Anyone driven the Scion iQ ?

[edmscan]

Has anyone here driven the Scion iQ ? I think it is an interesting vehicle .. and would maybe consider getting one (if something was to happen to my Yaris).

Any info or comments would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Billiam]

I sat in one, but did not drive it. It is an interesting vehicle, for sure. What would kill it for me is the CVT. At the least Toyota should offer a proper manual gearbox....IMO.

[nookandcrannycar]

Has anyone here driven the Scion iQ ? I think it is an interesting vehicle .. and would maybe consider getting one (if something was to happen to my Yaris).

Any info or comments would be appreciated. Thanks.

I sat in one at an auto show and didn't like it. The only appeal I see is the flexibility re parking. In the U.S., given how parking spaces are sized and the available alternatives, I can only see a benefit in parts of Boston, NYC, San Francisco and possibly parts of Philadelphia, Miami, and Los Angeles (and I've been to every city in the U.S. over 500k in population, except Charlotte). Re your neck of the woods, I do remember parking being an issue when I stayed in Old Strathcona. If you go there, and other neighborhoods with similar parking, I can see why the IQ would appeal to you. How much of your thinking re the IQ is motivated by your dislike of the looks of the 3rd generation Yaris (:biggrin:) ?

[edmscan]

I sat in one at an auto show and didn't like it. The only appeal I see is the flexibility re parking. In the U.S., given how parking spaces are sized and the available alternatives, I can only see a benefit in parts of Boston, NYC, San Francisco and possibly parts of Philadelphia, Miami, and Los Angeles (and I've been to every city in the U.S. over 500k in population, except Charlotte). Re your neck of the woods, I do remember parking being an issue when I stayed in Old Strathcona. If you go there, and other neighborhoods with similar parking, I can see why the IQ would appeal to you. How much of your thinking re the IQ is motivated by your dislike of the looks of the 3rd generation Yaris (:biggrin:) ?

I saw it advertised on tv .. and thought it was an interesting car. I checked it out .. and thought, hmm. I think I would probably like a standard (as I have never driven an automatic). Maybe when I go to the dealer next I will check it out. (My preferred local dealer is also a Scion dealer). But being honest .. there is no way I would get rid of my Yaris as it is just the nicest car I have ever owned.

But right now .. being winter it is really really hard keeping my Yaris clean. There is just nothing I can do about it .. cause if I wash it, within 15 min it would look the same. So I am going to be washing my Yaris only when it is really bad during the winter. I cannot wait for spring .. and really winter is still a few weeks away.

Oh .. and I do like the looks of the 2nd Gen .. the 3rd gen doesn't excite me much and that single wiper just kinda creeps me out.

[yariseggvvti]

When I work in Toyota, I went for test drove one. It sucks!!!!!! Dont let the mileage fool you 36-37 with 94hp. Its not particle and cost more than Yaris. I push it very hard and when i switch lane. I almost lost control. I went krazy with my Yaris with no problem at all.

[DeathBeard]

At least it can support camber plates

[edmscan]

I found another thread ...

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35608

which is very detailed. Still a car that I would like to look at, and maybe take for a spin. I think that it may be a fun car.

[nookandcrannycar]

I saw it advertised on tv .. and thought it was an interesting car. I checked it out .. and thought, hmm. I think I would probably like a standard (as I have never driven an automatic). Maybe when I go to the dealer next I will check it out. (My preferred local dealer is also a Scion dealer). But being honest .. there is no way I would get rid of my Yaris as it is just the nicest car I have ever owned.

But right now .. being winter it is really really hard keeping my Yaris clean. There is just nothing I can do about it .. cause if I wash it, within 15 min it would look the same. So I am going to be washing my Yaris only when it is really bad during the winter. I cannot wait for spring .. and really winter is still a few weeks away.

Oh .. and I do like the looks of the 2nd Gen .. the 3rd gen doesn't excite me much and that single wiper just kinda creeps me out.

