Well, here it is, folks…the last COAL feature about cars I’ve owned. It’s a bittersweet moment for me. This has been a fun ride and I’ve so appreciated the comments y’all have made about my rather humble rides. Thanks to everyone for reading about and, most of all, appreciating these cars. This week’s installment features another–surprise, surprise–Toyota product: the Scion xD.
Though Scion has been covered here at CC (thanks mostly to Paul’s 1st – gen xB), I don’t believe the xD has been given any kind of write up or feature. So I’ll give a little background on this car first. The xD is actually a second-generation Toyota ist–yes, you read that right, “ist.” Not sure what they were smoking when they came up with that name, but apparently the “logic” is that the car’s name was supposed to evoke a person who is passionate about something, like an artist. Okaaaay… (The first-gen ist, by the way, was known in the US as the Scion xA, sold here from 2004-2007). The car was also available in other markets as the Toyota Urban Cruiser. Under the skin, all of these cars are slightly elongated Toyota Yaris/Vitz 5-door hatches. So yes, the xD is really just a Yaris with a square body. By now, you’ve probably figured out why this car appeals to me.
I was hoping we’d be able to hang onto to our Yaris for years to come, but fate—in the form of a mid-speed impact from a stolen mid-‘90s Chevy Blazer—had other plans. I wasn’t ready to buy a car, but now my hand had been forced. Not wanting any kind of car payment to worry about, Ms. D and I decided to see what we could find for around the amount of the insurance settlement money. Well, that pretty much meant another Yaris, unless we wanted to consider a Hyundai or Kia. We did—briefly–but the CR red circles with the white dots won the day, and we decided to stick with what we knew. Korean cars have come a long way, but I wasn’t ready to try one used.
Hawk-eyed CCers may notice several Curbside Classics in the background of this photo.
I started scanning Cars.com and other sites for used Yari and Scions, as I knew the latter were basically Toyotas, some based on the Yaris. With another Yaris, I would have been as happy as Mr. Creosote at an all-you-can-eat buffet, but in the end we decided to go for an xD, mostly because it at least gave us the illusion we were getting a different car altogether. In December of 2018, we purchased this black ’08 xD for about $500 more than the insurance payment, so that was close enough. Best of all, it only had 96,000 miles on it versus the 144K the Yaris had. Mechanically and cosmetically, it was in pretty nice shape for (at the time) a 10-year-old car. There were, not surprisingly, scratches and minor dings, especially on the front. The inside, however, was immaculate and except for some minor wear on the driver’s seat side bolsters, everything looked almost new. Even the floor mats were in good shape. The car needed new tires, but that was about it. Otherwise, all I’ve had done since purchasing this car is routine maintenance and a brake job last fall.
Not long after we purchased the xD, I happened to be poking around one of those “other” car websites and came across a piece by a certain “JT” who was publishing a semi-regular series on cars he considered meh. Not bad cars, necessarily, but cars that seem to have no real purpose or no niche to fill in the marketplace. Cars that were destined to be utterly forgettable, in other words. When he wrote up a piece on the xD, the headline asked, “What was the point of the Scion xD?” After having owned one for over a year now, I can confidently say and with head held high, “I really don’t know…but I like it!”
If you just look at the dry stats, the xD is a mixed-bag. Toyota, apparently working in some sort of alternate universe where the laws of physics are the opposite of ours, made the cargo capacity smaller than the xA it replaced, even though the car actually grew slightly in dimensions. On the plus side, the 1.8L engine that also showed up in the ‘09 Corolla sits under the xD’s the hood and definitely gives power and acceleration a little nudge. This move reduced fuel economy a bit, but I’m getting a respectable 35-36 mpg on the highway and about 30 around town, so I’m not complaining. In my eyes, the styling improved from the xA to the xD, and the car’s boxy features give the impression of a mini-mini-crossover. However, the rear quarter area design includes rather large blind spots similar to the ones that afflict the 2nd-gen xB. Finally, Toyota gave the xD 16-inch wheels that give the whole car a bit more of an aggressive stance to go with the squarish styling.
Yep, it’s a Scion. The gauge cluster housing is strangely-shaped, but I love the one-piece speedo-tachometer. Climate control knobs (yay, knobs!) are identical to our Corolla’s. The shifter is stock Yaris.
