So I took the plunge. . . let me explain why and my thoughts, 24 hours after purchase.


I spend 3-4 hours in my car everyday. . . I commute, work outside sales, and use my car as a mobile office (pulling out my laptop, etc). Initially I hadn't found the tC to be attractive, as at the current time I needed four doors (now I don't). Secondly, the xB (although I really like it) was just too much of a vandalism target for me.

One thing really really bugged me about the xA. . . I could never fully extend my legs. Spending so much time in the car, it is a big issue. If I moved the seat fully back, I couldn't reach the wheel (or at least have a decent grip on it). Furthermore, spending so much time in the xA, the ride really beats you up. Yes, it was drop, but even stock it is a crappy ride. After all those bumps I hit when I cruise at 80mph+, the car squeeked more than my bed, and rattled like a soda can in the wind. Finally, the mileage is nowhere NEAR the EPA rating. For the level of performance and acceleration, the mpg SUCKS, big time. Yes the car (with a MT) has good acceleration, but it's because it's being revved to snot. Plus, the resale of these cars is so great, I just had to dump it while it still had SOME positive equity.

I tested an Acura TSX, VW Rabbit, VW EOS, Toyota Corolla, 300C, RSX, Ford Fusion, Audi A3. . . and decided on the tC because of value/economy.

So here's a comparison (for all people who may be considering the same trade):

1. Handling:
The xA shines here. Stock, it sucks! Slightly modified, the xA just delivers handfulls of confidence in the twisties. Minimal understeer, and excellent road feel. I've driven many exotic cars, and I can have just as much fun in xA as I can in a Porsche, believe it or not. At high speed however, the rear end is a bit twitchy, especially when braking. That's where the tC shines.
The tC has much more stability, but it understeers quite a bit. I can feel the front tires letting loose when I enter turns a little too hot. In the xA you could power out, but the tC (maybe due to a stock suspension, heavier weight, and more torque) just burns the outside tire. However, high speed handling is much, much better. Although turn in and response is not as quick (is it because of the longer wheelbase?) the ultimate stability is much much higher. However the tC does take a bit more finesse to control once it does start losing control.

2. Braking:
The xA's brakes are quite simply superb, likely because of the low weight. However, as I mentioned, it's not as stable at high speeds.
The tC requires a bit more effort and seems more sluggish when braking. However, there is no perceivable twitchiness that the xA had.

3. Power:
Short summary: the tC wins. The xA feels fast in MT due to shorter gearing. But the tC builds speed in a linear fashion. There aren't many surges and pulls, which is why it is hard to tell that it is much much faster. It's quite easy to accidentally break the speed limit in the tC. The xA required a bit of effort to do that. And the funniest thing is that the gas mileage isn't that much worse. A fair trade off, IMO.

4. Refinement:
Man oh man is the tC quiet. It soaks up bumps very well, and there are no perceivable rattles or creaks. I even tested a new xA before my purchase to make a fair comparison, and trust me, there is a HUGE difference. You can barely hear the engine in the tC (which is both good and bad for me). Padding in the doors, an arm rest, and everything has a very Lexus like feel to it. Lights that fade on and off on entry and exit, soft opening glove box, solid doors; everything about this car is high quality. I can't believe it was only $3000 more than an xA.

5. Space:
The tC wins. Bigger trunk, bigger rear seat, reclining rear seat, and the whole fold the front seats flat and make a bed deal.

6. Size:
The tC feels like a damn boat coming from the xA. It feels so friggin huge. It's more difficult to park in tight parking spaces, and the extremely long doors make it difficult to enter/exit when others park close to you.

7. Style:
I hate to do it, but I think the xA wins (my own preference). Many people stare at the xA and it attracts a lot of attention for cheap car. The tC kinda just blends in. It gets a look here and there, but I feel like I'm driving a Corolla again, status wise. Everyone will recognize your xA (especially if it is modified), and that makes it special. Often times people will stop to ask questions about the xA. . . despite its age.


Much ado to the xA community. Although I have dumped the car, I still have much love for it. It's now the case that MY needs have changed and it is no longer a practical option.

IMO:
If you spend less than two hours in your car a day, take the xA. It does fine on road trips (have done many) and I can endure more than 12 hours driving. But if you spend more than two hours in your car every single day, you may want to think otherwise. An inch of space has a lot of value. But for normal usage, the xA is pretty damn roomy.

