Hi all. Names Will. First time owner of a Toyota Ist aka Scion xA. Im currently living in Japan, and have been since 2001. Im prior US military and now Im a DOD civilian employee..thats why Im stil here. Just picked the car up about 2 months ago and Im ready to start adding stuff to it, but dont know much about these cars. Thats why Im here. Hope to learn quite a bit about them. Ive owned quite a few cars since coming here and this is the least powerful of the group. So definitely a change. Heres some pics.







I picked this car up due to the fact that I have to drive an hour+ to work each way, just about everyday and my previous car was a gas guzzler.

The car came with the rims and aero parts. Im currently looking for some new rims. The ones on it now are ok, but too small IMO. Im currently looking at a set of Work Eurolines S2H's. Sizes are 17 X 8.5j +20 and 17 X 9j +16. From looking at the wheels/tires section they should fit (with some fender rolling). Anyone have any experience trying to fit these sizes on an xA?

 

Welcome! Where are you stationed? And I'm pretty sure you'll have no problem getting some wheels, Autobacs is great.

 

I work on Misawa AB, in Misawa city, Aomori prefecture..if you know where that is.

 

I know where that is, I've been to Misawa countless times. I was in Yokosuka NB ('03-'09), so I'm assuming you were in the USAF?

 

Yeah, I was in the Air Force.

 

Why do you have a Hiragana plate? Shouldn't you have Y plates on?

 

Im working on getting them changed. Since the car was bought from a dealership, it was easier to have the car put into my wifes name and thats why it has the japanese plates. Im working on getting my wife her SOFA status, then the plates will be changed.

 

car looks great none the less. but why the german plate?

 

To be honest, Im not sure. It was on the car when I bought it. Im going to have it removed. It just doesnt look right with 2 plates. Im going to do it myself as soon as I can figure out how to remove the japanese plate without ruining the aluminum cap that covers the one screw holding the plate on.

 

You've gotta becareful when you're near the prefecture seal, if that's damaged or missing, the police will pull you over for that. The seal is permanent and the only way to remove it is to have it damaged and replaced with a new seal. You can get around that be getting to it from the back, remove the rear hatch panel and you can get to it.

 

car looks great will.. those rims are hot, I been trying to find some here but no luck

 

thanks. I might be selling them if I can find a set to replace them. Gotta find out what I have to do to fit some 17 X 8.5 +20 and 17 X 9 +16 rims first. Even 18's with the same sizes if they would fit ok without too much modification. This site has provided some good ideas so far of what I want the car to look like when its all finished.