Inside, the xD is very much Scion, replete with funky styling touches to separate it from its more work-a-day Toyota brethren. My favorite bit is the quirky off-kilter speedometer/tachometer combo unit. Where have you seen anything like this in any other car? Yet, with its legible typeface and optitron illumination, it’s easy-to-read. Funky, yet functional.
Though the xD’s interior contains just about as much hard plastic as our Corolla, it is at least better executed. Maybe it’s the unique texture or the monochrome black finish, but it looks more expensive compared to the el-cheapo vibe the Corolla interior gives off. Like most Toyota products, fit and finish is excellent—better, in fact, than either the Yaris or the Corolla, and rear seat room is decent. Oddly, the driver’s seat does not raise up or down, though I’ve found the height to be just fine. One other thing that is conspicuously missing is a center console storage bin. Kind of a strange omission, but most likely it would just get filled with useless crap, anyway. If I’m really hankerin’ to have one, there are aftermarket ones available.
On the road, the xD drives almost exactly like Miss E’s ’07 Yaris hatch, though acceleration feels a tad livelier thanks to the extra 22 horses from the 1.8. It’s just as nimble as our old Yaris and has quickly become our default car for Portland trips. In fact, at only 155” long, it’s 14” shorter than the Yaris sedan, so it’s much easier to wedge into those tight parking spots downtown. On the negative side, the car’s short length means I often have a hard time finding the car in a parking lot, especially if it ends up parked between two POUSs (Pickups Of Unusual Size), and there’s a lot of those around here in Clark County.
The lack of cargo space (a thimble-sized 10 cubic feet with the back seats up), is the car’s biggest demerit. Things improve to 33 cu. feet with the seats down, so the utility factor of this hatch is decent, but not outstanding. However, I rarely need this car to haul anything other than groceries (which fit, tightly) and our kayaks and kayak gear. With the seats down, the gear fits easily, so this car is definitely our preferred choice for weekend getaways with our boats. Besides, the kayaks probably look better on top of the Scion than they ever would on top of the Corolla.
Our Kayaks are 12- and 13-feet long respectively, and they fit just fine on top. My brother-in-law, however, regularly strapped a 19-foot long sea kayak on top of his first-gen Prius!
The Scion is also my car of choice for anything else recreational. Whether it’s a trip to the coast, east into the Gorge, or up into the Cascades for hiking, this is the car I take. Not only is the fuel economy a tick better than the Corolla’s, like the Yaris, it’s just more fun to drive. And I think I may be starting to understand other reasons why I have such an affinity for little runabouts like this Scion. For starters, I’ve never had a desire for any kind of “image” car (obviously!). I never went through a mid-life crisis where I felt the need to prop up my sagging masculinity with a giant pickup or a muscle car. In fact, I think it’s these little cars–like the Yaris and like the Scion–that keep me feeling young. They are not obvious choices for someone of my demographic, a guy in his mid-50s from the urban/wildland interface. They also make me think back fondly of the little cars, like the Tercel, and yes, even the Saturn, that we had when I was first married to Ms. D. The ease of ownership reliable little cars offer for a mechanically-challenged person such as myself, as well as the overall lower cost of ownership compared to larger vehicles, is the icing on the cake.
The Scion (see it there?) underneath the tall Ponderosas at the Conboy Lake Refuge parking area, WA. The refuge is in Klickitat County, just a little north of the Columbia River Gorge’s eastern half.
Mt. Adams as seen from Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Returning to the question about the “point” of the Scion xD, however, I still can’t exactly say what Toyota was thinking. And, truth be told, if I had been shopping for a small runabout back in ’08, I don’t think it would have been my first choice. But when circumstances required us to find a decently built, reliable used car for not too much green, this xD was there to replace the hole left by the Yaris. It has performed splendidly in this role so far. So I don’t think it will be forgettable. Far from it. Despite some of the misses I’ve mentioned here, I love this car. It’s not perfect, but when I see it, it brings a smile to my face. When I get behind the wheel, my grin widens.
