Notices
Scion xB 1st-Gen Owners Lounge
First Generation 2004-2006.5 [NCP31]

the disappointing test drive.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 06:00 AM
  #1  
hnefrdo's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 887
Default the disappointing test drive.

i went by antioch scion today and test drove an Xa for the first time. the lack of power is a major disappointment. i tested a 5 speed shifting at about 75%. should i have rev'ed it harder to feel the power the car possesses? or is that wut 108 hp feels like?

my current car is a 95 mitsu mirage. it has, i think, 93 hp and 92 lbs of tq at 3000 rpm. and, it feels faster than the scion.

the sad thing is that im still gonna buy it because the car is so damn cheap. and, i need a replacement. going down to melody toyota on sat to order. :(
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 06:17 AM
  #2  
Djuan's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
Scion Evolution
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 575
From: Los Angeles
Default good ?

If you got the 1.5 it puts out 92 hp and 93 torgue
the 1.8 113 hp and 116 torque

the xA has a 1.5 and puts out 108 hp and 105 lbs torque

but the Mitsu only weighs 2085 if its the 2 door, the xA weighs 2340...

hmmm... your gonna have to take it to the track to find out...
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 06:45 AM
  #3  
westsype's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 532
From: San Diego, CA
Default

get an xb not xa
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 07:02 AM
  #4  
hnefrdo's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 887
Default

i haven't driven the xb. but, wouldn't it be slower because it's heavier?

back to the original question. do i need to be shifting at higher than 75% to actually feel the power? i'll prolly go test drive it again before i buy it.
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 07:06 AM
  #5  
JDMxB's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
Scion Evolution
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 831
From: San Gabriel Valley
Default

What RPM were you shifting it....that tends to work better than telling us what percentage u were shifting at.
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 07:47 AM
  #6  
hnefrdo's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 887
Default

75% of 6500: about 5000. it just doesn't feel fast..
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 11:17 AM
  #7  
dulcimoo's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 109
From: San Diego - North COWnty
Default It not fast

Hay ... 105 or whatever HP ... is just not fast.

It will get up around 100 MPH (or so I'm told (nudge nudge wink wink)) ... just takes a while to get there.

It's NOT a sport car OK.
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 12:51 PM
  #8  
Subcompact Culture's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,974
From: Portland, OR
Default

I too was disappointed with the Scion's performance. (I drove an xB) I'd still like to test drive an xA sometime, though. And yes, and xB will be slower than an xA.

Another thought: Buy something that you're going to be happy with. Don't unload $13,000 for a car you aren't going to like – you'll regret it every time you set foot into the car!!! The Scions might not be for you – which is fine – but I'd hate to see someone waste their money on something they don't like because I've done it!!!
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 12:54 PM
  #9  
jackmott's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 358
From: Houston, Texas
Default

yes it will be quicker if you shift at redline.

but not profoundly so.

for $12k you can get a whole slew of used cars that will be quick if thats what interests you. Slightly used camaros, mustangs, an RX7.
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 01:29 PM
  #10  
Cardinal_Fang's Avatar
Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 30
From: Richmond, VA
Default

I think it's largely a question of what you're used to.....I test drove an xA automatic, and found it to be surprisingly peppy---but then, I was used to my 1.6 liter Corolla, that was 1000 lbs heavier.

I ordered my xA with the 5-speed manual and cold-air. I've been driving it for a week, and feel like I ought to have a pilot's license....

