Round noon last thursday, I was sitting in the Walgreens parking lot waiting for a friend to buy paper plates for his daughter's 9th b-day party.

My window was down, car was off, no music, when all of a sudden an ol' lady walked up behind the XB. I mean directly behind, nose 12 inches from rear window. She was early to mid 70's.

When, all of a sudden, she began the following muttering:
"This...is the UGLIEST car... I have ever SEEN! Ugly... Ugly... UGLY!"

While disgust was written on her face, she was also very much unaware of my presence, and I found this the proper opportunity to MAKE her aware.

"I BEG YOUR PARDON?" I pointedly inquired. Loud enough so she know I was there and heard what she said, but not loud enough to sound like a dick.

"Oh, sakes, I'm sorry that must have come out so ugly!" "I am so sorry, but this car..."

"Well," I responded. "Yes, but it actually came out 'ugly ugly UGLY!"

"Do you like it?" she sheepishly continued.

"Well, here's the deal: it gets great gas mileage, has plenty of room; I love the way it looks, frankly, and you know what? It puts a smile on my face everytime I get into it...So whattya gonna do?"

The conversation continued from there with her continuing to apologize. I displayed enormous restraint in that I remained respectful yet with pointed disagreement in my words. She even returned after walking away to ask whether I liked the Honda Element (she does; I don't).

"Too much plastic for me, ma'am." "Ok, un huh, yes, buh bye."

I had to laugh, and I had to post.
Enjoy! :twisted:
C
?

 

you handled that very well. I would have been ____ed and made some sort of comment that wouldn't have been very nice to her.

 

Nicely done.

That kind of response will go a long way as far as dealing with the public goes. I have to deal with that kind of vitriolic outpouring on a daily basis, and it's not getting any easier as time progresses. It seems that the xB's shape gives people a license for open and unending criticism about the car. The car is polarizing, no doubt.

Again, you handled it as well as one could have ever hoped. Keep your head up!

"Non Carborundum Illegitimati" (Don't let the bastards grind you down!)

 

LOL, I'm suprised that you got upset. About 45% of people think it's fugly, 45% like it and and 10% don't notice it. When people hate it, I think it's funny, I don't get upset. I don't like my brother in law bringing up how ugly it is in EVERY conversation, but that's another matter. I say, as long as they SAY they hate it without spitting/keying/kicking it, then they are a friend!

 

I'm not sure if I would've handled it that well either. Old people tend to ____ me off. Most of the comments I get are that people love the car and color. One of my neighbors however tried to convince me that I should have gotten a used Protege 5 like him, 'cause it's the finest car he's ever owned. I explained that I test drove the Mazda 3 but it just couldn't beat the xB. He calls it a shoebox...



No other car I've ever seen gets as many stares, glances, and people looking inside. I could drive a Porsche Carrera Turbo and not get this many stares. It's cool, but I feel a little uncomfortable with it sometimes.

The other day I was pumping gas, and there was a Lincoln Towncar loaded with the elderly in front of me. One by one, they started glancing back and then they all got out and started talking to me about the xB while I showed it to them. While I was eating at IHOP yesterday, a small group formed checking out my box.

A co-worker of mine calls it a "shi*box", but he's only jealous 'cause he drives a '92 Mirage with purple tint that he bought from his mom, and he's 32 years old and still renting a crappy apartment when I'm 24 and have owned a house for 2 years and own two cars made in this millenium. I could own a Porsche Cayenne S and he would say it sucks. Jealous people suck! /rant

I need to start selling these things!

 

Totally man :D . I didn't really get upset, I was probably more surprised at her initial vitriol. I mean she OLD! lol
I was probably laughing on the inside, and certainly had a smile on my face. But you have to consider the latin blood that coarses through my vein, and give me a pass on that hehe...

 

Heh, kinda similar story.

Was coming out of wal*mart on sunday with a buggy full of stuff (29 gallon aqarium, stand, etc, etc). Saw a guy circling the car. As we got a little closer, I hit the buttons to start the car and roll the windows down (was a hot day, wanted to cool the car off some).

