Okay, I know Toyota targeted the "youth" market when they developed the Scion brand, and I have noticed quite a few under 30 members on this site, but how many of you guys & gals fall into my category of over 30, married with children, and bought a Scion for all the practical reasons of fuel efficiency, affordability, low payments, etc., instead of mod-ing?

I don't have mine yet, but I will as soon as I sell my truck. I'm 38, married, with an 11 yr old son. I'm currently driving a full-size extended cab 4X4 truck which is loaded with all the options (heated leather seats w/memory, cruise, power everything..etc). The reason I'm selling it and getting a Scion xA is simple. I really don't need that much vehicle. I only drive 4 miles each way to work, yet I'm driving a huge, top-of-the-line truck. When I decided it would be smart to sell it and get a small economy car, my first thought was a used Corolla. But after seeing and driving the xA, there's no other car out there for me. I love 'em.

Im 30 and married have kids but they rarely get in the xa.they get in only on the weekends when I attend meets or car shows.they are always in the astro van they have enought room to move freely and they also like the fact that they have a flipdown monitor so they could watch tv or a movie..................juan

I am 67. Was driving a 1991 Geo Metro one litre manual. Wanted another. No longer made. I wanted something as near as possible to the old Metro but with automatic as I have arthritis in my feet and it keeps getting worse. With automatic one can keep on keeping on if one foot is working adequately. I would not go with Daewoo. Focus did not look really reliable. I seriously looked at the VW Golf Diesel but the nearest dealer is perhaps over 75 miles away and the stories of VW quality and dealerships seemed serious enough to eliminate that choice. That mostly left the Scion and the xA was the most fuel efficient and had side air bags which I think one owes to passengers. I once had a Toyota small pickup and was not happy with failure of an engine gasket and really bad rusting spots here and there which seemed to originate under the paint. But I decided to take a chance on the xA even tho many do not seem to be happy with the paint, stock tires, and springs and I do not approve of imitation bumpers on any vehicle. The lack of fuel efficiency as compared to the one litre Metro is something I must learn to live with as dealers seem to be fearful of offering efficient motors in a new vehicle in the USA.

Yeah Yeah I was once griping about the bumper cover thing but I was just recently rear ended in my xA and all I have to say is Cool. the crumple worked flawless I still have perfect alignment. yeah the cover is trash and Its $150 for a piece of plastic...but it gave me an excuse to put my widebody kit on.

anyway I'm 37 married and our 1st child is on the way.

I was also rear ended, the bumper just crumpled. I was hit by a truck, still waiting for the repairs to be done.

BTW, I am 24, turning 25 in two months.

Wow, there seems to be more of us 31-40 yr olds than I thought.

Boilerman, I traded in my 2000 Jetta GLS VR6 for an xA. The VW engine's been great for the 4 years that I owned the car, but it's been prone to annoying electrical issues (like most VW).

werdna9, I'm 34, have an 18 month old daughter, and my wife is 3 months pregnant....hence my need for lower monthly payments, cheaper gas, and better fuel economy (the Jetta took premium unleaded). Congrats on the 1st child on the way.

i just got my xa rs this past monday. i am 35 years old, not married, no kids. i bought it cause it was practicle and you dont ever see any of them on the road. and definitly i am going to mod it.

I bought my xA because I wanted a small car with four doors and good fuel economy (regular unleaded is ~$2.75 here) -- at a reasonable price. Not may cars fit this profile: Volkswagen Golf is too expensive, Chevrolet Aveo has a terrible interior and not enough standard equipment, Honda Civics are overpriced and you never know what you're getting with a used one, I will NEVER drive a Kia, and the list goes on. Scion was the choice for me. I don't like the xB, and the tC is neither effecient enough nor inexpensive enough to fit my needs. xA it is for me, and I love it!

By the way, 21 years old, single male, no children. That makes me their prime sales target, right?

