Serious question: you said you get a modest increase in hp with your air-take, and "5 mpg." What does that mean? Is it 5 mpg more or less than what you had before?
The sales manger just called me to say he was sorry about telling me the wrong price on the super charger and that it is not a super charger at all it is a tubo charger and he has no idea what the pice is going to be.(i relly don't care i like it the way it is)
I got it tested at pepboys they were not busy at all they put my car on one of those plate things and my wheels keep spinning and they keep giving it gas taking to the red i think and the had some wire running from my moter to some kind of computer thing. They said they have custmers ask the to do it all the time when they get there emmison inspection done(if you wait too get it done at that time it is free)
Trunks -- was the intake installed on your car TRD? Curious since I'm planning to buy an xB in a month or two and wasn't seriously considering CAI since the gain seemed not worth the expense, but that's a big bump in ponies. Most reviews I've read say you can't really notice much difference in performance.
I mentioned earlier how a local dealer was selling one for $23.9. Well, they originally had two. I wonder if someone actually paid such an outrageous price?
There is absolutely no way the cold air intake produces anything like those absurd power/MPG claims. Whoever told you that is someone you should never believe about anything ever again.
Does anyone know first hand how easy it is to install some of the aftermarket accessories for the xB? Specifically the fog lights and security system? It seems as though some money could be saved by buying such accessories later and installing them yourself. Also any information on how aftermarket installs affect warranty?
So I've seen these and like 'em, but my wife saw them for the first time yesterday.
She absolutely flipped out, loved it! She was actually giggling when she got in to check it out.
She thought it felt like a "noveau hippie" car, even compared it to a hip school bus.
It was hysterical.
Price on this loaded up one was $18 and change, but the base price impressed her. We didn't drive it because we're not in the market, but I thought I'd share anyway.
It's funny, she hates the Element (I like it), so I thought she'd find this too boxy also, but no. She absolutely loved it.
It's cool when a car can generate that kind of reaction from people, isn't it?
Being a 66 VW bug and a 71 VW bus owner, I am acquainted with road handling in the wind. I live in the Columbia River gorge where we get a lot of wind and some of our two lane highways have 6% grades. My question is, how well does the xB handle in 50 and 60 MPH winds (much cross wind) and how well does it take the steep hills. I added extractors as a replacement to my mufflers on the VW's and boosted my HP where I could handle hills in third and fourth gear real well, but I don't think the Scion is designed to make this change. Anyone put the xB to the test in wind and steep hills?
ateixeira- Yes, this car makes people freak. Strangers stop and knock on my front door when it's in the driveway. Everywhere I go people want to see it, sit in it and ask tons of questions. I've had lots of "cool" cars before- Corvette Convertible, , 66 Bronco, GTO's, Mustangs and this box gets more thumbs up than all of them put together.
I live in the Midwest & won't see the xB until this summer. For the ice and snow we get, FWD, ABS and traction control should be great. Between May and September, I carry my bicycle in the car twice a week. With my small hatchback now, getting one in is no problem. My question on the xB is, with the rear seats folded, what is the distance from the back of the front seat to the back of the car, and the distance from floor to ceiling. If the vertical distance is at least 35", I can stand the bike up with the front wheel removed. The distance I need horizontally is 56" for my road bike. Carrying bikes outside is not an option.
What would really be nice for winter driving and communiting is heated outside mirrors and driver's seat in different sizes to fit the size of the driver. This last point is from driving for 30+ years. I am small. I get lost in a big car with big seats.
Thundercloud, better known as silver. Manual. Only option was the floor mats. Figure I'll drive it for a while and decide about add-ons. Was going to have the dealer put some alloys on it, but all they had was the standard rubber with them.
I'm not too keen on the decals and the only other exterior option I seriously considered was the spoiler. I like how it exaggerates the angle of the hatch and might get it later.
Will live with it for a while and make some decisions, esp. CAI and exhaust. Think it might be fine as is.
I don't think you'll see this car discounted any time soon. Its national roll out is barely complete and it's selling better than expected. A $700 discount is around invoice on a base model.
What have you done to it? I just bought xB manual in Thundercloud. Will start to figure out wheels, tires and maybe some power enhancements after I pick it up.
My wheels are 17" with 215/45-17 Tires. I think they are just right as far as the size/ride compromise. They are noticably firmer than the stocks but not too harsh. I shouldn't admit this but I just painted the calipers red with some red rustoleum.
I talked with a Scion engineer/rep at the SEMA trade show. His review was that the strut tie bar makes a big improvement in ride and handling. The exhaust makes a slight power increase, and the cold air intake only serves to makes it louder.
