is it just me or is there anyone else out there who feels that xb's aren't put together with the top products? they're toyota's granted but it seems they put them together pretty cheaply (lacking quality) due to the fact of trying to keep cost low. my bumpers and side skirts seem pretty flimsy and stuff. i don't know if this is the right place for this post... if not admins feel free to replace it.

 

Hum.. I would think they are pretty standard to whats out there, I came from owning a 2000 bmw and there bumpers are the same way i dont know what to say. Its not a america POS cars that weight 5000lbs

 

yeah true. iunno i've just been very paranoid with this car because it's new so i expect the best but i hope i actually got a Wednesday car instead of a Monday or Friday one.

 

It is pretty standard. Most cars are nothing but big lego's anymore.

 

I feel mine is put togther just fine. I do wish the rear bumper had a little more support to it.

 

My wife had an Echo went they first came out---talk about cheap! You could dent the door by looking at it. For the money, our cars are put together pretty well!

 

They are a pretty honest little box.

They may not have the feel of sturdiness that something like a big GM or Ford 4X4 has, but they also don't weigh 8000 pounds...

MOST modern cars tend to be rigid interior frameworks with lightweight pieces hung on the outside to give them some sort of marketable shape. Ours are no different.

The is the second of the 28 vehicles I've owned that doesn't have what *I* consider bumpers - something that if bumped in parking wouldn't really matter - they were THERE to be bumped. I don't like that, and it makes me a bit paranoid, but most of the rest of the new cars out there are like that, too.

The majority are designed to protect the occupants first, and little effort seems to be given to maintaing the body in pristine condition. Rather than heavy exterior pieces able to fend off damaging blows, the market these days gets easily and quickly replacable shells designed to take one hit and be replaced.

That's not what I'm used to, and maybe not what I'd prefer, but that's what is out there today.

Tomas

 

The day of the week rule only applies to cars made in Detroit....
O, I forgot- They don't make cars in Detroit anymore, do they?! *OH BIG SNAPS*

They seem flimsy becasue they're polyurethane. They're supposed to be all soft like that, so they can bounce back after some idiot hits your car.

 

It's not just Detroit, trust me. I had THREE Monday Morning MGs in my day... (One even came with an empty bottle of Guiness inside the passenger door. On second thought, maybe that was a Friday car.)

Tomas

 

Since they are only held on with a few screws and push in plastic rivets, if you curb it you will only ruin one part.

 

yeah thanks for the responses. yeah i love my box regardless and i can understand that the bumpers aren't as rigid as say a newer, heavier domestic. oh well now the only problem i have is the lack of money to add a few nice things to my car.

 

I had two engines within 10,000 miles on my MG midget. Traded that bad boy as soon as I could!! Those had to be the worst manufactured cars of all time......

 

well moms 03 venture is just barely less flimsy as far as body panels go. and the skirting is just as flexible for the reasons listed above.

also she has had tons and tons of warrenty work done for various issues.

 

One thing that I thought of the first time I pulled the front bumper off(after 3 days of owning it) was that when they made these cars...they had the aftermarket in mind. The ease of removal of the bumper, headlights, taillights, etc made me think that these cars were MADE to be modded.....as the aftermarket shows for them as well.

Josh

 

I've noticed the overall quality of my 2006 seems to be less than my 2004. TONS of rattles in this 2006 whereas my 2004 had not a single rattle.

Speaking of rattles....yet ANOTHER new rattle formed today on my way back to the house. I'm really getting tired of this ____.

 

You know come to think of it the Corolla's bumper covers aren't nearly as loose as the xB's. I guess this is just Toyota's style of building for the NCP-quality chassis. Personally I could do without the side skirts.

I think the value is rather high considering what you get stock. Tinted rear windows, painted side mirrors, door handles, and body cladding, keyless entry, power windows, aux jack, RS seats, rear wiper, internal antenna, side marker lights, 60-40 split rear seats, rear stroage bin, AC, ABC, EBD, VSC, TRAC. All these and more could have been options if Toyota wanted to save a buck or two.

As far as quality the main thing is you are getting a solid Toyota engine that gets good fuel economy and should last a long time.

I agree compared to say, the 2005 Corolla LE, the production grade is lower.

 

I agree that xB (and other contemporary cars) are bit on the flimsy side. Like Tomas said, they are designed to protect the occupants, not the body.

I just pulled off the front facia panel (bumper cover) last week. I was surprised at 2 things:

1. the "bumper" piece is actually metal (not styrofoam or plastic like in lots of new cars).

2. That "bumper" is solidly bolted up to the frame. There are no hydraulic impact absorbers like I was used to seeing on bit older cars. So, even a small impact will probably deform the frame.

But I still love my box and I have no plans of getting rid of it.

 

I plan on keeping my box for many many years. As for the bumpers, i did notice that my rear bumper is a little flimsy but i love how near bulletproof the interior is!!