MyFace Generation Takes on Scion xD
There’s no denying Scion markets its cars toward the younger crowd. You don’t see Lexus making ads that feature little gremlin deviants eating sheep people, do you? Being part of the younger MySpace/Facebook crowd — and scooting around in the car for a weekend — I found the compact xD to be extremely versatile and enjoyable, but I never got used to its funky styling.
The xD could have easily carried all my college gear back and forth from the dorm with its rear seats folded down, although that time is behind me. The average mpg display read 35-plus after a weekend of cruising around suburbia, which surprised me considering its 2008 highway mileage is only rated at 33 mpg. That means a daily commute to work wouldn’t be that costly.
For around $15,000, the base model includes standard iPod connectivity — which turned out to be my favorite feature on the car — among standard safety features like antilock brakes and a cabin full of airbags. With my iPod plugged in, I could scan through the major functions of my collection (artist, playlist, song and album) and pick each category, or simply put it on shuffle and scan through tracks with the steering wheel controls; the artist’s name, song title and album all displayed on the stereo. The iPod integration isn’t a new feature by any means, but to have it as a no-cost standard option is a slick deal if you ask me.
I’m not a fan of the car’s goofy exterior styling, but a set of five-spoke 18-inch wheels, lowering springs and rear spoiler — all on the xD’s option sheet — could easily distract attention from the insect-grappler-like front end and stubby front/rear bumpers. Personally, those are options I would consider for the xD — or any Scion — if buying one for myself. Even though I thought the car’s styling stood out, it didn’t solicit one “What the heck?” glance from bystanders or other drivers while stopped or cruising through the neighborhood.
Despite its appearance, the little bugger is fun to drive, especially with the five-speed manual transmission in our tester. I’ve spent time in the similarly priced base Dodge Caliber as a rental, and to say the Caliber was fun to drive would be a lie. However, the xD truly is, with its tight handling and surprisingly strong little 128-hp four cylinder. The fun-to-drive factor has its tradeoff on the highway, though, where a bumpy ride makes anything over 60 mph not so fun for highway travel.
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Wow, Toyota made a fun to drive car in 2007????
I call shenanagins!
You can't compare an optioned Scion to a rental (lowest common denominator) Calibur!
I'm not even sure you can rent an xD. If you could would it have the 5-spoke wheels, manual trany and the lowered suspension.
Do it right,,, get a properly optioned and or priced Calibur for a heads up comparison.
Otherwise it's apples to oranges. And subjective at that.
correction:
You DID say they were "similarly priced".
But if the automatic is a $1000 dollar option (and I've almost never seen a rental that wasn't a slushbox) you could get a few more preferable options.
I agree with infosaur.
The Caliber has alot more to offer that appels to a college aged student. The cooled glove box, liftgate speakers.
123-hp does not sound fun to me.
Either way comparing a rental to the real this is just another way this site gets bias.
Guys,
Please please please remember that this is a Cars.com blog, not Cars.com's research or advice section. Bruzer was coming from the viewpoint of a young 20-something that this thing is targeted at. He's not a car reviewer. That doesn't mean he doesn't know cars though. He's an encyclopedia of car knowledge.
His life experience included recently renting a Caliber. So he mentioned it. I don't think you can rip him one for that.
my 2 cents: there is no difference in the rental Caliber's engine or suspension than the non-R/T non SRT4 testers we've had in the fleet. I think everyone here at Cars.com agrees it is one of the worst engines we've tested in a long time and the Caliber has more weight than an xD. I haven't tested an xD myself yet though so I can't weigh in on which is "more fun" but if there was ever a more subjective measure of reviewing a car as "more fun" I don't know what it is.
I don't think too many college students would own either one - their new cars. Most college students would get their parents old civic or corolla.
This wasn't a fully-loaded Scion or had any suspension upgrades over the stock package -- look at the pics, it has steelies with wheel covers. It actually didn't have much at all over base other than floor mats, stability control and a security system. For cars we usually get this was fairly vacant in options. Ours came in at $16,444 including destination.
Actually the base model of the xD comes pretty well equipped...provides many things that are options on other vehicles in it's class.
Being a college student, I'd rather get the xD.
As a college student - do you know any full time students that can buy a new car (without parents help)?
I am a full time college student, i have a full time job, and i have an amazing social life. I have been able to buy a new car WITHOUT the help of my parents. I bought a Nissan Xterra S and my payments are around $330 a month.. The only thing my parents taught me was to be good with my money and they helped me build my credit!
I bought a car just as expensive as the xD in my first year at school and paid for it solo throughout college. Still have the car, too. I’m not saying everyone can afford it, but I got by just fine with an average job and smart savings.
I was just wondering about the whole college thing - I do know that some college students have jobs and can manage a car payment. I live near two large universities and I don't see a lot of students driving new cars. I just don't think that college students are concerned about new cars until they graduate. $330 for a new Xterra - that's a bargain.
You can't really generalize on who drives what. When I was in college plenty of people had brand new cars, including myself for various reasons.
Heck, people in my high school had brand new cars. It depends where you live, economic environment etc.
I think this post was really good because Bruzer has gone from college to his first job which is a major transitional period and the exact group Scion tries to target.
I bought my first new car on my own in this stage as well and it was roughly the price of the xD (considering inflation ;) and was nowhere near as loaded.
Guess times have changed - when I was in college the only students that had new cars were the more affluent and parents bought them. Most students didn't work but maybe a weekend job or work study and you couldn't make a car payment on that.
at least with the auto the price is only $500 less than the XB, which has more room, more power, standard stability control... don't see why anyone would get the xd, except my wife thought it was cuter. I didn't fit though.
Perhaps, Rob, someone doesnt want a car as big as the xD. That and the mileage in the mid-20s vs low 30's that this gets.
Dave, did you know that Joe’s last name is Bruzek and not Bruzer? Unless that’s his nickname in the office :)
To z and Ziggy,
I am currently a College student with a full time school schedule that is driving a top of the line brand new 2007 Civic EX, WITHOUT my parents' help. My car payment is just like what Jonathan is paying, while I am actually paying way more than that EVERY MONTH(Just to get out of the loan ASAP). Time has changed, and college kids now know how to better manage their money. I still remember when I was in high school, there was a 11th grade kid who drives an Escalade EXT to school everyday.
Did I mentioned that I still got some spare dough to put in my 401(K)?
It all comes down to how well we manage our income, and our spending. For example: If I make only $100/week, you will not see me eating out at all. Just that simple.
J? As i fellow college student, i just want to know how you have a 401K as a college student only making 100/week.
I know its possibly to make a car payment as a student, as i did and have paid off my 03 Accord V6 sedan, but 401K???
marcus,
Key word: "For example"
The end of story.
I think the brat that drives an Escalade EXT to HIGH SCHOOL everyday is up to some nefarious activity(ies). Or has spoiling parents. PERIOD.
Unless he's that kid who unlocked the iPhone first. I think not.
LM
If I tell you he is a Chaldean?
Ken L.,
Haha, yeah. They call me Bruzer around here to avoid confusion from the other Joe. They picked the nickname before I even started the job.
When I was in college, I had an 86 Mercury Cougar, I bought it for $1k with six figures on the clock.
I'd say if I was doing it today, it would be a 99-2000 car with a $2500 budget.
Preferably a slightly upmarket coupe with a lot of room, and lousy resale.
Accord Coupe? Solara? T-bird (were they still around in 99?) TT? What about that Benz hatchback, CLK? 318ti?
Gee there really weren't many coupes available in 99-00 were there?
Infosaur
How could you left out GM products? Does Grand Prix came up in mind?