Time for a wrap. Thanks again to all who read my COAL series, I am truly grateful. I’m not going away completely, however. I have a few ideas for pieces about other cars that have been a part of my life in one way or another, even if I didn’t own them. So stay tuned and may you always drive the car that brings a smile to your face, no matter what it is.
March 6, 2020
Drove two Kia versions of the minibox as rentals. The experience kept me from ever considering any make of this type even though I liked the concept. I may have been too hasty damming the Scion based on Kia experience. Looks like you got a nice car. You certainly wrote a nice tribute to it.
“… may you always drive the car that brings a smile to your face …”
There’s no better thing to say to this old COAL reader. Thank you for the stories.
BTW, I like the way you use blue stone pavers set in gravel on the right side of the blacktop driveway separating the driveway from the mulched garden area. I am fond of using blue stones to invite people to use pathways at various locations in past homes and yours looks inviting (and useful).
You’re welcome and thanks for reading!
Did the pavers project last fall as a first step to refreshing our front yard area. This year will be dwarf shrubs and some perennials in the mulched area.
Loved the series, Matt. It’s funny how subjective tastes are, as I actually dug the xA but never quite fully warmed to the xD. Although I’d choose the xD over the train wreck that was second-generation xB any day.
You’ll discover in about six weeks that my current ride is very similar in looks and concept to your xD. I find it ironic how we live on different coasts, started our COALs at the same time, and have roughly the same taste in cars.
I can’t wait to read your future posts.
” I find it ironic how we live on different coasts, started our COALs at the same time, and have roughly the same taste in cars.
Thanks, Adam and I was thinking the same thing. Curious to know what your current ride is. I looked at the xA, too, but the xD was a little better in the safety area, being newer and having six airbags. Thanks for reading!
“With another Yaris, I would have been as happy as Mr. Creosote at an all-you-can-eat buffet…” The same analogy could also go to Homer Simpson at the Frying Dutchman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kzb6uf0U0k
“My favorite bit is the quirky off-kilter speedometer/tachometer combo unit. Where have you seen anything like this in any other car?” Can’t say I’ve seen that anywhere else either.
I recall early Honda Preludes had some sort of concentric speedo/tach, dropped before the first-gen models were done with. I think there have been some others like this but can’t remember which. I thought the first Lexus IS/Altezza was another, but a quick google image search shows the tach is separate; what I was remembering were three smaller gauges being in the speedometer face in the style of watch complications.
The new Fiat 500 had a tach within the speedometer.
Hello! The gen1 xB has a combo speedo/tach. Which I am very fond of. I always know where to find the two only relevant bits of info on my dash.
I like that one much much better than this Xd’s implementation.
I had forgotten about that, though the execution is a little different.
Also a good one! Being a Python fan, Mr. Creosote was the first thing I thought of.
Well, have a look at the FIAT Multipla gauges:
https://spct2000.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/fiat-multipla-dash1-e1571603864316.jpg?w=580
I’m a newcomer from Italy, I’m delighted to read all the COALs and reviews and nice stories. In the future I would like contribute with Italian stories. Hoping not to annoy the audience.
Kind regards to everybody.
Bruno
Welcome, Bruno! The Multipla’s gauge cluster is so “out there” it really is in a class by itself.
Thank you Matt, I really enjoyed your series. And you made me love your little ‘Urban Cruiser’
Quirky-off kilter Speedo-tach would have set Mr. OCD off. Perpetually.
About 10 years ago I forget exactly what I rented but it one of those “the steering wheel is not exactly perpendicular to the dash because of the cheap off-set solution they came up with the lazy bastards”. I’m surprised we got anywhere those 4 days since I could barely take my eyes off the problem.
This is one of those cars that if it existed by itself in a manufacturer’s lineup it might seem…more plausible. But with Scion fielding this and the nearly same sized xb, it just sort of has to lose out. I thought that the xa actually looked good, it said (at least to me) “I am different, but not outrageous, I am Japanese”. But when the two Scion “boxmobiles” were simultaneously updated, they were styled a bit too similarly, making it seem like 1 was redundant. Not to mention the fact that both Scions looked like they were styled by kindergarteners. And the icing on the cake? Both cars were available in some of THE most depressing colors.
I would really have to want a cheap and reliable car to buy an xa.
