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Comments
-juice
We live in the SLC area, and AWD, or chains, is required for travelling up the canyons to the slopes in the winter, which is a weekly trip from November to late April. That combined with the history of Honda quality has lead me to decide that the Element wins, but this reasoning will not hold true for people in Louisiana.
A side note regarding regional demand. I requested a quote by internet through Edmunds this week. They only have one local dealer listed, and the price quote on a 2004 Fiji Blue Element LX AWD Auto is $19,090. I have read posts in this discussion, and the one on pricing, quoting purchase prices on AWD Auto EX's for less. Those would have to be in areas where demand is not as great, or California where the battle with the Scion is a year old.
Gee why am I not surprised.
The Xb is probably too light in the Expedition laden highways . Maybe $2.25 gas will kill off some of the SUVs.
Keep something in mind - Element did poorly in side-impact tests without the side air bags. Honda had claimed the extra weight of the Element went to beefing up that B-pillar but the crash tests say otherwise:
http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/side/s0308.htm
Structurally, the score was only Average, and the overall score was Poor.
So don't dismiss the xB because it seems smaller, it might actually be safer, depending upon how you measure.
-juice
For info on the last Olympics, check this link.
http://home.comcast.net/~evarmint/
Juice - I wouldn't use a single crash test to bolster that argument. The Element scored 5 and 4 stars in the NHTSA crash tests.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/NCAP/Cars/2807.html
The Scion hasn't passed any government tests, yet.
Actually every vehicle has to meet the gov't minimums, so these tests aren't really pass/fail.
Someone was saying the xA was tested and its scores were close to the Element's. xB hasn't been tested but if anything it's the same platform with hard points farther away from the passengers, so it should do as well or better.
All I'm saying is don't dismiss the xB due to its size, the safety content is actually impressive for its price class.
Element and Scion xB are unique, boxy vehicles and from what I gather owners are pretty passionate about them, i.e. they have a strong preference. I'm trying to look at the safety issue objectively.
-juice
The xB wouldn't work for me because it isn't AWD/4x4 and I want something that will get me through the chain control points without having to get out and put on chains (something I would prefer not to do at 4 am).
Also, the Element has more ground clearance, something that I'd find useful, both getting in and out of our driveway in winter, and getting to a couple of the trailheads I go to often in the summer.
I think the xB is a nice vehicle for not much money, but it wouldn't meet my (somewhat unusual) needs.
From my life long view of owning sedans, they are all a lot closer to each other than to regular SUVs(all the same to me), or sedans (all the same to me)
xB is actually much more of a conventional wagon, it just looks very unique, and draws attention to itself.
-juice
Edit: However, I did like the interior of the XB but not more than I liked the Element's interior. And I feel that I should not call it ugly because its not. It's just too boxy for me.
-juice
Think back to each test drive. Which one brought you the biggest smile?
I'm an enthusiast first and foremost. You should be happy with your car, period. Everything else, everything, is secondary.
You can afford them or you wouldn't even be considering them.
So, which one will it be? )
-juice
http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_scion_xb_not/index.htm
Also they point out that the Xb was hammered in the recent JDP IQS, pulling down all of Toyota.
The 'young crowd' isn't taking to this odd box per Wards.
footie: I read that differently. The young crowd is taking to the Scion, they're just more picky, it says as much.
Any new model has teething issues, remember the TSB for cracking windshields on the Element, for instance. It's not like a reputable manufacturer won't sort those issues out.
-juice
Regarding longevity of the vehicle, I am unsure of what is in store for the element. My wife has a '94 Impreza wagon, and the car has mechanically been a rock.(touch wood)But Honda has a good rep.
yet if you go to look at highlanders at two Toy dealers they are almost ALL 2 wd?
what gives?
Highlanders selling a lot of their 4wd faster than they can keep them in stock. The Element is selling their 2wd down there - drawing a diff crowd to it. Daily drivers?
must be other reasons for the difference
awd only operates when there is a sped difference btw front and rar wheels
The first few paragraphs should give you the general idea. The rest explains the details.
More weight, more seals to leak, more parts to break, more Cv joints to have boots break on, like on my 2 Civics at around 90k miles.
dealers love AWd - adds what / $1500 to car cost? Mo profit 4 them