Should the Scion xD be involved in a B-Spec Showroom Stock Racing Series?

Autoblog.com reports that Mazda and Honda have jointly announced a B-Spec Showroom Stock Racing Series using the Mazda2 and Honda Fit.  The press release states:

One of the fastest-growing segments of the automobile business, B-segment cars are among the most affordable, and enjoy great support from younger demographics. In addition to the MAZDA2 and the Honda Fit, the category includes the Chevrolet Aveo, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Accent, Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris.

So, why not include the Scion xD?  It is based on the Toyota Yaris, a B-segment car.  TRD and Scion could work together to prep a car for competition, as does Mazdaspeed with the Mazda2.  Spec racing is intended to be close, through a tight set of rules and limited upgrades.


Scion is already involved in drag racing, drifting and World Challenge Touring Car.  A B-Spec series, however, could introduce a lower cost entry into motorsports for the Scion brand.  The organizers of this B-Spec series have stated that it is not going to be a professional series, but rather a grassroots form of racing.  Seems to me grassroots racing would be a nice tie-in with Scion's marketing.  A third marquee in the series could only increase the competition and excitement for the fans and drivers.

Source: Autoblog.com

Read the full Autoblog post here.  What do you think? Post your comments below.

Review of the Scion xB

So it has been about a week since I returned the xB.  It's given me some time reflect on my experience.  Also, being Christmas, I've been rather busy.  Anyway, time to sum up my time with the xB.

The car itself was a 2011 Scion xB in Sizzling Crimson Metallic.  It had a number of nice additions.  You may, or may not, be aware that Scions come from the factory with very few options - most anything you want is installed by the dealer.  As I understand it, the only two factory options are transmission and leather/heated seats.  This car fortunately had a manual transmission (5-speed) and the leather seats.  I was a little surprised to find that the rear seats were in leather, as well - and the fronts were heated.


Other options included the Alpine stereo, a TRD carbon fibre shift knob, TRD exhaust, TRD lowering springs and 17" Scion rims wearing 225/45R17 Bridgestone Potenzas.

TRD Exhaust

TRD Shift Knob

Overall, the driving experience was very pleasant.  The clutch was light and shifting between gears was fairly direct.  The location of the shifter was new to me, as it was located higher up - almost in a rally-type position.  Turned out to be comfortable and no cause for concern.  There is an optional quickshift kit, which is something I might invest in as this is a car I would autocross.


The lowering springs added a very nice level of stiffness to the suspension.  It was by no means "hard", but you could definitely feel that the suspension was tighter.  I quite liked it, but it may not be for everybody.  The springs also helped keep the xB level through corners.  It cornered much flatter than the boxier shape suggested to me that it would.  I might be inclined to add the optional front and rear swaybars, again due to my autocross intentions.


The manually-adjustable leather seats were a nice fit and I found them to be comfortable.  The heating function worked well, with its two levels of heat.  Certainly a nice feature in the winter months.  The steering wheel is adjustable for both height and distance from the driver (telescoping).  I've read that the telescoping feature is new for 2011, and it is much appreciated.

The optional Alpine stereo was a nice touch, though it doesn't add any functionality, as iPod/USB/Aux is all standard.  What it did was add a touchscreen, which made it easier to navigate through the iPod options.  The screen itself was very customizable, with different colours and patterns available.


The steering wheel also had audio controls.  The buttons controlled the volume, switched between audio sources and flipped through songs.  All very useful to have on the wheel.

The interior space of the xB was remarkable.  This is a small car, yet the space inside made it feel much larger than it was.  My wife remarked that it felt like "riding in a truck", there was so much space.  The sole backseat passenger had plenty of room for her legs - she couldn't even kick the back of the front passenger seat.  There is plenty of room back there for adults, even.

The dash layout was really my only gripe about the interior of the xB. The Scion features a centre-mounted dash.  What this means is that the instrument panel (IP) is located in the centre of the dash, rather than in front of the driver.  The theory is that drivers will spend more time looking at the road, rather than the IP.  Personally, I found that it took me longer to check my speed.  This was also in part due to the digital speedo, which I needed to focus on more to read the numbers rather than glancing at a typical analog speedo and getting an idea of my speed.  I did get more use to the layout by the end of my test drive, but I still would prefer the traditional location and analog dials.