My wife and I did all that we could to screw up Scion's projected demographics, as I'm 60 and she's 57. We wanted something that would get good mileage and be comfortable for my partially disabled wife (7 back surgeries in 4 years-degenerative disc disease). We tried all of the econoboxes-Vibe, Mattrix, Focus, etc.,but the Xa was the most comfortable for her. The Scion sits high enough that she can enter and exit easily, the seats were the most comfortable, and the price was right. I didn't have any worry about steering away from a first year build cae, as I figured it was pretty much built on the Echo pan, and being a Toyota, it would be screwed together pretty well. Good mileage (31.9-36.8) ang a good purchase so far. It was one of the first Xa's to be purchased in Aberdeen, Wa in June.

Gary, have you had a chance to drive in snow up there in Alaska?

Oh, there's plenty of snow on the ground. Valdez is the snow capital of the west coast with an average of about 325 inches per year. Our first snow this year was in September. Why do you ask?

30, engaged, no kids. Past 10 years I lived in my 2 seater 300ZX TwinTurbo. Wanted something fuel efficiant, hatch back, back seats fold down, 4 doors, sunroof, and the fiance would like for her car. Got the RS 1.0. Had no plans to modify it as I already have my toy, but it impressed me my last trip to the race track. Trying to beat down the bug..

Oh, there's plenty of snow on the ground. Valdez is the snow capital of the west coast with an average of about 325 inches per year. Our first snow this year was in September. Why do you ask?

Just curious how the xA handles in snow (especially in the snow capital of the west coast!). I ordered my xA last week and should have it pretty soon....same as yours Gary, 2005 Indigo Ink Pearl.

She's a champ! It goes great in the snow - but tires make a big difference. I had the stock 185/60/15, and they did all right, but I didn't feel comfortable going any faster than about 30mph in them with all of the ice we have on the roads. I just had Bridgestone Blizzaks put on, and it's doing much better now. If you want more info, feel free to e-mail me at bullg@att.net.

Thanks Gary. My first car 16 years ago was a Honda CRX...no ABS, no power steering, FWD, stock tires, and I think I drove that car better on snow than I do newer cars.

:twisted: 38, 3 kids and a wife we all fit fine in my xa rs 1.0 infact selling wife nissan quest minivan and getting her a xb. great milage and plenty of room inside to haul things with the seats down. now if we could only decide on a color... :twisted:

alot of the older scionites mod up their scions too. they get em for reliability and all that crap at first but then pimp it.
just for your knowledge.
i am 19 will be 20 on tuesday. I bought the box as my way of getting a brand new car. my first brand new car. i have always loved toyota , nissan , bmw's and vw's. and i have owned at least one of each. my first car was a 1980 datsun 210 , then a 1981 bmw 320i , 1987 toyota supra , 1969 vw bug and now my 05 box. i love old cars but i needed a reliable car. and with its good fuel comsumption and it's awesomely unique style the box was it. i am pimpin it out constantly almost every week now i have at least 1 new mod of some sort. theyre gr8 cars bottom of the line. (even without enough power)

Remember, that this survey you are taking is not from a random sample, but from an internet forum, which is going to lean your results towards the young side. So this may not be the best way to get statistical data.

Tru dat, Sid. Anything short of conducting a buyer survey at Scion dealerships will yield somewhat skewed data. Still...despite this poll's less than ideal conditions, having 30% 31-40 year old participating is pretty good considering the circumstances. Also, I'm glad to see some participation in this forum from the "OLD" group (no offense meant....a Scion lover is a Scion lover is a Scion lover).

Yeah. . . I fairly sure that the true percentage of "older" buyers is higher. In fact, I get more "older" people running up to my car asking question than the younger kids. . . (back in Marin, there aren't very many Scion's yet, let alone xA's).

I reviewed the post before the vote, Thank You to all the real people out there. I am 40, traded a 2000 GMC 4x4. I love this car, but I have an underliing love for little cars. Owned a sprint, a colt, and a corolla. I've done the full TRD suspension, Strut brace , and this Spring plan rims and rubber. this car harkens back to go-kart racing days. Makes me smile on every approach, and keeps me tuned to my driving experience for a lot less than the porsche I dreamingly planned to buy at 40.