I left the Barnes and Noble at The Woodlands Mall last night about 15 minutes before they closed (I had been checking out their travel book section). The Barnes and Noble is open for another hour after the mall closes, so there were very few people around. I was walking on the sidewalk that is between the South side of the Barnes and Noble building and the little intra-parking lot feeder road and an IQ drove down the little feeder road. I was amazed by how quiet it was. If I'd been blindfolded, I might have thought a Prius had driven by.

[bronsin]

I have driven an iQ and for $100 I'll tell you everything I know!:biggrin:

OK OK here is the dirt from my perspective....

It drives like a big car. Its roomy for the driver and after 15 minutes it doesnt feel like youre in a mini car about to die.

Theres a little space under the hatch more than a Smart. You might be able to get a weeks groceries in there.

The acceleration isnt too great but tis adequate. I drive like an old lady and couldnt care less how fast I go.

The inside is too busy stylewise. They charge too much for this car and try to make you think its worth it by fancy schmancy gegaws on the dashboard.

Pathetic!

The ride is softer and more compliant that a Smart. The Smart has a stiff suspension! Way to stiff IMO.

Heres something I would ask others. When I dive it I forget to check out something I wanted to. Idont like my AT because it doesnt slow down like a manual does when you take your foot off the gas. Makes you use the brake which wears out pads faster and makes the car less controlable in bad weather. Could be a problem!

But I FORGOT to take my foot of the gas and see how the CVT does when you do that. Anyone have anything they can tell me whose driven a CVT?

Basically my take is its not worth it when you can have a Yaris for the same or less money.

I think it should have the 1 liter (or less) engine, get 45 mpg in town minimum, and costs less than oh 12 g's.

I dont want the abusive interior and exterior styling either! Phooey!

Id buy one tomorrow if it did!
Just my 02!

[nookandcrannycar]

I have driven an iQ and for $100 I'll tell you everything I know!:biggrin:

OK OK here is the dirt from my perspective....

It drives like a big car. Its roomy for the driver and after 15 minutes it doesnt feel like youre in a mini car about to die.

Theres a little space under the hatch more than a Smart. You might be able to get a weeks groceries in there.

The acceleration isnt too great but tis adequate. I drive like an old lady and couldnt care less how fast I go.

The inside is too busy stylewise. They charge too much for this car and try to make you think its worth it by fancy schmancy gegaws on the dashboard.

Pathetic!

The ride is softer and more compliant that a Smart. The Smart has a stiff suspension! Way to stiff IMO.

Heres something I would ask others. When I dive it I forget to check out something I wanted to. Idont like my AT because it doesnt slow down like a manual does when you take your foot off the gas. Makes you use the brake which wears out pads faster and makes the car less controlable in bad weather. Could be a problem!

But I FORGOT to take my foot of the gas and see how the CVT does when you do that. Anyone have anything they can tell me whose driven a CVT?

Basically my take is its not worth it when you can have a Yaris for the same or less money.

I think it should have the 1 liter (or less) engine, get 45 mpg in town minimum, and costs less than oh 12 g's.

I dont want the abusive interior and exterior styling either! Phooey!

Id buy one tomorrow if it did!
Just my 02!

I also don't like the location of the radio. I agree with you though, if it got 45 mpg + city (and even more highway) and cost less than 12k, I'd consider it.

[SpaceShot]

I test drove one that my friend bought before and after the purchase.
She chose the iQ over the Yaris for the style and the built in bluetooth.

The iQ has a much more solid driving feel than I expected. I think it must have a lower CG than the Yaris.
It is initially a little un-nerving that from the driver's view, the car isn't any longer than it is wide. You can make a U-Turn on any street.

I like the hood seal along the front edge, and will add that to my Yaris. I didn't care for the feel of the CVT around town. It feels a bit sluggish for an automatic, but I am used to my manual. Also to be seen if that changes after break-in. My friend's opinion is that the CVT is not sluggish at all.

[junorico24]

I would rather purchase the new VW UP than that junker.

[nookandcrannycar]

I would rather purchase the new VW UP than that junker.