Overall, the Scion xB was a very nice car to drive.  The suspension upgrades made a very nice improvement to the ride and handling.  It seems to perfectly fit my lifestyle at the moment.  It has utility, due to the hatchback design and folding seats.  It also has some sportiness, with the ability to upgrade the suspension.  The xB represents a very good bang for your buck.  This car starts at $18,270.  I've priced one out with the options that I would choose - lowering springs, sway bars, exhaust - and it is out the door for under $26,000, including your taxes.  That's pretty good value for Toyota quality.  So,  is it a car I would buy?  A definite YES.


PHOTOS:

Large rear hatch.

Integrated turn signal in the side mirror.

It's a Box on Wheels

The styling of the Scion xB tends to be polarizing - you  either love it or hate it.  It seems the most common comment is - "It's a box on wheels" or "it's a rolling toaster" - something along those lines.  I actually quite like it - it's got a nice wide stance when you see it in person.


Anyway, I think I found an even boxier vehicle during my test drive:

Click to Enlarge Photo

That's a Volkswagon Vanagon, and I think most would agree it's even boxier than the xB!

Interior Video of the Scion xB

Exterior Video of the Scion xB

A quick walk-around the Scion xB:

A look at the TRD exhaust:

Cold Weather Testing

I was a little nervous this morning. There was snow overnight and the temperature was around -13C.  The Scion xB had lower profile Bridgestone Potenzas on it.  I wasn't sure how they would perform.  I am used to driving a RAV4 with winter tires.  The tires, along with the AWD, pretty much make the RAV unstoppable in the winter

So I brushed off the snow, scraped the ice and let it warm up a bit.

Much to my surprise (and delight), the xB performed much better than I thought.  The traction control wasn't nearly as busy as I thought it would be, but it definitely helped get maximum traction out of the Potenzas.


The torque of the motor proved valuable, as it allowed easy starts in second gear.  The xB tracked nicely on the snowy roads, without any major moments.

Heading through Pottageville, along the Lloydtown-Aurora Road.

If it were me buying this car I would take the stock steel rims and throw some winter tires on them.  Then head to the local tire shop and pick up some nice rims and summer tires.  The winter tires should help me avoid situations like this, and meeting York Region's finest under unpleasant circumstances:

Overall, a better experience than I thought this morning, and one that proved that this car could handle the white stuff.  The xB is definately a decent little winter car.

"That's a nice car!"

Time: 12:15pm
Location: Pine Farms Orchard, Township of King

"That's a nice car!" he said.  He, was a gentleman, probably early 40's, driving a previous gen Accord.  "Thanks. But it's not mine" I fessed up.  Last time I got a complement about the car I was driving was when I bought my Celica GT-S, back in 2004.

Pine Farms Orchard

You might be wondering what we were doing at an orchard - it is December, after all.  Well, we were Christmas Tree shopping and Pine Farms Orchard also has a bakery & country cafe.  We checked out the trees and had a bit of  snack.  
Nancy tried the hot apple cider, which was fantastic and I stuck with regular coffee.  Between the three of us we shared an apple strudel, croissant and (I must say, an awesome) ginger molasses cookie.  Genava enjoyed a good chunk of the croissant - a nice mid-morning snack for her.

One of these isn't like the others....

Drive to the orchard was pleasant - the roads were dry and clear.  The Scion xB was very quiet and comfortable.  I figured out how to use the heated seats - I'm not use to such luxuries.  Turns out they have 2 temperature settings, as well as an off position.  The only thing is, the switch is located on the lower side of the seat, between the door and seat itself, so you need to check out the switch while standing outside the car with the door open.  Not a problem now, since I know how they work, but it's just one of those things you always have to figure out when driving a new car.

Picked up the xB!

