Ive done alot of searching and cant find a thread on this. Im looking into getting a new car and have either the Xb or the matrix in mind. Im a college student and will being doing alot of highway commuting. I want to get an auto tranny no matter which car. I really like the Xb but with 108 hp im a little concerned it wont have enough get up and go for freeway driving. Is this the case with the auto Xb? Im not looking for a speeding ticket. Unlike many out there, i understand that it is not a fast car and I am not looking for one. Just something with good gas mpg, awesome styling, reliability etc... But enough power to merge and keep up with the flow. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry if this is a repost.
Thanks!

I drive 80 mph on the freeway. You just have to watch out when your changen lanes if anyone is cumming up cause when u stomp on it, you dont go anywhere.

intake , header , full exhaust , but yes even stock it has decent power , when i first test drove it i was suprised what only 108 hp could do

the xB is prety light. the 108 HP is peppy when you least expect it. if you check your mirriors you should be able to pass with no proble.

i havent driven an automatic in a long time, im not sure how they will react. but the 5 speed works out a tad better because of less weight

its not the weight savings it the non hp killin torque converter

they geared these things really low...
it will have enough power to handle daily traffic....

I have been doing a lot of comparison work before I decide to go with the box. Matrix was one of them. Here is how I see it for you:
both of them are great car in different aspect.
If you have to deal with a lot of freeway driving regularly, AND not expect to mod it, simply stock, go for Matrix. Just because Matrix has better aerodynamic body and with an engine 1/5 larger than xB's.

If you have cargo and passengers in the car offen, you should go with the Box.

The reason I go with the Box is I need a econ, roomy family car.
If you ha

It moves fine. Real fine.

And with the CAI, and full Borla and stuff like that there, moves even better.

I drive 80 mph on the freeway. You just have to watch out when your changen lanes if anyone is cumming up cause when u stomp on it, you dont go anywhere.

:rofl:

So true....

-THE DON

I've got no problems and no complaints with the Auto. I LOVE it. And most of my driving is freeway and people can't/won't keep up the pace...

I disagree with the stomp it and don't go. It would do the same thing in a stick in 5th... You gotta shift it, the auto's gotta shift too and it does if you are prepared. If you're just lolly-gagging along and then expect to stuff your foot in it for an instant burst of speed, it'll react the same regardless of the tranny... IMO

I drove the matrix a 4wd one and was not impressed with its
handeling/highway manners and its small trunk and stupid
cargo cover just made me say no then a year later the xb was released in my part of the world i instantly loved the handeling the drive the looks everything!! (ok it too has a stupid cargo cover and questionable trunk space ) but i think its a better cruiser

I disagree with the stomp it and don't go. It would do the same thing in a stick in 5th... You gotta shift it, the auto's gotta shift too and it does if you are prepared.

Exactly. You have to shift it. You realize that a lot quicker than an automatic transmission does. My manual xB is FAR more peppy and able to accelerate simply because I can downshift it when it needs to compared to my automatic Echo (which is in many respects the same car as the xB.) My Echo, slam on the gas, and about 20 seconds later it finally realizes you are hoping to accelerate and downshifts for you. There were numerous times when I cursed my Echo for not giving me the acceleration I needed, especially when merging onto the freeway in hilly WV.

http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30182&highlight=

This thread should tell you everything you need to know

-THE DON

I have an auto and im quite conent with it. And be truthful... from rolling, i keep up with manual xBs just fine. But dont tell them that! shhhh

As far as the freeway goes, put intake and exhaust. I hear they help give u top end torque!

ehh.. got an auto xB... it can move if ya stomp on it.. twice...at least thats what i've noticed..if need to merge to a fast lane and gap is clossing... tap the gas release then stomp it seems to make it down shift a bit quicker...and go... still not as fast as a manual im sure...but quicker than than just stomp and hold....IMO

Thanks guys for all the input. I still need to test drive one, hopefully this weekend. Sounds like it has enough power to go. Thats what i want. Ive heard the matrix doesnt get near the mileage that the xb gets. But who knows with EPA ratings.HAHA

reviews are more positive for the scion on reliability. I like the look of the matrix, and the inside.. and contrary to some previous comments, I like the hard liner bed of the matrix.. looks great for camping and other type of functions. It is the same car as the pontiac vibe, fyi. the xr comes with the power inverter (has a regular outlet in he front for connecting a laptop, electric shaver, stereo.. whatever. It looks like a nice car.

