The Scion xB remains one of the most unique-looking vehicles around. It's practical and fuel efficient and changes little for 2006.
The bread van.
June 14, 2006 (Press Release) --
The Scion xB remains one of the most unique-looking vehicles around. It's practical and fuel efficient and changes little for 2006.
The bread van. The mini-minivan. The shrunken school bus. Or, quite simply, the boxy one. All of these, along with a few colorful adjectives, have been used to describe the slab-sided Scion xB wagon.
Not since the days of the late and unlamented AMC Pacer has an economy car created such a love-it or hate-it relationship with the car-buying public. Unlike the Pacer — which engendered a lot more haters — the xB seems loved and loathed in equal numbers.
For its third year on the market, Scion has left the xB pretty much alone. Like the xA, changes for 2006 include little more than cosmetic addenda to the car's already impressive list of optional extras. The Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo head unit has also been redesigned, and a newly available upgrade ($260) makes it compatible with an Apple iPod and other portable MP3 players.
Scion is Toyota's fledging youth-oriented brand that launched in 2003. The super-conservative maker of bland family sedans (Camry) and minivans (Sienna) deserves credit for going against its stodgy roots and bringing a car with such quirky style to the U.S.
In Japan, wheeled boxes like the xB are wildly popular with young people. The Japanese domestic-market (JDM) version of the xB is called the bB and is one of many square-cut vehicles cruising Tokyo’s streets. Ever since it launched alongside the more mundane-looking xA four-door hatchback in 2003, the xB has outsold the xA by a ratio of almost 2-to-1, according to CNW Marketing Research data.
The lynchpin in Scion's strategy — aside from keeping prices low — is to offer unique styling and as many accessories as possible (which get installed at dealerships rather than at the factory). This is done in an attempt to win over young drivers, whose seemingly insatiable desire for garish spoilers, ear-shattering exhaust systems and go-fast components has catapulted a cottage industry of aftermarket parts-makers into a multibillion-dollar business.
With Scion, there are no trim levels or option packages to fret over or get suckered into. The major decision is whether to opt for the standard five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission ($800). After that, the xB buyer is free to choose from dozens of stand-alone dealer-installed options. Lowered suspension springs, high-flow mufflers, colored LED interior lighting, thumping stereo systems, a rear spoiler and body side graphics are just a few of the choices.
Choose carefully. Some items can seriously alter the Scion. For example, if cargo-toting capability is tops on your list, then it's best to avoid the eight-inch trunk-mounted subwoofer, which consumes at least a quarter of the cargo space. And while the low suspension and 17-inch rims with low-profile tires look cool, they create a jarring ride.
On the road, the xB steers and handles nimbly. Surprisingly, it doesn't lean a lot through turns, despite its tall stance, and feels stable on the road. But the noisy cabin and stiff ride make long jaunts fatiguing.
Source: http://search.msn.com
Written by Nick Kurczewski and Jim Gorzelany
The bread van. The mini-minivan. The shrunken school bus. Or, quite simply, the boxy one. All of these, along with a few colorful adjectives, have been used to describe the slab-sided Scion xB wagon.
Not since the days of the late and unlamented AMC Pacer has an economy car created such a love-it or hate-it relationship with the car-buying public. Unlike the Pacer — which engendered a lot more haters — the xB seems loved and loathed in equal numbers.
For its third year on the market, Scion has left the xB pretty much alone. Like the xA, changes for 2006 include little more than cosmetic addenda to the car's already impressive list of optional extras. The Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo head unit has also been redesigned, and a newly available upgrade ($260) makes it compatible with an Apple iPod and other portable MP3 players.
Scion is Toyota's fledging youth-oriented brand that launched in 2003. The super-conservative maker of bland family sedans (Camry) and minivans (Sienna) deserves credit for going against its stodgy roots and bringing a car with such quirky style to the U.S.
In Japan, wheeled boxes like the xB are wildly popular with young people. The Japanese domestic-market (JDM) version of the xB is called the bB and is one of many square-cut vehicles cruising Tokyo’s streets. Ever since it launched alongside the more mundane-looking xA four-door hatchback in 2003, the xB has outsold the xA by a ratio of almost 2-to-1, according to CNW Marketing Research data.
The lynchpin in Scion's strategy — aside from keeping prices low — is to offer unique styling and as many accessories as possible (which get installed at dealerships rather than at the factory). This is done in an attempt to win over young drivers, whose seemingly insatiable desire for garish spoilers, ear-shattering exhaust systems and go-fast components has catapulted a cottage industry of aftermarket parts-makers into a multibillion-dollar business.
With Scion, there are no trim levels or option packages to fret over or get suckered into. The major decision is whether to opt for the standard five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission ($800). After that, the xB buyer is free to choose from dozens of stand-alone dealer-installed options. Lowered suspension springs, high-flow mufflers, colored LED interior lighting, thumping stereo systems, a rear spoiler and body side graphics are just a few of the choices.
Choose carefully. Some items can seriously alter the Scion. For example, if cargo-toting capability is tops on your list, then it's best to avoid the eight-inch trunk-mounted subwoofer, which consumes at least a quarter of the cargo space. And while the low suspension and 17-inch rims with low-profile tires look cool, they create a jarring ride.
On the road, the xB steers and handles nimbly. Surprisingly, it doesn't lean a lot through turns, despite its tall stance, and feels stable on the road. But the noisy cabin and stiff ride make long jaunts fatiguing.
Source: http://search.msn.com
Written by Nick Kurczewski and Jim Gorzelany
Email
Print
SPAM
LEAVE A COMMENT