Big Daddy-let us know what you think of that CTS-V I sold my 2000 Corvette Convertible for this and I get more enjoyment out of the Scion!
i'm assuming you are in arizona. if you are, i'd like for you to give us an update on the air conditioner when it gets to 110 degrees. i know the echo has weak air and the xb has a lot more volume to cool. i think the dark tint that comes standard is to offset the weak air conditioner in hot climates. looking forward to your experience with the heat and the xb.
I'm looking into the wheels now. It feels pretty tight to me without the tie bar, but I'm going from a Silverado to this, so what do I know.
I haven't seen much info about recommended wheel/tire sizes. Scionlife has a bunch of forums, so I'll probably post something there. Your choice of "17s seems sound: much bigger and you're messing with the ride too much and maybe rubbing on corners.
The salesman at the dealership was telling me that between the CAI and exhaust I could get another 10hp. Seems like a stretch, but am wondering if even half that on top of 108 might be worth the trouble and expense.
Know anything about ground kits? Supposedley can increase hp and tourque by lowering resistance in the electrical system. Makes your headlights brighter, bass lower and teeth whiter, too:) For $85 might be worth a shot.
Yes, I'm in Phoenix- I got the Scion at the end of last summer so it did see some 100'+ days.
It's OK. Not great. It has a huge greenhouse and lots of interior volume so it never gets chilly inside. The air coming out is pretty cold after a while, so if you keep it aimed right at your face, it's not too bad.
Overall, it's better than the AC in our Xterra.
On the wheels, I also tried some 16" wheels and I wasn't that impressed. They still looked too small, so I eBay'd them and got the 17's. There was a noticeable change in ride and firmness going from the stock 15's to 16 to 17. I think anything larger would be too harsh to live with. My 17's fit nicely, and don't rub at all.
how is the air in stop and go city driving when it's 100+ degrees? the reason i'm asking so much about the air is i live in las vegas and the wife wants an xb. as you know it gets to 110+ here also. she drives a land cruiser now and has trouble parking. she needs something short so her bumpers and fenders don't get dinged.
Just happened that I had a chance to drive both an xB and a CTS-V within days of each other. If I had a choice and of course the money I would jump all over the V. The V was absolutely awesome!! It just wants to be driven hard. So much torque it plants you in your seat at any speed. Cadillac did good on this one.
In 100' weather, you will never get frostbite but it's not miserable either. I rarely have passengers in the back, but I don't think it would get too cool back there.
Cool, fun, practical car - exactly the way I feel! The other day a neighbor who drives a big SUV checked out my xB and was amazed at the rear leg room. He thought it has the most comfortable interior of any car that he's sat in.
I've found the same thing- BUT, It seems that insecure (children on a bus) , or phony (toupee wearing Corvette drivers) people are the ones who have the point and laugh reaction. But The gets noticed by everyone and by far most response it positive. One 14 year old neighbor kid was with his friends and did the "point and laugh", later he came over alone and told me it is the coolest car he's ever seen.
with 05 xb due out in june in pa. why pay full price on a 04 now ??!!! can i trade a junker for a $1,000....to get a realistic price if i dont want to wait for june 05
You might be right that the '05s are due in June, but even if so I wouldn't expect heavy, or any, discounts on '04s. The xB is selling well and there won't major, if any, changes in the enew model year. Worth waiting since it's only a couple months...
Sorry for the delay, Autonuts. All it says is "Scion does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Your vehicle is not designed for trailer towing." There is more info, but it's about towing the car behing an RV or in emergencies.
There are some posts about using the xB for towing on the scionlife forum. The main points were that you'd have to either cut through the bumper to accommodate a hitch or rig the hitch so it went under the bumper and back up to trailer height. Not optimal in either case.
Not sure what sort of "small jobs" you had in mind, but one of the reasons I bought this car is its cargo capacity. With the seats down there is a lot of room for tools and material. I haven't tried this yet, but with the rear seats down and the front passenger seat fully reclined you supposedley can fit 8' boards or whatever inside.
If you're just a weekend tinkerer like me, could be sufficient.
Thank you for the information. I didn't think it would be a vehicle used for towing but just thought I'd check with someone who had better info. than I. Have fun with your xB!
i'd check on that "no taxes" if i were you. i assure you that you will pay california taxes as soon as you register your car. you can't register in nevada because you're not a nevada resident. if you should register the car in nevada, you will pay nevada taxes. as far as emissions... i believe it's rated for all 50 states.
Comments
3rd car is the way to go, always nice to have a spare. Mine's a Miata.
Hey, why doesn't Scion offer a value priced convertible?
-juice
Serious question: you said you get a modest increase in hp with your air-take, and "5 mpg." What does that mean? Is it 5 mpg more or less than what you had before?
I got it tested at pepboys they were not busy at all they put my car on one of those plate things
and my wheels keep spinning and they keep giving it gas taking to the red i think and the had some wire running from my moter to some kind of computer thing. They said they have custmers ask the to do it all the time when they get there emmison inspection done(if you wait too get it done at that time it is free)
Thanks.
