R50/53 So Long, And Thanks For All The Shifts.
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6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: New Jersey
Well I thought we'd make it to sixth gear but I guess not. Unfortunately, my MINI didnt make this far with me 
After 8 months of waiting for it, 20 months of ownership (less than 19 if you subtract the days it was in the shop), I wasn't really left with any other option other than to dump it.
I'll spare you the details but the car was a problem since day one and the problems kept on coming until the day it departed. After much discussion with BMW NA, they left me with no other choice except to file a lemon law complaint which ended up being another nightmare of an experience. I recieved a small monetary compensation and retained possession of the car which i promptly traded in on a Scion xB, the only "fun" car I could find that wouldnt end up costing me more money out of pocket. Its not nearly as fun to drive as the MINI was but its still fun in its own way, and much more reliable.
Im not a MINI hater, I miss mine dearly and was hoping to own another someday but seeing as the mini is scheduled to get junkier and not better, I doubt that will happen.
Best of luck to all of you, hope your ownership experiences turn out better than mine!
--
Dave
After 8 months of waiting for it, 20 months of ownership (less than 19 if you subtract the days it was in the shop), I wasn't really left with any other option other than to dump it.I'll spare you the details but the car was a problem since day one and the problems kept on coming until the day it departed. After much discussion with BMW NA, they left me with no other choice except to file a lemon law complaint which ended up being another nightmare of an experience. I recieved a small monetary compensation and retained possession of the car which i promptly traded in on a Scion xB, the only "fun" car I could find that wouldnt end up costing me more money out of pocket. Its not nearly as fun to drive as the MINI was but its still fun in its own way, and much more reliable.
Im not a MINI hater, I miss mine dearly and was hoping to own another someday but seeing as the mini is scheduled to get junkier and not better, I doubt that will happen.
Best of luck to all of you, hope your ownership experiences turn out better than mine!
--
Dave
Last edited by macncheese; Aug 29, 2007 at 10:00 PM.
6th Gear
Joined: May 2002
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From: Gloucester, MA, USA
Dave,
Not in any way wishing to cross you ... but how do you know it is more reliable (assuming you only just got it)?
I would be interested in hearing more about the xB; what is the interior like? Handling & Steering? Obviously you have more storage space
Not in any way wishing to cross you ... but how do you know it is more reliable (assuming you only just got it)?
I would be interested in hearing more about the xB; what is the interior like? Handling & Steering? Obviously you have more storage space
pug poo picker-upper
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,803
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From: California
cheese,
Sorry to see your MINI go. Hope you'll still hang out a bit.
My MINI was very problematic too (year 1), but recently things have been better (knock on alloy patina). I understand the frustration of being on a first name basis with your service advisor.
Sorry to see your MINI go. Hope you'll still hang out a bit.
My MINI was very problematic too (year 1), but recently things have been better (knock on alloy patina). I understand the frustration of being on a first name basis with your service advisor.
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The Scions actually scored lower than MINI in the 2004 J.D. Powers initial quality statistics. Very dissapointing for a Toyota product. Scion had 158 problems per 100 cars versus 148 problems per 100 cars for MINI. Compare that to an average of 104 problems per 100 cars for Toyota branded products.
Also the Scion Xa and Xb are based on the current Toyota Echo platform so I am not expecting much from those cars in terms of good handling and road demeanor. Last time I drove a 2003 Echo I felt like I was driving a street legal Golf Kart...annoying.
Actually MINIs are getting better on every build and my '04 MCS has been flawless in 8,500 and 9 months of ownership.
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Also the Scion Xa and Xb are based on the current Toyota Echo platform so I am not expecting much from those cars in terms of good handling and road demeanor. Last time I drove a 2003 Echo I felt like I was driving a street legal Golf Kart...annoying.
Actually MINIs are getting better on every build and my '04 MCS has been flawless in 8,500 and 9 months of ownership.
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5th Gear
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From: SoNo
Cheese, if you've been following the posts on my thread, "MINI's out... who's in?", you'd know I've been facing the same exact dilemma, my friend.
