Scion xA Release 2.0

[gmsickofan]

2005 Scion xA Release 2.0
Hands-on review of Scion's limited-edition U.S.-spec ist.
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August, 2005 - Scion's xB is one of the all-time favorite rides to ever grace the IGN offices. Yeah, it looks a little bit funky, but we have yet to see a car that is able to combine Toyota's world-class reliability and build quality, a cavernous interior, tons of features and unique style at an affordable price. The xB was a party-on-wheels, and we almost cried when we crashed it.

Well, even though we destroyed their xB, we were able to convince the Scion people to loan us yet another car. It only took them a year to get over it. Ah... the healing power of time... Anyway, this time we got ourselves into Scion's oversized rollerskate, also called the xA. But we didn't get just any xA, we got the all-new and super-limited edition xA Release Series 2.0. Only 1,700 of these 2.0s will be released, so if we crash this one, we're gonna have to leave the country and hope Toyota's goon squad doesn't find us.

We know that all of you are getting impressed with our talk of "limited-edition" rides. "If this car is limited," you are now asking yourselves, "it must be worth a small fortune, right?" Well, we're gonna answer your inner dialogue with a resounding "no". You see, a limited-edition xA Release Series 2.0 costs just $1,035 more than a base model xA. This extra thousand dollars adds Spectra Blue Mica paint on the outside, a cool looking black mesh "sports grille", rear spoiler, fog lights, interior blue LED light kit, floor mats that say "Release Series 2.0", and an individually-numbered xA Release Series Badge.

Oh yeah, the interior also comes with color-tuned fabric on the seats. We didn't know that color can be tuned on a car. We also didn't know that this color tuning applied to fabric. We're guessing that our xA gets an extra 5 horsepower at the wheels thanks to this color tuning. Or maybe it's just the Scion brass trying to sound "edgy" and "with it" for today's "kids".

Anyway, adding the cost of that color tuning, exterior treatment and lights and stuff will raise the as-tested cost of the xA Release Series 2.0 to a hefty $14,730. Actually, that cost isn't hefty at all; we're just being smart-asses again. Even though this is Scion is a limited-release, it's still a good bargain.

Scion's xA does look a lot like an oversized rollerskate in our eyes. The Release Series 2.0's spoiler and black mesh grille do a lot to make the car look a little sportier, but it still looks like a toy. We do see a lot of xA's slammed to the ground on large rims around L.A., and those xA's do look good. However, our test car's stock height and 15-inch plastic wheel covers knock the xA's "cool factor" down a couple of notches.

more & more photos: http://cars.ign.com/articles/638/638081p1.html

[Cortazzo]

so it's just a comsetic package? Least they could do was beef up th mecanicals some.

[camaro_freak]

boy that thing is fugly...

I do like the tC though...

[Tony's BlkGTP]

I nearly fell out of my chair laughing at that stupid article over that ugly piece of crap. I don't care how limited it my be. If it was the only vehice being built, I will be extremely good friends with my bicycle.

[saturnsteve]

I'm out, I do like the looks of the TC.

[ElmerMCR]

I like the seats...

[cmutt]

a car that is able to combine Toyota's world-class reliability and build quality

Really? Last time I looked, jdpa didn't think too highly off Scion's initial quality -- for either of the two years of it's existence. Somebody's been drinking the kool aid...

[jwrebholz]

They might be hacks, but they're automotive press hacks--that means they must worship at the altar of Toyota, without letting pesky things like facts get in the way.

[elderon]

Is it me, or does this thing look like a Sedan with the trunk cut off - when looking at it from the front!

Me no likey....

[jknudson98]

Release Series 2.0!?!?!?

DOR-KEY!

[mustang84]

Originally Posted by Tony's BlkGTP

I nearly fell out of my chair laughing at that stupid article over that ugly piece of crap. I don't care how limited it my be. If it was the only vehice being built, I will be extremely good friends with my bicycle.

Lol, I would feel like I had more dignity riding my bicycle than driving one of those ugly things.

[macphisto]

I've driven all the Scions quite a bit and am far from impressed. The Aveo hatch, IMO, is a better buy than the xA. It's more nimble and more fun to drive.

As for the tC, it's not bad looking, but I'd prefer to have the Cobalt Coupe. The tC is not very responsive and is horrible in the headroom department - worse than most cars with sunroofs. The Panoramic roof is horrible, it acts someone like a greenhouse so the car is extremely hot when it's been out for a while. When the sun is shining through it also is hotter because of the direct sunlight on your skin.

The tC is the best model Scion offers, but it's still not that great and really not as good a value as the Toyota nuts would have you believe. Factor in the fact that Scion is not well built, that Toyota's quality is degrading, and that there is no wiggle room in the price and you have a bunch of suckers buying Scions. It's a little more, but if I were going to buy a hot looking import coupe then I'd stay away from Toyota and pick a up a Tiburon, because that car is very hot looking (though the powertrain definitely needs improvement).

[hudson32]

Originally Posted by macphisto

I've driven all the Scions quite a bit and am far from impressed. The Aveo hatch, IMO, is a better buy than the xA. It's more nimble and more fun to drive.

As for the tC, it's not bad looking, but I'd prefer to have the Cobalt Coupe. The tC is not very responsive and is horrible in the headroom department - worse than most cars with sunroofs. The Panoramic roof is horrible, it acts someone like a greenhouse so the car is extremely hot when it's been out for a while. When the sun is shining through it also is hotter because of the direct sunlight on your skin.

The tC is the best model Scion offers, but it's still not that great and really not as good a value as the Toyota nuts would have you believe. Factor in the fact that Scion is not well built, that Toyota's quality is degrading, and that there is no wiggle room in the price and you have a bunch of suckers buying Scions. It's a little more, but if I were going to buy a hot looking import coupe then I'd stay away from Toyota and pick a up a Tiburon, because that car is very hot looking (though the powertrain definitely needs improvement).

Sounds like you aren't very informed. Toyota quality isn't degrading, it has been steady and somewhat improving like every car maker. It's just that GM and the domestics have been catching up and matching Toyota in quality. Toyota's IQ scores for the brand is 105, which is extremely good. But the industry averages 118 problems per 100 vehicles. In 1998, it was 176. So the whole industry is improving, and Toyota just doesn't have the reliability gap cushion as it used to.

[asim]

Originally Posted by Cortazzo

so it's just a comsetic package? Least they could do was beef up th mecanicals some.

thats what i thought too.

[T-Type]

Originally Posted by jwrebholz

They might be hacks, but they're automotive press hacks--that means they must worship at the altar of Toyota, without letting pesky things like facts get in the way.

No, they're video game press hacks who are Toyohonda fanboys at that. I wouldn't take their reviews seriously.