RIP: 2005 Polar White Scion xA
70,000 Miles, 5 spd

2006 Bumper, Side skirt, Grills
Strut brace
TRD drop
Custom Intake
Custom stealth sub box
VIP lighting / puddle lamps
5% tint R, 35% tint F

Hello: 2007 Classic Silver Metallic tC
5 miles (day 0), now at 322 miles (day 1), 5 spd
BONE STOCK

 

Congrats on the new ride! Glad to see your still in the Scion community. So what are your plans for the tC?

 

It's going to be a professional car for my business. . . so nothing over the top or anything that screams "racer." Any mods will be sleeper mods. Maybe some ICE. . . I like the stock rims so they'll stay. I like the ride, so I won't mess with the suspension. Handling is acceptable to my standards too. I'd like an intake sometime down the line. I miss hearing the growl of the engine. The car is so damn quiet, it's un-nerving. . . and not appropriate for a quasi-sports-coupe.

 

I hear you about legs being too long and arms not being long enough. I've gotten a position down where I'm pretty comfy but my arms are still a bit too short.

I wish the steering wheel would have been adjustable for reach, that would have been perfect.

 

I hear ya about legs and arms too - I'm just now getting comfortable in it and I know roadtrips won't be the most comfortable in the world.

However coming from a 94' Saturn SL that has 150k on it when I bought it and absolutely no options (crank windows, horrible cracking speakers, no cruise, etc.) I definitely appreciate my xA for what it is.

 

tC>Xa

 

Dude I got the mad long monkey style arms, it's all good. Is it true there is more cargo space in the tC? It seems like a no brainer since the xA is a hatchback that it would win out but I guess not?

Did you guys see the post "xa = too small?" That dude crammed a cubic buttload of cargo into his car.

 

I'm glad to see the xA won out in your comparison....

I love my xB, but love the xA too. I understand about the leg room. I've never had a problem driving the xA a long distance, but I can never get really comfortable in the passenger side for a long trip.

I think a tC would be fun too....but don't see a third car in the drive any time soon.....

 

Yeah. . . the xA can definitely fit a TON of stuff. But it has all the right space in all the wrong places. But don't get me wrong; it was comfortable for (occasional) long road trips. I don't know how I did it, but I could cram four people AND all their stuff.

 

Yes. However for being a "coupe" profile, the trunk is disappointingly small. But it still has more cargo space than the xA. And if you fold the seats down, it wins by a landslide. The rear seats on the tC are absolutely monstorous in roominess.

 

I'm not bashing the tC (since I bought one), but you have to read my original post again. The xA was and IS a great car. But it has its application. If my needs were the same as they were on day one, I would have stuck with the xA. But my needs have changed, thus so has my car.

The xA has some MAJOR strong points. . . the biggest one being what a blast it is to drive. It's as close as you can get to a practical version of the Miata. It may not have the best acceleration in the world, but in terms of control. . .

All you have to do is tell the car which way you want it to go, and it will.
Now the tC is definitely faster, but it trades some agility for the increased stability and power. It's a much more practical way to drive, but the tC's handling limits are more vague than the xA, which detracts from the experience.

 

Do you think that if you were to upgrade the tires (I hear you about wanting to keep the stock rims...they look great) would fix some of the handling problems you mentioned? To be fair, you upgraded the xA a little.

 

True true, but handling characteristics are handling characteristcs. . . everything is proportionate (usually).

If I were to upgrade the tires in a uniform fashion, the car would still understeer, but only at a higher limit. However, turn in might improve slightly, but it is more due to the suspension set up as well as the long wheelbase. Believe me, a longer wheelbase is VERY useful. My main point is that the car handles better (from the big picture), but it doesn't quite have the same "feel" to it. And don't get me wrong, the tC is a blast to drive too. High speed corners have given me new joys (although they are much more dangerous to take at speed).

The best thing about the xA is that you could have high speed thrills at practical low speeds (ie 20-60 mph).

The best way to improve handling would be to swap the springs on the tC and get frame braces, but the ride has such a nice balance of sporty and smooth, that I don't want to tamper with it.

The xA's ride stock was pretty bad, so it was worth it to just go for full-on sport.

. . . if they made a RWD tC with a 50/50 balance, with a true coupe body (stiffer rear) it would be the PERFECT car.