How bad do I want to get a new MINI? So friggin bad, and there is a 60% chance I'm going to, but then again, there's that voice in th back of my head saying, "Don't be fooled... you fool."
I gotta agree with you, the xB is sweet, despite what everyone else says. The only problem, similarly documented problems as the first MINIs have. Rattles and such, that I just don't want to deal with...
In any case, good luck my man. Nice ride.
Peace
How bad do I want to get a new MINI? So friggin bad, and there is a 60% chance I'm going to, but then again, there's that voice in th back of my head saying, "Don't be fooled... you fool."
I gotta agree with you, the xB is sweet, despite what everyone else says. The only problem, similarly documented problems as the first MINIs have. Rattles and such, that I just don't want to deal with...
In any case, good luck my man. Nice ride.
Peace
6th Gear
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
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I guess I have to give credit to Toyota for importing such a controversial looking car (Xb) into our shores. Toyota is the primary seller of me too cookie cutter cars in the world.
There are aspects about the xB that I like but in my eyes the Xb lacks the high end style and persona (Not to mention history and tradition) of the MINI. But overall not a bad car and the Pioneer stereo is sweet sounding.
Still, I think Toyota should have developed a much better chassis for it. Using the Echo's platform as a basis for the xB smacks to me as pure cost cutting to the point of sacrificing handling prowess. The xB has the principles to be a good handling car it just doesn't deliver them.
I give credit where credit is due, but no matter how "good" the Xb may be perceived to be, it is not a direct substitute for the MINI in any way shape or form.
Guess who's going to still have better resale value at the end of the day....
There are aspects about the xB that I like but in my eyes the Xb lacks the high end style and persona (Not to mention history and tradition) of the MINI. But overall not a bad car and the Pioneer stereo is sweet sounding.
Still, I think Toyota should have developed a much better chassis for it. Using the Echo's platform as a basis for the xB smacks to me as pure cost cutting to the point of sacrificing handling prowess. The xB has the principles to be a good handling car it just doesn't deliver them.
I give credit where credit is due, but no matter how "good" the Xb may be perceived to be, it is not a direct substitute for the MINI in any way shape or form.
Guess who's going to still have better resale value at the end of the day....
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: SoCal
macncheese - - -
In my unbiased opinion the xB was an excellent choice for your lemon replacement. I bought an ‘05 xB on Saturday to join my '04 JCW MCS. $13,800 MSRP for the 5-speed manual plus floor mats. No added premium like the MINI.
So far (only about 150 miles) I’m very pleased with the car. There is a big difference between fashion and style, and the xB has style! With a 98” wheelbase the xB isn’t much larger than the MINI, but it doesn’t feel like a small car because of the seating position and the tall windshield. It feels very much like the GMC Suburban (The Miata Masher) that I drove for 8 years and 98,000 miles and traded for my MINI ten weeks ago.
The handling and performance isn’t the best in the world, but it corners better than my wife’s ‘04 Lexus SUV. The fit and finish is better than the MINI - no rattles going over railroad tracks. I’ve had it up to 98 mph (according to my Street Pilot GPS) and it felt nice and stable. The manual A/C works well and is easy to control. The radio is excellent - plays MP3 CDs - I put eleven albums worth of music on one CD - and it displays the artist, album, and song title. There is excellent space for back seat passengers without having to move the front seats way forward.
So far the reliability is better than my MINI. My MINI broke on the way home from the dealer and had to be flat-bedded back to the dealer - and the xB has lasted three whole days without a failure.
Like the MINI, the xB makes me smile when I look at it and when I drive it!
In my unbiased opinion the xB was an excellent choice for your lemon replacement. I bought an ‘05 xB on Saturday to join my '04 JCW MCS. $13,800 MSRP for the 5-speed manual plus floor mats. No added premium like the MINI.
