I moved from Alaska to New Mexico this week. After my plane landed in Albuquerque, I went to Santa Fe to buy my xA. The next day I drove 300 miles south through some of the toughest weather I’ve ever driven in. Not as tough as Alaska, but at least up there I never had to drive very far.

My silver automatic xA carried me flawlessly through deafening thunder, blinding lightning, ridiculous rain, deep sleet, and flooded roads. At one point I was fording water at last 8 inches deep. I could see it up to the doors on the large pickups in front of me.

On one long stretch to two-lane highway, there were puddles all over the road, especially in the center. Every few seconds, I would hit one at 55 mph. I’m not sure whether I hydroplaned, but the car handled just fine. Before the weather turned bad, I got a chance to drive at 75 mph. The xA felt amazingly stable at that speed, which I am not used to at all (never went above 65 in Alaska). I once drove my parents’ Chevy Impala at 75 and felt uncomfortable going that fast, because that car is not as stable as the xA.

I did not get to use the cruise control much, given the weather, but I did test it. Totally worth the extra $499. Can’t wait to go 300 miles on dry highway.

Last but not least -- drumroll, please -- I averaged 37 mpg!

Now I am in the Rocky Mountains of NM, where there are endless winding roads, great for apexing. I originally ordered a manual trans, but I am very happy with the auto. I am learning how to use it in the mountains. There are a few stretches of roads where I still wish I had the MT, but there are just as many steep driveways and San Francisco-like intersection where I am really, really glad I have the auto. I wasn't planning many mods, but now I think I'll look into the suspension options. The xA's body roll makes me nervous in these rugged hills.

 

good story you have there. Nice to hear you drove through all that bad weather and made it safe.

I wished i still averaged 37 mpg on highway...errr oh well..haha

So what color xA did you get?

 

 

Quick update:

I just filled my tank for the second time. After averaging 37 mpg through all that bad weather on the first tank, I am thrilled to report 40 mpg on the second tank. I notice that my tac is usually between 1500 and 2500. I wonder if my high elevation also helps. I've been driving mostly between 7,000 and 9,000 feet.[/img]

 

I have the TRD springs. They were stiff as Hell for the first 1500 miles, but then they improved a bunch. It corners like a slot car - no body roll, no sway. They are definitely stiff springs, though, so if you travel really rough roads, prepare to get shaken, lol.

 

Thanks for the feedback on the TRD springs. Sounds like those are what I need. There are dirt and gravel roads around here too, but they are already so crappy and jarring that I don’t think stiff springs would make a noticeable difference. If I have to endure those jolts anyway, I might as well have better handling on the paved roads.

How do those springs feel on an open highway? Does the stiffness make long trips less comfy, or is it mostly during cornering?

 

Well... for the first 1500 miles, you won't do alot of singing out loud to the radio, LOL. At first, I thought I had made a mistake buying them, but the springs are great once they are broken in. There are some rough stretches of highway and road, here in So Cal, and I gotta say... these are very stiff springs. But I really like them. Now, if I still lived in Colorado, where all the streets and highways are chewed up due to the snow plows, I would most likely get a softer brand of springs.

 

Thanks again for the spring info.

One more question: Do the TRD springs lower the car? I was thinking that I really don't want to lower it. I just want it to handle stiffer through turns (I will need all the ground clearance I can get when it snows). Maybe I should just get stiffer shocks/struts? Or are those all part of the spring package?