Man I am digging the xD, I can't tell for sure from the pics, but the shifter looks like it is on the floor? Is that the case?

That is the big problem I have with the new xB.

 

yeah its on the floor but seems a lil bit higher than on the xB's of now

 

The xA is most certainly a 7/8ths scale Matrix in looks, which makes sense-it basically is exactly that. The Matrix is basically a wagon version of the Corolla with different styling; the xA is basically a hatchback version of the Echo with different styling.

I own an xA and I really like the way it looks; the bashing of the xA in this review was unneccessary. I'm amazed that the xD is apparently smaller than the xA (the review says it has less cargo room)-that was not the impression I was getting previously. Now, if you factor in the difference in the way the mileage was calculated, it seems they got a lot more power with very little loss of mileage, which is good.

In any case, I'm not planning on parting with my xA any time soon, but I certainly will at least take a look at the xD at my dealer when it comes out.

 

Big thanks to Chad and Frank for helping NRG out with this press event. The pictures look great.

The xD is all but a 2 seater. Dont look to get anyone in the back seat as long as you have average sized people sitting in the front. For the front its very roomy, and the more i look at it, the more i like it. But like i said, im 6'2" and to sit in the back i had to recline the rear seat back and my head was still hitting the roof.

 

i didnt know the xd was already in showrooms, the local dealership told me end of the year.

i test drove the xb and i did not get the impression that it handled better than the first gen. although it does pick up speed alot faster but definitely did not feel like it handled better. cant wait to see some performance numbers.

 

I'm with you. We test drove the new xB yesterday and yes, it had quicker acceleration but it had a more pronounced roll on the turns - maybe a higher center of gravity? Like Chris, I'm tall (6'4") and I felt as cramped in the Gen 2 as in the Highlander we originally looked at two years ago that led us to the three Gen 1 xBs we own.

BTW Chris - 4 AM posting - Don't you sleep? (Well next time you're up at that hour, PM me because I'm usually up too.

 

It's not. There appears to be a factory rep or two on this here thread.

 

Not a factory rep, I ,along with Chad, were invited from Scion, to the Press Preview in NY. The xD is not in show rooms nor testdriveable by the general public as of yet. These were all demo cars that after being used, are destroyed. f you notice the one picture you will see the cardboard cover that was on the visors. Ith road courses that they had setup for us really let you test the car, with out the salesman being scared about hurting the car LOL

 

Lucky Pucks!

 

Yeah, i guess it wasnt made clear. Scion Corp had asked ScioNRG for a doorstop and a box to basically show the then and now for the press in the tristate area ( NY, NJ, and CT i believe ). These guys were contacted last minute and really came through for Scion. In return they were offered a test drive of the new xD which is not slated to hit show rooms until August of this year. Chad and Frank were truely the first 2 peeps off the street to test drive the xD, and from what i have seen they were smiling the whole time.

You too can test drive the xD in August when it hits showrooms at a local dealer near you.

 

I can't wait to drive the xD...I wasn't impressed with the new xB at all...it was too "mainstream" looking and feeling to me when I test drove it.

 

You know I thought that, when writing articles, one is SUPPOSED to state that they are giving their own opinion (i.e. "in my opinion") when writing such articles. Talk about an extremely bias and opinionated article. Are there still some xA's laying around? yes. does that make them un cool? Depends on your personal definition of cool.

Personally I always liked the Scions, since they came out. I almost bought an xA. For crying out lout I chose to stay with a 1990 Corolla than go to the Echo (have you seen those things?). I decided to wait and buy a tC. But my Brother bought an RS 2.0 xA from me. I like all the Scions in their own rights.

When Toyota stated what their plan was, with Scion, I was utterly amazed. I knew they have the right formula, here. All my co-workers thought this car line was going to flop. Now look at it. I still think the xA is a great little car, especially for the price. As for the xD...33mpg, highway, based on the new 2008 EPA estimates is awesome. Must be because of the "Dual VVT-i" if it's 33, then, by the previous estimate guidlines, it should have been about 37-38ish. AND at a 20% increase of power. oh p-shah some may say, but think about it....a car that is lighter than the Corolla, but with the same kind of power is going to feel even more powerful. (i.e. the tC shares the same engine as the Camry, but is 300+ lbs lighter than a camry without a moonroof or rims.) Well, that's enough of my late night rant.