So far (only about 150 miles) I’m very pleased with the car. There is a big difference between fashion and style, and the xB has style! With a 98” wheelbase the xB isn’t much larger than the MINI, but it doesn’t feel like a small car because of the seating position and the tall windshield. It feels very much like the GMC Suburban (The Miata Masher) that I drove for 8 years and 98,000 miles and traded for my MINI ten weeks ago.
The handling and performance isn’t the best in the world, but it corners better than my wife’s ‘04 Lexus SUV. The fit and finish is better than the MINI - no rattles going over railroad tracks. I’ve had it up to 98 mph (according to my Street Pilot GPS) and it felt nice and stable. The manual A/C works well and is easy to control. The radio is excellent - plays MP3 CDs - I put eleven albums worth of music on one CD - and it displays the artist, album, and song title. There is excellent space for back seat passengers without having to move the front seats way forward.
So far the reliability is better than my MINI. My MINI broke on the way home from the dealer and had to be flat-bedded back to the dealer - and the xB has lasted three whole days without a failure.
Like the MINI, the xB makes me smile when I look at it and when I drive it!
6th Gear
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From: Atlanta/Amsterdam
Yeah I agree on the reliability question. While we hate to see you go, and hope your next car treats you better, the Scion xB is not more reliable than the Mini, at least from the statistics.
Unfortunately reliability is often a perspective that people have. A lot of people guage reliability under the thinking that reliability of a car is based on your experience and the experience of the brand from other people you know.
I wouldn't necessarily base the fact that you had some troubles is indicative of the quality of the car. I have had a lot of troubles, but my father-in-law has never had any problems with his Mini. Does this mean the car is less reliable or reliable. From my perspective it would unreliable, but from my Father-in-law it is the most reliable car he has ever owned, including Toyota's, Honda's, and Acura's that he has owned in the past.
Obviously you have a bad taste in your mouth after your experiences and it is hard to sometime go back, but the Scion may or may not cause you more problems. Statistically it will be worse than your Mini, but since your Mini was on the outlier, you will most likely not experience as many bad problems.
Curious why you went the lemon law route. I know a few people who have gone the lemon law route with BMW and the results are not so good. For anyone else out there with troubles with their car, I would recommend getting a good lawyer and pursuing your claims under the Federal Magnuson-Moss Act. Everyone I know has had good results with this, including my results with BMW on my Mini. The lemon laws for states are so much more restrictive and favor the manufacturer much more than the Federal law. You do not need to pursue your claim under the state law, since the Federal law usurps the state laws. The Federal law has a lot less paperwork, much less for you to "prove" and the manufacturer doesn't have the right to resolve it one more last time. Also, the Federal Act is good for as long as the factory warranty is still on the car, not a 1year 12,000 mile limit like most of the state laws. A good lawyer will pursue this for you free of charge (after they review your case and think that it is worth pursuing), since they will pursue their costs against the manufacturer. Anyway, I would recommend people staying away from the lemon law and pursuing this on a Federal level. As a side note, I resolved my claim in 9 days from the postmark of our letter/documentation to the receipt of a settlement.
Unfortunately reliability is often a perspective that people have. A lot of people guage reliability under the thinking that reliability of a car is based on your experience and the experience of the brand from other people you know.
I wouldn't necessarily base the fact that you had some troubles is indicative of the quality of the car. I have had a lot of troubles, but my father-in-law has never had any problems with his Mini. Does this mean the car is less reliable or reliable. From my perspective it would unreliable, but from my Father-in-law it is the most reliable car he has ever owned, including Toyota's, Honda's, and Acura's that he has owned in the past.
Obviously you have a bad taste in your mouth after your experiences and it is hard to sometime go back, but the Scion may or may not cause you more problems. Statistically it will be worse than your Mini, but since your Mini was on the outlier, you will most likely not experience as many bad problems.
