Gilmour25,

I understand your concern about the dings, but you should also realize that the xB is also narrower than many cars out there & fits in a traditional parking spot with more room on the sides to spare for idiots to swing their doors. I had the same initial fear, but I have owned mine for about 6 weeks now and mine is doing fine. I'm just careful where I park and try to avoid spots, close to the door, spots that are in between 2 other vehicles, and avoid parking next to 2-door vehicles (usually longer doors).

Mitsubishi does have a very good standard warranty, but their resale is not what it used to be due to their constant promotions i.e. zero or low interest rates---"why buy a used one when you can get such a deal on a new one." Look into it.

The Element is made by Honda, which is a good thing. Honda is known for quality & reliability. However, they're more money. get worse gas mileage, and the plastic panels have a textured finish. That means that they cannot be repaired if scratched- they must be replaced--- You cannot replicate the texture properly. Plus they fade.

I am not trying to recruit you into our group. On the contrary, I feel that it is rather wise of you to investigate all of your options. I would like to see you purchase a vehicle that you would be happy with in the long term. Not to bore you with my back ground, but I am 30 and have always driven classic american cars. I had never owned a new vehicle out of choice. I had always been of the opinion that newer cars were mostly plastic & cheap and were not worth the money. However, circumstances arose in my life in which I needed a reliable car with a warranty, resale, style, MPG, & it had to be fun. This was the biggest financial commitment I had ever made. I did my research, looked at my options, & I can honestly tell you that I have absolutely no regrets about my huge purchase (huge to me, anyway).

Hope this sheds some light.

 

Sorry, I wanted to mention-----

I have a 5SPD ( highly recommend for the pep) and I get around 26-27 MPG in the city. & I drive in a "spirited" fashion.

Hope this helps

 

"(plus everyone and their mother... besides the people here of course.... are telling me 'NO!' when I tell them I'm interested in the Scion)"
now this is
good luck! you can't get everything in one package, theres always pros and cons.
you expect (good gas milage= power) = inexpensive, its like your looking for hybrid V6 or V8 that has a price below $15K?

 

Hrm, this is what makes me wonder. I have a 5speed and I get 32-33 MPG in the city and I get around 35-40 MPG cruising on the highway... so I think that driving style probably plays a big part in fuel efficiency.

If you have already test drove an xB and you have ANY doubts, then don't buy it. You'll probably end up reselling it if you try to "live with it". A lot of people try to make decisions based on statistics, looks, etc, but those don't matter. xBs are lighter and smaller than either the Mitsubishi or Honda Element, so power is less of a factor during acceleration. None of these cars are particularly fast, so I'll assume that towing capacity is more of a concern for you. If it is, then an xB is definately out of the question. It doesn't have AWD either, so you can't really compare it to any of the SUVs...

Just get in the car and see if you like it. That's about all you can do. It shouldn't matter what our opinions are because it's your car. It has to suit your lifestyle, not ours. If you already have doubts, then you're really just trying to justify making a purchase on something that you don't want.

Maybe you should look at something like a Saturn VUE. Those get pretty good gas mileage, have a lot of pep, AND have dent-resistant plastic panels. :D

 

My 2002 Ford Focus ZX5 was approx $15K (with in-dash 6 disc changer, 16-inch alloy wheels & cruise control), has great storage for such a small car, 130HP engine and gets approx 25-30 MPG (automatic transmission).


I would get a new one but it seems like all the Ford dealerships in this area are total asshats (want to be your best friend until the smallest thing goes wrong, then they don't give a $hit about you) plus I'm a little bored by the new interior styling.



rollotomassi, thanks for the well thought out response. It sounds like you were in the same boat I'm in now. Buying a new car is a BIG deal for me so I'm just trying to do my research instead of saing "OH! That's cool!" and then running out and buying it.

 

It's things like ^that^ that have me concerned about buying an xB.

 

it's a toyota! lol

yes it looks odd to soem people. everyone kept telling me no i don't like it or you will hate it.

AHA I FOOLED THEM!!!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!


I LOVE MY TAOSTER!!!!!

 

Gilmour,

As a former Ford owner I'd have to seriously recommend the xB to you. As with any vehicle, there will be pros and cons, things you like and dislike. You can't have everything in one package, but for the price of the xB, what you get is pretty nice.

