For the humble consideration of the judges I submit my 2005 Scion xA I purchased this car new in September of 2005 and actually even with it being a technical leftover I ordered it because I wanted it in Blue. Being a late build car it has a few interior pieces from a 2006 xA and because all Scions came wired for sound but radio delete and the dealership had run out of 2005 radios I also got a 2006 radio that has a volume knob instead of pushbuttons. Because of the way Scions were sold there were very few factory options, the two I got were the color, and I got mine with a 5 speed manual. Everything besides color, transmission, and side curtain airbags on a Scion was a dealer installed option, I opted for fog lights, the XM radio add on, an arm rest, and "Scion Security" which is just an alarm system because that was the only way I could get keyless entry. I also got the roof rack but the dealers idea of installing that was to toss it into the back seat and tell me to install it myself, that was a $500 option. I also used the leftover parts counter bonus I got from Toyota to buy the spiffy floor mats with the Scion logo on them. For my own personal touch I added some blue cold cathode lights under the dash and seats and with some items from Radio Shack they light up when the doors are opened, or with the flick of a switch when the car is running. I also slapped on some "Racing" pedal covers, in blue of course, that add no power, a set of fuzzy dice that are no longer with the car, and recently a bluetooth to FM converter and phone mount so I can have fake Android Auto in the car. This car has served me well for almost all of the over 222,000 miles it has on it with few breakdowns. The Scion xA has been on a few vacations, some trips out of state trips to the home center, been pressed into service to haul Girl Scout cookies and related cookie booth items, this resulted in the inside being covered in "Unicorn blood" AKA Glitter, it brought my youngest home from the hospital, but mostly this has been a lone driver commuter car and the lack of wear and tear on everything not in the driver area prove that. I wash it, vacuum it, do the maintenance, and fix the annoying broken stuff, that's it. I believe that this car best exemplifies the "Soul-sucking Japanese Appliance Class" because it has functioned beyond quite well as an appliance way more than as a car. This car is not now, never has been, and never will be cool, it is a commuter box that can function as a car but that is all it is and all it will ever be until it is melted down and turned into something else. Unfortunately for this metal, it is presently functioning so well as a Scion xA that it will likely continue to be one for quite some time. Thank you for your consideration.
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