Well, ive been sitting here, for about 2 weeks contemplating what type of vehicle i should get. Obviously the xB has came to mind, but i have recently been wondering this question: Can i see myself in this car for 7 years? If you can see yourself in this car for about 7 years, post here. Post why, and how you think the xB will still be a 'popular' yet good 'ride' in another 5 years or so. What will seperate itself from other vehicles in that 5 year time span? Is this a trade in car? Or is a car that will have an impact of the way we will drive in the future.

Well, ive been sitting here, for about 2 weeks contemplating what type of vehicle i should get. Obviously the xB has came to mind, but i have recently been wondering this question: Can i see myself in this car for 7 years? If you can see yourself in this car for about 7 years, post here. Post why, and how you think the xB will still be a 'popular' yet good 'ride' in another 5 years or so. What will seperate itself from other vehicles in that 5 year time span? Is this a trade in car? Or is a car that will have an impact of the way we will drive in the future.

Well I can see myself in the car for 7 years. Reason is the versatility (spelling?). The xB get good milage, has lots of room for people. And ever still has some cargo room. I personally think they look very sweet. Starting price is CrAxY cheap for a TOYOTA with that equiptment. Resale is in for 04. Go to KBB.com and book out an older one in Retail and trade-in value. NOT BAD! Service the xB on time and it will last for a long while, longer than the 7 years you are kicking around... What else? Um, well I love the xB. I see myself getting ride of the tC before the xB. Not that I dont like the tC, but not as versable. Hope this helps. JOe

Agreed. My loan is for 5 years and I don't mind if I pay it off early. This xB is mine and for a loooong time, dammit!

Plus, Toyotas have lasted 200k or more. Compare that to my average weekly drive and that's over 7 years. By that time, either the xB will have transformed into an Element looking vehicle (ick) or a Ford Escape (ack!).. but hopefully something else will take its place by then if that ever happens.

Thanks for all the help, more responses cant hurt :D

I think its look and style will endure the designs of the future. It is reliable, good on gas, and versatile. It is simple in engineering and reminds me of driving a fancy tight-handling go-cart (mine has suspension upgrade) that can keep up with modern traffic. I have seen all age ranges in drivers of the xB. It is unpretentious, owned by someone who just got his/her first job, yet appealing enough to be owned by someone who also owns a mercedes. It is easily modifiable without compromising reliability. So, after several years, you can still have fun by changing the look of the xB. I can see myself driving it beyond 7 years, whether by then I will own a newer car or it being my only car.

Hope this helps. I don't think you'll regret it.

the reason why the xB will be long lived, is for one its a TOYOTA- look how long 4Runners have been around. Amongst alot competition, the 4Runner has surpassed reasale, reliability and value than any other SUV..........

Another thing is the fact that Scion is smart! A.) they only advertize on MTV- so you wont see a BUNCH of old people driving them (unlike the Element and PT cruiser) and they also wont over produce them like what they did to the PT cruiser- you can buy a pt cruiser and a beetle in any color, and day of the year in my area! Scions have a 1-3 month wait!

And the overall build quality of this car is of the same level as my mothers 26K Camry, or my father's 33K 4Runner. Of course my scion makes due without heated seats and navigation, but they over quality of the interior and exterior is great! Yes I know it has its cheap spots - Ie the rear doors, the back hatch covering, the front visors. but what do you want for 15 k? a Neon? HELL NO! The Scion is a notch above the Neon, Focus and Civic ( they have become extreamly tinny and cheap in the last couple of years)

So just buy one and be happy!

The answer to your question "Can I see myself in this car in 7 years?" is twofold. First, will you still want to be driving it and second, will it hold up?

I've never kept a car 7 years, so I would be surprised if I was still driving my (currently 4 day old) xB. The longest was 6 years (Suzuki Samurai) until I rolled it. But by then, they were no longer importing them... so it is possible that I would. A major factor is the 2nd part of that answer....

I've never owned a Toyota before so I don't know how well it will hold up over the years. And I don't know if Toyota made any compromises on the Scion line to keep costs down.

I always plan on a new car lasting 10 years. Don't always make it but thats my plan.

I never factor what others think into the equation.

I had my Mustang six years but hated the last three of those, but the car was junk. I can easily see myself driving the xB happily through the payment period (60 mos.) I think the key is to put some mods on it, but not all at once. One or two major mods a year will give a renewed interest.

I always plan on a new car lasting 10 years. Don't always make it but thats my plan.

Hell, that's what several European countries do with their little Mini vehicles and such. So if the design is European-ish and a Toyota, with the right upkeep.. 10 years sounds like a good length of time (whether it's passed to family members is a different issue).