Curious why you went the lemon law route. I know a few people who have gone the lemon law route with BMW and the results are not so good. For anyone else out there with troubles with their car, I would recommend getting a good lawyer and pursuing your claims under the Federal Magnuson-Moss Act. Everyone I know has had good results with this, including my results with BMW on my Mini. The lemon laws for states are so much more restrictive and favor the manufacturer much more than the Federal law. You do not need to pursue your claim under the state law, since the Federal law usurps the state laws. The Federal law has a lot less paperwork, much less for you to "prove" and the manufacturer doesn't have the right to resolve it one more last time. Also, the Federal Act is good for as long as the factory warranty is still on the car, not a 1year 12,000 mile limit like most of the state laws. A good lawyer will pursue this for you free of charge (after they review your case and think that it is worth pursuing), since they will pursue their costs against the manufacturer. Anyway, I would recommend people staying away from the lemon law and pursuing this on a Federal level. As a side note, I resolved my claim in 9 days from the postmark of our letter/documentation to the receipt of a settlement.
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>>macncheese - - -
>>
>>In my unbiased opinion the xB was an excellent choice for your lemon replacement. I bought an ‘05 xB on Saturday to join my '04 JCW MCS. $13,800 MSRP for the 5-speed manual plus floor mats. No added premium like the MINI.
>>
>>So far (only about 150 miles) I’m very pleased with the car. There is a big difference between fashion and style, and the xB has style! With a 98” wheelbase the xB isn’t much larger than the MINI, but it doesn’t feel like a small car because of the seating position and the tall windshield. It feels very much like the GMC Suburban (The Miata Masher) that I drove for 8 years and 98,000 miles and traded for my MINI ten weeks ago.
>>
>>The handling and performance isn’t the best in the world, but it corners better than my wife’s ‘04 Lexus SUV. The fit and finish is better than the MINI - no rattles going over railroad tracks. I’ve had it up to 98 mph (according to my Street Pilot GPS) and it felt nice and stable. The manual A/C works well and is easy to control. The radio is excellent - plays MP3 CDs - I put eleven albums worth of music on one CD - and it displays the artist, album, and song title. There is excellent space for back seat passengers without having to move the front seats way forward.
>>
>>So far the reliability is better than my MINI. My MINI broke on the way home from the dealer and had to be flat-bedded back to the dealer - and the xB has lasted three whole days without a failure.
>>
>>Like the MINI, the xB makes me smile when I look at it and when I drive it!
>>
>>
>>
Rattles usually appear by the time the car has had 500 miles or more. Congrats on your Scion and say what you will about the MINI...I have 2 of them and have been extremely reliable. My '04 MCS has not seen the dealer for any kind of warranty repairs in 9 months of ownership and the car gets better by the day. Oh and no rattles too.
Realize that the Scion has a softer suspension setup as this car's selling point is not handling but rather value and controversial style for an entry level price. Apples to oranges.
If the Scion is the best thing since sliced bread, why not just get rid of your "inferior" MINI?
>>
>>In my unbiased opinion the xB was an excellent choice for your lemon replacement. I bought an ‘05 xB on Saturday to join my '04 JCW MCS. $13,800 MSRP for the 5-speed manual plus floor mats. No added premium like the MINI.
>>
>>So far (only about 150 miles) I’m very pleased with the car. There is a big difference between fashion and style, and the xB has style! With a 98” wheelbase the xB isn’t much larger than the MINI, but it doesn’t feel like a small car because of the seating position and the tall windshield. It feels very much like the GMC Suburban (The Miata Masher) that I drove for 8 years and 98,000 miles and traded for my MINI ten weeks ago.
>>
>>The handling and performance isn’t the best in the world, but it corners better than my wife’s ‘04 Lexus SUV. The fit and finish is better than the MINI - no rattles going over railroad tracks. I’ve had it up to 98 mph (according to my Street Pilot GPS) and it felt nice and stable. The manual A/C works well and is easy to control. The radio is excellent - plays MP3 CDs - I put eleven albums worth of music on one CD - and it displays the artist, album, and song title. There is excellent space for back seat passengers without having to move the front seats way forward.
>>
>>So far the reliability is better than my MINI. My MINI broke on the way home from the dealer and had to be flat-bedded back to the dealer - and the xB has lasted three whole days without a failure.
