I have been reading this forum and I am very impressed with what is being said about this vehicle .... I seen it at the Harrisburg Auto Show on Saturday, January 31 and this might be my next vehicle. I am worried about the small motor in the xB, I live over here near Gettysburg, PA and there are hills, both small and large ....

With the A/C blowing does this have decent power ? Pros & Cons !

I asked my local dealer to find the Limited Edition Model ....... I must be hitting a mid-life crisis ... I drive a Blazer with a Vortex 6 and this has power ...

What is your experience on the engine power ?

Thanks ......

 

No, a mid-life crisis is when you buy a Viper. An xB is a practical vehicle, hardly a cure for vanishing youth!

The engine is quite adequate. I recommend that you drive one before you make any big decisions regarding power. My xB handles the grades in the Sierras with no problem, AC on or not.

George

 

Thanks George - Yes, after the auto show we did stop at the dealer and took it out, it seemed strong, kinda whinny when I tramped the pedal .... I think the room inside is great .... Style is unique !

I emailed the Dealer to set up anouther test drive .....

 

1) The A/C does not blow the coldest out there compared to other cars but one thing I found out that worked well during the hot months was to wear sandals and use the "mix" setting which combines both the upper and lower vents. I felt quite cold even at the lowest A/C setting.

2) I've loaded my xB all the way to the roofline with furniture and junk and driven it 90 mph plus up the grapevine on interstate 5 without downshifting. (For those who dont know, that's a grueling ~10 mile moderately steep climb for a highway). That should give you some idea on what kind of power this car has for being 2400 lbs with a 108 hp 4-cylinder.

 

let's not forget it's a VVT-i engine

 

I agree with George %100

 

Okay ,

Here is my opinion im 37, I first saw the XB three years ago thought it looked kinda like a mini,wanted a mini cooper S but found out they are $25,000 and recived very poor reliability reports. Ist power. You MUST get 5 speed, there is a major difference. Ive had a astro van with the vortec and it will leave the xb in the dust, dont expect it to win ANY drag races unless you race a yugo, and then hope its not be the turbo yugo either. Ive had many cars 12 sec, 2 ton dodge chargers, 5.0 stang,rotory 510,pre-runner v-8 mini truck yada yada yada,I currently have a Matrix XRS in addition to the XB. It handes alot better than my matrix bolth are lowered with 18/35 tires with springs. It is positively the slowest car I have ever owned but it holds its own drives great on the frwy at 80 mph all day long gets good milage it has decent frwy speeds. I had it up to a claimed 115 mph , down hill ,belive it or not. I even managed to stuff a sofa into the back. Im a speed demon but I LOVE THIS CAR and it it pleases me you should be okay. Even with a turbo it will be no match for my XRS, gearing etc.. but the XB is SO FUN sticks like glue its as good as my 510 was, Ill bet on it. Its very practical im 6'0 and have a ton of headroom all things considered alot of cargoroom. For only 108 hp it is very suprising, it is what it is but i still drive it like its a sport car, just no grudge matches, and watch out for those old AMC pacers they like to eat scions.

 

Forgot to mention ,if you dont want large wheels , the stock 15' wheels will give you quite a bit better acceleration performance and milage.

 

Thanks for some great insight, it is really appreciated !

I have always owned a 4x4, the Chevy Blazer with the vortex 6 in it and I am used to power when needed and also the security of having the 4wd option available if need be. So going to a vehicle such as the xB has me wondering, I guess that is normal.

I am sold on this xB, I am 6'3" and fit very nicely in in both the 2 front seats and also the back seat. I was really pleased with the room inside of it. The drivers seat was great, fit like a glove ...... The options that are standard are great ...... The most appealing thing that I am looking at is the Gas Mileage, I live near Gettysburg and drive everday to Washington DC, it is an 80 mile drive each way, all highway ! I put about 190 miles a day on my Blazer which is pushing 227,348 miles ... OUCH ! But the darn thing is still going strong .... Knock on wood !

We seen the xB at the auto show last weekend, I asked many questions and the rep. was really great on providing answers .... We decided to stop by our local Toyota Dealer ( Hanover Toyota ) and take a drive in one while we had the kids, to me the xB drove great, very smooth and a nice change of pace from the Blazer. We spent some thime speaking to a simply awesome sales person .... He knew his stuff and was very down to earth ! This means alot when you have a good sales person to work with ....

I guess I will need to overlook my fears about moving into a smaller vehicle ..... We have the saleman working on seeing if he can get us the Limited Edition Lava Model, to me, this is very cool and trendy ....... I do not know what this small farming community will do when these start driving around ....

I am taking it out with a friend of mine either today or tomorrow and really going to drive it around, highway, back roads and some good grades !

Thank You Again !