:bellyroll:

[edmscan]

I really cannot comment on the iQ as I haven't seen it at the Scion dealer yet. I will formulate an opinion when I have checked it out.

Thanks for all the comments so far. :thumbup:

[nookandcrannycar]

I test drove one that my friend bought before and after the purchase.
She chose the iQ over the Yaris for the style and the built in bluetooth.

The iQ has a much more solid driving feel than I expected. I think it must have a lower CG than the Yaris.
It is initially a little un-nerving that from the driver's view, the car isn't any longer than it is wide. You can make a U-Turn on any street.

I like the hood seal along the front edge, and will add that to my Yaris. I didn't care for the feel of the CVT around town. It feels a bit sluggish for an automatic, but I am used to my manual. Also to be seen if that changes after break-in. My friend's opinion is that the CVT is not sluggish at all.

I just looked at the spec sheet. The gas tank is too small for my taste.

[edmscan]

I just looked at the spec sheet. The gas tank is too small for my taste.

Well according to my calculations .. the iQ tank should give me 487 km compared to about 640 km for my Yaris.

Seeing as how I almost never go out on the highway .. this is a non issue for me. I guess it depends on how you would use a vehicle to determine if this would be an issue for you.

[nookandcrannycar]

Well according to my calculations .. the iQ tank should give me 487 km compared to about 640 km for my Yaris.

Seeing as how I almost never go out on the highway .. this is a non issue for me. I guess it depends on how you would use a vehicle to determine if this would be an issue for you.

That's why I added the 'my taste' :biggrin:. Also, if I'm going to give up a manual for a CVT, I want an exemplary (to me) feature in return (such as the 'info center' on the Prius C that helps drivers adjust habits for better MPG). Do you often spot parking spaces that your Yaris can't fit into, but you think an IQ would (:biggrin:) ?

[edmscan]

Honestly .. I am not getting an iQ. I just love my Yaris, besides I have to get it fixed. But I do find the iQ mildly interesting ... but the thing that kills it for me is that the iQ doesn't get very good gas mileage.

[nookandcrannycar]

I sat in one, but did not drive it. It is an interesting vehicle, for sure. What would kill it for me is the CVT. At the least Toyota should offer a proper manual gearbox....IMO.

I agree, but I would imagine a target market for this car would be people who would strongly identify with edmscan's statement that he hardly ever goes out on the highway. Many of those people, especially in metros with really impatient drivers (who want you 'off the dime' yesterday when the light turns green), would likely welcome the CVT over a manual.

Oh, on a somewhat related bent, I heard an interesting blurb the other day re a subject (among several) discussed on a single Yarisworld thread a few months ago. A few days ago I was listening to an AM news and talk station in the car and the reception was spotty. I didn't catch the woman's name, nor the URL she gave, but it seems she has a regular programming spot (self sponsored?) at the station. I imagine the point of the blurb was to drive traffic to her website (which would likeley have any program days and times). The blurb contained just one focus of information (that was part of a previous Yarisworld discussion), namely how long a car needs to have the engine turned off at a stoplight to make turning the engine off worth it. She says 10 seconds. She then went on to explain potential savings re this for the average consumer.

[bronsin]

The blurb contained just one focus of information (that was part of a previous Yarisworld discussion), namely how long a car needs to have the engine turned off at a stoplight to make turning the engine off worth it. She says 10 seconds. She then went on to explain potential savings re this for the average consumer.

I dont believe it. 10 seconds of fuel at idle is really small.

I would want more than a persons like thats word.

When auto stop/start came out its was poo pooed by people who should know.

Me I want the truth!

[nookandcrannycar]

I dont believe it. 10 seconds of fuel at idle is really small.

I would want more than a persons like thats word.

When auto stop/start came out its was poo pooed by people who should know.

Me I want the truth!