>>
>>Like the MINI, the xB makes me smile when I look at it and when I drive it!
>>
>>
>>
Rattles usually appear by the time the car has had 500 miles or more. Congrats on your Scion and say what you will about the MINI...I have 2 of them and have been extremely reliable. My '04 MCS has not seen the dealer for any kind of warranty repairs in 9 months of ownership and the car gets better by the day. Oh and no rattles too.
Realize that the Scion has a softer suspension setup as this car's selling point is not handling but rather value and controversial style for an entry level price. Apples to oranges.
If the Scion is the best thing since sliced bread, why not just get rid of your "inferior" MINI?
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Bridgewater, NJ
I have had a chance to see Cheese's Scion a few times now...the interior seems decently made to me. Having seen some the problems he had interior wise on his MCS closeup, I can only hope he has better luck with the Scion.
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From: A Den in Maryland
Good luck with your new ride (is it wrong for me to like the xB too? Because I do; it's completely 'opposite' of all the little jellybeans running around on the road these days). I know you will miss your MINI and I am sorry you had a bad experience with it.
If anyone asks you where your MINI went, just tell them you are playing with the box it came in.
If anyone asks you where your MINI went, just tell them you are playing with the box it came in.
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Article from Ward's auto:
Scion not so cool after all?
http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_scion_xb_not/
Much of what is written in the article applies to the MINI demographic.
Scion not so cool after all?
http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_scion_xb_not/
Much of what is written in the article applies to the MINI demographic.
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>>
>>hhmm... After reading Nick_T's post, I thought he meant that he liked BOTH cars very much. After all they BOTH make him smile...
Sure he said that, but at the beginning of the post he is just knocking the MINI. So my thinking is that if the Scion is so much better why keep the "unreliable and inferior" MINI around?
>>hhmm... After reading Nick_T's post, I thought he meant that he liked BOTH cars very much. After all they BOTH make him smile...
Sure he said that, but at the beginning of the post he is just knocking the MINI. So my thinking is that if the Scion is so much better why keep the "unreliable and inferior" MINI around?
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6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: New Jersey
>>I guess I have to give credit to Toyota for importing such a controversial looking car (Xb) into our shores. Toyota is the primary seller of me too cookie cutter cars in the world.
>>
>>
>>There are aspects about the xB that I like but in my eyes the Xb lacks the high end style and persona (Not to mention history and tradition) of the MINI. But overall not a bad car and the Pioneer stereo is sweet sounding.
>>
>>Still, I think Toyota should have developed a much better chassis for it. Using the Echo's platform as a basis for the xB smacks to me as pure cost cutting to the point of sacrificing handling prowess. The xB has the principles to be a good handling car it just doesn't deliver them.
>>
>>
>>I give credit where credit is due, but no matter how "good" the Xb may be perceived to be, it is not a direct substitute for the MINI in any way shape or form.
>>
>>
>>Guess who's going to still have better resale value at the end of the day....
Whats your problem? I realize you feel the need to defend your beloved historic MINI but why are you attacking me and my purchase? I never said the xB was a susbstitute or as fun as the MINI, I actually said the opposite! This isnt a well handling sports car, its just a cool usable car. Im ok with the cost cutting twist beam suspension, thats partly why it COSTS 10K less than my mini did. You can take your future resale and shove it you know where. I drove my 10k difference to the bank and am enjoying DRIVING my new purchase instead of waiting for the service manager to call me with "great news" about my MINI while i put around in a styleless chevy cavalier rental car.
>>
>>
>>There are aspects about the xB that I like but in my eyes the Xb lacks the high end style and persona (Not to mention history and tradition) of the MINI. But overall not a bad car and the Pioneer stereo is sweet sounding.
>>
>>Still, I think Toyota should have developed a much better chassis for it. Using the Echo's platform as a basis for the xB smacks to me as pure cost cutting to the point of sacrificing handling prowess. The xB has the principles to be a good handling car it just doesn't deliver them.
