Took a lot of effort (my credit was rocky at best), but finally got my very own xD in Nautica Blue Metallic. Loving it ever since I left the lot! Road noise is a non-issue, as is the height. I actually love the seat height as the car feels small but sits nicely. As a bonus, I don't have to just about crawl in and out of the car (which is good on my poor knees). Cornering is expectional (although I need to get that rear sway bar in asap), and I thought it kept up quite nicely with 80+ mph highway traffic.

That said, I have some concerns:

The infamous iPod harness. The dealer gave me a Scion mini-stereo coupling cable, and when pressed for the actual harness, I was told there was no such thing. When I pointed out the special port just for iPod, I got told it was an aftermarket they could order, but I would have to pay for it. Reading through the manuals that came with the car, as well as various posts on this site, it seems like the cable should have come with the car! That said, is there anywhere in black and white that it officially says both cables come with the car, or is there someone I can contact to try and get the cable I can't seem to get from the dealer (which is bumming me out, considering this dealer royally went to bat for me just to get the car).

The odometer. At first, I got confused, didn't realize the dealer left it on the range setting, but why does it seem to be so low? The MPG varies like mad (not paying attention to it), but with 3/4 tank of fuel it says I only have 120 miles left. Is this anywhere near accurate or should I ignore for the first few hundred miles?


Don't get me wrong, I love the car and wouldn't give it up. I also liked my dealership experience, they treated me great aside from fighting over the cable. Just seems like two weird issues to me...

 

Yep, the ipod cable should definitely have come with the car - mine was in the glove box. I'd try calling the dealer once more, and then try Scion's CS and tell them the dealer doesn't have a clue about this, and see if they'll help you out. If that doesn't work, I'm sure you could find one on ebay...

And you're right - the various dashboard-computer-readout settings aren't very accurate. The "miles remaining" setting is a pretty rough estimate - my xd will go at LEAST 10 miles after the readout says 0 remaining. The fuel gauge isn't entirely accurate either (not linear) so comparing the two is much more art than science. So take it for what it is - an estimate!
(FWIW, the avg. mileage is always high - optimistic - compared to reality also.)

And yes, I bet you'll have fun with the sway bar - nice, easy mod!
Andy

 

I got the blue one too and am loving it. The seat height is one of the things I like best about the car.

As for handling, I have a sway bar in the mail, but lowering it on DF210s made a huge difference in handling. Hopefully the sway bar will just add some more to that.

 

Well, I'm going to order the sway bar on Monday. Just got out of chat with Scion CS a little bit ago; going to the dealer now armed with a p/n and the Scion CS number.

Raining pretty bad here today, so guess I'm going to find out how it handles slick roads/puddles.

(Aside: How come the 09 xD selection in the profile area does't allow any color aside from "custom"? I see them listed for 08, but not 09. Strange.)

 

Great! I hope it works out easily.

And just a reminder - as with any car, tires can make a huge difference in handling, noise, braking, etc... If you're adding your own wheels, it's a pretty natural mod, but even if you keep the stock steelies you can make big improvements with new rubber. (Actually, I think that some xDs come with Dunlops that are supposed to be decent, but mine didn't - so I sold them right away). I'm very happy with Nexens on 17" tC rims (in the summer)! Lots of good options, though.
Have fun,
Andy

 

funny, the seat height is one of peeves. it's 2 inches too high. the rearview mirror blocks my vision. shifter a little low cuz of that. i-pod cable is part of the price of the car. they better give you one. you should also have a i-pod holder in the car. goes in the cupholder. i never realized the gauge showed the fuel range...lol. I never got a car manual. so I still figure things out from time to time. but it might get better as you drive more. but realistically, you should know the fuel range without the car having to tell you anyway. I know my cars range without even knowing it told me.

 

+1 here for the iPod cable. Mine was in the glovebox as well when the car was delivered. You should definately get this with the car, especially considering how much it costs and how much you paid!

The seat height was a little weird at first, but you get used to it. As far as the size of the cabin, ride in the back sometime. The car seems WAY bigger from that perspective!

 

Got the cable (for future reference, it's PT546-21062 in the part catalog), they ended up robbing another stock Scion for it.

New tires are the second or third thing I'm going to get (first sway bar, then maybe NST pulley). Came with decent Goodyear tires, but I don't usually stick with stock tires.

I did notice the rear mirror getting in my way, but I'm used to sitting lower and more reclined. I found relaxing in the seat made it by far the most comfortable ride I've had in a while, and minimized that small blind spot (now it's up higher and to my right, not going to block anything except a kamikaze pigeon).

 

I sit so I have both hands on the wheel, so I'm up a bit further to also reacht he shifter. I still am not comfortable with the pedal positions. I have to rig a gas pedal to "raise" it to brake level for heel-toe

 

don't know if you tried it, but you can raise the mrror up pretty high. at 6 ft tall and with the broadway mirror i can see fine. not out the back mind you, but out the front.

 

Tell me more of this "Dunlop" thing. Does anyone know of this? This is the first I heard of this. I'd like to know more.

 

I don't know much, and haven't actually seen any OEM Dunlops firsthand. But tirerack lists Dunlop SP Sport 5000 as one of the stock tires for the xd (08, at least). Mine came with the Bridgestone Turanza's (the other option on tirerack). I've also seen stuff online about stock Dunlops... Maybe craigslist with people selling them? I do remember that the Dunlops were rated quite highly by Consumer Reports, but I couldn't get those tires when I got my xD. Oh, well, I think I got $150 for the Bridgestones, and I'm happy with good snows on the stock steelies and nice summer tires on my tC rims.
HTH!
Andy

 

i use Dunlop FM901's....I sound like a truck comin down the street with them huge tread blocks

 

my xd came with dunlop tires.... anyone else?

 

I have the Dunlops on my stock tires in my garage actually.

 

mine came with the Turanzas....didn't know anything about some coming with Dunlops....hmmmm

 

I have the Dunlops too. They are okay but expensive and impossible to find. Have had 2 ruined. When the TPMS comes on the tire might just be ruined. I had one go at 4000 miles and then had to drive my husbands truck for a meek and a half because Discount tires couldn't get them in. Soon as I get some spare cash I am getting a different size and either Michalins or Pirelli p4"s.

 

Mine came with the Dunlops, decent tires, had good traction when I first got it, but they are all bald now (almost 2 years later)