kinda wish Scion didn't have pure price, because I have faith in my ability to negotiate a better deal.

-THE DON

but aren't you glad you don't have to?

In the end its not really pure pricing due to the dealer mark up. aka doc fee.
I wish we could make a deal for the car. I'd love to walk into a dealer on the last day of the month during a week with horrible rain storms every day in a town with several scion dealerships and sit in the box. I'd play them off each other all day long until I got what I wanted. I use to sell cars so I know how dealers will do anything to screw the each other over. It was always a blood bath at the end of the month. I'm gald I left sales. :relief:

<-- Glad he's in sales.

I'll negotiate with you any day bro. ;)

I think if I had to buy a new car today (we got our silver sport AT Fit a year ago) I would heavily consider the xD. I loved the xB, but the lack of side airbags and low crash scores put me off. I love that the xD offers ESP (or whatever Toyota calls it)! I do prefer the looks of the Fit though, and love LOVE the magic seats.

I think the xD is a more appropriate replacement to the xB. The xD is Go ;)

I was a huge Fit fan, and had plans to buy one last summer shortly after they were introduced in NA. Then I saw the greedy markups the dealers were adding to the Fit. As I went to different Honda dealerships, each of them had markups on the Fit. My interest in the Fit started to wane, and some of the things I didn't like about the Fit became more important.

Look at the size fo the wheel wells on the Fit. They are small, prohibit larger wheels/tires, and make the Fit look wimpy.

You cannot get cruise control on the base Fit.

Not too thrilled with the big bulging headlights.

It looks too small. When I see a Fit coming from the opposite direction, it looks so small, and feminine.

What I like about the Fit, that the xD doesn't have are the fold flat magic seats. I also like the Fit instrument panel better than the xD. Other than that, the xD has much more potential for body mods and tuning than the Fit does.

All Honda's are slightly feminine from the factory, that's why so many people mod them.

Im glad you all have found all these articles for me lately. Im currently looking to replace my '05 xA and have narrowed it down to a '07 xA (if any are left around in august) the xD or the Fit sport. I am leaning more towards the xD but until I see one in person (and the price) and take a test drive I wont be able to decide.

Basically im looking at:
15,170 for a fit sport (has everything standard I need)

14,647 for an xA with some options (fog lights, alloy wheels, no cruise control or remote entry, no side airbags)

$??? for the xD

I should add, I would only buy the Fit again if I could get it at MSRP. We were lucky and found a dealership that would only sell it at MSRP and didn't make you buy accessories. :)

Anybody that pays over sticker for an economy car, is well, short bus material to put it lightly.

Paying over sticker for a 2000 copy run of Shelby Mustangs, well that's a different story altogether.

I should add, I would only buy the Fit again if I could get it at MSRP. We were lucky and found a dealership that would only sell it at MSRP and didn't make you buy accessories. :)

I'm an hour and a half north of you. Just out of curiosity, which dealership did you purchase from?

I should add, I would only buy the Fit again if I could get it at MSRP. We were lucky and found a dealership that would only sell it at MSRP and didn't make you buy accessories. :)

I'm an hour and a half north of you. Just out of curiosity, which dealership did you purchase from?

Sorry for the delay writing back, we got our Fit from Ron Tonkin Honda on 122nd in Portland. Not to be confused with their Gresham location. We worked with Bradley O'neil, who was their Internet rep at the time. I think she's till there, so definitely look her up.

Okay, back to the xD VS Fit! I think the only good looking Fit is the Sport model, and considering how reasonable the price is for all the upgrades, we had to jump on it. The only thing I regret a bit is the color... I got the silver, but the blue and red are SHARP!

Great article, & cool Mpg study within it, from edmunds, redoing Mpg ratings? Very nice.....