The airports were unusually calm for this particular trip-after all, our country had just initiated war with Iraq and the nervousness of flying has apparently settled back into the psyche of travelers all across the nation, including mine. The flight goes smoothly, however, and in just under an hour, I've jet-setted from sunny Southern California into the ever-dismal climes of the San Francisco Bay Area. Upon my arrival, it's unclear as to how the weather might be for the next couple of days while I'm there. It had poured ferociously the weekend prior, as well as the day before my scheduled leg. Not to mention hundreds of protesters had already started to gather just a few city blocks from our hotel's location. This was not a good sign, nor was it a good way to begin a press trip. Or was it? Only a restful night and abuse of the hotel's adult movie selections would tell.
This Part of the Quiz is Multiple Choice-Please Mark "A" or "B" for Your Answers.The following morning was met with much haste and anticipation. I awoke to the business of downtown SF's early commuters and rushed downstairs to meet my test subjects for the day: Scion's all-new xA sedan and the xB, both of which feature more space-age styling than your everyday passenger vehicles that have been designed for today's Gen Y consumer. However, it's this space-age quality that makes these two vehicles so unique and at the same time so appealing to those who might want more out of a car than just a pair of vanity mirrors and really great gas mileage, both of which Scion's vehicles offer. We are living in times where the connection of our Internet speeds and the ability to meet friends in the flesh is more important than the type of gasoline we choose to put into our cars. Scion recognizes this fact and is prepared to accommodate such factors, as Jim Farley, vice president of Scion explains: "[Scion's target buyer] is information rich, time poor, and highly technology savvy. We're going to cater to this influential generation with unique products, a distinctive dealership environment, and a revolutionized sales process, all complemented by an astonishing sticker price." In a nutshell, Scion's solution to the world lies within these two very unique automobiles, each with a distinct look and driving experience to call their own. To understand it all, you have to break down those chains of love and take a closer look.
You'd Better Bring Your "A" Game, 'Cuz It's Gonna Be Raining 3s!The Scion xA, based on the Japanese market ist, is a five-door, pseudo-European-looking sedan with an appearance that seems like it has been thrown in the wash and shrunken down two sizes. As tiny as this thing is, I had no problem squeezing my fat head inside the doorway, which is always a plus. I found the dashboard to be quite minimal in design, shod with designs of tomorrow and a gauge cluster that's smack-dab in the middle of it all. Most of you will think it's different, and it is. But that's exactly what Scion wants, and you will get used to it. Equipped with a four-speed auto (you can also opt for the five-speed slushbox), this 108hp, VVT-i-enhanced powerplant is not designed with balls-to-the-wall horsepower in mind, but it does deliver exceptional fuel economy with EPA city/highway mileage estimates of 31/37 for either drivetrain configuration. Firing it up for the first time, the xA did not strike any sort of fear into my heart-rather it just sat quietly and purred. If I had been there longer than two minutes without realizing the engine was on, I probably would have dozed off. So like any other idiotic Super Street editor would do, I cranked the key one more time, causing the starter to shriek loudly. You know, that noise a car makes when the car's already on and you keep on trying to turn it over? [Jonny, you're an idiot.-SS staff]