[bicepeak]

My schedule changed so I decide to head for Carlsbad tonight. I passed by a dealer in Indio so on a lark I dropped in just to check to see if they had an iM.

Being 11 pm it was of course closed, but I walked across the lot and peeked in the showroom window.....there it was ! I was struck how beautiful it was. Looks much better in person. Beautiful in silver! I want that color for sure now!


So I found a motel nearby and will check it out in the morning. Hope I can test drive it too so I won't have to drive further to Carlsbad. Indio is closer to Phoenix and a shorter drive home.

 

[bicepeak]

Showroom pics

Showroom

 

[bicepeak]

more....

 

[bicepeak]

Amazed how it seems to set up higher than I thought......ground effects didn't seem too low, so I am thinking the 5.5" ground clearance is derived from some other part of the car.

 

[peacenoel]

Amazed how it seems to set up higher than I thought......ground effects didn't seem too low, so I am thinking the 5.5" ground clearance is derived from some other part of the car.

very nice picture..thank you so much..i am so exciting now..please keep us updated. i really want to hear the driving experience.

 

[S-Factor]

Great photos!

Not sure if the reflective flooring is making it's clearance look higher but those rims look amazing! Let us know how the test drive goes if they allow it.

 

[bicepeak]

Great photos!

Not sure if the reflective flooring is making it's clearance look higher but those rims look amazing! Let us know how the test drive goes if they allow it.

I don't think the reflective flooring makes it look higher. I think it is just that you can see a definite "ground" so to speak that you can't see in pictures on road surfaces. Not to say it is exceedingly high, of course, but I was expecting it to be lower.


Haven't confirmed that Indio will let me test drive it yet. I will be over there in 30 minutes. If they don't let me drive it I may have to stay another night near Carlsbad because they already said I could drive it Thursday. If I get the call to work tomorrow I won't be able to do that.

 

[ToddMS]

Dual exhaust would look awesome on this!!!

 

[igs]

Nice photos! Stock Toyotas/Scions generally sit very high. Those look like they could be 5x114.

 

[peacenoel]

Great photos!

Not sure if the reflective flooring is making it's clearance look higher but those rims look amazing! Let us know how the test drive goes if they allow it.

from the angle of the picture, it does like the same high as my neighbor's mazda 3 hatchback.


this is when the lower spring comes in handy.

 

[SiM]

Nice photos! Stock Toyotas/Scions generally sit very high. Those look like they could be 5x114.

While it make look high, from what I can make of it and other Toyota/Scion/Lexus products is that they ride at a height which allows them to be driveable where its drivers will be driving them.
Only makes sense to do that.

 

[igs]

While it make look high, from what I can make of it and other Toyota/Scion/Lexus products is that they ride at a height which allows them to be driveable where its drivers will be driving them.
Only makes sense to do that.

I find Asian cars in general sit much higher than European cars, stock.

 

[peacenoel]

I drove numbers of European car...i really dont find it is at anywhere lower distance from the floor either.

The advantage of japanese are maintenance fee are much lower compare to european cars.
Japanese are come handy to fix or DIY at home.

 

[manju]

How's the seat height? Is it similar to the 2003 Corolla/Matrix models?

 

[manju]

Thanks for posting all those pictures and info btw!

 

[bicepeak]

How's the seat height? Is it similar to the 2003 Corolla/Matrix models?

The seat height is higher in the iM than the current Corolla. This lays to rest the idea that this is simply a hatchback version of the Corolla.

I had the driver seat all the way up and was very similar to my xB. You will have to avoid bumping your head on the frame more in that position however. The passenger side could stand to be higher for disabled people I sometimes drive . That is something I will have to consider on whether I purchase or not .

 

[ToddMS]

So did they let you drive it?

 

[manju]

The seat height is higher in the iM than the current Corolla. This lays to rest the idea that this is simply a hatchback version of the Corolla.

I had the driver seat all the way up and was very similar to my xB. You will have to avoid bumping your head on the frame more in that position however. The passenger side could stand to be higher for disabled people I sometimes drive . That is something I will have to consider on whether I purchase or not .

Thanks!

 

[bicepeak]

So did they let you drive it?

Yep......I did get to drive it.


This is where dealers are generally confused places. Told I could buy their car right away and then told by others I could not... not till September 1st. Told there was no key available to even check the dash lights, but later saw the car had been moved outside.


A woman who had a lease up on her Corolla was being assisted with a test drive.
So I asked to be a passenger, while still given the idea I couldn't drive it myself. So I became a passenger and by then they couldn't say I couldn't drive it if she just did.


She was short so I found it very comfortable and roomy sitting behind her, A taller driver would have made it confining back there for an adult.


It was an amazingly smooth and quiet drive. I mean you were aware of the undulations in the road, but they never jarred. Kind of a controlled sport car feel. The driver could not get over how much better the ride was from her Corolla. She felt like she was in a more expensive car. You could hear the engine during acceleration, but it was a pleasing, sporty sound. During steady cruising it was practically silent.


These impressions were confirmed during my test drive. It seemed pretty zippy driving the streets around the dealer and on the freeway. I didn't get the chance to drive it on any hills or a lot of curves so I am not sure how it will do there. It was very composed when I tried tight turns, however.


The only time it seemed a bit sluggish in rapid acceleration was in normal mode. Sport mode was a definite improvement if you wanted spirited driving. You could really tell the difference. It has that seven step set-up to it designed to feel the "shifts". You felt them, but it was very subtle and smooth.


I tried manual mode , but the car started beeping once because I was over revving it. Not the car's fault.....just my inexperience and not enough time to perfect technique during a test drive.


This is not a powerful car, just as others have reported, but it is definitely a fun drive!


Can't wait to get the opportunity to drive a manual!


A special shout out to the salesman who accompanied me on my ride....Lewez Iskaros. If you buy from I-10 Toyota Scion, buy through him! 877-907-ITEN.

 

[bicepeak]

Just to get off-topic for a second....


While wandering around the dealership during my long hangout there, I checked out a Yaris. Amazed that the seat height was identical to my xB! Even more amazing was the passenger seat, while not height adjustable, it was as high as the highest adjustment of the driver's seat. An added bonus was that the door opening was tall so you didn't feel like you had to duck getting in or out. Of course this car was too short in length and cargo capacity to suit my needs, but I really wish the front seat setup was similar across the Toyota/Scion line. (Except, of course, cars that were designed to be sports cars like the FRS and the TC)


Apologies again.....but had to mention it.