 

Okay .... I am crossing my fingers ! I went back to my local dealer and asked about the Hot Lava Limited Edition, he stated that som guy has an interest and completed a credit application and they are going to run it later, if it falls in the cracks then I will own this bad boy !

I figure with such a unique looking box to begin with, why settle for stock colors - I am going to do it right !

WISH ME LUCK !!

 

Good luck Net, even if you do have to wait a little bit for it. Some of us here have been chomping at the bit waiting for the March delivery date. I wouldnt wait on the application though. All they need is a $500 deposit ( which they dont cash in till the car comes ) and your preferance; which would be "Release Series 1.0" then your in like Flin, while the other guy is floundering around trying to get it. If you really have your heart set on the Hot Lava, dont sit idle and wait, look to other dealers, they are going fast!

 

we have about the same commute. i do 120 miles a day. don't expect to get what the sticker says in terms of gas mileage. "30 / 34" i've never really gotten. i usually get about 28 - 29 per gallon. never break 300 miles per tank. i have manual trans. but i agree with all the aforementioned comments about the car. its my daily driver that i also use on the weekend, instead of using my "weekend" car. great room for the kids. all in all..."the xB just says something..."

know what i mean? good luck.

 

Hmmm - I am concerned about getting this vehicle ! I will quickly explain what is happening, Last Saturday I stopped at my local dealer and spoke to the salesman, awesome person ... and explained that I already know everything about the xB and I would like to go ahead and purchase the Limited Edition Version, he said not to worry and that when he gets word, he would let me know .... So yesterday I took a neighbor over to test drive one and I again mentioned that I want the vehicle and he stated about 2 weeks ago that some young guy had already wanted it as well, he completed a credit application and the salesman stated that they were going to run it yesterday evening, if he got declined then it was mine ! I called later in the evening and he did get declined and this young guy works for the dealership and they are going to keep submitting until he gets approved possibly ? I do not think this is fair not in the best interest of the dealership, I would be a cash paying customer ...Yes, all cash ! I am willing to make payment in full today ........ The only exception would be that I really want the automatic transmission .......

What is your take on this ? Should I go to the dealer later after work and hand him a $1000.00 and tell him this is how it should be done ! Hand money, means alot and I am not a youngster, I am a serious customer !

Any advise on how to handle this ??

*** Also my wife called a different dealer and the saleman was not that keen on this version, he said others have came in to inquire but did not want to leave a deposit because they are not sure if it will be a Manual or Automatic coming in, so the salesman asked my wife that if she is serious then to give him a 200.00 deposit on her credit card, so she did and he will mail out the paperwork to us ... This almost seals the deal in my opinion, we have the first crack at this from anouther dealer, if it is a stick, then we are going to pass on it !! He said that if it was a stick then we would get a refund, if it is the automatic then we will buy it ...... ***

In the event it is a stick, anyone interested in buying it being we have the cash down on it ? Just give me back the 200.00 and it will be yours .... I am not a greed driven person !

 

Hold on a sec Net, you can order the RS1 in either manny or auto, its your choice. I have ordered mine in auto, as well as Doc, and Kwickslver. Here is what you need to do ..

1) have the dealer place the order for you for the xB
2) then tell him/her to look under preferances, listed will be the Orange Edition, otherwise known as RELEASE SERIES 1.0. Have the dealer add this to your order.
3) then have them add the tranny, in automatic ( this is an additional grand here in southern NJ ).

Thats basically it, you can order these cars with endless possibilities, most of the add ons are done at the shop you ordered from.

As far as the issue of the employee ordering the RS1, i think i would call Scion Corp. and let them know. From what i have read here over the past few months, Scion is seriously based with the customer in mind, not the dealerships selling them.

It sux when you have more information then the dealer, and have to do the job of ordering your xB for them, but most dealers just arent up to snuff on this new line of automobiles.

 

I will do that after work today - What number would I use to contact Scion directly on this issue ..... I do not mean to create a situation but the dealer needs to keep the customer in mind first and foremost

I am going to print this sheet and take it with me ... Will keep you posted.

 

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON'T GET A CRAPOMATIC TRANSMISSION YOU WILL BE SORRY!

 

DITTO!!!

 

Get an AUTO tranny, Netlizard. The D.C./Southern MD corridor traffic sucks (including also 695 if you travel that way). I was in traffic today (I70) and ohhh wee, good thing I have an auto xB. YAY! :o

 

Well, this is a religious argument, but the clutch on my xB is so light that I can hardly feel the pedal through my shoe. Stop-and-go traffic is no effort at all. You'd probably use more effort keeping constant pressure on the brake to stop an automatic from creeping when traffic is stopped.

George

 

This all depends on were you live in that area and were you have to go. I myself drive one hour in the opposite ditrection of traffic every day so it's no problem for me. I drove a MTX xB yesterday and like George said above, I was very surprised on how easy the clutch is. You barely feel it. Feel it a lot less then the brake pedal.