By no means do I want to have this be a "xA is better than xB" or visa-versa thread, but I haven't driven an xA, but have driven an xB (five-speed).

Are there any noticable differences between the two? Is the xA noticably faster than xB?

Any comparisons would be great.

 

I drove both, here's what I found and why I bought the Xa and am seriously considering buying another...

The Xb has great interior space and is more comforable, I'm a big guy at 6'3" 240lb so that's a consideration. I'm not big on the Xb styling no matter how "fresh" people think it is, it still looks like a '60s VW Fridolin (German Postal truck) to me!!

The Xa is more nimble, accelerates noticably quicker and is just plain more fun to drive agressively (that's what I do...). I fit in the Xa just fine (better than my BMW) and I have a mini van so I don't need the extra room to haul stuff. With some inexpensive modifications it can handle remarkably well for an inexpensive car. It's a ball to drive through the hills out here and continues to surprise drivers of more powerfull cars!

ken

 

i've driven both.. theyR pretty much the same honestly.

so i'd say just decide on the styling you like, lil escape pod or a box.

my 2cents

 

This is what I was expecting to hear. I guess there's no real way to see for my self other than driving the two back-to-back.

I like the xB, but want something I can autocross if I want to (I'm not too hardcore about it, but I attend 2-3 auto-x a year). I think the xA would be a better auto-x vehicle than the xB.

 

everyone keeps mentioning auto cross, but who organizes those here in NorCal, anyone know? at the very least I'd like to attend one and check it out, if not actually futz around and make a fool of myself

 

Check out SCCA.org and find the link to SF reigon. They do it at CandleStick and the Oakland Arena among other places. Usually a couple times a month.
ken

 

This is what I like to hear. I hope to drive like you.

I also gotta try hitting all 3 pedals at once. Gotta try that.

 

bust out the heel-toe haha

 

Squat!! http://www.glen-scca.org/index.htm nothing. I know they have events up there, I've seen them. I'd love to take a trip around that track! It's like 15 minutes away.

ah, autocross is solo II.. they have some events but none at the glenn

 

Yeah, the ones who can do it say it's easy and they do it all the time... But I find it very hard to do.

Most people don't know what I'm talking about though if I mention it.

I'll be cryptic now -- sometimes you have to have "the need" to do it before it makes sense, or before it will feel "natural." But to "have the need" in the first place, you have to be "doing..." something. And... the "doing something" is coming up to a corner fast - and mostly you don't want to do that.

So that's why I say I'll "try."