In answer to your question, Yes I will be driving it in 7 years or longer, why am I so sure, 1. the vehical I got rid of after getting the xB was an 88 ford ranger, my wifes dad bought used while she was still in highschool, this car will be better taken care of because I got it new and I take better care of my cars than the previous owner of the Ranger did. 2nd, my wife gets the new car every 1-2 years, I'm the one that buys the car and drives it til it drops.

as far as the style question, Scion has said that they will not freshen the xB they will just come out with a new car. Model life is to be about 3 yrs for the scions. This means that there wont be a ton of them on the roads ever! Will it look dated 10 yrs, maybe, but I'll still love it for its roominess and drivability, and I must add that after this lates snow storm we've had in Iowa, I'm just thrilled with how well it handles snow.

I think the xB will be like the PT Cruiser and Mini Coooper, everyone poops their pants at first but then they become accustomed to it and are not 'shocked' by it anymore.

I will still have mine, it will still look pimp and it will still be dropping panties for a long time.

I've had mine for almost a year now and still love it. Just got rims and neon put on. will keep modding like mad.

Got mine at the end of November, Just started to mod mine. I can see keeping it for longer than I did my Matrix.

Well i can see the car for 7 more years unless my thoughts on getting a brand new tacoma 4x4 doesn't get the best of me. It might make a great backup car just in case i get a tacoma :) . As for impact in the way we drive in the future. I think that cars will have a higher roofline because it creates a more spacious interior. The headroom is great right. But besides that, I think that car companies will see that having interior room has its advantages. Honda/Nissan bringing out cubed styled cars.

Lets see................I have been a licensed driver for 31 years and have owned 28 different primary cars in that time (yes I have kept a accurate count). That count does not include any that I rebuilt for resale or extra part cars etc. So..........I figure I'll keep this xB for less than two years considering I start to get bored at the 12-18 month mark. "Varity is the spice of life".

I plan on keeping it around for the long haul. It's easy to work on, makes a great project car. If you do it the right way you can essentially build yourself a new car every year.

Of course it won't be my primary vehicle for ever, but it'll have a nice little spot in the garage.

I keep a car/truck until either A: I run out of ideas to customize it to my tastes and preferences...or B: Something better comes along or there is a *NEED* to trade. Which is why I traded my Ranger I had less than a year for the xB, I travel a lot for work and the better mileage I get, the more money in my pocket for mods, plus the Ranger was getting 15-16 MPG when gas was near $2, and the xB offered more for the money. I will keep my xB as long as I can keep coming up with fresh ideas for mods...even if it's little things like my rear domelight idea mod(soon to come in Electrical/ICE), but if I go 4-5 months without any ideas on new mods, **OR** products that I want to buy and am saving for, then I will get bored and start looking for a new project. It's like NFSU 2, I end up running out of stuff to do to my car and I trade it for a new one so I can start a new project. It's a disease, a horrible, expensive disease. I already know my next vehicle will be either a truck or a fast sports car. I'm wanting to get back into the minitruckin scene, but when I get ready to trade, I will be 25 and insurance will have dropped which is what has kept me from buying a sports car over the years.

-Z

If Toyota sticks to their word and discontinues these in a few years and if they don't become the next PT cruiser, then I'd love to keep the lava until my son needs a car. That's 12 years away. I have no idea if they'll be really cool or really hated by then.. but if they are rel. rare I'm guessing cool. I've had most of my cars for aout 10 years (maybe not ME but the age).. 87 nova's until 1999, 95 contour until this summer. The only one I dumped kinda quick was the safari, but that was just so I could get the Lava.

I think since the xB looks so old/retro anyway that they have little risk of looking anything but classic.. unless the other auto manf. are going to ruin it for us.

I expect to keep the xB for as long as it remains economical to run. However, my daughters might get the idea to take it to college with them!

:D thanks for outside opinions. I myself knew the answers to these questions much like you guys do, but needed another voice to second my own opinions.

Resale is in for 04. Go to KBB.com and book out an older one in Retail and trade-in value. NOT BAD!

Regarding resale... It's always high for new models.

In the long term, resale value will drop to more realistic values after about three years. The demand for a vehicle that wasn't available before always drives up the value of the used cars, but after a few years there are enough used cars on the market to supply that demand. The same thing happened for the 350Z, RX8, and many others.

Resale is in for 04. Go to KBB.com and book out an older one in Retail and trade-in value. NOT BAD!

Regarding resale... It's always high for new models.