The gen2 xB was considerably bigger than the xD, which was exactly the same length as the xA.
As Paul noted, the second gen xB was considerably larger than the xD, so there was some logic to it. I think Toyota fumbled when it came to cargo capacity for the xD, though as I noted it is not a big deal to me personally. While the gen 2 xBs styling is questionable, I think the xD wears the look much better and it sports sharper creases than the xB II, which sort of looked like a blobby box. It’s all pretty much subjective, of course!
I think with the xB II, Toyota took everyone’s advice (“Make it larger”, “Make it more powerful”) and ended up with something that didn’t appeal to anybody. I had read that this was one of the the most, if not THE most, dramatic weight increase from one generation of a car to the next: 600 pounds.
I didn’t realize it was that much of a weight gain. Yikes.
I noticed your neighbors all trust in Toyota! I see an old Corolla, GS300, Sienna, and I believe a 4Runner! Very nice.
As I reach that middle age, I’m tempted by a Mustang or (to be released) Bronco. But I miss the small Honda(s) of my youth, I’d love a Honda-e.
Matt:
Enjoy those beautiful forests while they are still there. By the time you are my age, with climate change, most of them will probably be gone.
Western forests are indeed threatened by climate change. In fact, last year I created illustrations of pine trees for a new book that is being released this April that discusses this very topic. The author is local and he and I have had several discussions about this crisis. It’s very real and, if you know what to look for, you can see the signs when you’re out in nature. Certain trees, like whitebark pine, sugar pine and western white pine, are especially vulnerable. I was saddened last year to look at all the dead and dying whitebarks when I took a hike to Lookout Mountain near Mt. Hood.
Scion’s second generation was a puzzler. The move to bigger, heavier, but more powerful platforms may have added refinement but it cost the space efficiency and character that put the cars on the map. Think of this as a Corolla hatch and it makes sense.
Enjoy your cars Matt, and thanks for the COALs. Long may those Toyota 1.8s run.
The xD wasn’t bigger at all. Both the xA and xD are 154″ long, and as such, exactly one inch shorter than the gen1 xB.
Yes, the gen2 xB, based on the Camry, was significantly bigger, at 167″ long. And heavier.
“At all”?
The xD is heavier, wider, and got the powertrain from the next vehicle class up.
Ah, you went to Wikipedia to prove me wrong. 🙂 Yes, it’s a whole inch wider. And went to the 1.8 because the 1.5 gad been widely criticized as being too weak-chested. It is a better engine, especially with an automatic. And yes, it weighs more; all those air bags!
I was primarily responding to this: The move to bigger, heavier, but more powerful platforms may have added refinement but it cost the space efficiency and character that put the cars on the map.
While that certainly applies to the gen2 xB, I don’t see it applying to the xD over the xA. The xD is a better car for the changes made to it, and most folks who are familiar with them would agree. There’s no meaningful difference in rear cargo space, but the rear seat of the xD is significantly roomier. In reality, the xD is extremely similar to the gen1 xB in its dimensions and space utilization. If I had to replace my xB with something else, the xD would be the closest thing to it by far.
Ask any gen1 xB owner if they wouldn’t rather have the 1.8. In fact, several have swapped them in.
I have to admit, it was hard finding accurate size stats on these cars…there seemed to some conflicting figures out there. When I was researching my piece, I think I found the figure that showed the xD being an inch wider than the xA, but when I double–checked this morning, I couldn’t find it! Compound this size confusion with the fact that the xA and first gen xB were so similar in size (though the xB had the longer wheelbase) and then Toyota changed things up with the obviously larger xB II. It’s enough to make your head swim.
The 1.8 noticeably adds some power, at least when I compare it to the 1.5 that’s in my daughter’s ’07 Yaris hatch, which I have driven.
Paul, I’ll happily admit I was only half right about the xA vs xD and that the xB is a better example of my point. But you claimed I was entirely wrong about the xD–and I wasn’t. Pedantry begets pedantry.
My original motivation was to validate Matt’s post by making a comment about the car and thanking him for his efforts, not get in a back-and-forth.
I meant to reply directly to your comment- thanks for your thoughts and I think the 1.8s will serve us well for years to come. Both of our cars have one!