C.F.
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 01:37 PM
  #11  
mikeluvsjo's Avatar
Member
5 Year Member
DelMarVa
Scion Evolution
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 44
From: Yorktown, VA
Default

I have an Xa and have done some minor mods to it. It is up to about 116 Hp. It is not a lot but it sure is fun. I can tak ethe heavier mor horse power cars in the same class like the Ford Focus. I like it and am waiting for a S/C. I heard that the front pulley is plastic though so I will have to check that first.
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 02:22 PM
  #12  
Jaywade24's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
DelMarVa
Scion Evolution
Scion Tuners
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 348
From: Scion of Waldorf (MD)
Default Xa power

I like the car's pickup...yeah it's not throw you back in your seat power but you also are getting great MPG plus...as you said it's cheap...It's a new car not used car....and look what you get for your money...as far as looks....if any of you guys have seen some kits for the Xa....pretty strong that's all I sayin
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 02:47 PM
  #13  
iy0ga's Avatar
Senior Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 152
Default

man xB all the wawy....who cares if you dont like it buy it anyway it make everyone else happy lol jp, just go with your heart :D
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 02:54 PM
  #14  
kdanie's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 309
From: Petaluma, CA
Default

Read through the other posts on this forum to see more comments... As I have said before-I drove them both and bought the Xa because it's NOTICABLY quicker than the Xb. Never let anyone convice you the Xb is better, unless you want to haul a bunch of stuff- It's NOT...

Everyone thinks the Xb is so "fresh" and new but to me it's just a rework of the '60s VW Fridolin (do a google search).

Yes, 108hp isn't much but you do need to rev it up to make it go-after all the 108hp is at 6000rpm!! The aftermarket performance industry will catch up in about a year when the cars have been nationwide for a while. From what I've seen the performance parts aren't that well thought out yet.
ken
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 03:44 PM
  #15  
scionracerxb's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 873
From: Anaheim, CA
Default

i think the cars are equally as fast. We need to have an xa vs. xb race! But alot of it has to do with the driver
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 04:07 PM
  #16  
kdanie's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 309
From: Petaluma, CA
Default

I test drove them both a couple of times and could easily tell the difference. Maybe my "butt dyno" is more sensitive than yours....
ken
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 05:05 PM
  #17  
2fixA's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 424
From: Austin, TX
Default

I am coming off of a 5.0 mustang, and while the xA doesn't compare directly, it is definitely a really peppy car… I don't know if you were driving it in a way I'm used to, just WOT and riding on it up to 4k or so… granted I don't drive like that at every light, but when I want to go, it goes without a question… I dunno, maybe you need to take a ride with me and tell me if it feels different...
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 06:37 PM
  #18  
bluexA's Avatar
Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 63
Default

Originally Posted by hnefrdo
75% of 6500: about 5000. it just doesn't feel fast..
What gear were you in, and/or what speed were you trying to hit?

at 75% I think that you're not trying to go fast.

From a stoplight, if you wanted to go fast, you'd hit the accelerator hard (or fast) to get a good jump (although not dragracing) - then you'd want to rev as close to the limiter if you can, as quick as you can (my guess is, it gets there quick) - then shift into 2nd as fast as possible, hitting the accelerator again... to hit your target speed of say... 39mph :D then let up and hold. (I'd shift into 4th probably to hold my speed with low revs).

I don't know the gearing of the xA (I'll get my blue one soon) but I bet it won't go to 60mph in 2nd, and in 1st, I don't know how fast it will go. I don't think I've been in a car that'll go 60 in 2nd.

...all this from an amateur.

When passing, I'd want (guessing still) to be at 4000 or less (there is VVT-i remember) so I have room to rev... Hit the accelerator for that initial increase in speed, but not all the way (wait for any delay) - then go for the quick burst, rev to max for the pass, then shift. Revving from 4000 to 6500 is a quick increase of how-many-mph ??

You can't sustain a pull because there's no hp, but all I want is the quick burst - timed properly.

I drive safe, and observe break-in period.
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 07:11 PM
  #19  
hnefrdo's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 887
Default

yea, yu guys are right. i like every aspect of the car but the power. it's not a race car.
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 07:13 PM
  #20  
jackmott's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 358
From: Houston, Texas
Default

my z06 corvette went 70mph in 2nd gear

=)

hehe



All times are GMT. The time now is 06:27 AM.