 

while the article in car and driver was harsh, to say the least, on the xA...it wasn't far from the truth. the damn car never really took off.

i was having a discussion with my friend about the 3 car line-up and we both felt like the xA got the super short end of the straw.

the tC looks great and can be compared to the camry (americas best selling and most trusted car). so its easy to sell/buy.

the xB is so damn unique that the selling/buying point resides just in the looks. aside from the honda element nothing gets boxier (referring to 1st generation xBs). plus tons of cargo/head/leg room and great visibilty!

the xA is just a smaller gutless shrunken matrix with nothing besides, gas mileage that is desirable. well, i guess paralell parking is quite easy too. but the xA got screwed. it was almost as if toyota/scion only had 2 good models in mind and just needed to pump out a third quickly. the ideal buyer for an xA is someone who doesn't have a family or friends (cause neither will fit) and someone who doesn't have cargo to tote around (and that includes an ego).

THE xD CANT COME SOON ENOUGH!

 

For the time period it came out, I think the xA looked top notch. No one's running around saying how ugly the Matrix is, and the xA and Matrix look nearly identical aside from scale. Sure it's the most conservative of the bunch, but that doesn't make it "not cool". I still think it blew the doors off the competition... at the time. The styling is a bit dated now, so it's easy to look back and say it's boring. And IMHO, the xA looks the best of the 3 when it's customized.

I think the guys that write these reviews are numbed from too many rides in higher-performance vehicles, and it prevents them from writing an unbiased opinion of smaller engines. A 1.8 with 128 hp in a car that size should be MORE than "adequate". It does a rather good job in my Vibe, which is a fair amount larger, and automatic to boot.

BACK ON TOPIC: Woohoo, xD! I'm really looking forward to seeing one of these in person. I'm betting the pics don't do it justice.

~SM

 

are you dumb beyond belief or did you not know the Toyota bB and ist have been out for years and has a large fanbase for both?.. and when brought over to the states as the Scion xB and xA...

yeah... around for about 2 years before the tC even started showing up... so that statement you made is probably the worst i have seen from anyone..
typical salesperson knowing jack...

and sure.. the xA doesn't get too much love as the xB here in the states... but fail and it getting screwed? it did NOT...

[/offtopic rant]

 

Wow, adam, you have to be the worst salesman in history....You know nothing about the cars or the entire line...not bad! I have only seen 2 posts of yours and you can only say the same things about the xA. At least, no matter how ignorant you are, you are persistant.

Please tell me how you think Toyota only had 2 good models and had to pump out a 3rd when the xA was the first one released in this country and the tC was 2 years later?

Moron.

 

Adam has left the building...

 

^LOL

 

It looks great. :D I was pretty stoked at what 5Axis had done with it and the xB 2nd gens. I love their work on the past and present models because their example lets
us know what the cars are capable of looking...pretty far out from normal. :D

I cant wait to test drive the xD when it arrives. :D Intially....I wanted to know how it drove and what not, but Ill see for myself when I get to test drive it. I did have a chance to drive the 2nd gen xB, it;s a fun car to drive with the 2AZ-FE engine. I didnt particularly liked the 4spd sport-shift version. Like any sport-shift, it lagged a bit but still had some perk to it with the low-end. I loved the 5spd manual option, :D A lot of fun and get go. Was thinking...trade in the Tc???? haha..im ok...or get the xB and pay 40 grand altogether with my TC payments as well. LOL. Maybe someday.

Anyway....can't wait to see the xD, and can't wait to tear the streets with it on a test drive, :D HAHAHA. I LOVE CARS. :D


Silver_Streaker

PS

SCION, IS THEIR ANY OTHER CHOICE? NONE AT ALL. SCION REIGNS!

 

Tom, thanks..

I am not fired up about the stock xD looks from all the pics I've seen, but, after seeing what 5axis can do and hearing that their kits will be available really fires me up.... I doubt I will be getting a new xD, but if I needed another car, I'd know where to shop first.