You remind me of how much I have always enjoyed the “used car lottery”. Those times I have decided to look for a car always start with an idea or two, and usually end up in the most unexpected places with something I never would have thought of at first. Your XD seems like such a car.
And wow, what a great point about how a small zippy car makes you feel young. I feel the same way behind the wheel of my Honda Fit. I think back to when I had an 89 Cadillac Brougham – I felt anything but young driving that one. 🙂
I am sorry to see this series come to an end, I have enjoyed it a lot.
This was my first experience in the used lottery. Buying another vehicle was about the furthest thing on my mind. And it’s not like Scion was a new thing. They were, in fact, history by the time I considered one!
I’m sure your Fit gives you a similar feeling to mine when I drive the xD. Long live fun little cars!
This has been a wonderful COAL series with a unique perspective in its minimalist approach to automobile selection and ownership. I have always admired the engineering effort put into small cars, as their small size doesn’t always lend themselves to easy or quick solutions.
Also, as I have grown older (I’m in my late 50s), I have become less enamored of the idea of driving the latest and greatest and enjoy driving the smallest and simplest car in the family fleet, a 2009 VW Jetta, so I can relate to your satisfaction with the xD.
I myself have never owned any of these cars and I have driven only several Corollas and one second-gen Xb over the years, so reading these reports was informative and entertaining for me. Thanks, Matt, and I look forward to reading more of your work in the future!
“I have always admired the engineering effort put into small cars, as their small size doesn’t always lend themselves to easy or quick solutions.”
Well said. The “JT” I mentioned in the post actually has a similar philosophy about cars, though he didn’t see the particular point of the xD.
“ist” was also used by the Japanese camera manufacturer Pentax in its model designators, their “*ist” series. The asterisk signified whatever the user might want, as the article suggests. The *ist was a film camera, the *istD a digital single lens reflex, followed by *istDS, *istDL, *istDS2, *istDL2… Follow-on models were on the same chassis but the models changed to a “K” series, K100, etc. Pentax’s *ist series far predated Scion’s, and in fact Scion itself.
An excellent series and the feeling at the end is akin to the ending of a favorite TV show or book wherein one becomes familiar with the “characters” without actually personally knowing them. You managed to insert the reader in the driver’s seat of not just the car but also your mindset and that added a wonderful dimension without you likely even realizing it.
I’m in the camp that prefers the xD to the xA on looks, for some reason the larger wheels and hubcaps work very well visually and I completely see the appeal. Surely it’ll remain a great car for you although part of me hopes that you’ll eventually find a reason to buy another car just so that we can read about it.
Thanks, Jim and I’m glad you enjoyed it so much. When I started this series, I remember thinking, “Is anyone really going to want to read about our relatively “boring” cars?” The key, of course, is in the storytelling.
Matt, I hate to see this series end. While you have yet to own a car I have any serious experience with, your passion about them is contagious and I now find myself looking at them differently.
That is a success, as I’m the guy that would be most drawn to the Dodge pickup in the background of one of the photos above.
Thanks, Jason. I’m glad you saw that Dodge…it’s almost always parked there. The owner used to drive it to work everyday, but now he takes that white Sequoia that’s in the driveway. There’s a couple of other CCs in that photo, too.
Matt, we’re soul brothers, from Oregon! So much of this last chapter could have been written by me, except you said it very eloquently.
I’m utterly hooked on small cars, and yes, my stick shift xB very much helps keep me feeling young. I still love revving it through the gears when I pull into a highway, or whenever. My big problem is not to be jerk in city traffic with it.
And that’s really the essence of why I never cottoned to big soft plush cars: they reeked of old man! That was obvious to me in my teens, and it just never went away.
I had some bigger cars out of necessity, like the Caravan, but they were just as big as they needed to be, and no bigger.
I rather liked the xD, certainly more than the Xa. Curious about it having less cargo room. Both are 154″ long, but the xD has a 3″ longer wheelbase, which makes me suspect that the rear seat area (especially leg room) is likely bigger in the xD, an explains that. My gen1 xb is 155″ long, but has an even longer wheelbase than the xD, a really short cargo area but a massive rear seat with limo-like leg room. It’s a matter of packaging priorities. A sliding rear seat would have been useful.