Toyota's reliability is unrivaled, and the xB, even with such a small displacement engine will most likely last MUCH longer than the engine in your Focus (Not sure which engine is in the ZX5, but if it's mated to an automatic tranmission it's most likely the F-4EAT, which you will grow to hate sooner or later when it breaks, more than once. I went through 3 of them in my ZX2)). Ford also has problems with warranty work, they like to lie to you and sneak out of things. This is not my experience with Toyota, as they have always been more than happy to answer my questions and look at my cars for me. If you're looking to "haul" stuff, the xB has sufficient room inside with the rear seats folded down. Power everything and MP3 capability in stock trim is pretty decent also. Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control standtard are also nice ( the car even has a yaw rate sensor lol, I know, I checked). Excellent gas mileage and low insurance costs also help out. Comfort is also very nice in the xB for an economy vehicle, there's plenty of room to move around, and there are windows everywhere, so you have no issues with visibility while driving.

With the 5-speed transmission the xB isn't too shabby. It will move adequately, and in 5th gear on the highway, there is a decent amount of power on tap. Nothing mind-blowing, but decent enough to pass or move out of the way. Also, the handling is pretty nice in the xB, and it's small on the outside and big on the inside, giving you the option to carry groceries and passengers and still fit into "compact only" parking spaces with ease.

If I had the choice between the Mistubishi, the Honda, or the Scion, I;d take the Scion. The Outlander is a nice vehicle, but Mitsubishi is known for haveing low resale values and hard to deal with service techs not cooperating with customers for warranty work. Their warranty is the best because it needs to be. The honda may be larger, and have more power, but it is also heavier, and gets worse gas mileage and is most likely higher on insurance in addition to the bland interior and plastic paneling on the outside that can be easily marred and ruined. Scions are starting to show excellent resale values per KBB, and when you bundle that with Toyota reliability and customer satisfaction when dealing with warranty issues, for just over $14,000 the xB makes a great vehicle.

 

hello friend,

good for you for doing your research. i bought one and enjoy it greatly. i have an automatic and the power does lack some times. especially on the beltway. if you drive conservative it's fine, but don't get fast and furious w/ it. i'm sure w/ a manual it's better but, in most cases an automatic is more practical for families.

if you camp and what not then i would recomment the element or maybe even the vue as they have more power and towing capacities. AWD is also an option on both i think.
if the panels on the element get scratches the live with it until you can't no more and then have them painted to match the car. then it will look like a new ride, much cleaner IMO.

true these options are more expensive but, it is a long term commitment so it might be worth the extra hundred a month to you.

so unless you want to super/turbo charge the xb to give it more pep, you might want to go w/ something w/ more power out the box. hope this help and good luck.

oh and incase you do go w/ something else. be sure to stay tuned to scionlife for all the latest news. you never know when you might "need" a second car. peace

 

When you talk about the element having more power, sure, it had 50 more HP, but did you know the Lightest element is the DX 5-speed, and that weighs 3331lbs (http://automobiles.honda.com/models/...rDetected=True) almost 1000 lbs more than the 5-speed xB (2350 lbs http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=2) This means the element, even though it has SIGNIFICANT more horsepower, would probably have the same or similar acceleration (0-60 in 9.0 sec for 5-speed on both vehicles, which, coincidently is the same 0-60 as a zx5) If you're looking to haul loads of stuff, you can't beat a truck. get a 2wd 3/4 ton diesel, and you can pull as high as 23-25mpg on the highway, 17-19 in town... and that's hauling a full trailer!

 

Since it's my signature, I don't want it to be a contributing factor towards NOT buying a Scion. It was meant as a joke, but in all honesty, if you're using this as a commuter car, then 108hp is MORE than adequate. I usually shift around 3500rpm and I still outrun a lot of people at stop lights without trying.

There are many popular cars on the market with worse power/weight ratios. For example, the base Mini Cooper has about 115 hp, but with all options and the panoramic sunroof, it weighs around 2600-2700 lbs, almost 300 pounds more and even less interior space.

Scions are definately not fast, but you have to expect that from an economy car. Even with a 108hp 1.5L engine, it is still probably on par with a number of other economy cars like the Saturn Ion, a Honda Civic, a Toyota Echo, Toyota Prius... and I know that my car is definately much faster than my sister's Honda Civic Hybrid.

