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Buellgrrrl
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 10:19 am: | 
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The Scions would be tempting if they really were affordable- like under $10,000 for a stripped one and $15,000 for a loaded one. Unfortunately the Toyota dealers have nothin' but loaded ones and they've jacked the prices over $20,000 for them. |
Natexlh1000
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 10:34 am: |
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I went to a Toyota dealership recently to see what there was and the scions were all under $15000 except for the sedan looking one.
I need some tiny commute-O-car but I think I'll just get an old civic again.
Oh, and that "Don't buy japcrap" line is total BS.
"American" cars haven't been made in America for a couple of decades.
American car companies don't give a crap about us and never did.
A car is a TOOL.
Buy the right tool for the intended application. |
Skyguy
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 11:11 am: |
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Been biting my lip on this one but can't take it no more!!!
Scion XB..............
Remember when having a mid life crisis meant buying a Vette? That thing is a kiddie car.
 |
Bluzm2
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 11:12 am: |
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One work for the "Box" cars
Fuguly!
but then again, I drive a PT....
The Element and Scion are unimaginative boxes.
But, others must like them, I sure see alot of them on the road. |
Odie
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 11:20 am: |
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I don't own anything but American vehicles:
Denali XL
Ford F150
HD Wideglide
Buell Lightning
Jeep CJ7
Polaris 500 Sportsman 4x4
Polaris 325 4wheeler
Nauticstar 230 I/O Deckboat (w/a Mercruiser 5.0L)
However.....I have owned a few Jap bikes (all great bikes) but never a foreign car or truck. I am a firm believer in buying American (I, unfortunately, am in a union job so you hear it all the time...) but it is becoming increasingly impossible to find something actually made in America. Remember when the 'Buy American' and 'Made in the USA' signs used to fly at Walmart? Don't see them anymore. I look on everything I buy these days to see where it's made....China is starting to own us when it comes to trade. I have read lately though that their economy is as linked to ours as ours is to theirs. I guess we are really living up to the 'American Consumer' reputation.....
With money becoming tighter these days due to rising gas prices and goods in general I find it more important to choose the products you buy a little more carefully. Especially large ticket items. If that means buying a Jap car then so be it. I'll bet if we were talking about a BMW M3 or something fast and very sweet looking there would be fewer dissenters. I was born and raised in Michigan and practically ALL of my relatives work at GM either directly or indirectly. The constant layoff-look for a part time job- get rehired- get layed off deal is what drove me to the Army in '83. I have never looked back. My opinion is that unions have had a large hand in the downfall of quite a few industries in this country, the auto makers included. You can't put bolts in a Z71 chassis and make $50 an hour and expect to compete on the world level longterm. All of this is just my opinion though and we all know what that is worth.... |
Skyguy
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 11:31 am: |
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Buy American? I would if I could but even American cars are no longer American. The Buell uses a mix of foriegn and domestic parts. I even bought a made in China American flag. |
Ducxl
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 01:54 pm: |
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Nate said:
"Oh, and that "Don't buy japcrap" line is total BS.
"American" cars haven't been made in America for a couple of decades.
American car companies don't give a crap about us and never did."
A completely defeatist attitude,like,"oh i give up,and let ALL U.S. manufacturing go away". Trouble is,IF IT DOES,we'll ALL be affected in very bad ways.
oh yeah,if you're even remotely interested in helping your fellow American feed his family you can begin here http://www.bac-america.org/ |
Gschuette
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 06:19 pm: |
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I don't have anything against the Japanese as a nation, just Honda and Toyota. Never have I been in a non-halo car from either brand that was exciting in any way, shape, or form. They are just bland, fwd boxes. I would love to have a 350Z or a WRX Sti. This boring crap with some really bad style just has to go. With Nissan you drive a Sentra SE-R and while it is unfortunatley fwd it is still kind of exciting and has some character. Ever driven a Corolla S? Talk about a souless car! If the two brands could take some Supra and NSX magic and put it in every car then I would have nothing against them but man alive do those two companies some some damn boring cars! |
Jimincalif
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 07:07 pm: |
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Haven't owned a car in..lesse...about 17 years near as I can recall. |
Kdan
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 07:31 pm: |
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Sure is a lotta big talk from people. I wonder how many of you have actually driven one of the cars mentioned above? Oh, and my Honda was made in Ohio. The last time I checked that was in the USA...Although it's awful close to Canada, it's still officially on y'alls books. |
Hattori_hanzo
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 08:52 pm: |
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This is a Honda that definitely does not bore me...
I do agree that the rest of the line up is pretty much a bunch of appliances, but they are damn good appliances. |
Gschuette
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 10:10 pm: |
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The S2000 has a nice clean design but it is still rather uninspiring to look at. And where is the power? I love high tech high rpm engines as much as the next guy but we still need some torque to get there.
