[Shotimes] OT New Car

[mash4]

Hey all,

Just got a new Scion xB the other night. Pretty cool little car. Comes with
a lot of option choices. Bought the silver gray color with a cold air
snorkel, strut tower brace and a few other goodies. I was suprised they even
offered them. Supposedly they are going to have a turbo/supercharger option
that will boost the 108hp to 200hp. They're using  "pure market pricing"
similar to Saturn. The price on the sticker is what it cost plus dealer
prep. No other charges can be added other then the options you choose. No
negotiating price. They are going for the 18-25 year old first time buyer
market. We don't fit their demographics at all but like the car. They are
only selling them in California right now. Will start selling them on the
east coast somewhere around the beginning of 2004 and the mid-west towards
the end of 2004. It definitely spins a lot of heads when your driving
around. We were the first customers to buy one from our Toyota dealer. They
haven't even had a grand opening for the dealership yet. Scion will be a
division of Toyota as Lexus is with their own show rooms etc... You can
check it out a www.scion.com The base price on the xB is $14,000 and the xA
is $13,000 before options. They come standard with a/c, power windows, door
locks, mirrors, traction control, ABS and variable valve timing. It's the
same engine as a Echo on what they call a "world" platform. 25mpg around
town and 33mpg on the highway with the auto and 35mpg for the stick.  Been
fun to drive so far.

Mark M.