greetings everyone!

the wife and i are expecting our first child in january, and need to get a new, more family-friendly car. we have decided to get an xb. i've been doing some research on some of the options and have some questions that i hope people here can help answer.

i've been doing the "build your scion" form on the scion website and here are the wheels and performance options we are considering, and when i say "we" i really mean me since her response to my questions of "should we get this or that" is "i don't care". and the options are:

wheels:
19" TRD Alloy Wheel

performance:
TRD Lowering Springs
TRD Sport Muffler
TRD Rear Sway Bar
TRD Performance Air Filter
TRD Strut Tie Bar
TRD Performance Shocks
TRD Cold Air Intake
TRD Performance Brake Kit

for various reasons, we can't really do any aftermarket upgrades, so anything that can be done at the dealer has to be done at the dealer cause once we drive it off the lot, we probably won't take it anywhere else to get anything else updgraded. plus, i understand doing it this way has the added advantage of all parts falling under the 3yr warranty.

keep in mind this is supposed to be a family-friendly car, and yes i've gone a little overboard with the performance options, but this is sort of a once in a lifetime chance, so i figure why not.

all that being said, if you've read this far, here are the questions:

we are concerned about a stiff and bumpy ride. will the combination of parts above give a really hard and rough ride? cause if the wife breastfeeds, we don't really need another reason to add to her soreness and tenderness. if any of you have wives, you probably know what i'm talking about. we test drove an xb the other day, how noticeable of a difference is there between the stock set up and the upgrades? too rough for a sleeping baby?

sound: we added the muffler and cold air intake. while i think i'd enjoy a cool sounding muffler, i don't want anything too obnoxious that will wake up the neighborhood or any sleeping passengers or make it hard for our kid to fall asleep in the car.

any advice you guys can give would be greatly appreciated. and thanks!

 

First child and you want to go hard? My answer is NO.

 

The muffler won't be too loud. Its a nice deep tone. Not really loud and ricey. And on the interstate it isn't annoying either. I don't know much about the xB, but lowering springs you might have to be more careful about hitting things. The Strut bar and sway bar will give you better handling, idk if you need it though unless you plan on taking it to an off-road course. Wheels im sure are fine. braking system i have no clue, but better brakes im sure is a plus, but again not sure if its a need. And the shocks I am sure would make it a rougher ride, but haven't read about those either. So...
yes:
wheels:
19" TRD Alloy Wheel

performance:
TRD Sport Muffler
TRD Rear Sway Bar
TRD Performance Air Filter
TRD Strut Tie Bar
TRD Cold Air Intake
TRD Performance Brake Kit

Probably not:
performance:
TRD Lowering Springs
TRD Performance Shocks

Hope I helped

 

I have a child myself and drive a tC. Children will sleep through anything lol. My son sleeps in the car anytime it starts moving, I think the sound of the car is soothing? As for the suspension, it shouldn't bother the child, but more a question of if the wife will like it. I wouldn't worry too much about the baby, they adapt quite well to noise and bumps. Your wife should ride in an xb with the upgraded suspension to figure out if it will add to the soreness or not. (I have a tC so i cannot vouch for the xb's ride)

 

the TRD 19's will give you a noticeably rougher ride. you may want to steer away from them, and go with the optional 17's which have more sidewall (and replacement tires are a lot more affordable)

The TRD big brake kit, i dont think i'd go with. Its a lot of money, and if you're going to be using the car as a daily, and not really performance oriented save the money for the kids college fund.

i'd say go with the TRD lowering springs, Cold air intake, exhaust, Strut tower bar, and rear sway bar.

The TRD Performane Air Filter is a drop in for the stock air box. The TRD Cold Air Intake is a complete intake/filter system.

 

I agree w/ Big Jim. Get the opt. 17's and not to get the TRD BBK. I lowered my '08 xB on Tein H-Tech springs and the ride is just a little more rough, but not bad (girlfriend approved). I say yes to the TRD CAI/exhaust, TRD lowering springs and Strut tower bar

 

First of all, congrats on the baby.

I have the TRD springs and would get them again.

I would also get the following although the CAI and rear sway are pricey:

TRD Rear Sway Bar
TRD Strut Tie Bar
TRD Cold Air Intake

I would not get the following:

19" TRD Alloy Wheel
TRD Sport Muffler
TRD Performance Air Filter
TRD Performance Shocks
TRD Performance Brake Kit

 

congrats on baby on the way. Any wife that says "don't care" on mods is a keeper.

TRD 17" shoes
TRD CAI
TRD rear sway
TRD lowering springs

Ride will be fine. Strut tower bar is a waste of $ unless you are racing. I know you said no aftermarket , but you could save 1/2 TRD prices by taking to quality aftermarket shop in your area. This forum will hook you up with shop that is better than dealer.

 

Thanks for the tips and advice everyone. I'm curious why no one suggested getting the poerformance shocks. is it a cost issue or are they not that great?

i think i've settled on the following:

17" alloys (cost of replacement tires was something i didn't think of, plus it has a taller sidewall for a smoother ride than the 19"s)

springs, sport muffler, rear sway bar, and CAI. i'm hedging on the tie bar.

i've been trying to find a balance between letting the geeky side of me wanting to fully mod it and the practical side of me being practical and getting a family car. i think the geeky side is winning.

i noticed that the scion site updated with a 2010 option. not much different other than audio options and the color red option, sizzling crimson mica vs. blackberry crush metallic but they look the same. anyone know the difference?

i think we're leaning towards the super white. with tinted windows it'll look pretty nice.

 

I have all the TRD suspension tidbits and the 19"s. The ride is fine. If my senior citizen parents enjoy riding in my car, your kids/wife should have no problem.

 

ah we meet again quackpot!

so when are you coming to socal so you can take me for a ride a long?

 

I thought your post sounded familiar...

No plans to hit up cali anytime soon. Keep us posted on what you end up getting.

The only two things I wish I had purchased but didn't, was the supercharger and the big brake kit. I'm pretty sure once I finish school and become gainfully employed (crossing fingers) I will get the brake kit.

 

I have tokico shocks on mine and don't feel much diff. from stock. TRD's are very expensive. At this point only a few manufacturers make shocks for our box. TRD's are rumored to be made by KYB, not known for performance shocks. 2010 is a direct carry over from 08, 09, except for colors and audio.

 

I HIGHLY recommend you get the trd shocks if you plan to get the springs installed. You will regret not doing so (I sure as heck did). I wish I had done both upgrades at the same time so I didnt have to remove and reinstall the suspension twice. The oem shocks will not last long with lowering springs and I learned the hard way for being stubborn and cheap.

Skip the trd muffler and get the trd perfomance shocks.

 

How long did the factory shocks last you?

 

finally picked up the car on saturday and i couldn't be happier:



opted for the 17" alloys. got the CAI, muffler, springs, shocks, sway bar and strut brace. couldn't be happier. ride is not obnoxious, and super smooth. thanks to everyone who responded.

 

i love the new wheels theyre running, swap me for my tc wheels