I'd Like Some Car Advice, Specifically About Scions!

[MarianJack]

ChicaAzul and I are going to be trading our Hyundai Accent for a new or used car in the next couple of weeks. We had been considering a used minivan since we see A LOT of our family since moving to Maine 3 yers ago (we see them more now than we did when we lied less than an hour from them).

Our thought was that with a minivan we would have 3 seats to pack everybody in for sight seeing and, with Maine plates, relative safety from tickets at the touristy places like Bar Harbor.

BUT!

Today we were going to a couple of car dealerships (a nice thing to do in Maine since they are closed on Sundays) and we looked at the Scions on a lark (I was really looking at Wranglers, which I've wanted for a LONG time). No argument that the Scion is a truly
butt-ugly car, but the price tag isn't bad (not much more than any used minivan we're looking at) and the gas milage of 38 highway & 31 city is a MAJOR attraction, especially since I split time between 2 offices, one in Rockland (46 Mi. from Augusta) & Belfast (48 mi.from Augusta).

SOOOO, my question is, do any of you have a Scion? Is it a good car?
Are you glad you bought one and would you buy another? Would you take it on LONG trips? Have you had it in Winter and does it perform well in snow? Have you had any problems with it's proximity to the ground?

We are very aware that our visitors will be 5-8 weeks a year and our regular communting will be all of the rest of the time and more.

Thank you in advance for your feedback and advice! I'll be responding to your replies tomorrow.

Peace.

[Cobalt Violet]

1. A good friend and co-worker has one.

She loves it. She drove it this winter in several snow storms. She wants to trade the one she has in to get another in a different color. She drives it all over the place. Her commute is a 20-40 minutes to work and same thing back depending on the traffic daily. She has never complained of any problems. I can ask her any more questions you may have if no one here answers them first.

[AndyP]

4. that is one freaky cat pic

sorry to jack the post :) but the cat in your sig is going to give me nightmares. :hide:

[Cobalt Violet]

7. It's just the way I photoshopped it.

He is really one of the most people loving cats I've ever had.

I hope you can now have sweet dreams instead of nightmares.:D

[MarianJack]

8. Thanks, Cobalt Violet

We're going to look at one this afternoon.

[AndyP]

2. which models were you looking at?

I've been trying to talk my girlfriend into a Tc for a long time. My friend owns one (in Minnesota) and loves it. They are Toyotas for the most part so you know they are made pretty well. The ground clearence will depend on you roads and driveways and such. The Tc has a pretty decent ground clearence but the others are pretty low which really sucks in the winter and in places with steep curbs.

I'dTake one for a spin and then tell the dealer to go eat it when he tries the sales pitch.

[MarianJack]

9. I Don't Know the Model Names,...

...but its the butt ugly square station wagon looking one!

[madrchsod]

3. here is two links on scions

http://www.automotive.com/new-cars/01/scion/

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101420

[MarianJack]

10. Thanks, Madrchod!

VERY helpful.

[LynneSin]

5. Scions are Toyotas marketed for the hip, younger generation

Not that us old folks couldn't buy them. But essentially they're Toyotas

[MarianJack]

11. Since I Turned 50 on Father's Day,...

...I'm sure that one or both of my hips will be younger than the rest of me eventually. Does that count?

[A HERETIC I AM]

6. I havent owned one but i have hauled a bunch.....

I delivered new cars and hauled a bunch of them in 03. The Scion is a Toyota product, so the reliability should be pretty good and from a Car Haulers perspective (Underneath) they seem to be fairly well built. The fuel economy mainly comes from low weight and a small engine, so that might be a drawback in snow.

I suggest you go to NADA.com and KBB.com (Kelly blue book) and do a search on the values of 1 year old and older Scions with varying mileages. This will give you an idea how well they retain their value as a complete shitbox rarely holds any value for very long.

good luck.

PS....having been in the car biz for over 15 years in both promotions and transport as well as sales, if i was in the market for a car, i'd go with a Honda Accord. Fucking bulletproof vehicle.

[MarianJack]

12. Thanks For the Feedback, Heretic!

I will check those sights out!