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Comments
I recently took my S2000 on a run up the Pacific Coast Highway to Mendocino. I wish every S2000 owner would have the opportunity to drive their vehicles away I do. It's sad to see so many S2000s in The City puttering around with their tops up and a yuppie behind the wheel.
How much did you pay for your xB? Since there were only two vehicles configured the way I wanted (base, black, manual transmission, with no options) left in the Bay Area when I purchased mine a few months ago, I didn't have the time to negotiate much of a deal. I paid MSRP, but I got the dealership to throw in the TYC tail light assembly for free. I was surprised to see how much the tail lights transform the appearance of the xB - they're probably the only Scion accessory I've seen worth buying. I later bought the (ridiculously overpriced) TRD leather gear shift knob and that will be the last change I plan on making to my xB.
It's too bad that you had to get the automatic. The shifter on the five speed is actually pretty slick, and its fun to hear the car growl as you rev the engine. One problem with the five speed is that because of the gearing Toyota chose, the engine RPM are way too high at highway speeds. The constant droning above 70 mph gets annoying if you don't have the stereo on. I rented an automatic from a local dealership last year and found that while it's nowhere near as fun to drive, the engine was a lot more relaxed at highway speeds. Even with an automatic, the xB is easily the best vehicle in its segment.
Too bad Toyota went and butchered the xB's styling for 2008. The PT Cruiser/HHR look and the Dodge Magnum-styled gun turret windows should have immediately received the thumbs down... Toyota never used to sacrifice practicality (or safety) at the expense of so-called styling, but looking at the massive C-pillars (and blind spots) of the FJ Cruiser and the shrunken windows + big C-pillars of the 2008 xB it looks like they've decided to cash in on whatever styling fad du jour seems to be selling to clueless consumers.
The S2000 was singled out (with a couple of others) as a car that consistently exceeded EPA numbers in the CR tests. I drive mine as intended (like I stole it) and get 23-24 mph commuting to work. The older 01 2.0l S2000 I had got the same mileage as the newer 05 2.2l motor - amazing.
I had a used Subaru for a "snow day" car and in the past had tried to talk both my wife and my daughter into getting an xB (I failed - they chose an Accord and a Civic). When I learned that the first gen xB was going way I waited until I could get a great deal on an 06 and traded my ScoobyDo in for one.
I drive it pretty hard, but it IS an automatic - I needed something others could drive if they needed to borrow it. So far around 27 mpg commuting and if I putted along I would think close to 30 might be possible. No road trips yet, but I would expect over 30 easy.
I am very please.
I got rid of a nine year old pontiac sunfire that was getting 20 mpg because I wanted better mileage and reliability. I can't believe a brand new Japanese model isn't doing as well.
On my ride to work every day, (9 miles with lots of hills and stop signs, plus 8 miles of stop-lighted 45mph road), I am averaging about 28.5, and that is usually with the AC on a mid-level setting. I also have a manual, in which I think it is harder to maintain smooth driving and easier to lead-foot. (they are rated the same for both transmissions) Even when I had 5..."oversize" guys (including myself) in the car, with the AC blasting, un and down hills and all city driving, I STILL got 21 mpg.
Edit: I am talking about a 2008 xB here.
Sounds like it is time to find someone else to service your Scion - if they keep making the same mistake they are not very bright. I saw a car (not a Scion) that had been marked on the radiator fan shroud in yellow Sharpie "4.5 qts" or something to make sure whoever fills the crankcase does it right.
That little bit of overfill is probably not a problem, but if the oil level gets high enough you can do serious damage to the engine.
Dennis
May I ask what kind of serious damage to the engine is it? I thought that if you fill it up way too high then it will just leak out from the car, and that's bad for the environment.
So a horrendous overfill (like DOUBLE) can have catastrophic consequences.
I change my oil, and have done it 4 times so far. My xB1 holds 4 quarts. That brings the oil to the top mark on the dipstick. To overfill, I would have to open and pour in part of a 5th quart. What does metric have to do with overfilling?
However, I change oil at 2500 miles and filter at 5000 miles. So at 2500 miles I am adding 4 quarts and not removing the cup of oil that is in the filter. Then the oil is slightly above the full mark on the dipstick. I don't notice less mpg after those oil changes. How can a little extra oil cause less mpg?
