Toyota Scion xA (Update)

[purplebelle]

Hi:
So I had a thread the other day asking for help when browsing for a used car. I was looking at the Ford Focus, Honda Civic/Accord, Chevy Prizm/Corolla...

But I fell in love with the look of the Toyota Matrix. A used, 2003, runs about $13,000. So, the car dealer showed me a 2005 Toyota Scion xA for the same price. I LOVE the look of this car as well. (Haven't test driven it yet, but I heard it's bumpier like a Jeep)

Anyone have this car? I love Toyotas...so reliable. I never thought I'd have my first car be brand new, but the price is excellent. I'm going back this weekend to actually buy a car and this one is my top choice at the moment. I love the look of the SUV/car combined.

I will be paying for it in full, so I won't need to negotiate a payment plan or anything. (Bye bye $)

I was using the Consumer Report when looking at cars (HIGHLY recommend it) and the Toyota Scion isn't rated in the magazine. Therefore, I need your help, DISers.

Thanks!

 

[HayGan]

Have you tried Edmunds.com?

 

[angeleigh]

There is no negotiating with the Scion in any case - the price of the vehicle, all accesoories, and finance rate and terms are all set and must be posted at the dealership and the web site. This makes purchasing the Scion very easy and straghtforward with no hassles. They have not been rated yet by CR because they are still too new, not enough had been sold in time to include an accurate review in the April CR car buying guide.

Our customers have had pretty universally high customer satisfaction levels with the purchase of an XA and we have seen very very low incidence of repair / defect in the 10 months we have had them. They are a small engine, a little noiser than the matrix but in my opinion roughly the same ride quality. Resale value at auctions has been very very high (due in part to the limted availability in used market) which bodes well in the event you decide to trade in the next 2-3 years. Availability of the actual vehicles from the dealerships in the color that you want has been (contrary to Scion advertising) very limited due to higher than expected sales volume in the past couple months. With the low price, good gas milage, and Toyota reliability as well as full warranty and no concern about prior owner mistreatment it could be a very good choice for you. As I said - our customers have all been very satisfied with them. Three of our employess have purchased them (at full list price as per Scion rules) as opposed to a Corolla or Matrix at true dealership cost (which would get very close to the same price).

As a side note - if you do really like the Matrix look at the Pontiac Vibe as well - they are the exact same vehicle manufactured on the same assembly line but with GM's current woes/incentive craziness they tend to be a couple thousand cheaper than the Matrix.

By the way, I am the Business / Finance Manager at a Toyota/Scion Dealership , so take this endorsement with that in mind.

--"Mr" Angeleigh

 

[purplebelle]

Have you tried Edmunds.com?

I will check out this website. I had never heard of it before...

 

[purplebelle]

There is no negotiating with the Scion in any case - the price of the vehicle, all accesoories, and finance rate and terms are all set and must be posted at the dealership and the web site. This makes purchasing the Scion very easy and straghtforward with no hassles. They have not been rated yet by CR because they are still too new, not enough had been sold in time to include an accurate review in the April CR car buying guide.

Our customers have had pretty universally high customer satisfaction levels with the purchase of an XA and we have seen very very low incidence of repair / defect in the 10 months we have had them. They are a small engine, a little noiser than the matrix but in my opinion roughly the same ride quality. Resale value at auctions has been very very high (due in part to the limted availability in used market) which bodes well in the event you decide to trade in the next 2-3 years. Availability of the actual vehicles from the dealerships in the color that you want has been (contrary to Scion advertising) very limited due to higher than expected sales volume in the past couple months. With the low price, good gas milage, and Toyota reliability as well as full warranty and no concern about prior owner mistreatment it could be a very good choice for you. As I said - our customers have all been very satisfied with them. Three of our employess have purchased them (at full list price as per Scion rules) as opposed to a Corolla or Matrix at true dealership cost (which would get very close to the same price).

As a side note - if you do really like the Matrix look at the Pontiac Vibe as well - they are the exact same vehicle manufactured on the same assembly line but with GM's current woes/incentive craziness they tend to be a couple thousand cheaper than the Matrix.

By the way, I am the Business / Finance Manager at a Toyota/Scion Dealership , so take this endorsement with that in mind.

--"Mr" Angeleigh

[Mr] Angeleigh:

YOU ARE AMAZING!!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Oh my gosh, seriously, this is amazing advice. And your expertise is a complete bonus! Really, thank you for your time and advice. I am so much more convinced of the greatness of the Scion. I knew Toyota was awesome, but the new model somewhat worried me. Then again, Toyota is amazing...

I'm gonna sleep on it and keep dreaming about the Scion (haha) and buy it this weekend, most likely. But I will check out a used Pontiac Vibe as you've suggested. And, if I have any more ?s on the Scion, I will let you know. My family used to have a RAV4 so I as looking at those, but I'd have to buy a 2001...and i didn't wanna go older than 2003. But the Scion is so cool looking.


Again: THANK YOU!!!!!

 

[iggbees]

my dad has a scion xB and he's absolutely in love with it. if i could sell my car i'd definitely get the scion xA (my car now is a beetle...) it's a great price for a good car! i love the fact that it comes with a cd/mp3 player built in. if you get an manual, make sure that on a hill the parking break is pulled all the way. we had a bit of an accident in our driveway, when ours wasn't up the whole way. needless to say, we had to get a new trunk put on the car!

i totally recommend the scion!