>>
>>
>>I give credit where credit is due, but no matter how "good" the Xb may be perceived to be, it is not a direct substitute for the MINI in any way shape or form.
>>
>>
>>Guess who's going to still have better resale value at the end of the day....
Whats your problem? I realize you feel the need to defend your beloved historic MINI but why are you attacking me and my purchase? I never said the xB was a susbstitute or as fun as the MINI, I actually said the opposite! This isnt a well handling sports car, its just a cool usable car. Im ok with the cost cutting twist beam suspension, thats partly why it COSTS 10K less than my mini did. You can take your future resale and shove it you know where. I drove my 10k difference to the bank and am enjoying DRIVING my new purchase instead of waiting for the service manager to call me with "great news" about my MINI while i put around in a styleless chevy cavalier rental car.
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>>>>I guess I have to give credit to Toyota for importing such a controversial looking car (Xb) into our shores. Toyota is the primary seller of me too cookie cutter cars in the world.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>There are aspects about the xB that I like but in my eyes the Xb lacks the high end style and persona (Not to mention history and tradition) of the MINI. But overall not a bad car and the Pioneer stereo is sweet sounding.
>>>>
>>>>Still, I think Toyota should have developed a much better chassis for it. Using the Echo's platform as a basis for the xB smacks to me as pure cost cutting to the point of sacrificing handling prowess. The xB has the principles to be a good handling car it just doesn't deliver them.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I give credit where credit is due, but no matter how "good" the Xb may be perceived to be, it is not a direct substitute for the MINI in any way shape or form.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Guess who's going to still have better resale value at the end of the day....
>>
>>Whats your problem? I realize you feel the need to defend your beloved historic MINI but why are you attacking me and my purchase? I never said the xB was a susbstitute or as fun as the MINI, I actually said the opposite! This isnt a well handling sports car, its just a cool usable car. Im ok with the cost cutting twist beam suspension, thats partly why it COSTS 10K less than my mini did. You can take your future resale and shove it you know where. I drove my 10k difference to the bank and am enjoying DRIVING my new purchase instead of waiting for the service manager to call me with "great news" about my MINI while i put around in a styleless chevy cavalier rental car.
>>
Cool you jets buddy.....
Is not good to let your blood pressure rise in your head
No one (Including myself) is attacking you personally for your purchase. I personally don't care even if you drive a toilet with wheels. If the Scion makes you happy the more the merrier.
I am just criticizing and pointing out my own views of the Scion xB. It is an interesting car but nothing overly special in my book.
Too bad you had such a bad experience with your MCS and you had to do what you had to do. You don't need to defend your decisions on a public message board, do you?
If you can't take criticism of the Scion...tough! That's entirely your problem. In the same fashion the MINI is criticized, I think everyone has the right to critizice other cars as well.
Again don't take it personal
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>There are aspects about the xB that I like but in my eyes the Xb lacks the high end style and persona (Not to mention history and tradition) of the MINI. But overall not a bad car and the Pioneer stereo is sweet sounding.
>>>>
>>>>Still, I think Toyota should have developed a much better chassis for it. Using the Echo's platform as a basis for the xB smacks to me as pure cost cutting to the point of sacrificing handling prowess. The xB has the principles to be a good handling car it just doesn't deliver them.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I give credit where credit is due, but no matter how "good" the Xb may be perceived to be, it is not a direct substitute for the MINI in any way shape or form.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Guess who's going to still have better resale value at the end of the day....
>>
>>Whats your problem? I realize you feel the need to defend your beloved historic MINI but why are you attacking me and my purchase? I never said the xB was a susbstitute or as fun as the MINI, I actually said the opposite! This isnt a well handling sports car, its just a cool usable car. Im ok with the cost cutting twist beam suspension, thats partly why it COSTS 10K less than my mini did. You can take your future resale and shove it you know where. I drove my 10k difference to the bank and am enjoying DRIVING my new purchase instead of waiting for the service manager to call me with "great news" about my MINI while i put around in a styleless chevy cavalier rental car.
>>
Cool you jets buddy.....
