I've been a member here since 2004 when I first purchased my black sand pearl xB. I sold the xB in favor of a $1500 beater to swing my debt-to-income ratio to assit in purchasing our new townhome. Months later, I decided to go "back to my roots" and get into another Ford (SVT Focus).

Loved the SVTF to death, but I was too **** about screwing up the leather Recaro seats. Plus I wanted something a bit easier on the pocket book for gas...so I looked back into the b-segment. I fell in love with the Fit. Found a beautiful 2007 Honda Fit Sport (manual trans) in Storm Silver Metallic. 2-days later I found a paint imperfection. Dealer couldn't find a replacement so I took a 100% refund.

Alas...I find myself back at a Toyota dealership. Toyota of Tampa Bay stepped in during my stressful time of need and found the exact car I wanted. I couldn't be happier with the level of service, and I'll probably start a new thread just on my experience with this dealership.

Anywho, just thought I'd say "hi" and introduce myself again. Here is the timeline of cars since I've been gone:

The SVO which was eventually sold a few months into the 2004 Toaster ownership (thanks to being laid off ):


The 2004 Toaster...Tein S-tech springs, painted dubcaps, candied tails, tint, blacked out headlights:



The failed 1989 Mustang project car:



The $1500 beater/Toaster replacement:


The 2003 SVTF:



My 2007 Honda Fit I "owned" for all of 5-days:

 

And finally the 2006 RS 3.0 (number 2070 of 2200). 5-speed. No other options.

She gets tint tomorrow (hopefully). Tein S-tech springs will be installed within another month as well. Also plan on doing something with the front grille and doing the headlight modification again. So far I'm loving this car. Great to be in a Toaster again:





Bling bling:

 

Well congrats on your second xB. I'm sure you'll find(if you haven't already) that the 3.0 gets tons more looks and grins.

I have a TCM and people def look, but when I'm in my dad's 3.0 they don't look, they stare.

Good luck with this one!

 

whoa why did you ditch the fit so quick?!

 

It had an unacceptable paint flaw on the rear quarterpanel. It wasn't obvious, but for an **** retentive person such as myself it may as well have been a 2-ft gash in the paint. Honda offered to swap it out for another, but no Fit Sports could be found within a reasonable time-frame. They gave me the easy-out option of a 100% refund (despite the 270 miles on the odo)...so I opted for that route. No way in hell would I repaint a brand new vehicle, nor would I accept it with the paint flaw because either way the value of the vehicle is diminished. The dealership ended up selling it to another person of less discriminating taste, I guess.

The xB was my second choice to the Fit. But quite honestly, I'm much happier in the xB which should have been my first choice. While the Fit is a "sportier" vehicle, the xB its much more comfortable to drive.

 

Bummer, that Fit looks good.

 

Welcome back! You have a thing for hatches huh?

 

Another "greenie" joins the ranks! ( I'm talking about the CAR!)
YAY!
Howard in Gilroy Ca.

 

Hah...yeah I do. When I was a kid I lived in Germany for about four years. For whatever reason I fell in love with the VW Golf/Rabbit and I've had a thing for hatchbacks ever since. I've always just liked the way they look and they are much more useful than a trunk.

I really wanted a new GTI, but the car payments were double what I'm paying on the xB.

 

welcome back...it seems the rs numbers are getting higher and higher. im surpirsed you got a 5spd, eveyone was talking like they were sold out.

 

You will love the 3.0! Smart purchase!

Man, that SVO was hot. I bet you wish you still owned it at times?

Your $1500.00 beater???!!!!! I would buy a 240 with that straight of a body any day of the week for 1500. That was a hot car. Those bad boys are amazing toys to play with. You can do all kinds of ____ to em. Great drift cars.

Hope the 3.0 treats you well! Looks great!

 

I LOVE THE GREEN! Lets see some pics of the interior. I get a smile everytime I see the 3.0. A little happiness is shed on my life...

 

wcb

 

What was the paint flaw? Do you have any pics?

Congrats on getting a 100% refund on it, to allow you an RS3.

 

The paint flaw wasn't very obvious and I doubt I could have successfully photographed it. The flaw was on the driver side quarterpanel just behind the rear most window and on the gas lid. The spot on the gas lid was about 2" long by 0.5" wide. The two spots on the quarterpanel were each about 3-4" in length and about 2-3" wide.

You could see them in direct sunlight at certain angles...they looked almost like shadows on the paint. In failing light or at full darkness with street/parking lot lights, they looked like smudges in the paint. I'm sure 9 out of 10 people wouldn't see this paint issue and/or wouldn't care.

 

welcome back brother

 

I know what your talking about. My father's new Rav4 had the same issue. The dealer repainted the section.