I don't know if she's right or wrong...I just thought I'd pass the info along...that some might find it interesting. I wish I had been driving in an area with better reception. Then I'd likely have caught her name. Thinking back on the articles I've come across re this I find (as stated in that old/previous thread I was referring to --- which you posted to if I remember correctly) the assertion of 30 seconds most credible. The larger point that about half of us were trying to make on that old/previous thread was that whatever that number of seconds is, the average time stopped at most stoplights would be enough to make turning the engine off a fuel saving proposition.

[MadMax]

Well, the iQ isn't exactly selling in this country now, is it?

I've seen a few on the road (and only a few), but there's nothing to compel me to test drive one. There is no real advantage over the Yaris, but the Yaris gets nearly as good of gas mileage and can seat two more people in it; plus it has a useable hatch area (or trunk as appropriate).

It's a neat car and I can see it being a big seller in London or Brussels (when we lived south of the latter, there were Smart cars all over that city); but in the States there just isn't a market.

Heck, even the Fiat 500 is floundering here, and it is a much better can than the iQ.

Cheers! M2

[Thirty-Nine]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/Tekka_Maki/Subcompact%20Culture/Scion-iQ-driving.jpg

I spent a week with the iQ. You can read all about it here:

http://www.subcompactculture.com/2012/03/review-2012-scion-iq-intelligent.html

As far as sales go, as of November 30, Scion has sold 8,303 iQs. That's 710 less than the Smart ForTwo, but it hasn't been on sale as long. The Chevrolet Spark is, however, outselling the iQ already, and it's only been out for a few months.

[nookandcrannycar]

Well, the iQ isn't exactly selling in this country now, is it?

I've seen a few on the road (and only a few), but there's nothing to compel me to test drive one. There is no real advantage over the Yaris, but the Yaris gets nearly as good of gas mileage and can seat two more people in it; plus it has a useable hatch area (or trunk as appropriate).

It's a neat car and I can see it being a big seller in London or Brussels (when we lived south of the latter, there were Smart cars all over that city); but in the States there just isn't a market.

Heck, even the Fiat 500 is floundering here, and it is a much better can than the iQ.

Cheers! M2

LOL. Last month I had to go to the new Comcast office in The Woodlands. This new office is a couple of doors down from the Fiat 'Studio'. The only parking space I could find on the street was on the other side of the 'Studio'. The most direct walking route led me by the window of the 'Studio'. They had a few 'exotic' (:rolleyes:) used but pristine models from other manufacturers on the showroom floor (to help drive traffic to the showroom, I presume).

[bronsin]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/Tekka_Maki/Subcompact%20Culture/Scion-iQ-driving.jpg

I spent a week with the iQ. You can read all about it here:

http://www.subcompactculture.com/2012/03/review-2012-scion-iq-intelligent.html

As far as sales go, as of November 30, Scion has sold 8,303 iQs. That's 710 less than the Smart ForTwo, but it hasn't been on sale as long. The Chevrolet Spark is, however, outselling the iQ already, and it's only been out for a few months.

Fascinating.

Im going down to the Toyota dealer and offer him $12k cash for an iQ.:headbang:

If he doessnt go for I'll tell him Im going to look at the Spark...:evil:


With gas selling for $10 A GALLON IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, THE Iq IS THE FUTURE.

sorry for caps

But its not the present. It will never sell.

[nookandcrannycar]

Fascinating.

Im going down to the Toyota dealer and offer him $12k cash for an iQ.:headbang:

If he doessnt go for I'll tell him Im going to look at the Spark...:evil:


With gas selling for $10 A GALLON IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, THE Iq IS THE FUTURE.

sorry for caps

But its not the present. It will never sell.