Is not good to let your blood pressure rise in your head
No one (Including myself) is attacking you personally for your purchase. I personally don't care even if you drive a toilet with wheels. If the Scion makes you happy the more the merrier.
I am just criticizing and pointing out my own views of the Scion xB. It is an interesting car but nothing overly special in my book.
Too bad you had such a bad experience with your MCS and you had to do what you had to do. You don't need to defend your decisions on a public message board, do you?
If you can't take criticism of the Scion...tough! That's entirely your problem. In the same fashion the MINI is criticized, I think everyone has the right to critizice other cars as well.
Again don't take it personal
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From: SoCal
>>Good luck with your new ride (is it wrong for me to like the xB too? Because I do; it's completely 'opposite' of all the little jellybeans running around on the road these days). I know you will miss your MINI and I am sorry you had a bad experience with it.
>>
>>If anyone asks you where your MINI went, just tell them you are playing with the box it came in.
I'm with you on that one! Of all the cars out on the road today the two I'd really like to have are the MCS and the Xb. Oh well... Someday... Someday...
>>
>>If anyone asks you where your MINI went, just tell them you are playing with the box it came in.
I'm with you on that one! Of all the cars out on the road today the two I'd really like to have are the MCS and the Xb. Oh well... Someday... Someday...
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6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: New Jersey
>>Dave,
>>Not in any way wishing to cross you ... but how do you know it is more reliable (assuming you only just got it)?
>>
>>I would be interested in hearing more about the xB; what is the interior like? Handling & Steering? Obviously you have more storage space :smile: Handling & Steering are decent. Interior is average. The seats are ultra comfy (and recling flat into a giant bed type thing) but the dash has all weird totally unusable storage pockets (Atleast on NJ roads). The radio is an ergonomic nightmare. The extra space is great! :smile: The paint is average at best and the engine is a bit noisy but its an economy 4 cylinder so its expected.
I've got about 5k on the box and its been problem free. I find that JD Powers initial quality sometimes has little to do with reality. Just like the bad rep the MINI got from it, the scion is probably catching the same rap. If i complained about how silly the dash is and how crummy the radio buttons are, thats two strikes for one car (or a score of 150 from me).
--
Cheese
>>Not in any way wishing to cross you ... but how do you know it is more reliable (assuming you only just got it)?
>>
>>I would be interested in hearing more about the xB; what is the interior like? Handling & Steering? Obviously you have more storage space :smile: Handling & Steering are decent. Interior is average. The seats are ultra comfy (and recling flat into a giant bed type thing) but the dash has all weird totally unusable storage pockets (Atleast on NJ roads). The radio is an ergonomic nightmare. The extra space is great! :smile: The paint is average at best and the engine is a bit noisy but its an economy 4 cylinder so its expected.
I've got about 5k on the box and its been problem free. I find that JD Powers initial quality sometimes has little to do with reality. Just like the bad rep the MINI got from it, the scion is probably catching the same rap. If i complained about how silly the dash is and how crummy the radio buttons are, thats two strikes for one car (or a score of 150 from me).
--
Cheese
6th Gear
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,433
Likes: 1
From: Gloucester, MA, USA
"ultra comfy seats" ... that is one thing I still can't get used to on long hauls in the MINI. The "sports" padding is just in all the wrong places for my legs to get comfy.
A friend of mine traded a MINI for a Honda Element last year and is now thinking of trading to the xB so maybe I will get to see one close-up ...
A friend of mine traded a MINI for a Honda Element last year and is now thinking of trading to the xB so maybe I will get to see one close-up ...
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,806
Likes: 0
From: Santa Rosa, CA
Great choice Mac. When the XB first came out I thought it was one of the goofiest things on the road along with the aztec and the element. It has grown on me lately to the point I suggested to my wife that I should get her one. She's not there yet. I think it has a certain "character" about it.
I have never driven one, but I think I'll have to do it soon.
Best of luck,
Andy
I have never driven one, but I think I'll have to do it soon.
Best of luck,
Andy