25th Apr 2006, 23:50
You don't take on imprezas and lancers with your 1.6 by modding the clutch, springs, shifter, and struts. That's just ridiculous.
Good car for whatever, and doing whatever cheaply. But performance? No.
26th Apr 2006, 09:42
I disagree that the xB's handling is "awkward". It is better than most cars in its class and certainly better than 99% of the SUVs out there. While a box, its center of gravity is lower than you would think, allowing more daring moves than one would expect.
Yes, it's not a sports car and was never built to be one, but never in three years of ownership did I feel that the suspension was never anything, but cooperative.
4th May 2006, 23:12
The handling on these xBs isn't too bad. I'm sure a set of lowering springs and strut bars would help this car quite a bit. I've owned one for about two years, now. But putting a lot of money into trying to make these things go fast isn't worth it. I mean, come on... It's a 1.5L, 105HP Inline-4 in a 2500 pound car. It's not designed to go fast. It's designed to go A-to-B with great efficiency and versatility, more bang for the buck. In times like these, it's not a bad idea.
9th May 2006, 05:30
Well to all you unbelievers out there is a lot of things to enjoy about this car. I own a 06 Xb and would not trade it for the world. I have just put on an Ingen cold air intake and soon my Greddy Evo exhaust along with a set of DC headers. adding an amazing 35 mor HP to my once sad 105. This car is going to be the gateway for economy, style, and performance. Blitz has came out with a bolt on supercharger for it adding an amazing 175 HP!!! Now how are you gonna feel when you get beat by a toaster?
18th May 2006, 20:59
What,3 5 hp from just exhaust and a cold air intake, you can barely get that much hp out of a 300hp V8, let alone a 105 hp washer machine motor. And as far as a supercharger adding 175 hp, there is no way. At the best you might get 175 at the wheels, which is still pathetic for any motor with forced induction.
29th May 2006, 17:09
IF as you say is true, but I doubt it, you do get 175 hp out of the supercharger. I certainly hope you spend the extra $7000 you are gonna need to beef up the little 1.6 to handle the extra hp. If you don't, you are gonna try to outrun a Ford Focus and are gonna leave a little trail of engine internals on the roadway.
29th May 2006, 23:55
I agree you simply don't add 70 horsepower to a 1.5 economy motor designed for 105 and expect it to perform. Sounds good on paper, may feel good driving it around town, but try an race anyone? The pistons will dent your hood as the other guy goes by laughing.
7th Jun 2006, 23:47
I went down to Toyota last Sunday to look at a Yaris, to decide between it and a Honda Fit--for the MPG. Then I got hip to Scion, and was impressed with both the xA and xB. I can't really decide which one to get, but I am leaning towards the B for the cargo space. But why, oh why, Scion lovers, don't they offer Cruise Control? With all the option-friendliness that Scion purports, would that not be an an obvious choice? I've done my homework and found out about the Rostra cruise that can be bought for $179.50. They also advise the not-so-handy types have it installed for about $150 for the 2 hours labor. So that is manageable, but why isn't it standard? Curious...
21st Jun 2006, 17:55
I am new to Scion. I love my toaster. So what if it is slow. People say they handle superb. Some say they can't handle worth a crap. You know what? I don't care what other people think. I knew what I was getting into when I bought the thing. I bought it because I could afford it with a relative amount of ease. I looked at Honda, other Toyota's, and the midst. Besides the horrible ratings from Car and Driver, Edmund's... etc. I got what I paid for. If I wanted a speed demon or a road carver, I would have bought something else. I have already started to mod my box and have plans for forced induction. But I am not in it for bragging rights. I am not in it for the horsepower or the time-slips. I am in it to have fun because this is what I like to do. So it has zero aerodynamics. So it has little appeal to most of the worlds population. But look at it like this... It already has a cult like following that took very little time to catch on. If you don't like the box... you don't like the box. We do and that is all that matters.
27th Jun 2006, 22:02
OK, I have read all of the comments and I have to say, I love my little XB, but it is what it is. A little economy car. For me its fun to drive and I like the little extras that you can put on it, but a race car it is not. I have changed the exhaust., lowered it and added a cold air intake and I have to say it did make it a little faster, but I mostly did it just for the fun of it. If you are going to spend a lot of money on one of these do it because you like to because against anything else, but a scion your going to lose the race.
23rd Jul 2006, 05:31
I am well over the target age, saying that however.. I bought the box as a commuter that has ample room, good economy and dependability (after all it IS a Toyota)
The only mis-step I've made was to let the wife drive it (3 times!) and now we have 2 xB's in the driveway.
I recommend that you drive it before you "knock it"!
31st Jul 2006, 20:06
Hey whats going on people, I am an owner of a xB and a tC, and I love them both.
I first got the tC when it first came out "stock 160hp" I have put almost 10g rand in upgrades in the car, just like almost every other import on the road. NOW believe me, you do not want to see me on the road. YES my brother has a WRX, but he has nothing on me. He gets mad that I still have less in the car than what his loan is for.
Now for my xB, once again I was very disappointed with the slow takeoffs and slow top speed - 105. So I had to get started on this. After 1000s of dollars I have not lost a race to a Honda, Focus, srt4, Caliber, or Cobalt.
Please don't take this the wrong way - I put a lot of money in this thing. I'm not taking out a WRX with this one, and if anyone thinks that one day they could do this with a xB, I'm sorry to inform you that you will have to wait.
25th Apr 2006, 22:46
I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree with you. The xB isn't made for handling or even acceleration (as indicated by its 105hp 1.5L engine). It's designed to look stylish while cruising the urban jungle. Granted, I'm sure that the thousands of dollars spent in performance and cosmetic upgrades does make some difference (aside from the amount financed), but that does not make it a sports car, which it is not, or even a vehicle that can compete with sports-aspired cars such as the WRX or Lancer. If that isn't proof enough, look at the body. It's a box. That's obviously meant for aesthetic appeal, not performance or a weight distribution that will work along with TRD upgrades to help you handle better. I've tested an xB, and its handling can be rather awkward to say the least; a costly lowering springs or strut bars will not have the dramatic result you suggest.