Look forward to your future contributions, and meeting you one of these days, in the Ponderosa pines, preferably. 🙂
Thanks, Paul. I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned the “old man cars…” That’s kind of how I saw so many of the big cars when I was growing up. I know there’s a lot of “Broughmance” here at CC, and I find those cars interesting from a cultural and design standpoint, but I’d never want to own one. I’m also left cold by mountain-sized SUVs and the POUSs which are so popular around here.
It is odd about the xD cargo room. Essentially the same size of an xA (I think it was a tiny bit larger-fractions of an inch- in a couple of dimensions, so I exploited that to make my point about the alternate universe!), but less useful in capacity. The back seats actually do slide, but not very much. Back seat leg-room, however, is plentiful and better than our Corolla’s. The seats’ relatively high position makes ingress and egress easy. So much so that we usually take the Scion when we pick up Mr. and Mrs. O for any event. They are both in their 80s and they find it much easier to get in.
I was born in Ashland, and with a couple of short exceptions, was an Oregonian for 35 years before moving to Washington. But seeing how close we are to Portland, I really feel like I’m living in “Washegon.” I’ll always consider myself an Oregonian at heart as all my favorite places are there. My dad’s heart is in Klamath County, and I have to admit that part of mine is there, too. When I mentioned the “sacred fishing grounds” a few installments back, that wasn’t much of an exaggeration.
I do love the area I live now, too. So many recreational opportunities. Every year from mid-spring to mid-fall my friend Hutch (yep, he’s still around) and I go on as many hikes as we can fit in. So give me my little car and point me toward a forest service road! The season is almost upon us!
Love to meet sometime- whether in the Ponderosas or over a good coffee or beer.
Thanks for writing this series, Matt. I hope you enjoyed writing it as much as I enjoyed reading it.
The xD is on my short list of cars to replace my Prius when it goes. I liked my 1G xB mostly pretty well, except for the low power and high revs/noise on the highway. How is the xD on the open road?
Though I haven’t driven a gen 1 xB, I would suspect the xD is similar in ride/noise in that respect, so you might be disappointed. That being said, I don’t find it particularly intrusive and it has a nice Pioneer sound system that’s usually going when I’m driving. Considering the cars I’ve owned, I’m not sure I’m the best to ask about power- it’s just fine for me and I’ve never had any white-knuckle moments when I felt I didn’t have the power needed to merge or pass someone.
I don’t think I could get past that instrument cluster. The speedo side is what really drives me crazy, in the relevant range the numbers are sideways and even boarder on upside down at 20 mph. Then the most important range, 20-40, is buried and the the focal point is in the completely irrelevant range of 80-130. Meanwhile the tach has the numbers oriented properly? I don’t like the separation but I could probably live with that.
It’s not as hard to read as you think. I’ve never had any trouble, anyway. I was skeptical about the Yaris’ center-mounted instruments, too, but found them surprisingly easy to see. You really never know how you will respond until you try them yourself in the actual car. That’s been my experience, at least.
The Toyota reliability is legendary, but I never understood the packaging of Scion’s. The original xB looked like a truck, similar to the Honda Element. But it never had the utility. It was a car in the shape of a truck. The xA has the size of Honda Fit, but the Fit is so much more functional with the seats that fold very flat and seat cushions that flip up. The downfall of the Fit is the horsepower. It’s a slug at acceleration. It all depends on your needs. Thanks for the great articles Matt. And my Honda Civic SI coupe always brings a smile to my face. I can borrow or rent something else when unusual needs arise. My father used to say “how can you haul anything in that tiny car”. I am a single guy and I haul my a.. around pretty well. Using his logic, I would be driving a Chevy Suburban and pouring my paycheck into the gas tank. Drive what you love and then rent what you occasionally need. The furthest off-road most SUV’s get is the mall parking lot.
