2008 Scion xB: You Can Blame Me

are you guys getting a LT Enclave too? I thought I read something about that a while back but I havent seen it yet.

THANKS JAMES!! Someone finally sees what I meant about all the Silver and grey cars! Also blue.... The altima, g35, camry, ect. The best thre colored longterm cars was in order:
 
4) Hyundai Sonata (umm... What happened....)
3) Bmw 330i
2) Lexus RX400h
1) Mitsubishi Eclipse
 
This should be alot more interesting to read than the boring optionless Edge!! I'd like to see a LongTerm Gl320CDI, Acadia(Enclave is boring...), X5, MKX, MDX/RDX, EOS, or 535i!! Fun to look at, drive and hard to find an interesting article to read..
 
They havent been as exciting to read lately... I seem to be noticing repetitive things like the G35s clutch, Versa's Vesa-tillity, Altimas quickness, edge's boringness, or Ferrari's Problems. I miss the SI, 330i, TL, and Jetta(should have been a 2.0 or TDIor at least had entertaining options).
 
As you said they like all the same color. Silver, grey, blue, gold, or red. Nothing visually exciting. This blue is cool and VW's "North Sea Green" is the Best!! I kinda of miss the Fj. It was sooo unique!! And i havent seen one in person in quite a while.... Other than this black one that was sitting at the acura dealer since early 2006...
 
-Cj

It's weird to see a car in America with only one back-up light.
 
Yeah, I had to go to Scion's website and look at their photo gallery to check to see if my eyes were not deceiving me. All of the photos Edmunds have taken are from the driver's side. I thought it was the angle obscuring the other back up light...but there is none over there to obscure.
 
I know it's a European trait to have only one reverse light. And I do remember the old Intrepids, Civic tall backs, Centuries, and Town Cars with the single back up light...but those were in the middle of the car. This is only on the driver's side.
 
Will this be an issue backing out of driveway at night?

Sorry but both my wife and I think it's a very ugly color. My wife actually asked me if it's a military vehicle of some sort.
If I had buy a car and it was in that color I probably wouldn't buy it. Too bad Edmunds didn't get a long term Scion xD. But I guess the xB is the popular model. Thankfully they have long term tested most of the cars that were on our list. Now if you could just buy a 2008 long term Mazdaspeed 3 that would be ideal since it's on my list and it's the top Hot Hatch ot there right now.

It's an ugly color... But at least it's unique!

In regards to the single back-up light, several of us started referring to it as "the wart."

single back up light seems unsafe. i almost ran into a car in the parking lot this one time as he was backing out of a spot because one of his back up light burned out.

Great little car. I'm anxious to see how it holds up as it might make a nice small family car one day and allow me to retain my Cooper, while avoid a yacht like a 3 series.

Did you just refer to a 3 Series as a yacht? If that's a yacht, what's a 5 Series, a frigate? A 7 Series the Carnival Crown Princess?

Good point dalaw. I agree. I've trained my daughters to look for back-up lights when walking through parking lots. Approaching the xB on the passenger side in a lot might be a bit dicey, owing to the curvature of the bumper.
  
As a pedestrian and parent, I'd much rather see a wrap-around back-up lamp built into the rear combi lamps on both sides -- like just about everybody else does.

daxtripper - The Crown Princess belongs to PCL, not Carnival. Sorry, my mother is a travel agent. I just can't let that go.
 
How did you guys end up in Phoenix?

estreka, James' folks live out in Phoenix (or another city in Arizona, perhaps a Phoenix suburb). So whatever you do, don't nuke it. :o)

Hmmm. I don't seem to see Phoenix on the protection money list. Sorry!

Colors have become unbelievably bland, so I understand your motive. Even the counterculture Scion brand is bland...Why not go after Mini and their broader selection?

Yes, my parents have a house in the west Phoenix suburb of Goodyear, which is about 10-15 minutes away from UoPhx Stadium (and yes I will be there for the Super Bowl...hopefully with my Colts repeating).

Pity about the lack of telescoping steering, but neat it has lots of space. Color looks cyanish on my monitor - uglee. Surprising the mileage was so bad (I get 25 mpg in my bigger Mailbu Maxx !).
 
Now all you folks need to do for a day is dress the xB up LA style and see how it behaves; swap wheels for big 20" rims and 35 series tires (on so many xB's down there).

"Did you just refer to a 3 Series as a yacht? If that's a yacht, what's a 5 Series, a frigate? A 7 Series the Carnival Crown Princess?"
 
lol daxtripper... I think blueguy (a former 330i owner) has a method to his madness... maybe. ;-)
 
autoboy16, the 330i was hands-down the best LT car *ever*... not that I'm biased. Oh wait, maybe I am. I'd better head over to the Aura blog and confirm.

You guys are right about colors. It seems Mini is one of the few willing to put splashy or bright colors on their cars. Every vehicle lately seems to be gray, silver, white or black.
 
Still, i like this color on the xB. But I'd prefer something with a bit more zip.
 
FWIW, my last few cars are part of the problem: White, Silver-gray, Dark Green, Dark Grey. Even my current car's bright blue with the white roof is still quite muted.
 
And yes, the 3 series is yacht-like to me. Too big, too soft, too heavy and not much fun.

The color isn't nearly as ugly as the vehicle itself. An xB painted in Ferrari Red would still be ugly.

<25mpg changes the demographic in a lot of cases. Now it's just a small truck. I like the color though.