Picked up the Scion xB late this afternoon.  Initial impressions: fun little car, decent power, tons of interior space, not quite feeling the centre-mount dash.  More detailed review to come.

Have you taken a Scion Test Drive?

If you have taken a Scion test Drive I'd be interested in hearing your comments and thoughts.  Use the "Comments" feature at the bottom of this post to provide your insight.  Thanks!

My Scion Test Drive!

OK, so back to my first post in this blog.  This all got started when I spotted a Facebook posting by Scion Canada - 

Hmmm, an opportunity to "lend" me a Scion?  Sounded like it was a little more substantial than a 15 minute test drive.  Sure, maybe I'm not a trendsetter (I mean what kind of trend could I be at the forefront of??) - after all, Scion is aiming at Gen Y - but I figured it was worth a shot.


So I fired off an e-mail -

Much to my surprise I received a reply.  Scion Canada was starting up their grassroots marketing campaign.  They sent an information package, including an outline of the program and their requirements - 

Basically, all I need to do is Twitter, Facebook, talk to friends - that type of thing - and they'd lend me an xB.  Very cool!  So I filled out the waiver - 

So the good news is that I'm picking up an xB later this week to drive for a few days!  What a great opportunity!  I have been thinking about purchasing an xB and this will be an excellent way to feel it out.  I'll be using this blog to update you, posting photos, video and providing my impressions of the xB.


Many thanks to Scion Canada and Beyond Marketing Group for this opportunity.

Wheels.ca Review

I see the The Star - Wheels.ca - just posted a review of the xB.

...But I was fascinated with the boxy xB, which — though apparently inspired by the Toyota Corolla — looks like a cross between an old Austin 7 and a toaster.

I'm not familiar with the style of the Austin 7, so I had to look it up.

Ha, good reference.  Anyway, read the full review here.


Interesting fact:

The fact is, despite all that marketing, the xB appeals to an older crowd. The model’s average buyer is in his or her 40s, much older than Scion’s overall average of 36. In comparison, Toyota’s average buyer is 55.

Guess that makes the xB just about perfect for me ;-).  I'm a bit younger than the average xB buyer, and a bit older than the average Scion buyer.

Comparing the xB

OK, so I didn't have to look too hard to find some comparisons of the xB.  In my last post I mentioned wanting to check out the dimensions of the xB.  MotorTrend did a comparison of the 2009 Scion xB, 2010 Kia Soul and 2009 Nissan Cube (see the article here).  Just from my own observations it seems to me the Cube is smaller in every dimension and the Soul seemed shorter and taller.  Well, I wasn't quite right.  Here are the overall dimensions for each of those cars (from the MotorTrend article's stats page):   


(numbers in RED are the highest, numbers in BLUE are the smallest)

• 2009 Scion xB
• Length = 167.3"
• Width = 69.3"
• Height = 64.7"
•  2010 Kia Soul
• Length = 161.6"
• Width = 70.3"
• Height = 63.4"
• 2009 Nissan Cube
• Length = 156.7"
• Width = 66.7"
• Height = 65.0"

2010 Kia Soul

2009 Nissan Cube

So, as it turns out, the Cube is the shortest and narrowest of the bunch, as well as the tallest.  In fact, given the closeness of it's width and height dimensions it is almost an actual square.

The xB is the longest car of the group, by almost 6 inches.  It's probably the main reason why the xB seems larger than the other two.

I think I still need to compare the xB to some other cars on the road, such as its chassis-mates the Corolla and Matrix.  Maybe a couple of other smaller cars, just for fun.

Spotted: xB

Spotted my first xB on the street.  Happened yesterday - December 2nd, around 11:30am - outside of Vaughan Mills.  It was Army Rock Metallic in colour.


It looked smaller than I remember, when I last saw one at Wietzes Scion.  I'll have to put together a comparison with some other vehicles.  Watch for that coming up.

