So I currently have a 01 Ford Focus LX (yuck) and now am ready to buy a new car.... Which has brought me to the Scions.

I couldn't find the HP on the XA/XB but found that the TC is 160HP. I live around a lot of hills/mountains so HP is important. I went to the dealership today and they said the XA/XB are around 130HP but got a brocure, which says that are just over 100. Is this true that they are just over 100? If so its kind of pointless to look at the XA and XB if they are so low on HP.

I like all 3 of them, though the XBs seem to have a somewhat Van feel to it. I'll be test driving them next week. But can anyone confirm that the HP on the XA/XB sucks? If so are there any mods to add to the HP to at least make it perform better than my current car? I'm thinking the 4cycl. Focus is around 120-130HP.

The xB is rated for less than 110HP, but it is also pretty light, so it doesn't seem as slow as it should.

108 is what i know to be the xB's hp w/o mods, but honestly compared to a domestic, the tranny is slow. not hating on my own xB though. w/o mods, i did 80 mph and above, easy, through twisties and up/down hill - - keep in mind, i had 4 scuba tanks, gear for two, and clothing/accomodations for two nights in the back seats. IMO the xB is well worth the $, but it all depends on the feel you want

the xB will feel like a van for a while, but now, i love it, about a week or two to get used to the feel, and a standard honda will feel too low to the ground and obscured. my gf has the tC (05) and the auto tranny is okay imho, ive driven lotsa cars in my short lifespan, but ive never loved a car as much as my xB.

again though, the acceleration on an MT, (what i have) is good, its solid till the last thousand RPM, and doesnt feel like a van, but more a sport wagon (which btw is the insurance category that it falls under "small wagon")

good luck w/ur purchase, you'll be happy w/any scion you get!

as for mods, i got the injen SR intake, it's nice, a good grunt and good low end power feel, JIC exhaust (AB) is nice too, perfect w/silencer in, and loud, but good torque w/silencer out.

and STILL 30mpg even if i sprint around town

108 horses + 2395lbs (manual tranny) = peppy! :)

ugh, i was initially turned off when i drove the box in a friends AT box with the power. but after test driving both transmissions again several years later at the dealer, my friends and i was really impressed with the pull of the manual transmission xB.

saying there are a lot of hills in San Francisco is a total understatement, and i haul a lot of bass gear weighing in at several hundred pounds. i don't have a problem pulling around town as long as i keep my RPMs high when i need it.

dont just rely on numbers, drive it yourself and let that make a believer out of you!

and besides, the box is so much cooler than the focus! :)

good luck!

I just traded in my 130hp Focus for a 108hp xB, and I am totally satisfied with the acceleration. But you didn't say whether you're getting stick or auto - that makes a big difference in the xB's ability to get out of it's own way. I was initally concerned as you are about the lower hp in the xB, but now I couldn't be happier!

Sounds good overall... Sounds like I should go MT. I really dont mind either way, I prefer AT as you dont have the roll back when on a steep hill (BTW I live in Oregon). So not TO MUCH of a worry its just a little nicer to not have the roll back, outside of that ONE downside I do like MT as you have more control.

I have always liked the XB, my wife is almost dead set on the XA so she will be getting this first. I just wanted to know more about their feel and actual power.

Checking on Vehix the Focus apparently is 2,676lbs. w/130 HP. I do currently have a AT in it and it does blow goats with its engine problems. The XB is 2,469lbs. so the pound difference is nice but I'll definately be looking into some cheap/quick HP upgrades. I'll be definately looking on the forum and reading up on some upgrades.

I was worried about the HP before I bought my box, until I drove it. I drove both the manual and the auto and really recommend the manual.

I was dead set on buying a civic before I drove the box. The civic only has 115HP.

I bought the box b/c I liked the size and look-there aren't too many around so you get a lot of attention. :silly:

I've got the 5 speed and have no complaints.
It's real happy running in the high rpms. :lalala:
It's no SC or SS truck, for what it is it moves along pretty good.
It may see a blower in it's future...

WW 8)

The XB is 2,469lbs. so the pound difference is nice but I'll definately be looking into some cheap/quick HP upgrades. I'll be definately looking on the forum and reading up on some upgrades.

if i'm mistaken, the MT xB is 2395lbs. i think you've got the weight for the auto, but then again, whats a few pounds

hey

not an xB owner yet...YET

but havent really seen this.

does the xB have a 3rd brake light?
i might have just missed it on some pics!

yup, in the rear window below the spoiler

cool i figured it was just couldnt see it because of the tint!

thanks!

i took my box to co over the winter and it suprized the heck out of me we went to vail and it had no probs at all. and i got 35 mpg to boot so i say xb all the way man. welcome to your new addiction. :clap: