This is my first post! I searched through the previous posts and didn't see anythign in reference to suggestions on what options to get when buying a new xB(but I could've missed it and apologize if I have).

I'm going to buy an xB in the next few days/weeks and they're so reasonably priced I may throw in some options. I've been reading the forums though and saw a few nice websites(allscion.com & newscioparts.com) that offer things like the cargo cover, runner plate cover, sport petal, arm rest(!!!) and some other things. Are there any options that I should definitely get and are best to purchase w/the car? I know that in the past when buying a car the extras are always marked up. I'm wondering if I should buy a vanilla car adn then buy the little extras from various websites which are relatively easy to install.

When you bought your xB did you buy any options, what were they and looking back now that you have your xB are they worth it? I really love the looks, the drive, the size and gas mileage on this car.

Phew!! I think that's it. I'm sure I'll think of a few more.

So what does everyone have? What did you buy w/the car and what do you think I should do?

 

I bought a bone stock TCM 5 speed practically 2 years ago, within 1.5 weeks. Why? Cuz dealer prices are over-inflated, and I knew my xB was going to go thru some changes.

 

- I'm really wondering about the spoiler. It looks really cool without it but it looks pretty good w/it as well. I guess that's an opinion thing.

I like it.

- The option rear tail lights look great and it's probably best to get that fromt he factory.

Most of the stock accessories can be had online for a lot less than the dealer charges. A lot of them are really easy to install. I'd get these online and install them yourself.

- Exhaust tip is cool but maybe I can buy that for less and do it myself?

I got mine at Pep Boys for $26. It took 10 minutes to install and looks sweet. Go aftermarket here.

- Rear bumper applique? Buy that after market? It looks good from the factory though.

I'd get this at the dealer, just because I'd go nuts trying to get it centered perfectly.

- Should I get the B+C pillar appliques? What is that?

They're stick on carbon fiber things. Do not purchase them.

- Looking at the scion.com xB website accessories it shows an arm rest but it's not an option when I'm going through building a car.

They probably haven't updated it. Just order it online, it's supposed to be a snap to install.

- Do I get the alarm system or get one after market where I can choose what I get and maybe get a better one than factory installed?

Go aftermarket here. You'll get much, much more for your money.

- Should I get the 15" 7 spoke alloy wheel? It looks really nice but maybe it's better to get something like that after market?

Go aftermarket here. There are thousands of wheels to choose from (including sweet 15s), so why limit yourself to the dealer ones?

- Sport muffler or cold air induction? No idea about those two.

These make the car a little faster and a little louder.

nice signature carpet floor mats?

Get these from the parts department. They're worth the 50-60 bucks.

- Grey steering wheel? Is that a one piece built into the steering wheel piece or an overlay like the ones I saw for $35?

It's stitched into a new wheel.

- xB automatic doesn't have 5 speed and only 4 speed? I like manual but anyone who drives in a lot of traffic hates it and I speak from experience. One and off the clutch! Ugh. =)

Uh, yeah. It's a 4 speed auto.

- BTW, the dealer will do leather for it for about $1200. I think I'm going to get black leather.

I'd call around to the upholstery shops in your area. Chances are the dealer just has this done at a shop somewhere. You could probably go to the shop yourself and get a better deal. You can get aftermarket for about a thousand and get some sweet 2 tone action going. You can install it yourself for around 6-700 if you're feeling ambitious.

- They can also do an Italian sunroof which looks incredible but I don't think I'm going to do that. I never use a sunroof and they are sort of a waste, at least for me. I sun beating down on my head isn't comfortable.

Matter of personal choice here.

 

You guys rock! Thanks for such quick replies. I appreciate the insight. This is a great community.

max2k: agree about the bumper applique. i'm the same way. would drive me insane trying to make sure it's centered. Also, can you point me to an online site w/some good rear tail lights? I'm assuming I just unscrew them and screw on new ones? I'm not much of a car tweaker so maybe thi sis obvious to some but I always think I'll screw things up taking off light covers, etc. I'll definitely go after market on the car alarm and get leather from a place outside of the delaer(w/their added market like you said. The stitched wheel I guess is a personal preference. I'll think about that one and look at a few w/spoilers or no spoiler.

squirrel: Sweet lookin ride! Wow. It looks like an Xbox in the back and XBox controllers in your hand but it's touch to tell. I see the video screens in there. Do you have a GPS in the front there or is that another vid screen? I have the TomTom Go and love it. I'm thinking of how I can maybe build it into the car. I definitely don't want anything like that from the dealer but I'd also like to hide my TomTom cigarette lighter cord.

Again, thanks guys.

 

I just read this at thcarconnection.com

Both the xA and xB are "powered" by 102-hp, 1.5-liter engines, so a few more horsepower courtesy of an AEM induction kit ($335) and TRD sport muffler ($500) is vital.

It also says not to get automatic but I'm going to get it. I know all and all manual will give me better performance I just don't feel like driving a stick shift. I drove one for years and I'm tired of it. Anyway, will a sport muffler and induction kit really significantly increase performance/speed/pickup? I'm sure this can all be bought after market as well and I can have someone install it if I really want to or even give it a shot myself. Is the Scion engine that roomy or does it take a lot to get around in it to do work on it? Is just changing the oil sort of tough b/c of the way the engine is situated or ir adding something like this inductor kit easy? I would assume adding a sport muffler is simple. Just take off the old one and add the new one...

I'll go read the performance forum section for more tips but just wanted to ask this additional question about this one comment in reference to options.[/url]

 

Stay Away From The Scion Security System It SUCKS!!! Sorry about that but it does suck you can buy an aftermarket one that is way better and cheaper too. and the cargo cover looks cheesy it just sags there not good at all. But get what you feel would look good and you think is worth getting from the dealer.

 

bur everyhting aftermarket......except if you want cruise control..it is a pain to install

 

I have three 7 inch screens (one in the front two headrests and one above the glove box), a 4 inch screen in my rear view mirror, and a 15 inch drop down in the rear. There is also a game port that an xBox or Playstation can be hooked to. At the time the pic was taken, Ken (NCP31) was playing Forza on xBox.

I'm the one sitting there watching him, wearing the black and white checkered Vans.

 

Dealer prices are outrageous!! I asked for a set of lug nuts at the dealer over $110, you can find almost anything for cheap on ebay or anywhere else.

 

Awesome. Thanks again everyone for the replies.

LVBoxman: I definitely won't be getting the security system. =)

 

I would order pretty much everything online now. I bought my scion w/ only one option, auto tranny that is; however, I ordered floor mats, cargo mats, cargo net, cargo cover, cargo tote, roof spoiler, obx pedal covers, door sills, cruise control, led interior kit, led cup holder kit, center arm rest, tein s-tech springs, dual halo projector headlights, fog light grill, colgan bra, rear bumper applique, enkei j10/kumho tires, and compustar security system right away. You will save at least a few hundreds by ordering parts online!
Spoier looks good. It's a bit scary to install it, but it's not that hard.

rear tail lights look great too, but it's still cheaper to get them online and the installation is fairly easy.

Exhaust tip is cool, but its at least 50% cheaper at the autozone

Rear bumper applique. I like my oem one, and it's only 16 or 17 online.

Should I get the B+C pillar appliques? Those are carbon fiber appliques. They look good, but kinda pricey imo
Arm rest. you have a lot of choice, but I chose to go with the oem one b/c I like how it looks and it's fairly easy to install too.

alarm system. I just had my cumpustar installed, and I really like the auto start.

Should I get the 15" 7 spoke alloy wheel? No, those are too expensive imo.

muffler or cold air induction? I would get injen short ram & magnaflow cat back

nice signature carpet floor mats? cheaper onlin



$1200 for leather? try katzskin, and they offer 2 tone option too

 

I don't know about anyone else, but I like the pioneer 6 cd chgr in my xB. It plays MP3's so I have over 800 songs in my deck. I get lost! lol

 

off topic:
i swear to crap brad, you have one of the nicest xB out there

on topic:
i bought an ALMOST bone stock xB because the options are WAY overpriced for what they are and most of it is stuff i coudl install/make myself. all i got was the spoiler and pedal covers to hold me over until i started modding (which i did)

 

I totally agree. I bought mine almost bone dry, I had the cruise control installed that way it can be covered under warranty and my personal feeling is that the rear spoiler makes a diff. The rest of the options can be found at local stores or on line order. When I picked my car up there was a invoice left in my truck. The dealer was working on three cars at the time, anyway the invoce showed a total of 1900 for a set of 18 inch wheels/tires. Now that is crazy. I bought some nice Exel DL-45 on sale for 450 a set (18's) from wheelmax and when it came in I just went to a local store and bought rubbers. Some people load their cars up at the dealer and are financing 18 to 23k. One question - WHY?????????????

 

i wish i was offered the chance to buy cruise control.

 

Thanks again for all of the replies. I've given it more thought and I'm definitely going to buy it petty much bone dry. I may buy the mats and the spoiler but that's it. Oh! I decided to wait for the 2006 in a few weeks and get the iPod addon. I think that's definitely worth it and realyl nice looking. As much as I use my iPod this will be great.

I've had cruise control on my cars for 11 years and have used it maybe twice...even in looong drives. I just don't like having my car on cruise and prefer to have control. I don't like it. =)

I'll start ordering my stuff now!

 

Dude glad you have decided to go bone dry, at today's rate, who wants to finance that much. Save yourself the money and grief. One more thing, if you are going to wait, it is a good thing to shop like a woman and turn all the stores upside down and shop for bargins. Get good deals. Trust me it is worth it. Good luck and welcome to the club.

 

same here. driving 12 hours without cruise suks major

 

xCube: thanks for welcoming me. also, believe me, i've been scouring these sites looking at every shop and price and part. i'll make sure that i get the best stuff and best price. i'm not in any hurry so why rush and buy stuff? good point.

fire: if i drive 2 hours that's a long drive and 3hrs is a REALLY long drive. i can fly southwest out of baltimore to san diego for $99 so why drive anywhere any more? i drive locally and that's about it. maybe baltimore, DC and philly and once a year ocean city. you can't drive to iceland, london and paris and i fly for $129 to miami(ft lauderdale). i love the airline price wars. lol.

 

i'm somewhat in the same boat as you are. i'm looking at getting a polar white xB with just cruise added right now and the 5-speed. there were quite a few options that i want on the xB but none of them were things i couldn't do without. those options totaled almost a grand and i don't want to go out and pay 16,500 for a new xB. another good thing about buying the options online is that you can get the things when you have money for them if you don't have the money when you go to purchase the car. thats the situation im in and it will have higher resale than it did when you bought it adding the factory options down the line if you ever chose to sell it.