Toyota has noting though. I've never driven an MR2 but i doubt that I am missing much. |
Buellin_ri
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 11:35 pm: |
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Toyota had the Turbo Supra. That is a hell of a car, no matter who you are. |
No_rice
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 11:55 pm: |
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had a supra. fast and fun. bought it after totaling my mustang hitting a deer at 100+.
the mustang had nothing on the supra. on top of being few and far between anywhere around here, it could have run that thing down in a heartbeat especially in the corners. man i miss that car |
Madduck
| | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:09 am: |
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I have no problem with anyone buying anything they want from whoever they want. My question is, with the balance of trade running wildly against us, dollars are accumulating overseas in truly staggering amounts. What are these foreigners going to buy with those dollars when the US no longer manufactures anything?? Trade used to mean trade. Now we seem to send them paper iou's and get cool stuff. What happens when "they" learn that our paper don't get them squat. |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:37 am: |
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Madduck when that happens there will be total anarchy because all governments run on these paper iou's.
Are any currencies still backed up by gold like they used to be? I think the "gold standard" is a thing of the past
Actually did a little, very little research... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_standard
So no govt runs on solid currency. |
Gschuette
| | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:41 am: |
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Supras are quite nice. Why Toyota won't make more is beyond me. I am anxious to see the next NSX too. |
Seth
| | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 02:01 am: |
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It sucks |
Pa_xb9sx
| | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 06:22 am: |
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I can only imagine that this is what it sounds like when motorcyclists with Japanese I4s talk about our Buells. Boring, soulless, slow...
I'd encourage everyone to drive an xB if they have a chance. No, they are not fast, and they have little acceleration, but they are still fun to drive, economical, people-movers. They will easily hold four 200 lb. adults more comfortably than almost any other car out there. The space is similar to that in a large SUV. |
Seanp
| | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 08:46 am: |
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My wife had a Honda Prelude when we first met. Man, I loved driving that car. It was like a little go-cart, and handled like a dream. Then she got a Pontiac Grand Am. Talk about soulless and boring. It has no heart like the Prelude did.
I wish I could say that I will always buy American, but I can't. I will buy what I like. If it happens to be American, that's great. If there are two items of equal value to me, and one is "made in America" and the other is not, I will "buy American".
When I wanted to get a good beginner bike, I got a Suzuki GS500F. I tried a Blast, but it just didn't do it for me, even though it's American.
Call me a Communist, an economic traitor, a soulless consumer. That's fine. I give America my own blood, sweat, and tears. But if it doesn't make economic sense, I don't give it my money... |
Brucelee
| | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 09:24 am: |
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Buying things is not a moral act. It an economic one. |
Spike
| | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 11:26 am: |
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I looked at both the xA and xB a year or two ago, but didn't buy either. I actually liked the styling and some of the personalization options, but FWD with a 108hp 4-banger in a stylish econo-box wasn't enough to make me part with ~$15k. I thought it would have been cool if I could carry my XB12 in the back of the xB with the rear seat removed, but it wouldn't fit. |
99buellx1
| | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 11:59 am: |
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quote:Unfortunately the Toyota dealers have nothin' but loaded ones and they've jacked the prices over $20,000 for them.
Order one just the way you want it.
That is one of the points of the Scion brand. It really is an interesting business model.
I ordered my xB about this time 2 years ago and I received it a couple weeks before the official release date. (hard to believe that I have had it for almost 2 years) It has been a great vehicle. It does what I need it to do (around towner, interior room to fit stuff in) I can get an 8 ft ladder inside (the 7 ft. fits better) Talk about looks from people when you walk up to it with this big ladder and proceed to jam it inside, close the doors and drive away!
I havent spent a dime on the vehicle in maintenance or up-keep. It comes with 3 free services and I worked a couple more into the deal. I drop it off at the dealer and it dosnt cost me a dime - now that's a good feeling!
I have put 18" wheels and a lowering kit on it and it handles like a sports car, just dosnt have the drive out like one. Ask anyone that has seen me drive our Battletrax course with a full load of people in it. FUN!
 |
Sleez
| | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 01:54 pm: |
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sweet looking xB Craig! i like 'em!
can you email me a full res pic?? |
Brucelee
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 10:29 am: |
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That looks really cool. Nice wheels. |
99buellx1
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 11:04 am: |
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Thanks,
The lowering kit is money well spent. It helped the looks just as much as the wheel/tire combo itself. And its a simple swap. |
Sleez
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 12:51 pm: |
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looks like the brakes could use some improvement now with the larger wheels. i love the looks of those wheels too by the way. thanks craig.
lee |
99buellx1
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 12:59 pm: |
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Yeah, they make the brakes look really small. There are some brake kits available, but I dont care that much. hehe.
The wheels are Enkei RS6. |
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