Whoever told you that is someone you should never believe about anything ever again.
-juice
She absolutely flipped out, loved it! She was actually giggling when she got in to check it out.
She thought it felt like a "noveau hippie" car, even compared it to a hip school bus.
It was hysterical.
Price on this loaded up one was $18 and change, but the base price impressed her. We didn't drive it because we're not in the market, but I thought I'd share anyway.
It's funny, she hates the Element (I like it), so I thought she'd find this too boxy also, but no. She absolutely loved it.
It's cool when a car can generate that kind of reaction from people, isn't it?
-juice
Yes, this car makes people freak. Strangers stop and knock on my front door when it's in the driveway. Everywhere I go people want to see it, sit in it and ask tons of questions.
I've had lots of "cool" cars before- Corvette Convertible, , 66 Bronco, GTO's, Mustangs and this box gets more thumbs up than all of them put together.
-juice
What would really be nice for winter driving and communiting is heated outside mirrors and driver's seat in different sizes to fit the size of the driver. This last point is from driving for 30+ years. I am small. I get lost in a big car with big seats.
-juice
What color? Tranny? Options?
Fill us in...
-juice
I'm not too keen on the decals and the only other exterior option I seriously considered was the spoiler. I like how it exaggerates the angle of the hatch and might get it later.
Will live with it for a while and make some decisions, esp. CAI and exhaust. Think it might be fine as is.
I walked out of their grinning, man.
Don't know if the '05s are due in June
Rims look good. Some brake work, too?
Appreciate your feedback.
I think they are just right as far as the size/ride compromise. They are noticably firmer than the stocks but not too harsh.
I shouldn't admit this but I just painted the calipers red with some red rustoleum.
I talked with a Scion engineer/rep at the SEMA trade show.
His review was that the strut tie bar makes a big improvement in ride and handling. The exhaust makes a slight power increase, and the cold air intake only serves to makes it louder.
Big Daddy-let us know what you think of that CTS-V
I sold my 2000 Corvette Convertible for this and I get more enjoyment out of the Scion!
i know the echo has weak air and the xb has a lot more volume to cool.
i think the dark tint that comes standard is to offset the weak air conditioner in hot climates.
looking forward to your experience with the heat and the xb.
I'm looking into the wheels now. It feels pretty tight to me without the tie bar, but I'm going from a Silverado to this, so what do I know.
I haven't seen much info about recommended wheel/tire sizes. Scionlife has a bunch of forums, so I'll probably post something there. Your choice of "17s seems sound: much bigger and you're messing with the ride too much and maybe rubbing on corners.
The salesman at the dealership was telling me that between the CAI and exhaust I could get another 10hp. Seems like a stretch, but am wondering if even half that on top of 108 might be worth the trouble and expense.
Know anything about ground kits? Supposedley can increase hp and tourque by lowering resistance in the electrical system. Makes your headlights brighter, bass lower and teeth whiter, too:) For $85 might be worth a shot.
Thanks for the info.
It's OK. Not great. It has a huge greenhouse and lots of interior volume so it never gets chilly inside. The air coming out is pretty cold after a while, so if you keep it aimed right at your face, it's not too bad.
Overall, it's better than the AC in our Xterra.
On the wheels, I also tried some 16" wheels and I wasn't that impressed. They still looked too small, so I eBay'd them and got the 17's. There was a noticeable change in ride and firmness going from the stock 15's to 16 to 17. I think anything larger would be too harsh to live with.
My 17's fit nicely, and don't rub at all.
she drives a land cruiser now and has trouble parking. she needs something short so her bumpers and fenders don't get dinged.
Cross-shopped with a CTS-V? Wild.
-juice
-juice
I rarely have passengers in the back, but I don't think it would get too cool back there.
LOL
-juice
But The gets noticed by everyone and by far most response it positive.
One 14 year old neighbor kid was with his friends and did the "point and laugh", later he came over alone and told me it is the coolest car he's ever seen.
I agree that most of the response really is positive, with a healthy dose of puzzled mixed in.
There are some posts about using the xB for towing on the scionlife forum. The main points were that you'd have to either cut through the bumper to accommodate a hitch or rig the hitch so it went under the bumper and back up to trailer height. Not optimal in either case.
Not sure what sort of "small jobs" you had in mind, but one of the reasons I bought this car is its cargo capacity. With the seats down there is a lot of room for tools and material. I haven't tried this yet, but with the rear seats down and the front passenger seat fully reclined you supposedley can fit 8' boards or whatever inside.
If you're just a weekend tinkerer like me, could be sufficient.
Good luck.
as far as emissions... i believe it's rated for all 50 states.