What don't you like about your xA?
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 11
From: Fredericksburg, Virginia
My dislikes are minor:
Two rattles from the hatch area and one from the drivers side door panel. Toyota fixed one from the rear, but couldn't duplicate the other 2.
Armrests - A center one would be nice, but I've gotten used to not having it. The ones in the door panels are way to low for me to actually use.
The rear washer just dribbles down the back window, A spray head would be better.
The paint chips very easily. I must have 30 stone chips on the hood after only 5 months of driving.
The radio controls are small and hard to find at night. You get used to it after a while, but what would be wrong with a volume ****?
The rear headrests are too big, but I just removed mine and store them under the front seats, You can even use one for a free center armrest, if you want. I seldom have anyone in the back, but they are onboard, just in case.
Some other comments:
The center mounted speedometer takes almost NO time to get used to. I was used to it in about 15 minutes.
Gas milage - I've averaged 34 MPG over 10,000 miles with the automatic. I drive mostly freeway and seldom drive over 70 MPH. Just look at the car, it's not the most aerodynamic car around. If you drive 80-90, what do you expect to happen to the gas milage? If you drive that fast, why are you complaining about the milage?
The car does what it is designed to do very well. It amazes me to see some of the things people complain about. If you didn't want a small economy car without a whole lot of power, why did you buy this car?
Two rattles from the hatch area and one from the drivers side door panel. Toyota fixed one from the rear, but couldn't duplicate the other 2.
Armrests - A center one would be nice, but I've gotten used to not having it. The ones in the door panels are way to low for me to actually use.
The rear washer just dribbles down the back window, A spray head would be better.
The paint chips very easily. I must have 30 stone chips on the hood after only 5 months of driving.
The radio controls are small and hard to find at night. You get used to it after a while, but what would be wrong with a volume ****?
The rear headrests are too big, but I just removed mine and store them under the front seats, You can even use one for a free center armrest, if you want. I seldom have anyone in the back, but they are onboard, just in case.
Some other comments:
The center mounted speedometer takes almost NO time to get used to. I was used to it in about 15 minutes.
Gas milage - I've averaged 34 MPG over 10,000 miles with the automatic. I drive mostly freeway and seldom drive over 70 MPH. Just look at the car, it's not the most aerodynamic car around. If you drive 80-90, what do you expect to happen to the gas milage? If you drive that fast, why are you complaining about the milage?
The car does what it is designed to do very well. It amazes me to see some of the things people complain about. If you didn't want a small economy car without a whole lot of power, why did you buy this car?
Banned
SL Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 396
From: Phoenix, AZ
There are aftermarket armrests. A lot of cars don't come with armrests, actually most small cars, especially at this price, don't have one.
As far as the washer goes, there is a reason it dribbles. A spray-type one winds up sending most of the spray away from the window due to the eddying air behind the car when driving at highway speed, it would also require extending the jet thingy out a few inches so it could angle back at the window. The wiper is what cleans the window, not the nozzle. I have an xB, but my dribbler thing works just great.
I agree 100% with your last statement. People buy a car for $13,000 that comes practically loaded, has Toyota reliability and gets 35 mpg and they complain it doesn't have 200 hp, 3 sunroofs and DVD video screens.
I honestly think these cars are better than anyone has any right to expect for what they cost.
As far as the washer goes, there is a reason it dribbles. A spray-type one winds up sending most of the spray away from the window due to the eddying air behind the car when driving at highway speed, it would also require extending the jet thingy out a few inches so it could angle back at the window. The wiper is what cleans the window, not the nozzle. I have an xB, but my dribbler thing works just great.
I agree 100% with your last statement. People buy a car for $13,000 that comes practically loaded, has Toyota reliability and gets 35 mpg and they complain it doesn't have 200 hp, 3 sunroofs and DVD video screens.
I honestly think these cars are better than anyone has any right to expect for what they cost.