Source: Scionnation.ca

xB Review from Kelley Blue Book

Here's a video review of the Scion xB from Kelley Blue Book (via YouTube)

There are some differences between the model year reviewed in the video and the 2011 Scion xB.  Most obvious is the upper grill on the front of the car - much smaller on the 2011.  Also, the steering column receives the ability to telescope, which should make it easier for a wider range of drivers to find a comfortable driving position.

Here's a bit of video of the xB in action, from JapaneseSportCars.com (via YouTube).

Review of the 2011 Scion xB

Here's a brief review from Edmunds.com:

2011 scion xb review

The Scion xB started life dripping with hipster cool. It was a box among curves, a fashionable rebellion from the norm if there ever was one in the automotive world. Driving an xB was like wearing skinny jeans, wrapping a scarf around your neck in the middle of summer and donning a thin-brimmed fedora.Yet just as those fashion trends will inevitably lose their cool, so to speak, the 2011 Scion xB has lost some of its hipster image to time, familiarity and a second generation that sacrificed some funk for functionality. 

But just because something’s a fading trend doesn’t mean it’s not without merit. That boxy shape may not be as unique as it once was thanks to copycats like the Nissan Cube and Kia Soul, but being shaped like a box has other advantages. For one, the xB boasts more maximum cargo space than most rivals and even some midsize SUVs. Passenger space is just as impressive — there’s enough headroom for you to don that fedora, and the backseat is so spacious relative to the exterior proportions that cab companies in Chicago have added xBs to their fleets. For 2011, a new telescoping steering wheel makes finding a comfortable seating position easier for taller drivers.

Despite losing some of its cool vibe, Scion hasn’t abandoned its goal of trying to stay ahead of the game in those areas that matter most to young buyers. The main way to do that: audio systems. Standard on every xB is a six-speaker Pioneer sound system with an iPod interface, a regular auxiliary audio jack, an RCA output for additional speakers and a customizable head unit display. An upgraded system from Alpine adds a touchscreen interface and a knob that mimics an iPod’s controls, while a “media expander” improves digital music quality. 

The main drawback to the 2011 Scion xB is its fuel economy. Though surprisingly punchy, the 158-horsepower four-cylinder achieves the same or worse fuel economy as crossovers like the Chevy Equinox and Toyota RAV4. The xB is cheaper to begin with and offers similar interior space, so we think it’s still a smart alternative to those popular family vehicles. Of course, it’s a safe bet the Scion xB was never meant to be mentioned in the same sentence as “family vehicle.” For those who shudder at those words and proudly wear that scarf in July, the xB still has undeniable appeal.

Source:  Edmunds.com

History of Scion

Those of you who know me know that I am a hardcore Toyota enthusiast.  You may be wondering why I would be considering a Scion.  Well, Scions are Toyotas.  Some of the models are branded as Toyotas in their home market.  For example, the Scion xB is the Toyota xB in Japan (or used to be, anyway).

One of the great things about the Scion xB is that it is manufactured in Japan.  I've owned Toyotas that have been built both in Japan and Canada (had a 2001 Solara built in Cambridge).  I must say, the Canadian -built cars are of a high quality, I've just found the Japanese-built ones seem a little tighter.  Maybe it's just me.  So the fact that the xB is manufactured in Japan is a huge plus in my mind.

The Scion xB is actually manufactured by Kanto Auto Works, of which Toyota owns 51%.  I believe this is the same company that built the Celica, and I love my Celica.  Good quality stuff coming from these guys!

Anyway, as promised, here is a brief history of Scion from Wikipedia:

Scion is a marque of vehicles produced by Toyota Motor Corporation for the North American market. Founded in 2002, Scion's long-term goal is to appeal to Generation Y consumers. The first Scion models, the xA hatchback and xB wagon, went on sale in California in 2003,[1]followed by a sports coupe, the tC, and a nationwide U.S. launch in 2004.[1] A successor to the xA, the xD,[2] premiered in 2008, and the Scion marque expanded to Canada in 2010. The Scion lineup uses a one-trim, simplified purchase process,[2] and the marque has relied upon guerrilla and viral marketing techniques. The Scion name, meaning the descendant of a family or heir, refers both to the marque's cars and their owners.