In the long term, resale value will drop to more realistic values after about three years. The demand for a vehicle that wasn't available before always drives up the value of the used cars, but after a few years there are enough used cars on the market to supply that demand. The same thing happened for the 350Z, RX8, and many others.

Couldn't agree more. I bought a New Beetle in 98' when they first came out drove for 15 months and sold it for "almost" as much as I paid new. Same thing happend when I bought my 96 Impala SS LT-1 drove it for less than a year with very little depreciation. Hummmmmm, has me thinking already, sell the xB? Better wait till I get to the 1st oil change (NOT)...............LOL!

I can see that car being good for far longer than 7 years. As for style, no it won't be the most stylish but it will still be a sharp looking car. It will last as long as you do the preventative maintenance. It gets great gas mileage. And so far it's holding it's value fairly well. Just my .02 though, take it for what you will.

Zach

buy it and keep it.....it's soooo awesome....

It's a Toyota. You'll get tired of driving it, before you ever wear it out.

wow i do believe that toyo's are good cars but come one people i've blown quite a few lol.

Considering I've never had a new car ( the Saturn SL1 was a lease when I was married long ago, so that doesn't count :roll: ) and all the used cars I have owned I kept in top condition so they lasted 150,000 miles or more, I figure this lil' critter is going to last a looooong time.

I have now switched over to synthetic motor oil (better gas millage) so I think the engine will last forever. I guess that even if I do get another vehicle, I will keep this as a spare because it's:

1. so damn cool
2. going to be a classic someday
3. super reliable
4. very versatile

I love my xB!
:D

I have had over 30 cars in my life, and I always try to keep them for a while. Some I do; some I miss.

The Box has a chance to stay longer, since it's paid for, (no payments, means more for mods), and it's just about the coolest ding dong far out freak mobile I have ever had.

Yeah, I like the Box.

I will keep this thing as long as I can. I have problems with people running into me. What sucks is it is about every Feb for the last 3 years I have been hit. That is one reason I don't drive the xB as much. At the rate I am going, the car should have about 50-60 k miles in 7 years.

I wish I could keep the miles down like that on my xB. I have put 4000 miles on it in the first 6 weeks I've owned it. Hopefully that rate will slow down soon.

Zach

I definately see myself crusin in the xB 7years from now, Because it is so customizable you may get tired of one setup, wake up the next morning and switch it all up. THe more you make it yours, the longer you would want to have it. TRust me the attention that you get with this box will have you being admired for many more years. To the point you will not want to get rid of it, I know I won't!!

:D i had a 79 corolla that had 250k on it when i gave to father in law to drive, I think the box will last as long with regular maintenance.

79 rolla lol i remember those things. i helped a buddy turn a 78 into a drifter. oh hey zach i've got 6500 miles in almost 4 months i dont mind puttin miles on it but it's gonna make my ins get really expensive next year. thats why i'm gonna swap motors in the bimmer and fix tha supra

It doesn't have to up your insurance. Just tell them you drive no more than 11K a year. It's not like they're going to look at your odometer to prove you're telling the truth or anything. Just my .02 though

Zach

It is not a good idea to encourage people to lie to insurance companies.

It COULD effect their coverage. Also, depending upon the state, if there are annual inspections, the mileage is recorded and kept on file. It is a simple matter for insurance companies to check with Dept. of Motor Vehicles for the mileage.

It would be terrible if a company refused a claim because someone falsified a mileage report. Honesty is the best policy.

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 10:05 am Post subject: Its official! finally!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm a proud owner of an auto, thundercloud xB. no additional option, cept floor/cargo mats. no plans of modding it, well, if i can't resist it
sid

btw, i got it from PuenteHills Scion, with 2miles on it. just came in the other night, and I took it last night. Props to John Kim(sales) everything is smooth.

sid

Last edited by Sid_xBicious on Thu Jan 22, 2004 2:43 pm; edited 1 time in total
thats my post after I got mine. almost 1 year already with 10k miles.
yeah as long as it don't engage in an accident(major) i'll drive it for over 7 years.

Another thing is the fact that Scion is smart! A.) they only advertize on MTV- so you wont see a BUNCH of old people driving them (unlike the Element and PT cruiser)

i see ads for scions all the time, and i dont have MTV, they advertise on the basic cable stations abc, nbc, cbs, etc

mtv is basic cable everywhere i've ever been. at least mtv 1

HEy Sid, congrats on your new purshase. WElcome to life with a scion!!!

HEy Sid, congrats on your new purshase. WElcome to life with a scion!!!
lol!!!!
you should put that on this thread http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5689&highlight=

I expect 150K easy miles outta the box.....at my current rate that will be 4 or 5 years.....