Most cars oil sumps hold up to a quart more than the running capacity, before the oil is contacted by the crankshaft. If the oil is contacted by the crankshaft, energy will be lost as the crankshaft beats the surface into froth and mist. Did you see any evidence of that on the dipstick, to confirm that gross overfilling was causing less mpg?
But during my first tank, going into SF, and back to SJ, i recorded 33 mpg, which included driving around in the hilly SF. But i was light footed.
Last week, when my son took it out to Monterey, may be his leaded foot, only recorded 26 mpg.
About oil change, the director at Scion told me not to use synthetic oil because the engine doesn't require syn oil but just regular.
BTW, mine is an automatic and the pickup power is surprising to me, almost like my S500.
Definitely a nice car for local and run about car.
The dealer had the Rostra "official" Scion cruise installed in my 06 xB and I have to say it holds the speed about as well as an 80's model cruise did. Up hill it loses 2-3-4 MPG and down hit you zoom up 1-2-3 or more MPH - just like my old Pontiac 6000 company car did in the 80's. In contrast, the cruise on the old T-100 truck, the S2000, and the RX-8 are all rock solid. The cruise on the old Legacy I traded in on the xB was also much better. I may call the folks that put it in and complain, but maybe "they all do that" ???
Better than exercising your leg, and probably way better on MPG since it does not maintain speed going up hills, but not exactly a first rate system. I understand the "logic" of their not being a standard cruise, but Totoya should have put one on anyway - from the factory.
Dennis
Got rid of the RX-8 and I am waiting on a new "Daily driver" so I have been in the xB a lot more lately - and the cruise is getting tiresome with the speed variations.
Thanks,
Dennis
I have to assume that anyone getting in the 20's has a serious problem with their cars.
Frankly, I was disappointed that a 1.5 liter engine ONLY got 36. My feeling is that it should be in the 40's.
If you open the black box that the cable comes out of,(#10 torx) you will see a series of micro switches numbered 1 thru 12. You only have to adjust the first two, Leave The Rest Of Them ALONE!!! If switch 1 and 2 are down (default position) That is the least sensitive. 1 up and 2 down are more sensitive, 1 down and 2 up is where I have mine, and 1 up and 2 up is the most sensitive, which you probably don't want. Give it a try and report back!!
I will try to adjust it tonight and see how it does on Wednesday!
Thanks again,
Dennis
I am open to correction of course.
Mine was last changed at a Scion dealer as well.
Either they don't know how to read the stick or as curiousr found they just put "what the book calls for" in for an oil change and never check it.
I am not sure if over filling can cause loss of MPGs as some have claimed, but getting your oil filled correctly seems to be a common problem.
My last tank (commuting to/from work only) was 28.6mpg which is not bad given the route and my lead foot
Dennis
I also believe that a little bit over filled will not cause any problems. Designers/engineers (should) have safety factors built into all their designs. Let's say if the car can really hold max 5 qt of oil, they would maybe put "4.5 qt" on the manual just to put a 10% margin for those who cannot read.
My xA is still getting mid to low 30s mpg with combined highway/city driving and I am loving it!
Dennis
I wasn't meaning to suggest that you just "keep it in there"--only to say that there's no pressing need to remove it. Had it happened to one of my cars, I would just leave it in there and not worry about it.
I don't think 1/2 low matters either but of course I'd top it off at some convenient time.
My tire pressure is good and I use Mobil or Chevron gas so it's not your cheap gas. The funny thing is, when I had an xB with a turbo, I'd get about 24-25mpg in mixed driving but more highway than local. Dang I miss my xb!
We do the trip fairly regular and am going to compare this odometer with our other car.
I am looking at the auto v4 2008 can anyone tell me what kind of MPG they are getting?
Thanks,
Kip
Should I take the chance of them telling me that I've broken my warrenty by coming in late at 8000 or should I just go in at 5000 for the tire rotation?
Tomorrow I'll be filling up the xD for the second time. This tank is to and from work. No freeway. It's at 33.5 in town. We've driven it about 800 miles and still like it. What I wish is that the drivers seat goes back further than it does. I wouldn't need much but a couple inches would go along way with me.
Jay
More 2008 Scion xB mpg stats here