Bengt Halvorson of TheCarConnection.com writes that the iQ "was conceived for a part of the world where vehicle choice is largely governed by engine-based taxes, compact-only parking spaces, and six-dollar-a-gallon gas". I agree with the '7:58pm' poster on subcompactcurture.com who prefers the Prius C when comparing it to the iQ - "Little more expensive, but better gas mileage and can actually get 4 adults in there comfortably. The Prius C might not be as easy to parallel park, but would still be easier to parallel park than most cars". In 2006, when I started looking for a replacement for my Suzuki Swift, my three 'must haves' (not in any particular order) were reliability, close to the Swift in MPG, and no more than 6" longer than the (2001) Swift. I was living in California at the time. I bought the Yaris while on a trip (3,000+ miles away), but had parallel parking on my mind when coming to a decision. The Yaris is only 1.2 inches longer than my Swift. Now, in my little slice of Texas, I hardly ever have to parallel park and would never again want to live in an area where this would be more than a fleeting concern (unless I moved outside the U.S. to an area where it made more sense to not own a car). The Mini Cooper is the smallest I would go in size re a car purchase (2.8 inches shorter than my Swift, 4 inches shorter than my Yaris, and 26.5 inches longer than the iQ).

[bronsin]

The car is doomed. It engine is too big and the car too heavy to get 40+ mpg.

Its too expensive for what you get in room and carrying ability.

They only thing they might be going for is people are dumb enough to buy it.

They might have something there after all...

[nookandcrannycar]

Bengt Halvorson of TheCarConnection.com writes that the iQ "was conceived for a part of the world where vehicle choice is largely governed by engine-based taxes, compact-only parking spaces, and six-dollar-a-gallon gas". I agree with the '7:58pm' poster on subcompactcurture.com who prefers the Prius C when comparing it to the iQ - "Little more expensive, but better gas mileage and can actually get 4 adults in there comfortably. The Prius C might not be as easy to parallel park, but would still be easier to parallel park than most cars". In 2006, when I started looking for a replacement for my Suzuki Swift, my three 'must haves' (not in any particular order) were reliability, close to the Swift in MPG, and no more than 6" longer than the (2001) Swift. I was living in California at the time. I bought the Yaris while on a trip (3,000+ miles away), but had parallel parking on my mind when coming to a decision. The Yaris is only 1.2 inches longer than my Swift. Now, in my little slice of Texas, I hardly ever have to parallel park and would never again want to live in an area where this would be more than a fleeting concern (unless I moved outside the U.S. to an area where it made more sense to not own a car). The Mini Cooper is the smallest I would go in size re a car purchase (2.8 inches shorter than my Swift, 4 inches shorter than my Yaris, and 26.5 inches longer than the iQ).

I hope the 'part of the world' scenario that Halvorson mentions re the iQ never comes to pass in the USA. I actually welcome the planned increase in CAFE here, but hope increased regulations stop there (:rolleyes: fat chance).

[JohninVT]

If Scion offered the IQ with a manual I'd be inclined to check them out. An IQ with a supercharger and 5 speed seems like it would be stupid-fun.

[nookandcrannycar]

The car is doomed. It engine is too big and the car too heavy to get 40+ mpg.

Its too expensive for what you get in room and carrying ability.

They only thing they might be going for is people are dumb enough to buy it.

They might have something there after all...

Yeah, and it is not that much lighter than the Yaris. Plus, no location in the U.S. fits all of Halverson's criteria as we don't have engine-based taxes.

[junorico24]

:bellyroll:

?????

http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2012/09/18/1226476/798264-volkswagen.jpg

:thumbsup:

[nookandcrannycar]

?????

http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2012/09/18/1226476/798264-volkswagen.jpg

:thumbsup:

Ah, the Volkswagen Up. Bronsin would love this car. Similar to the 2nd generation Yaris in standard equipment, except interior control of the side mirrors is also standard. 7,995 GBP at that standard equipment level (12,882.69 USD at todays exchange rate). 1.0 liter engine with 59-60 HP. About 18 inches longer than an iQ, so there is more room for storage. About 13 inches shorter than a 2nd generation Yaris. Over 50 MPG equivalent (some say 56 MPG equivalent). I'd consider it, but I don't think it would catch on in the U.S.