Driving the box reminds me of driving my cousin's 1988 Tercel EZ, 'cept I have an extra gear. We took that car everywhere.....sometimes when we shouldn't have taken it anywhere..... :lalala:

I like the xB so much I can see myself owning one for as long as possible. I do my own maintanence so it should keep running the next 30 or so years. If not, that's what parts cars are for. We can rebuild it.

Well, ive been sitting here, for about 2 weeks contemplating what type of vehicle i should get. Obviously the xB has came to mind, but i have recently been wondering this question: Can i see myself in this car for 7 years? If you can see yourself in this car for about 7 years, post here. Easily. I plan to drive my xB until it is worn out, and I'm hoping that will be 10-11-12 years or more.

The last vehicle I bought NEW was an '84 Dodge Caravan (the second year for that vehicle) and I probably would have driven that 15 or more years if some butthead hadn't crashed his old-style RWD Impala into it and destroyed it when it was only 12 years old. (The Impala was hardly scratched -- they don't make 'em like THAT anymore! ;^) That Caravan was very practical with three kidlets . . . and although it had its issues I liked it really well . . . .

This xB is like a shrunk-down version of that Caravan, including the 5-spd stick and too-small engine, only MUCH more practical and better made. Plus after all these years, it cost about the same!

Will it go the distance? I would have not bought it if I didn't think so . . . .

Lets see................I have been a licensed driver for 31 years and have owned 28 different primary cars in that time (yes I have kept a accurate count). That count does not include any that I rebuilt for resale or extra part cars etc. So..........I figure I'll keep this xB for less than two years considering I start to get bored at the 12-18 month mark. "Varity is the spice of life".You are the ANTI-ME!

I've been a licensed driver for about 36 years and the cars I've owned are: Ford Cortina wagon, Datsun 240Z, VW Rabbit, Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager, and now the xB. Each previous vehicle except the Voyager was either totally worn out or destroyed by a crash. Interesting that they've ALL been hatch-backs . . . . I guess for me, practicality wins over variety every time . . . .

"... Another thing is the fact that Scion is smart! A.) they only advertize on MTV- so you wont see a BUNCH of old people driving them.."

The oldsters much be watching MTV around here because xBs are full them. My 60-year old sister in law leased an Absolute Red 2005 RS1 xA a year ago, and now I have ordered a TCM MT xB.

I plan on keeping my xb till the wheels fall off. First its a toyota so i know it will last through all of my abuse.Plus ive put to much money and myself into my ride to get rid of it.Truth is my next ride may be another scion.

I'm sure I will tire of the box before anything happens to it... but it makes a great beater car for me and its cheap to maintain... so it will be around for some years to come..

I'm going to keep driving my xB 'til the wheels fall off

It should last me 10+ years :D

I will still have mine, it will still look pimp and it will still be dropping panties for a long time.

What? That is what Pimped out Trucks are for. LOL That is really funny.

I'll still have mine when I buy my next car...and as for the style becoming 'dated' - I don't think that's even possible. For a style to become dated you have to be able to associate a time period with that style. To be able to do that there must be a number of examples of that style within the given time period. The xB is the only car that looks like it does in the States, so its style will NEVER be dated...and it's around in a time when you've got Honda curves, Cadillac chisels & Nissan bubbles. Honestly, there really isn't one glaring style of vehicle out right now...and that's a good thing for all of them.

Well, ive been sitting here, for about 2 weeks contemplating what type of vehicle i should get. Obviously the xB has came to mind, but i have recently been wondering this question: Can i see myself in this car for 7 years? If you can see yourself in this car for about 7 years, post here. Post why, and how you think the xB will still be a 'popular' yet good 'ride' in another 5 years or so. What will seperate itself from other vehicles in that 5 year time span? Is this a trade in car? Or is a car that will have an impact of the way we will drive in the future.

Yes I will own my car for a long time. I researched and "dreamed" about this car for 5 months before I purchased. The only other vehicle I liked was the Toyota Tacoma, but we already had a truck, so that went out the window, and I've never owned a Toyota, but owned a Honda, Subaru and Nissan. Why would I keep it so long? because this car is so fantastic to look at, we talk about it all of the time at work, and I've had it for 6 months! I was able to use it as a "work"vehicle today by packing in 16 big bags of shredded paper, to take to a recycler, it was the bomb. It is a car like no other, and my 17 year old loves taking it out on dates....if I only had it when I was 17 :P I think this is a car that has already had an impact...the cube?

