to start with the car is cool. although i thought i would have been much happier once i got it. :? to me its a great car but i don't like the feel of the clutch, too soft. the rear seat headrest are in the way and hender visibility. the hubcaps are lame ( will be replaced a.s.a. my wheels come in from japan 3 wks.) the ride is soft and bouncy (as others have noted). the orange interia lights are weak as ____. but i must say that for a 16000 car it is one hell of a deal. the up side of things is 1. the 5spd matched with 108hp can really amaze you (got my first kill today a 8? honda prelude non si) 2. gas mileage 3. room 4. visibility with rear seats down or headrest removed 5. cabin noise is minimal all in all this is one hellofa buy. glad i waited and hope others who are waiting get theirs soon.

at work the opinions on the xb have been mixed some like it some don't i could care less. but out of my fellow nursing crew middle age and older ladies seem to like it most and a few say they may be future buyers so who knows. we may start seeing alota middle aged women at car shows. tell me that wouldn't be hot :lol:

I totally agree the neons under the seats and dash are very weak... and further more they are not neones... check it out... just leds with a clear rod attached. gas milage will start out medocare but will get quite better. my first 100 miles i got just 26MPG and I babyed the 5-spd. On the next 300 I am getting 28.9 MPG and should get better as engine breaks-in. The only thing I dont like is how short the 1st gear is and resultingly the car revs at 4K doing 80-85MPH. The start first gear I understand if acceration is weak because of a small HP engine, but if that was the deal toss in a six speed.... becuase if find it hard to believe the EPA got an avg of 35 MPG at highway speeds (70-75)... remember thats a avg some cars got over 35MPG!

Keep me posted how your RS1 5-spd is doing and I'll do the same.

-will