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 144
From: Columbus, Ohio
Just a quick question....xB's have keyless entry standar,xA's do not. I am really wanting a keyless entry systen in my car. If you go to scion.com and look at the price for the SCION SECURITY upgrade there is only a $30.00 difference between the xA and xB. Does this mean that keyless entry for the xA is only $30.00? I wonder how much to install and why didn't they just throw this in as standard?
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 340
In the wind it gets pushed around easy. Other than that I love how its a cheap, plain car you can personalize with what you want. Why pay $20K for a car with options you dont want when you can pay $13K and another $3K to personalize into a car that fits all your needs
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10
From: Louisville, KY
I love the car, but I do have a few beefs.
No Cruise COntrol, but with an economy car such as this, that is to be expected.
The Stock Factory Tires Suck. I figure that Toyota thinks that we are all going to go out and get new Rims etc, but man, the stock ones blow.
I need the short shifter thingie as the stock shifter on my Manual feels weird to me.
Other than that? I can't say that I have too many complaints.
No Cruise COntrol, but with an economy car such as this, that is to be expected.
The Stock Factory Tires Suck. I figure that Toyota thinks that we are all going to go out and get new Rims etc, but man, the stock ones blow.
I need the short shifter thingie as the stock shifter on my Manual feels weird to me.
Other than that? I can't say that I have too many complaints.
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 261
From: Austin, TX
I wish the car had some more aftermarket support... Other than that, I cannot find almost anything I would change. The shifter is a bit notchy, but it is more than driveable compared to some cars I have been in.
And yes, the stock RE-92's SUCK I am running higher tire preassure in them to keep them from squishing about all the time. And they are pretty easy to lose in the wet (front ones overcome with 108 distraught ponies).
And yes, the stock RE-92's SUCK I am running higher tire preassure in them to keep them from squishing about all the time. And they are pretty easy to lose in the wet (front ones overcome with 108 distraught ponies).
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 429
From: Temecula, CA
the tires, the rattling from the gauge cluster and passenger side door during certain bass notes, paint chipping, and uhh...horsies but what can I expect from 1.5 liters of raw pure ***** power?! nah, for 1.5 liters it makes me pittle silly like. and yes...aftermarket support or lack thereof
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 17
From: Birmingham, AL
I have had my xA for almost two weeks and love it! I don't get why people complain about anything with this ride. Try shopping features for $13,000 on other econo cars. I love my car for what it is...not what it isn't.
Member
SL Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 58
The problem as I see it is not the lack of rims, but rather the cheap tires (soft rubber than guarantees needing to be replaced at 20,000 miles) and the weight of the car.
If you were running racing slicks on a Hummer, you would slide less than the xA. Why? Because it weighs as much as a friggin mountain. The xA's wonderful gas mileage comes at a direct proportion to its disgustingly low weight. Even the best tires arent going to help a 2300lb car perform great... it simply doesnt have gravity forcing it into the ground to slow down as much as the average vehicle.
If you were running racing slicks on a Hummer, you would slide less than the xA. Why? Because it weighs as much as a friggin mountain. The xA's wonderful gas mileage comes at a direct proportion to its disgustingly low weight. Even the best tires arent going to help a 2300lb car perform great... it simply doesnt have gravity forcing it into the ground to slow down as much as the average vehicle.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12
From: West Palm Beach FL
There's only 2 things I don't care for about my Scion
1. A/C takes way to long to cool off!!! living in SoFLA it gets damn hot and when I jump in my car turn on the A/C flames shoot out of the vents and it takes 10-15 minutes to cool off.
2. No arm rests!!! I have no clue what to do with arm. Resting my wrists on the shifter gets uncomfortable.
Other the that I wouldn't change my Scion for anything!!!!
1. A/C takes way to long to cool off!!! living in SoFLA it gets damn hot and when I jump in my car turn on the A/C flames shoot out of the vents and it takes 10-15 minutes to cool off.
2. No arm rests!!! I have no clue what to do with arm. Resting my wrists on the shifter gets uncomfortable.
Other the that I wouldn't change my Scion for anything!!!!