I reviewed the post before the vote, Thank You to all the real people out there. I am 40, traded a 2000 GMC 4x4. I love this car, but I have an underliing love for little cars. Owned a sprint, a colt, and a corolla. I've done the full TRD suspension, Strut brace , and this Spring plan rims and rubber. this car harkens back to go-kart racing days. Makes me smile on every approach, and keeps me tuned to my driving experience for a lot less than the porsche I dreamingly planned to buy at 40.You sound like me. I currently have my 2000 Silverado ext. cab 4X4 up for sale so I can get an xA. Let me ask you...how often do you miss your truck? I'm a home owner, so I know for a fact that there will be times when we'll be sorry I got rid of the truck. The thing is, the times I need a truck are few, yet I'm driving that big thing every day.

I have an underlying love for little cars. Owned a sprint, a colt, and a corolla....this car harkens back to go-kart racing days. Makes me smile on every approach, and keeps me tuned to my driving experience for a lot less than the porsche I dreamingly planned to buy at 40.

Neal, I know how you feel, small cars are great....they're like toys. My xA does remind me of my old Honda CRX only way more practical, especially now that I am married and have kids. It's the best of both worlds and fun for all ages!

I am 24, married, no kids yet, but just found out one is on the way. I got the xA because I fell in love with Scion the day I saw the writeup on the bB in an audiophile mag a few years ago. The xA was the best choice, pricewise as well as mileage related. I drive about 100 miles a day, so I need something I wasn't going to have to spend 75 a week in gas on. Right now I am getting like 34 to 35 mpg on average between city and highway. I plan on doing something to the car, but for now I just have the exhaust, the TRD clutch, and the strut bar. I have a set of TRD springs sitting in the trunk, just can't get them put on yet.

I happen to be 24, but probably think more lke 30+... I am engaged, needed a replacement for my previous daily driver, (2002 Echo), and found the xA. I am trying to save up for marriage, starting a family, etc. and the xA made sense. Especially the bang for the buck of the RS 1.0 that I got! I basically have the same reliable/fuel effecient drivetrain that I traded in wrapped in a much more exciting package... I am happy with my decision and have my friend Ricardo and fiance' Meghan to thank for it.

I'm 44 and I feel like i am 16 again with my Xa. I can't wait to get the air intake and strut tie bar.
Then......then come the wheels :twisted:

Dude, check this out:

http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=36480

an 84 year old just joined the Scion family of xA owners!!! That tips my "old" demographic!!!

Whoa...84 and got an xA?! That's awesome! He'll probably do the under-dash neons and bazooka tube. 8)

Yeah, that would be my dad, he's not too computer savvy, so I registered myself, but the car is indeed solely his. But if it helps, I'm 39 and my buddy around the corner is 41 and he has an xB.

41 year's old
Single Father of a 5 year old girl
Retail manager
Liberal Republican or Libertarian
Mid 40K per year
Rent in So Cal
Alway's had small car's, Renault LeCar (1) even a Turbo charged R-5 Alpine (very fast great handling and brake's). Was looking to buy a Mini Cooper(S). Saw a Xa on the freeway and followed the owner to a store to determine what the hell it was. Was put off by 4 door's, however after lifting my sleeping 38 pound daughter from the back seat of my than car, VW Cabriolet (for the 1 millonth time), decided 4 door's made sense. Test drove the Xa after the Cooper (oop's) took 6 more month's to decide. Decided that the 10k + or - difference, recalls, insurance and 2 door's was enough to motivate me to the Xa.
Very Happy.
Remind's me of my old LeCar, no one can pass by with out smiling at my Xa.

I'm a very young 39! + wife and 3 boys ( 16,13,8 ) and they love the car too!

I was looking at a Civic/Corolla to get better gas mileage. I was in a an Explorer Sport Trac and simply wanted to get a "zippy" fun-to-drive car for my commute everyday... and then I read about the xA... and the rest is history.

Now I'm on-line everyday reading about Scions!!! I think you'll all agree I made the right decision....

I love reading these positive testimonials. I'm here everyday too, even if for just five minutes. I'm picking mine up tomorrow (Indigo Ink Pearl) after two long weeks of waiting for it to arrive. I'll have to come back to have my TRD parts installed when they arrive at the dealership (short shifter, clutch, muffler), but I'll be stylin' in the meantime :D

@ 48 yo.....it's only beginning to sync in.....little inexpensive car=big fun..