I really like Hondas, too, but, with the exception of the Accord, have had more experience with Toyotas. I do like the familiarity factor of owning Toyota products. I was intrigued by the Fit, but it was always a little more expensive and I didn’t care much the the styling of the second generation. It’s a thoroughly capable little runabout, I have no doubt, so I’m sure there are many happy Fit owners out there. When it comes down to it, logic only takes you so far when it comes to a car choice. Something might look better on paper, but then you drive it and wonder what the big deal is. The opposite happens, too. The xD was never anyone’s favorite in “professional” automotive reviews, but when we test-drove ours, it only took me two minutes to blurt out to Ms. D, “I love it!”: Looking for completely rational reasons why people choose a certain car over another is a fool’s errand. That’s what makes cars and car ownership so interesting.
The attached is from “Popular Mechanics”, January 1960. Overcoming the impulse to pull a small car all the way into a parking space can pay dividends—then and now alike, as it seems.
Again, a great series, Matt.
As I pulled into the garage yesterday, as others drove by with more upmarket vehicles than mine, I realized that most everyone I know my age drives a more upmarket vehicle than I do. Still, I’m quite happy driving my modest Matrix. I feel youthful driving it, perhaps because I still see a number of younger people driving this class of car (as I did). The difference is, probably most of them aspire to a car or truck that has more “presence”, or refinement, but I can’t imagine a type of car that works better for me than something like your xD or my Matrix.
Someone at work had a Tercel virtually identical to yours down to the color. She eventually moved on to an xA. I’m probably the only one here who liked the design of the xA, and would probably have bought one if the timing was right.
I know that feeling. I was at Starbucks the other day, and no fewer than three Teslas showed up within minutes of each other (that’s unusual even for here); all the owners were younger than me. Men at the “old timers” table were gawking at the cars. I’ve parked my cars in the same spots many times and, of course, nobody notices. Fine with me.
Great COAL series, Matt! I looked forward to each installment every week and I’m sad to see it end.
I have a few ideas for other pieces kicking around in my head, so I’ll be back.
Great series, Matt. Just keep on writing!
I spotted an Urban Cruiser here last week, they didn’t sell well, unlike the Yaris hatchback. Said Yaris was also available with the 1.8 liter engine, yet only in the T-Sport (133 DIN-hp). I caught a 2008 Yaris T-Sport a few years ago, see below.
It was our most powerful factory Yaris so far. Well, apart from the exclusive/expensive GRMN and the brand new GR-Sport.
Thanks. Nice looking Yaris, BTW. I didn’t realize you could get the 1.8 in other markets.
From circa 2000 to 2010, the 1.8 was available in pretty much all Toyotas here. Yaris, Corolla, Celica, RAV4 and Avensis. The Avensis was their D-segment/mid-size model (between the Corolla and Camry), below a second gen Avensis wagon from that era.
I considered the xD, because the 1st gen xB was discontinued, but ended up with the Fit instead. The deal-killer was that the xD was automatic-only.
The carved look of these is quite appealing, with the front cheerfully defiant instead of the default aggression in so many other faces these days. Adds interest to a box.
I owned the predecessor of all high-rise small cars, the Renault Scenic, originally out in ’96. It was a bit bigger than these, but highly utilitarian (removeable seats, flat floor). Unlike a Toyota, it drove with verve, had lovely squasho French seats and a fair bit of rolly-polly round the bends, but I just got used to cocking one wheel in the air if over-cooking it. Also unlike a Toyota, it spent more time sulking than proceeding, usually at hair-reducing levels of expense. From your account, I’ve no doubt the Froggie was a much better piece of design than this Nagoyan (it had points for existence aplenty), but believe me, I understand the purchase of Toyotas. Proceeding and not spending is a far preferable way to own motorised wheeled transport, the latter being the point of such ownership, after all.
I wonder if your purchase of this one means you’ll never really be happy in a low-rise car again? I found that to be so after the Renault. No doubt something that folk who have ended up in raised F-150’s found to be an exponential desire.
Thanks for your series. Most enjoyable stuff.
“I wonder if your purchase of this one means you’ll never really be happy in a low-rise car again?”
Good question. If you look at the photo of me and the car, you’ll see it’s really not all that tall, but once inside, the seating position is definitely higher than both the Yaris was and the Corolla is. I have to admit, I like sitting up a little higher, even if it’s only an inch or two. Every time I drive the Corolla, I adjust the seat to the highest spot and my head at that point is almost brushing the headliner.