This really caught his attention (he was getting ready to walk off). Finally he realizes it's mine. We go through the standard questions ("what kind is it?", "Scion, an xB", "Who makes it?", "Well, Scion does. But they are a Toyota company", etc). He kept commenting on how it was "interesting" and finally wandered off looking mighty confused. :D

Not 10 minutes later I was sitting in front of Home Depot (my girl had run in to look for a filter for the fridge). I'm standing next to the car (was smoking, will not smoke in the car, ever) and this guy walks by with, what seemed to be, his mom. All he could say was how much he liked it and how "awesome" it was (was talking to her, I'm sure I just looked like someone else admiring it).

Night before (sat night) I was stopped at a gas station just so a guy could tell me how much he loved the car, he then got into a brand new Q35.

So, the car gets all kinds of remarks. From hate to confusion to love. And I love all of it. :D

 

For every bad comment I've gotten, I've also had someone either go out of their way to compliment it or someone in an expen$ive car practically crash trying to eyeball it better.

When you're on the edge, people are going to notice and react.

 

I would have broken her hips!

J/k

I'm sure we all hear at least once a week how ugly our cars our. Everyone gets their own opinions and I don't really care when people don't like them. It's nothing personal against the drivers.

I kind of like the fact I drive a car not everyone in the world loves and admires...makes it more interesting!

 

HER ACHILLES HEELS! lol...

 

Yea, I also find it to be generally age related. I drove by a bunch of 10 year olds skateboarding and they freaked out.

"NICE CAR, MISTER!!!"

I just looked at my girlfriend, and said, "ok, that was rad." hehe

 

Every day when we leave work my boss tells me how ugly my xb is. The other day he was looking inside it and said, "If I sat in that back seat my knees would be up to my chin". ( He's 6'2") So I made him get in and as we all know not only did he have plenty of leg room , he also had tons of head room. Shut him up right quick.

 

[quote="DibujoB"]I would have broken her hips!

J/k

I was thinking the same! :twisted: I would have kicked the cane from underneath her and told her to stay down until I call Walmart security. ..........................
I'm joking....you handled it well dude. I take all remarks in stride...the good, the bad, and the ugly. :D

 

blah blah blah

The REAL question is... Did you get her phone #?

 

blah blah blah
The REAL question is... Did you get her phone #?[/quote]

You'd HIT it???

 

lol...

I was just thinking about that commercial where the guy helps the old lady across the street, then asks for her phone # ;P

 

I'd HIT it too if she looked like Morgan Fairchild. Isn't Morgan like close to 70?

 

I'll tell you one thing I find funny. Not alot of people know about it around Cincy yet and I have older people coming in all the time. Now if they are very open minded, they are usually really cool. But if they are run of the mill stubern old folks they ask me what one cost loaded. I tell them that their version of loaded and Scion's version of loaded are two different things. It's so funny, they seem extremly afended by the fact of the accessories like the light kits and all of that. They say why in the world would I want that. I say I didn't think you would but you asked what one was loaded..lol.. They get so mad, it's funny.. I try to explain to them that the car is not focused towards them, but they just don't understand. It's the first time ever that an entire car line has been focused on the younger generation, it's great. So most of them leave frustrated or mad, because they are so closed minded..

 

Most people are way too eager to voice their unasked opinions to me.

Last week I was at work when I was approached by a female co-worker I've never spoken to in my life.

"Is that your Sky-on in the parking lot?"
"Yeah, it is!" I reply, thinking she's going to compliment me on it.
"I'm sorry, but I think it's really ugly."
"Uh-huh. I get that a lot."

I personally find it hilarious that these people are so compelled and driven to be so blatently rude. I mean...I couldn't even do that to an Aztek driver.

 

Just the other day i was walking towards my car and this lady (30 something) pointed at my xB and said to her little kid "Look at the freaky little car!!!!" She was all surprised when I laughed and said "Freaky huh? You think my car's freaky huh?" She was kind of embarrassed and said "uh wow....I was just ...uhhh... is it an electric car? is it a solar car???" I shouldv'e said yeah lady...it's a solar powered car!! I just said no it's a regular gasoline powered car....and then she wandered off.

Then as I was about to back out of my parking space, she reappears at my window alondside my car...waving for me to roll down the window. She says if it's not a "new technology car....like electric...why buy it? Why buy a freaky little car if it's not electric....electricity is the future" ....she was all weirding out....FREAK!!!