I chose the scion because I like the looks, the space, the height.. and I think in the long rn it will be a bit more reliable. But, if my wife needs a car in 2 years Iwill definitely consider a matrix, CRV w/ side airbags, Forester (which I almost got instead of the scion), that is.. unless she feels she wants a scion, too.. ;)

as far aspower.. it's fine. I drive 70+ on freeways all the time.. it's fine.

once u get h.e.i. you will have much more power , i can go from say 60-80 very very quickly while still staying in 5th , say a few seconds. and by few i mean few ,i'm not exaggerating.

once u get h.e.i. you will have much more power , i can go from say 60-80 very very quickly while still staying in 5th , say a few seconds. and by few i mean few ,i'm not exaggerating.

h.e.i. ???

header.exhuast.intake i usually see them in a different order so it hit me like wtf for a sec. I have a 5 speed but I did test drive an auto on i295, if your acellerating from an offramp say like 20 to 80 it will pull you thru just fine but 60-80 and the like are more difficult. same goes for the 5 speed on that one too.

Think of it this way. Many of the Vintage Porsches of the
60's and early 70's were SUB-100HP.

My 72 Porsche 914 has 79 horse power, but I had no
problems driving it 350 miles home from the collector I
got it from!!

It's all about power to weight. The lighter you can make
the vehicle, the further that 100 HP goes.

So the reverse is also true...you have the car loaded with
sub-woofers, you and 3 friends, and a full tank of gas...
I can imagine it showing it's weekness.

Toyota Matrix 2wd Auto: $15,560 MSRP
Scion xB Auto: $14,995 MSRP


I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you will not find a Toyota Matrix from the dealer for the MSRP. The xB on the other hand is going to be "pure priced". So take your savings on the xB and purchase yourself one of these if your still feeling under powered.


Blitz Supercharger: Retail Price: $3500.00
Part Number:
10156 / 10157

I drive 80 mph on the freeway. You just have to watch out when your changen lanes if anyone is cumming up cause when u stomp on it, you dont go anywhere. periin pulley fixes everything.. totally makes good use of the 108 hp... u get thrown back, yes u heard it right, from 1st to second, and it picks up nice on the highway.......... on a 5 speed not sure bout the auto :bow: i recomend the NEW pulley to anybody

Interesting, and all this does is lower the spinning mass
right?

wait a minute are talking about the scion xb cause mine runs like a bat out of hell,i was surprise the way this car gets up and go for a 108 hp on the highway it's like driving a mod honda civic,maybe it's me but i think this car has a faster take of than the base model honda civic,at the light when i stomp on the gas the car just leap screeming down the road and mine is at stock i think you will like the xb cause it's different and you get a lot of attention driving..

one thing worries me. I hope that everyone i keep seeing posting 108 hp is not thinking that is what they're putting down at the wheels. 108 is what you're making on a 5-speed at the flywheel. In reality you only put down about 90-92 hp at the wheels.

Interesting, and all this does is lower the spinning mass
right? yep and i believe it is smaller or something liek thta, and much lighter which lets the car rev fast, translating into feeling like the car has more horse....

not smaller (thats called under driven) just lighter.

if it was smaller you could not use the stock belts. read munch's first post (problems with perrin pulley).

it is only lighter...

:lalala: my bad, just lighter i knew it to but wasnt sure...........

I just read through this thread and am surprised nobody has mentioned the overdive button on the automatic. I find that if I want some increased acceleration, toggling the overdrive mode definitely helps. It is kind of like downshifting by having the automatic use a lower gear I think.
Sometimes when I'm on a scion cruise with a bunch of other owners who are driving fast, I find myself just leaving the overdrive button on the whole time :)

I have an atomatic I think it has enuff pep, 90% of my driveing is on the freeway I do just fine in fact I think its great for traffic it zips in and out of lanes when needed. Get a intake and muffler :wink: It makes it perform way better than stock.