xB at forefront of boxy-car trend
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xB at forefront of boxy-car trend
Paul
Allscion -- an e-commerce website with news and accessories for your Scion vehicles
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http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...oxy-cars_x.htm
Some of the vehicles, such as Scion xB, lend themselves to the social aspect of a generation that likes to travel in packs. The party is often wherever you park it.
"Just the nature of the cube allows you to have the space to make it a mobile party experience," says automotive marketing consultant Gordon Wangers.
Plus, "They have a little bit of hot rod in them" ...
The xB, with its giant box and tiny wheels, was derided as looking like a rolling microwave when it was introduced.
Far from losing steam as a fad, sales have increased by nearly 22% through August, compared with a year ago, Autodata says. Besides offering a bevy of accessories to allow motorists to personalize their xBs, Toyota has offered its own customized versions.
The customized version for 2006, the Release Series 3.0, comes in "envy green" and offers an Alpine DVD audio/video player and seven-spoke wheels, among other things. It's sold out.
"Just the nature of the cube allows you to have the space to make it a mobile party experience," says automotive marketing consultant Gordon Wangers.
Plus, "They have a little bit of hot rod in them" ...
The xB, with its giant box and tiny wheels, was derided as looking like a rolling microwave when it was introduced.
Far from losing steam as a fad, sales have increased by nearly 22% through August, compared with a year ago, Autodata says. Besides offering a bevy of accessories to allow motorists to personalize their xBs, Toyota has offered its own customized versions.
The customized version for 2006, the Release Series 3.0, comes in "envy green" and offers an Alpine DVD audio/video player and seven-spoke wheels, among other things. It's sold out.
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Been there years before. Started out in Nov 2003 with my hummer (which I still have) and continued with my xB (got it in this past jan). i may be trading in my hummer for another box - the mercedes g500 wagon ;]
here is a driveway pic ;]
- sh00k
here is a driveway pic ;]
- sh00k
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Reston, VA
Oh no! My offbeat ride is becoming mainstream. Now I'll have to find a new anti-establishment vehicle.
I'm thinking... retired Brinks truck:
http://www.alpineco.com/inventory/used/trucks/index.htm
What do you think? Is [one of these] the new Bluesmobile?
Still boxy. Certainly unlikely to become cool.
I'm thinking... retired Brinks truck:
http://www.alpineco.com/inventory/used/trucks/index.htm
What do you think? Is [one of these] the new Bluesmobile?
Still boxy. Certainly unlikely to become cool.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Raleigh, North Carolina
Originally Posted by midtowndesi
Been there years before. Started out in Nov 2003 with my hummer (which I still have) and continued with my xB (got it in this past jan). i may be trading in my hummer for another box - the mercedes g500 wagon ;]
here is a driveway pic ;]
- sh00k
here is a driveway pic ;]
- sh00k
Also, a few other boxes currently rolling in Japan:
The Nissan Cube and the Nissan Cube^3 (Cube Cubed)
The Nissan Otti:
The Honda Zest:
Pretty f'ing nifty. (All pictures stolen from their company's websites.)
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Well the Cube and the Zest look cool but one thing's for sure if Honda sells it the price will be toooooo freakin' high!
About the Cube:http: //www.theautochannel.com/news/2004/10/13/251461.html
the last line is infuriating...it says that Nissan will keep a keen eye out to see how the xB sells...well it's selling great so import the freakin' Cube! I get sooooo tired of seeing cool cars that AREN'T imported to the US. Import the d@mn thing already. They wonder why that awfull looking Nissan Versa isn't selling?
About the Cube:http: //www.theautochannel.com/news/2004/10/13/251461.html
the last line is infuriating...it says that Nissan will keep a keen eye out to see how the xB sells...well it's selling great so import the freakin' Cube! I get sooooo tired of seeing cool cars that AREN'T imported to the US. Import the d@mn thing already. They wonder why that awfull looking Nissan Versa isn't selling?
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From: Cupertino, CA
Originally Posted by licentiamonachus
As for trading in the hummer for the g500 - the only reason I haven't doneso yet is because the g500 interior/dash is so simplistic it's not even funny. So to trade in my hummer PLUS pay over $60,000 for a g500, in my eyes, seems very bad -I am getting ripped off... The hummer interior looks so much nicer and more masculine than the g500s "jeep style" dash board where everything is just basically mounted flat against the area below the dash... i dunno... If anything, I'll trade for a used g500... but i'll see ;]
surprisingly enough, i went to a ferrari dealer and if i buy a 2006 lamborghini gallardo or a 2002 ferrari modena 360 convertible, they will give me almost $50,000 for my hummer! when they told me that, I couldnt believe it. Then the difference i would have to pay in cash is north of $125,000! lol!
still... it made me think tho....
- sh00k
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From: Cupertino, CA
^^^ LOL! Surprisingly enough, it feels as though the back of my xB has more space than the inside of my hummer! With the seats in the hummer pushed all the way back, you definitely feel like you're in a small space in the h2 - even though you are like 7" above the ground. lol! in the xB, with the driver + passenger seat pushed all teh way back, the back of the xB still feels as roomy as hell! I'm comparing the rear seat space between the xB and the hummer.
Back to the topic - boxes rock ;] if the xB is going to change into the japanese new bB, i'm not going to upgrade. I don't care what they say!
If I wanted a PT cruiser, I could get one now from Chrysler. No need to wait a couple of more model seasons for 1...
- sh00k
Back to the topic - boxes rock ;] if the xB is going to change into the japanese new bB, i'm not going to upgrade. I don't care what they say!
If I wanted a PT cruiser, I could get one now from Chrysler. No need to wait a couple of more model seasons for 1...- sh00k
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The new bB is still a box. The shape is basically the same, just got fender bulges and an upswept line under the side windows.
The PT Cruiser's front comes to a point and the headlights are on the fenders. The face of the new bB is flat and the headlights are above the fenders. The roof and hood are slanted on the PT Cruiser, and old and new xB have horizontal hood and roof.
The flat roof and hood, flat face, flat sides are what makes the box look for me, and the new bB continues the look.
We are probably still not going to get it.
The PT Cruiser's front comes to a point and the headlights are on the fenders. The face of the new bB is flat and the headlights are above the fenders. The roof and hood are slanted on the PT Cruiser, and old and new xB have horizontal hood and roof.
The flat roof and hood, flat face, flat sides are what makes the box look for me, and the new bB continues the look.
We are probably still not going to get it.
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The new xB should have an option with a slightly bigger motor. A Corolla motor under the hood would be nice.
I was in an xB and I must tell you that it took a while to get to freeway speeds, I think it took a good 20 seconds to get to 80mph.
I was in an xB and I must tell you that it took a while to get to freeway speeds, I think it took a good 20 seconds to get to 80mph.