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4
From: Ohio
I have an automatic. I won't downshift until the car is warmed up and the blue light goes off, so for the first 5 minutes it really wastes gas. That's it. Other than that I LOVE IT!!! I bought an armrest for mine off of ebay. $100, and it's great!
Senior Member
Scikotics
SL Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 180
From: Lee's Summit
Originally Posted by weazeL234
GAS guzzler at speeds of 80mph or more...
i hear alot about body roll... i took it at top speed and it drove like it was going 60 it felt really smooth
Member
SL Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 85
Lets see...
Stock tires: got ride of them in a week, now i have 17x7 inch rims with falken alzenis tires. Same weight as old stuff, much better grip in dry and wet.
Tire spin: have a dc strut bar, got ride of that problem
No arm rest: dealer gave me one for free as incentive to buy the car
Stock shifter sucks: i agree, but i installed my rs type short shifter two days ago, HUGE DIFFERENCE
More horsepower: i have an ingen short ram, platinum spark plugs, grounding wires, adjusted throttle cable, and my perrin lightweight pulley was just ordered today.
ummm what else, ohh i tinted the windows the second day i got the car, and i got keyless entry at the same time, both for under 200 bucks
body roll problem,: cleared up alot after rims, tires, and sturt bar
i till get incredible gas mileage, i judge it like this, if i cant remember the last time i refilled it, then im good. I also came from a modded 2001 nissan frontier, qucik truck (after the mods) but gas was about 10 mpg
paint chips: get the color code and go to ur autoparts store, for about 5 bucks you can fix all the chips
rattling, i dont hear it becasue im listening to the radio and the engine so i know when to shift....sometimes i drive a lil fast lol
as for gas mileage above 80, whatever, your going over 80, try it in any other car and see what mileage you get
so basically i fixed all the problems, and im in love with the car, thats kinda hard becasue imma muscle car guy, dad drives a 2003 cobra with 650rwhp and 700 torque, used to have a 1977 pontiac trans am
uncle has 1987 buick grand national runing high 9's and completely streetable
along with a 1980 camaro running 12's (off the nitrous) with a carburator nitrous setup (nitrous is set at 300 shot), and now its a fuel injected nitrous set up, well just have to see wht it runs now, lol
LOVE THE XA
Stock tires: got ride of them in a week, now i have 17x7 inch rims with falken alzenis tires. Same weight as old stuff, much better grip in dry and wet.
Tire spin: have a dc strut bar, got ride of that problem
No arm rest: dealer gave me one for free as incentive to buy the car
Stock shifter sucks: i agree, but i installed my rs type short shifter two days ago, HUGE DIFFERENCE
More horsepower: i have an ingen short ram, platinum spark plugs, grounding wires, adjusted throttle cable, and my perrin lightweight pulley was just ordered today.
ummm what else, ohh i tinted the windows the second day i got the car, and i got keyless entry at the same time, both for under 200 bucks
body roll problem,: cleared up alot after rims, tires, and sturt bar
i till get incredible gas mileage, i judge it like this, if i cant remember the last time i refilled it, then im good. I also came from a modded 2001 nissan frontier, qucik truck (after the mods) but gas was about 10 mpg
paint chips: get the color code and go to ur autoparts store, for about 5 bucks you can fix all the chips
rattling, i dont hear it becasue im listening to the radio and the engine so i know when to shift....sometimes i drive a lil fast lol
as for gas mileage above 80, whatever, your going over 80, try it in any other car and see what mileage you get
so basically i fixed all the problems, and im in love with the car, thats kinda hard becasue imma muscle car guy, dad drives a 2003 cobra with 650rwhp and 700 torque, used to have a 1977 pontiac trans am
uncle has 1987 buick grand national runing high 9's and completely streetable
along with a 1980 camaro running 12's (off the nitrous) with a carburator nitrous setup (nitrous is set at 300 shot), and now its a fuel injected nitrous set up, well just have to see wht it runs now, lol
LOVE THE XA