 

[purplebelle]

iggbees~

Ah, so sorry to hear about that lil mishap. Sounds like you've got a good attitude about it. Luckily there are zilch hills anywhere near me. Plus I'm manual-handicapped. Only "drove" a manual when is drivers ed on that computer game. (haha) I'll def be going with an automatic.

Glad to hear another likes the SCION

 

[Donnask8pro]

Toyota's ROCK!! I have a Sequoia and DH has a Tundra. We Love them...Go for a toyota definitely.

 

[PlutoPony]

Angeleigh - thank you very much for the "full disclose"!! Seriously, I really appreciate you being up front like that in a public forum - and don't often see it. I suspect you run counter to the stereotype of car salesmen !

 

[purplebelle]

Donnask8pro: Toyota's do rock! My fam has had a minivan (back in the day), Corolla, and RAV4. All awesome!

I agree with PlutoPony. I read your paragraph-o-suggestions, Mr. Angeleigh, and it was extremely helpful. Then reading your lil dislcosure, it was even more pleasing, carrying even more weight.

I had to say... my experiences with the dealerships I've visited have all been very positive. No one is hounding me, yet they provide adequate info. I think it's safe to say the general opinion of car salesmen being somewhat on the shady side can be put to rest (not to say the lemons aren't out there). At least my experience so far has been very positive. But I have yet to completely follow thru with the process and buy.

 

[wright1baby]

My endorsement might be biased, but I will give it none the less. I have had toyotas ALL my life.
1981 tercel
1987 camry
1989 camry
2000 4 runner
2001 corolla
2004 sienna
NONE of these cars were traded or sold becaues there was something wrong with them, even the 2 of them that had well over 200,000 miles on them, Just changing needs. Now, the biased part. My husband works at TOYOTA in Georgetown, KY. We ge a bit of a discount, but only on the last 3 vehicles. I have always belived in the product and I proud that my husband works in a company that rates so I high in quality, customer service, and longevity. I can honestly say, whether my husband works there or not, my next car will be a toyota too!
That being said, if you want a toyota, BUY a toyota. Not a Pontiac, Geo, or anything else that is made on a toyota line. I have been told that Geo Prisms are made on a Corolla line, I have spoke to people that have Prisms. They are NOT anything close to Toyota quality!
Sorry so long, just my $.02

 

[purplebelle]

wright1baby:

Thank you for your biases. LOL But really, your opinion is still very helpful. Even if your husband did work for Toyota, if the products were poor, you wouldn't buy or promote. I see you had a 4runner -- my mom always wanted one.

My sister does have a Chevy Prizm. It may not exactly be a Toyota but she is very happy with it.

BUT...I still want the TOYOTA!

 

[Chim Chiminy]

My DH had a Toyota Matrix for a year and loved it. He traded it in for an SUV before we moved here to Maine and it held its value.
We thought it was a pretty peppy little car and roomier than it looks. Gas mileage with it was really good also.

 

[becky7953]

I have the Pontiac Vibe (new) and my Father has a Vibe (older one) We love them! It gets good gas mileage, yet still has alot of room to pack things in it. My sister in law has the scion xb. She is happy with it. All of the above run great. The dealer said that "a toyota runs forever" (since that is basically what a vibe is).

Check a Pontiac dealer and have them price a new one for you, mention you will be paying cash.

Think it through and go to a couple of places. Have fun! Let us know what you decide.

 

[kjs1976]

My parents needed a new car this winter and wanted to down size from their conversion van now that everyone is out of the house....they ended up buying TWO Scions!!!! They bought the car version and the bigger boxier version! I think they are fairly comfortable...they have some interesting features. They are not bad if you can only afford a smaller compact car...but we came home in a storm yesterday and I was afraid we were going to blow off the road!

 

[christinou]

Now I am intrigued, I went to the Toyota web site to take a look at the scion, and I can't find it, what am I doing wrong??

 

[Mom2Ashli]

Scion has it's own website.
http://www.scion.com/

 

[christinou]

Thank you, boy come to the DIS to learn something, so is it s spin off from Toyota?

 

[lovetheparks]

Thank you, boy come to the DIS to learn something, so is it s spin off from Toyota?

That's what I was wondering, sounds as if it's not exactly a Toyota persay like a Corolla, Camry, Matrix, etc.

**Edited to answer my own question: in the FAQs on the Scion site they say it is a marque of Totoya Motors. The definition of a marque is : A model or brand of a manufactured product, especially an automobile.

 

[LorieR]

Absolutely LOVE my Toyota 2005 Solara SLE convertible we purchased in December (going through second childhood - kids are grown!!). This is my first Toyota and I would definitely buy another one!! (My last three vehicles were a 1995 Grand Cherokee, 1991 Cherokee Laredo, and a used 1983 Ford Van) and my husband did a lot of research on Toyota. Very safe, well-engineerd cars. My sister is on her second Camry (first one donated with 175,000 miles on it) and my brother is still driving his used 1994 Camry with over 165,000 miles on it.

Good luck & enjoy whatever you decide!

Lorie