The xB is the first vehicle I financed myself. It took 20-months but it's paid off. Gotta love the cheap starting price and the trade in value on my former Toyota 'Kamuri'. I don't really see myself trading it in. When it first came out, I couldn't sleep for 1-week after I test drove the xB. I fell asleep again when I presented the dealer my deposit. That was one odd experiance. I don't think another vehicle could do the same.

I got rid of a Ford F150 to buy the box which was a 4th vehicle. I like the idea of having an econo-box (pun intended) because of the instability of world oil supplies. I drive almost 900 miles a week for my job and do not want to worry when gas gets up to 3.50 or more a gallon. Everything I used the F150 for, I can do with the X. I will keep it for quite some time.

For a long life, the Toyota engineering and build quality are factors.
For a short life, there are possible factors of:
1. Inexpensive lightweight design, thin metal, fragile paint, critical mechanical components in front bumper.
2. Small, hardworking, high-revving engine.
3. Tightly packaged unibody may not be easily repairable, with tendency for cost of repairing accidents to exceed value of car ("totalling").
3. Used xBs on the market may often have owner-specific modifications not conducive to value or longevity.
4. Generally youthful owners may not have the situation or resources to maintain, repair, and garage the xB for many years and tens of thousands of miles.

i can see my self driving this car for at least ten years. the past two cars i've owned i kept one for 9 yrs and the other for 13yrs. out of neccesity more the anything else. i've never had a car that was as much fun as this one. belonging to a ever growing community of enthusiast i can see myself keeping it for a long time ,will the excitment i have every time i get in still be there? i don't know, but i'm going to have a blast while i wait to see. :ponder: :)

Here's my experience with Japanese cars purchased new:

1980.5 Datsun 210SL station wagon (5sp), lasted 11 years, 110k miles, was still running well when we sold it (replaced with a minivan). The most serious repair this car ever needed was new head gaskets.

1981 Toyota Tercel 2dr sedan (5sp) lasted 14 years, 150k miles, was still running well when we sold it (replaced with another minivan). The most serious repair it ever needed was a new clutch. (Note that this car is a direct ancestor of the Echo/xA/xB).

1991 Mazda MPV minivan (4 cyl auto); we gave it to our son 3.5 years ago, currently has 160k miles. Recently needed a new radiator, and also had to have its computer replaced a few years ago.

2002 Mazda MPV minivan (6cyl auto); has yet to need a major repair or cost us a dime for anything but routine maintenance.

2005 Scion xB (auto); I expect my faith in the longevity of Japanese cars, proven by personal experience, to not be broken by this car.

I don't even want to talk about the American cars I've owned.

RichC

1991 Mazda B2600i CabPlus, 150,000 miles, also bought new and needed a computer and radiator recently, still on original clutch. Still all like new, will keep it forever. Made in Japan, like the xB, so I have high expectations for the xB.

I don't even want to talk about the American cars I've owned.

Me either. We still don't seem to know how to build cars like the rest of the world...or maybe we do, but Hoffa made it too expensive to make a good car, so we make crap & pay everyone $25 an hour to do it.

My family has had good luck with Hondas....cough cough..... :lalala:

This includes my parents' 02 minivan and the 92 Accord that has 160K+ miles that I want to rice out and sell LOL....

Plus the 1984 Accord they sold with 220K miles to a neighbor who still drives it, my 1984 Civic Wagon (kinda like the box) that I sold with 160K, and my 1983 Prelude that my mom wrecked....she spun through the woods and bent every body panel on the car, some pretty bad, and that little thing still ran and drove.

The box is my first Toyota project to own, but I expect it to give many many miles, as I've said before.

But on the style issue....The xB is a true classic already. Especially as it's about to be replaced by that "thing". It is simple and clean. And it is a view into the future of autos, IMHO.

Not a view our domestic makers are seeing yet tho.... :yawn:

I plan on keeping mine! I've never wanted a car this bad!! Plus maybe if I keep mine, it will eventually be rare! lol People will say "You still drive one of those I didnt even think any were around anymore!" lol

I had it serviced last week and it had 33,032 miles already and the service manager said "Thats a lot of miles in sixteen months!! Good news is you have about six good years left in it!!" That made me feel GREAT!!!

I love my xB!!!!

BTW Im now at 33354!!! And I haven't even gone anywhere!!! lol

Metallic gray can look like silver, or is it pewter?

OMG! my oldest son calls it pewter just to mess with me! Yesterday he called and said "We bought you a Scion! Its PEWTER!!!!" augh! lol

33,000 plus mile in 15 mos.......like clock work..the box is rock solid