I have been doing alot of traveling lately... I have been taking 500+ mile trips.. most of them are day trips.. there and back in the same day.
Glad I got the automatic and cruise control.. Cruising along at 70 mph shows an indicated 2900 rpms. 80mph is about 3350. Then when I hit the metro areas, I don't have to shift in stop and go traffic.
Dont get me wrong... I love to drive a stick.. my other cars are all sticks except for the wifes accord.
After test driving the manual xB... I don't feel it was much quicker than the auto... I'm sure it does accel a bit faster... but not by much.
Just wish the box had a more refined sounding engine... this thing sounds like a tokoyo UPS truck..

 

I like the fact I can't hear the engine. I like a quiet cab. I bought the auto also and after reading threads about the clutch giving out and rattling there is no way I would get 1. These cars aren't built to hot rod and chirp the tires but many people do it. Once a few people snap cv joints and tear something up they may drive it easier. Plus there is only so much you can get out of the small engine. Maybe if the box had a TC motor in it it would be more streetable but not how it sits now.

 

I agree with you on the auto , my old xb was a manual and got sick of it and as long as you know how to work the auto its just about as quick. and its so much nicer not haveing to clutch all the time in traffic. Now I just need an armrest since my right arm is not doing as much as it used to, (I have it on order)

 

I'm with you guys. I've had many sticks over the years, and in the old days I'd never saddle a little bitty engine like this with an auto.

But modern AT's are different. Lighter (only a 50lb penalty), smarter (microprocessor controlled to complement the engine and learn how you drive), and a lot more reliable than they used to be.

That the AT yields a quieter car with potentially better MPG at highway speeds in the xB just seals the deal.

After years of driving sticks, the thrill is gone. Shifting for optimal performance on twisty mountain roads or rural highways is one thing; wearing out the clutch inching along in a traffic jam on I95 is something else again, and not what I'd call fun.

Toyota did a nice job matching the AT to the rest of the drivetrain in the xB. Definitely worth the extra cash, IMO.

RichC

 

I agree.. the tranny is well matched.. Shifts are quick and smooth... full throttle shifts are quick with no slippage. In town.. the tranny upshifts quickly to high gear for better fuel economy... I also like the high gear lock-out feature to keep in the lower gears when you are in stop&go..

 

whatever floats yer boat.

 

It floats my boat, I wanted the stick, but got an auto. It works great for me. If I had gotten the stick I would have toasted the clutch a long time ago.

 

all yous with AT's concider yourselves lucky,with my maunal xb, i am at about 4100k rpm at 80mph in 5th gear. you have the advantage at high speed on the highway...
but... i beat my wifes 06 RS3 AT all day long with the same mods going through the gears...

 

its been mentioned before. its tough to make a 1.5 L sound good. The main reason I am still running a stock exhaust. I really dont want that weedwacker sound

 

So let me see you ran 18 in the quarter and she ran 18.4? Not a big enough difference for me to have to shift for hours in traffic. I like to have a free hand for when the wifes in the passenger seat.

 

I Driven Standard Trans for Years...I Enjoy the Auto in My Box...Standards that Were Fun...Austin Healey 3000 Mark 2..4 on the floor With 12 Volt Overdrive...Triumph Spitfire..4 on The floor...56 Ford Pickup..3 On The Tree..312 Motor..Merc Comet 6 Cyl Motor..Factory 4 On The Floor..lets not Forget.v6 53 Detroit..With A 5 And A 4 ...Thats A 5 Speed Trans With A 4 Speed Trans Behind The 5....You Split The 5 Speed With The 4 Speed...Shifting 2 Trans At Once...That Was A Dump Truck

 

I think my girl would be ____ed if I had a stick, she is always holding my hand, or my hand is someplace else

 

And Detroit 318 With 13 Speed Trans That Was Fun

 

I love my auto PW Box. I am going to put a short air ram but then leave the rest of the drivetrain stock. I really do miss my manual shifting '72 VW Bus. It was always an adventure shifting the bus. It felt like shifting each gear was a chapter in my life. It was like chakra meditation. If I get a second vehicle it will be a small truck with a stick shift. But it won't be the bus.

 

i got a stick

i hate auto, its not hard to drop a clutch in and when your auto tranny goes your going to pay out the but to get it rebuilt. When the stick clutch goes its like 400 bucks with a centerforce clutch

ive had both and my blown auto tranny was 2K to fix, my bad clutch in my MR2 was 300 bucks

i would go stick anyday

 

At least someone gets it. lol


Nowadays autos live just as long as manuals. People neglect the maintenance on them. You must change the fluid and the filter on a regular basis. Just like the engine life is due to oil the same goes for the tranny. Plus with the extra money I save in gas by driving my auto if I ever do need to fix my tranny that cash will be there.

 

If you want just the engine to sound better then get a header.Mine when I had the stock exhaust and header with intake the motor sounded really tough.Then after the exhaust I cant hear the engine as much anymore.

 

lol. i have a free hand at all times while on the phone , driving , having a cigarette and with the girlfriend. skills. , lol

 

Living in the city I definately opted to get an auto although coming from a long line of sticks, I was very hesitant in the end I got an auto. I would do it the same 10x if I had to, I cruise on the freeway at 90mph easily, I can sweep thru the mountains in 2nd gear and not have to worry about downshift when I slow down, and when needed I can smoke and drive thru S.F. during rush hour ;-)

 

I do a lot of city driving too. Opted for the automatic, glad I did. I've yet to hear all the "engine noise" and 'road noise" everyone talks about. my xB is a whole lot quieter than the F-150 I traded . Plus I can cruise at 80-90 mph very easily if I choose (100mph a few times). I am very impressed with this little motor and tranny.