[nookandcrannycar]

?????

http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2012/09/18/1226476/798264-volkswagen.jpg

:thumbsup:

Ah, the Volkswagen Up. Bronsin would love this car. Similar to the 2nd generation Yaris in standard equipment, except interior control of the side mirrors is also standard. 7,995 GBP at that standard equipment level (12,882.69 USD at today's exchange rate). 1.0 liter engine with 59-60 HP. About 18 inches longer than an iQ, so there is more room for storage. About 13 inches shorter than a 2nd generation Yaris. Over 50 MPG equivalent (some say 56 MPG equivalent). I'd consider it, but I don't think it would catch on in the U.S.

[nookandcrannycar]

^^^^^ Oops, the way I hit the back button in Safari somehow caused my post to post again :redface:.

[bronsin]

You had me going there!

I went to Edmunds and looked at VWs lineup!:bonk:

[nookandcrannycar]

You had me going there!

I went to Edmunds and looked at VWs lineup!:bonk:

:bellyroll: I knew it would be up your alley. I'd have to see it, but I think I'd like it. Unfortunately, I don't think enough people in the U.S. would agree with us.

[junorico24]

It's released in Australia. :wink:

Here's a 4 door in Chatswood, Sydney, NSW!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mReJI9hdABE

Here's an Aussie review of the WHAT'S UP!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC93Ry9dkWQ

[nookandcrannycar]

It's released in Australia. :wink:

Here's a 4 door in Chatswood, Sydney, NSW!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mReJI9hdABE

Here's an Aussie review of the WHAT'S UP!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC93Ry9dkWQ

How much would I have to invest in a business to get residency :biggrin:? (jk......for now) I'd definitely go for the 3-door rather than the 5-door because the 5-door has the pop out rear windows -- too easy to break into. I really like the horizontal mount for the 12v receptacle. The VW site for Australia only has 1 'level'. In the UK there are three levels, the Take Up, the Move Up, and the High Up. The trim level for the Australian version seems to be equivalent to the Move Up, with a few additional features.

Sorry Bronsin, I did make one mistake on my initial 'Up' post. That lowest level of trim does have pretty much everything the base 2nd Generation Yaris has except one thing I didn't notice before. It doesn't have AC. That would fall to the base price for the mid level Move Up 3-door, which is just about exactly the same as the base 2013 U.S. spec Yaris 3-door....but better MPG....from the VW UK site (converted to US MPG) 42 city 60.33 hwy 52.3 combined....and if you pay the 360 GBP (580.88 USD) extra for the BlueMotion version of the engine the numbers increase to 47.08 city 63.75 hwy 57.41 combined.

[bronsin]

Im doomed to never getting to own the car I REALLY want.:frown:

Actually my 2001 ECHO with manual transmission was pretty good.:headbang:

[nookandcrannycar]

Im doomed to never getting to own the car I REALLY want.:frown:

Actually my 2001 ECHO with manual transmission was pretty good.:headbang:

....or (in the future) retire to another country that has such cars, accessible reasonably priced medical care (or very easy access back to the U.S.), and a lower COL than New Jersey.

[nookandcrannycar]

I dont believe it. 10 seconds of fuel at idle is really small.

I would want more than a persons like thats word.

When auto stop/start came out its was poo pooed by people who should know.

Me I want the truth!

I heard the blurb again last night, this time more clearly. The URL of the page on her website where her claim resides is http://005f787.netsolhost.com/blog/?p=438 and the website is TheCarLady.com. Her name is Lynn Beckwith, and ASE certification is displayed. Don't know if she's right or wrong, just FYI.

[mirapatec]

When shopping, I sat in both the Yaris and the iQ. I really, really liked the iQ, but my height negated my comfort in that vehicle. Basically, I could not see out the windshield unless I had the seat in the extreme reclining position. Seriously.

The Yaris I eventually bought and the iQ were sitting side by side at the dealership, both in the same color. Once I sat in the Yaris, and fit, the Yaris is what I drove off in. Sometimes the human body dictates the car one purchases.

[edmscan]

I sat in one at the Toyota / Scion dealer the other day and other than the radio overpowering the dash area, I really didn't mind the car that much. But the 22 grand price tag . . well that was a bit much.