Picking up my RS 1 in a couple days.. 49, married with 2 kids. But hey, I like Tom Waits, Sonic Youth, play records and saw the Pixies, so I'm kinda kool, right? Gotta tow the demographic line..

im also in the 21-30 group

Picking up my RS 1 in a couple days.. 49, married with 2 kids. But hey, I like Tom Waits, Sonic Youth, play records and saw the Pixies, so I'm kinda kool, right? Gotta tow the demographic line..

Sonic Youth and the Pixies, huh.....I guess you're into early 90s stuff. I'm 34, and I saw the Cranberries, Phish, Cowboy Junkies, and Concrete Blond in concert in the early 90s.

Hi, everybody, I just drove my brand new Phantom Gray XA home from the dealership. I wanted to keep driving it, but morning comes early and I am exhausted. I love my car!

For the record, I am a 46-year old woman. I am married, and have a 24-year old son. The options I went for were automatic transmission, XM radio, and mats. I know the automatic is not the most powerful, but I have been driving a standard for over 12 years and am just sick of it, it's a pain in Houston traffic. Literally! I have arthritis.

Oh, and we went ahead and got extended warranty and Lojack. And then, driving it home from the dealership, I was nearly in a wreck when some jerk in a big pick up swerved into my lane. I learned where that horn was real quick, but over swerved myself and nearly hit the car in the other lane next to me. Gotta get used to the handling of it. My other car is a Ford Escort, also a small vehicle, but it handles so differently! The XA feels more like my husband's Explorer.

So far, I am crazy about this XA! It's smaller than the Escort, but it feels so much cozier. Had fantastic service from Champion Toyota on the Gulf Freeway. They really went out of their way to make us happy. I want to get the Boomerang armrest. No regrets so far, don't think I'll have any either.

I'm 53 and I bought the xA because of it's good fuel economy, low price, high seating and reliability. I drive about 600 miles per week.

Although, if the Honda Fit were available at the time I purchased the xA and if it were a similar price, I would have bought the Fit because they get 40-60 MPG and can hold up to 4 mountain bikes inside! It's good to know that the Fit will be around when the xA eventually wears out.

I do enjoy driving the xA. It's an automatic (why shift if you don't have to?) and it has more zip than I need.

I took out the entire rear seat and built a simple carpeted platform to maximize the cargo space and make it more compatible for my dog.

I bought my xA because I wanted a small car with four doors and good fuel economy (regular unleaded is ~$2.75 here) -- at a reasonable price. Not may cars fit this profile: Volkswagen Golf is too expensive, Chevrolet Aveo has a terrible interior and not enough standard equipment, Honda Civics are overpriced and you never know what you're getting with a used one, I will NEVER drive a Kia, and the list goes on. Scion was the choice for me. I don't like the xB, and the tC is neither effecient enough nor inexpensive enough to fit my needs. xA it is for me, and I love it!

By the way, 21 years old, single male, no children. That makes me their prime sales target, right?

Wow those are exactly the same reasons and situation as me. Except I'm 26 :)

Heh, heh,heh... I almost got myself into an "Aveo" too... It was a "Summer Yellow" five door, and had pretty much all the same options as the xA. Then my friend Ricardo and fiance' Meghan stepped in for an "intervention" and brought me to a Scion dealer. After going to three Scion dealers I found my xA RS which had all of the same stuff as the "Aveo" for about the same money. Not too mention the 17" wheels, better reliability, holds more value, exclusiveness of limited production, doesn't look like a "rental car" from the front, and of course the "coolness factor"! No yellow available but the Absolutely Red paint is just as eye catching... Glad they stepped in!

I just bought my Indigo xA today and love it. I had a 2000 Explorer and wanted something smaller and more fuel-efficent. The xA is less expensive and has more options than the Honda Civic i looked at, and there arent alot of them in Lexington KY. I cant wait to mod it...look out....

By the way i gues i am part of their demographic...19 years old male, single and no kids...