The Fast Lane Car

Review: Ten ten reasons why the 2011 Scion xB is a sinner and a saint

You already know the 2011 Scion xB. It’s pretty much the same car as the 2010 Scion xB which in turn is a dead ringer for the 2009 model. Interestingly, the aforementioned model is a carbon copy of the 2008… Toyota is slow in updating Scion’s rides.

I suspect, after the IQ and sports coupe infiltrate the youthful brand, we’ll get an updated xB. Truth be told, the xB was never my favorite cube. I like the styling and overall feel of the KIA Soul much better.

That’s not to say I dislike the xB – because it’s a good little car.

It’s difficult to explain my feelings regarding what was once a fairly hip machine. As such, and keeping in mind my limited intellectual capacity, I found a way to illustrate my confusion. Trust me, this format is better than my original analogue in which I used prophylactics vs. abstinence.

Here are ten reasons why the 2011 Scion xB is a sinner and a saint:

Review: the 2011 Scion xB is a life-sized bumper car with great brakes

If you told me right now you aren’t a fan of the Scion xB’s looks, I’d inform you you’re not alone. Then I’d advise you to go buy something silver and boring. But me? I’d rather drive something that looks inspired and even quirky. I’d rather have something that looks distinctive. That could be enough to win me over to an xB, but the happy news is that it’s also fun to drive.

I’ll cite the experience of my neighbor, who criticized her friend for buying an xB, saying she couldn’t believe her friend bought such a goofy car. Several months later she had to eat some crow. My neighbor drove her friend’s xB and fell in love. I tell you this dear reader, because sometimes you might read what us journalists say but believing it is a different matter, yes? The xB needs all the help it can get because it does have a fair amount of detractors.

The ultimate car video review: 2011 Jaguar XJ vs Scion tC vs Hyundai Elantra mashup

What do the Scion tC, the Hyundai Elantra, and the supercharged 2011 Jaguar XJ have in common....besides the fact that they are all cars that in a pinch can seat 5 people?

The answer is that each of these cars is the most car that you can buy for your money....in its class.

The 2011 Scion tC is one of the most sporty car you can get for under $20,000 and still have real room for 5 people.

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra is one of the most economical cars that you can buy for under $20,000 and still have room for 5 people.

And the 2011 supercharged Jaguar XJ is of course not one of the most luxurious cars you can buy for under $20,000 (it actually cost $90,000), but is still is one of the most luxurious cars you can buy that still has room for 5 people...in its class.

Review: the 2011 Scion xB is a car you’ll either like or completely ignore

The original Scion from Toyota’s youth division arrived here in the summer of 2003 as a rebadged version of a Japanese-market Toyota. It was at home on Japan’s narrow, crowded roads, but too small and slow on highways for America.

Still, the four-door hatchback Scion was a hit with younger drivers here who liked its quirky boxy look and drew a surprising (to Toyota) number of older drivers who took to it for its low price, practicality, economy and roominess for its handy size.

The 2008 version retained the old model’s slab-sided design, front-wheel drive and five-occupant capacity. But, catering more to American tastes, Scion increased the wheelbase by 4 inches, overall length by a foot and width by nearly 3 inches to provide more space and a better ride. Wheels were made an inch bigger at 16 inches and brakes were enlarged.

Video review: the 2011 Scion tC may be quirky but is it also fun?

Every car has something about it that makes it special, unique, and of course quirky. And when you think about it the little quirks that make a car unique are also the stuff of a good Scion tC review

Take for instance the 2011 Scion tC which is all new this year.

This sporty car from Toyota's youthful "hip" and "cool" brand is Scion's best selling car, so when the engineers redesigned it they didn't exactly go back to the drawing board when it came to a new design.

Fat Guy in a Small Car III the 2011 Scion IQ Preview

Imagine a funky, chunky white guy snuggled in a tiny Scion IQ – just as pleased as punch as he smiles at you.

The folks at the Scion booth during the 2011 Chicago Auto Show tried to look away in sheer embarrassment as Roman Mica (TFLCar.com despot) stuffed me inside the less than 118 inch-long machine. Not only did I perch my big booty in an IQ – I squeezed into the tiny back seat on the passenger side; and I FIT! Yup, the novel 3+1 seating basically means the passenger’s front seat has more inches of forward leg room than the driver’s side. This means, there is some room in the passenger side of the IQ for – wait for it – passengers!

The seat behind the driver is useless for anybody over five feet tall IF the driver is short too. Otherwise, the back seat behind the driver is good for a small grocery bag or maybe a baby seat. When I pulled myself into the back seat, I think the Scion crew thought I was mating with the IQ.

Review: the 2011 Scion tC delivers a much needed dose of Viagra to an aging brand

The revised youth-oriented 2011 Scion tC has been long overdue and is improved enough to help boost sagging Scion sales.

For instance, Scion sales fell off a cliff in 2009, compared to 2008, and were off a lot in  2010.

Major improvements have been made to the oddly named tC. The front-drive, two-door hatchback has more power, better transmissions, a revised interior, improved chassis and larger wheels.

Video review: does the all new 2011 Scion tC stand for totally Cool once again?

Once upon a time the Scion tC used to be the coolest kid on the block. But that was than and this is now, the Mini Cooper is the reigning cool kid in town.

So does the all new 2011 Scion tC have what it takes to be back in the cool game?

Debut review 2011 Scion tC: the car Paris Hilton wished she was driving

TFLcar.com was part of the group of journalists who were recently invited to scorching Las Vegas, Nevada to test the new Scion tC and chill at the Hard Rock Hotel. We were forced to hang out with bubbly, bikini-clad tourists, drive the fun-as-hell 2011 Scion tC and relive the movie, The Hangover.

Our job ROCKS!

First look video: the all new 2011 Scion tC almost gets married on the Las Vegas Strip

When you think of Las Vegas you probably think of gambling, partying and half naked hot women.

You know the sort of stuff that many 26-year-old men spend a lot of their time contemplating.

As it happens 26-year-old men are also the the guys who buy the Scion tC.

Review 2010 Scion xB: a functional, straight-forward fun utility vehicle

One definition of scion is "a descendant often referenced when mentioning royalty." It's a heady name for a vehicle, particularly when the results are the vehicles made by Scion.

That's not a wisecrack. Scion makes edgy cars, including the 2010 Scion xB. But it's a subjective call whether any Scion qualifies as royalty.

Road review 2009 Scion XD: the Portuguese water puppy of cars small cute and loud

A few years before I turned sixteen my wise father purchased the second generation Honda Civic. At the time it was certainly the cheapest and perhaps smallest car you could buy in the America.

He bought the Civic because he knew that I'd be driving soon, so he wanted something small, cheap, and easy for me to to drive when it was my turn to get my license.

Tiny car races a small plane: which is faster?

Tiny and inexpensive cars can get a bad rap sometimes.

Some people think that just because a car is tiny it means that it is also slow.

I wanted to prove that a tiny car can not only be fuel efficient but also fast---so what better way to prove it than to race a small plane.