And if they made an xA that was one inch longer (for front leg room), had a limited slip diff, turbo (at about 220hp), with an APPROPRIATE overdrive gear (six speed a MUST), it would also be perfect.

I don't understand why a nearly 17 second car (xA) gets such little mileage. If a BMW 330ci 5spd can get 30mpg and still do 0-60 in the fives, then an xA should EASILY be able to get 40mpg, with 2/3 the weight and less than half the HP. Same goes for the tC: 30 MPG is still kinda disappointing, but it's acceptable.

 

i don't think all those things matter to me. xA is easier to park, i'm only 5'6 so i have no space issues, LOVE the 4 doors, LOVE the mpg (crappy? i think not!), great braking, great handling, never drive >80 mph so have no issues w/ wobbliness or noise... i've ridden in my friend's tC several times and drove it once.. xA will always win with me. i'll have that car til it croaks!!

<3 2006 Flint Mica xA

 

Yeah. . . you have to read my posts a little more in depth because I do write a lot. . .

The MPG are only crappy, considering the hp and the weight. The Corolla gets better acceleration and significantly better MPG, EPA rated and real world. And I've owned one too. The Toyota 1.8 is a better engine by leaps and bounds. And if you never drive over 80mph, I can see how noise wouldn't be too big of an issue.

Trust me, I'm not discounting the xA's value. I had the choice to buy a tC once before and I didn't. I chose the xA and do not regret the decision. Now that my needs have changed, my requirements for my car have as well.

My original gigantic post is meant to be more of a guide for those who may be considering the same choice.

 

I do and always have since the beginning of my 1 year 9 month affair with the xA gotten no less than 37 mpg(40 avg.),even made it up to 44 mpg at one point. And for people who spend more than a few hours in their car a day,I spend an average of 5 hours a day,5-6 days a week city driving in mine and have no complaints(well...I do wish the steering wheel was lower and telescopic). I just can't get over all the people who get bad mileage in the xA...something is apparently wrong.

 

The MPG is not very linear. At speeds above 75mph, the mpg start dropping drastically. At 85mph, it's sits around 34mpg, and above 85 it gets much worse.

My main point is that the mpg aren't THAT bad for a car. . . but for a car that size and with a motor that small with a hp rating that low, it's disappointing. Like I said, a BMW 330ci can maintian 30mpg at 80mph. . . and I've seen it done. But I'm very surprised that you've gotten up to 37. It's very uncommon for Toyota's to ever hit their full EPA rating. Maybe it has something to do with CA gas? I dunno. . .

You spend 5 hours a day in your car too???? What do you do? Are you in outside sales as well?

 

I kinda have a feeling if the hp was up a tad, the MPG would go up some as well...

 

What they need to do is throw away the 1NZ and smash it into bits. . . the 1NZ is the main complaint I have with the xA. . . it's an engine that is really behind the competition. Even the ancient Honda B16 is much more efficient. . . and it's only .1L bigger. Other than that, the xA was a great car for the money. About 20 more hp, a sixth gear, and 5 more mpg, and it would have been enough for me to want to keep it. But again guys, I'm not bashing the car. I owned it. I loved it. I still love it. I still slow down to look at xA's when I see them on the road.

 

That's okay, I've been thinking about trading my xA in too.

Two weeks ago, I started the car up and all of sudden my check engine light has turned on. Took it to my dealership and they checked it. They told me it was fuel tank issue...Weird thing, my mpg wasn't changed and running just as good. They fixed it and I have been required to filled up twice since my repair. And my mpg has dropped about 15-20 miles when fuel tank goes to half tank. I normally get 210 miles at half tank, now I get 190-ish??? Then to top it off my dealership's service shop made a nice small door ding on my driver's side door.

So in other words, I'm not impressed with my Scion. Yesterday, I went to my city's Mitsubishi, Honda, Toyota, and Subaru dealerships. Just to see what I could get for under 22,000 and how much should I save each check. I saw this black '07 manual Subaru Impreza for under 20,000 and fell in love with it. The Subaru, Toyota, and Honda dealerships are under one roof here. I also looked at the new Civic's but they didn't have two door models. And if I went with that route...I would get a two door.

I got my xA when I couldn't afford a 400.00 car payment and since I have much better job. I want something bigger and more power than 103 hp. I rather see someone going to college with the xA and barely putting 20.00 bucks worth of gas in it (I personally know that feeling) while I'm able to afford the 35.00 into bigger car.