Its a good thing you got a more unique color. The xB is now possibly one of the most generic cars on the road, right up there with the Corolla, Camry, and Accord. I laugh every time someone says they bought one to be "unique" or the like. No, buying one just makes them a complete tool to marketing, and now they're just like everyone else on the road, but they feel special about it. Isn't that ironic?
 
Actually, I kinda like the color, but I like anything thats an actual color, not the white, silver, gray, and black that everyone buys now. My 1970 Olds is bright green, and my 2006 Cobalt is Orange. Now that's how you stand out in a crowd. I'm in England right now, and its surprising how colorful some of the cars can be. They're not quite as colorful as America, but I thought it would be much more limited to black, white, silver, gray, and dark blue.
 
On the same note, bluedotguy, you have got to be kidding. Obviously in England small cars are much more common, and much smaller, than in the US, and even here the 3 series fits right in as a small car. Yes the 1 series is a bit smaller, but I really think its time you reevaluate what constitutes a small car. My 1970 Olds is a yacht. A BMW 3 series is a Wave Runner compared to that. Soft is the last word I would use to describe the 3 series.
 
Finally, I can't believe that single backup light. That is probably one of the worst cases of cost cutting I've seen in modern vehicles. People pick on GM, but their cost cutting only compromises interior luxury. Toyota's cost cutting compromises safety (detaching seatbelts, bad steering columns, side airbags that deploy when the doors are shut, and now a backup lamp on only one side of the car?) Where is the outrage?

bimmerjay
 
It's official, you are biased. But it is ok. At least you like real cars, ie, BMW. I have driven them and they do drive wonderfully. No complaints at all. Not sure about long term reliability, but it appears to be improving. I originally thought I was losing my mind the first time I saw the one backup light. I thought, boy last night must have really been bad, I only see one backup light on that Scion. But see since it is Toyota, no complaining from any editors. However, as STOVT001 put it, if GM had did this, oh my the complaining. Toyota, nothing.
 
BTW, has everyone heard about the latest Toyota problem? It appears the FJ Cruisers are having their frames crack. Not good. Especially for an off-roader. Good news, GM sales up, Toyota down. Another beautiful day.

Aurakr - You have a reference article? I'd be very interested to read it. Thanks in advance!

Ahem... aurakr... "But see since it is Toyota, no complaining from any editors."
 
Both actualsize and jriz are Edmunds Inside Line editors... and both of them complained/made negative references in this blog about the mono bulb...I quote:
 
"In regards to the single back-up light, several of us started referring to it as "the wart."" (James Riswick - jriz)
 
"Good point dalaw. I agree. I've trained my daughters to look for back-up lights when walking through parking lots. Approaching the xB on the passenger side in a lot might be a bit dicey, owing to the curvature of the bumper.
   
As a pedestrian and parent, I'd much rather see a wrap-around back-up lamp built into the rear combi lamps on both sides -- like just about everybody else does." (Dan Edmunds - actualsize)
 
Sorry if I blew your guys' cover and you have to assume new secret identities.

No problem, bimmerjay, I will now be ILoveToyotasEvenifTheyExplode83.
 
May I also add, we've had the stinkin' blog up since Tuesday for pete sake. There's much to still be written about.

Dang it man. Now I'll have to wear glasses so no one will recognize me on the internet.

Jriz wins post of the week. Wow and this isn't even the Aura blog. Anyway my comment asking where the outrage is was asked in general, not aimed at the editors.
 
Anyway concerning backup lamps, I agree that a wrap-around design is the best. Sadly the backup lights on my Cobalt are in the inboard light in each dual taillight cluster. It may not be the safest design possible, but at least is done for the sake of style. The xB's single light is not only unsafe, but it is ugly too.

estreka
 
I originally read it in GMInsideNews. However, they referenced the
Toyota FJ Cruiser forum at fjcruiserforum.com/forum.
 
It appears these owners are complaining and the article had many examples of cracked frames. Really scary stuff.
 
To add to it, did everyone see that Jim Press just left Toyota for Chrysler? What do you make of that? Obviously the gaijan had hit the imposed gaijan ceiling at Toyota. Wonder if he knows something the rest of us don't? Chrysler must have offered him the moon to leave.
 
Again another beautiful day. Another hit for Toyota. By the way, just calling it a wart is not enough. I have yet to hear all the automotive magazines/blogs calling for Scion to fix this obvious cost cutting move

I typically wear a fake mustache whenever I'm on either of the internets to ensure my anonymity.

aurakr, it's not a beautiful day since our Pads are now in 2nd place in the NL West. And they signed Brett Tomko!!! :(

subytrojan:
 
It is a great day. Remember, the Chargers start Sunday. ALL SING:
 
SAN DIEGO SUPERCHARGERS, SAN DIEGO SUPERCHARGERS.
 
Secondly, I was against Peavy starting on 3 days rest, I thought the decision reeked of fear and desperation. The Pads will come back, but I thought this was the first truly dumb decision by Bud Black. As for the signing of Tomko, BRING BACK BOOMER.
 
I actually think the new xB is far better looking than the old. You knew the mileage was going down with a bigger engine and more weight. Oh well, life goes on. SING AGAIN, SAN DIEGO SUPERCHARGERS, SAN DIEGO SUPERCHARGERS.

I don't think the "wart" is a cost-cutting move considering it probably costs more to place a lone light into the bumper rather than simply integrated them into the pre-existing taillight clusters. It seems more like a misguided effort to add another funky styling element.