But I do recall that you were concerned about towing capacity, so that would put all of these cars out of the question. You need a truck/SUV and the Scion xB isn't one.

In all honesty, I'd like to ask if you have driven one yet. The power can easily be felt (or not felt) once you drive one. It's designed to be economical, not powerful. You buy one for the value and the utility. If it meets your needs, get it. If it doesn't, then don't.

I can understand your indecision, especially if your only solution is to find a car that meets ALL of your needs. It was hard for me to purchase a new car because I wanted something fast, comfortable, and economical... and then I wanted a convertible. So, knowing that I probably can't find a Porsche Cayenne hybrid cabriolet SUV, I ended up going redneck and having 7 cars parked in my lawn. :D

 

Engine Bogging under load - This appears to be your main concern. Don't get the XB. There's an XB-limo in a thread on this site. People kept wondering if it was using the same engine because it'd be a lot to haul. Others were saying how slow their box was with 4 people in it and couldn't imagine how the limo would move fully loaded.
Do some research on the ft-lb torque and how low the rpm's are to develop this torque.
Besides that, you mentioned the Element and Outlander as other candidates (both SUV's) The XB is not. Anyway, heres some stuff I dug up.
XB - 105 @ 4200 / 2395 lbs = .0438
Element - 161@4500 / 3468 lbs = .0464
Outlander - 162@4000 / 3461 lbs = .0468
Toyota Highlander - 165@4000 / 3750 lbs = .0440
Saturn Vue - 152 @ 4000 / 3630 lbs = .0418
Nissan Xterra - 154 @ 4000 / 4034 lbs = .0382

Your Outlander is looking good.

 

I have a Focus ZX3 and an xB. The xB 5 spd has almost the same power as my ZX3 5 spd , but the xB has a lot more room inside. I really liked the ZX3 when I first got it, but it doesn't even compare to the xB in my book. If you get an xB make sure you get the 5 spd

 

I was wondering this also: Have you driven any of the vehicles yet? Driving the xB really influenced my decision in buying one. I really like the way it handles, I think it's fun to drive. I have had no problems driving at the speeds I want to drive and no problems passing. I don't know what you are wanting to tow but won't you probably have to go with a SUV or truck to do much towing?

7? I am only up to four parked in my yard to get what I want. Plus, a boat and a small trailer, slowly working up to redneck.


I am not sure if you are looking for reassuarance for buying an xB, but going to a forum dedicated to a particular type of car is not going to get you the best unbiased advice. Although, there has been some good advice given so far. Drive it and let the box speak for itself.

 

If you're looking to haul stuff, want decent gas milage, and power, look into the Ford Escape Hybrid... It's supposed to be about = to power as a V6 and you can tow stuff...

 

No problem, Spence.

I do feel that you are now in the same frame of mind / boat that I was in when I purchased my xB. Hopefully time is not an issue with you. Take your time, do your research, & feel comfortable about your decision. That is one of the most important things, if not THE most important thing of all.

We would love to welcome you to the family. If you decide to go another way, I still respect you for making an educated decision. Good luck and if you have any questions, I'd be happy to help.

Mike

 

Thanks to everyone for their responses (even the jerky ones ;) ).

After talking it over with my wife I think I'm going to go with the Element. Do you all hate me now? :twisted:

 

hate is such a strong word.... maybe pity? j/k

 

Kudos :D Good choice. I like the flat rear cargo space. We wont hate. It's your family's choice and money. You may want to check out: http://www.elementownersclub.com/

I wonder what they would have said if you also asked them whether you should buy the Element or xB :?: :D Ahh the good ol' days when some SL members defended the xB on that site.

 

Power/weight ratio is actually about the same as the xB. Try driving the Element and CRV back-to-back and you'll get a surprise. Despite the fact that the engines are almost identical, the CRV engine makes its maximum torque 1000 RPM lower than the Element. It feels a _lot_ quicker in normal driving. The CRV is also a better-designed vehicle.

Bad resale, though. Make sure you want to keep this car for a long time!

We get 28 real MPG in the city and 35 real MPG on the highway. I consider that to be pretty good!