Hello!! I have one question.. I need to use the car everyday except weekends to work, so I will install after market stuff that just take a saturday to do it (stereo, new wheels, easy things).. so, what do you recommend to install from the dealer? all the performance parts? (money is not an issue).

By the way, I'm planning to order the car next week. =)

Thanks!

 

What parts did you have in mind?? TRD axle back exhaust is a ten min job for instance really easy. I think factory fog lamps could be done easily also. Cruise control?? Give more data of what parts you are considering and you will get more Intelligent answers. BTW anything stereo and dash related is fairly easy the whole dash top removes for access in about 10 minutes. Door panels come off easy tho factory speaker mounting are weird so mounting plates need to be made for A/M speakers in most locations (not particularly hard if you can fabricate flat metal or wood (the openings are triangular so you need to fill the triangle and cut a round hole in the adapter piece you make to accomodate the speaker being installed).

 

Parts that you really want dealer installed are the rear spoiler and trd clutch... if you want them at all. Same for lowering springs and performance shocks/struts. probably cruise control, too.

The rear swaybar and trd axleback exhaust are entirely too easy for any well equipped/ competent do it yourselfer to pay to have done, as is a front strut bar...

None of the aftermarket intakes meet California emissions at this time, so a trd air filter is your only option, and is easy, as well...

Roof rack, bumper applique, seatcovers, etc all fall into the do it yourself category.

Wheels? Discount Tire, maybe one of their competitors, but they're tough to beat...

If you're going with an aftermarket audio system, get a HU that's compatible with the steering wheel controls, and you'll probably want at least *some* sound deadening, definitely do it yourself territory... Both Crutchfield and ED offer speaker adapters for the door mounts, iirc, of they can be fabbed from mdf- Tanakasan graciously furnished me the patterns... Crutchfield includes full install kits with their HU's, a real no-brainer...

Ultimately, it comes down to how you want to pay for it all, up front or thru the financing process, and how much time vs money you're willing to invest .

 

It all depends on what options you want. Pretty much everything can be a DIY if you are handy with the tools. I usually recommend that you get NOTHING done by the dealer simply because you pay twice as much as you would if you chose to do it yourself. Intakes, exhaust systems, headers, lowering springs, struts/shocks, stereo system upgrades, interior lighting, sound deadening, fog lights, wheels, etc., etc., all can be done on your own for far less money than the dealer would charge.
Install springs, struts, and shocks yourself. They take very little time, especially if you have a spring compressor handy. I was able to do mine in well under 2 hours.

 

Yeah, dealerships will rape you. Even if money's not an issue, use the money you would be paying your dealership on another mod! That's how I think/roll. =)

 

Def, get nothing, not even the fin on the back, jsut get a completely bare ride, getting parts ANYWHERE else is massively cheaper. 15-16k for the car, then 4k dealership dollars on mods is almost nothing, while 4k on JDM = tons.

 

I was in a similar position as you are, and elected to buy an XB that included leather interior, ipod input, electric moonroof lowering kit and struts, wheels, TRD exhaust, and intake. I realize that some of these items can be owner installed for much less, but since they were dealer installed, the 3/36 warranty applies to everything. Also, I only paid for the parts, not installation. (yes, I know I could find them online for less, but the online prices helped me negotiate a lower price for the vehicle). Besides, time is a huge issue for me, and with the 'pulling issue' (ST005-01) that I've experienced, it's been great to just drop it at the dealer, and not have questions about who/what's at fault for the suspension problems...

I know others are more frugal, and I respect that... Just my 2-cents.

 

DONT get a dealer to install the spoiler, because it requires drilling your trunk. I have my OEM spoiler mounted with 3M automotive trim tape, and it's workin JUST fine.

If i decide i don't like it, out comes the heat gun, and off comes the spoiler.

 

what to install and what not from dealer?

depends on your confidence/skill level, and how dirty you're willing to get. I haven't let anyone touch my ride yet.

The only things I wouldn't personally install are engine internals, or a clutch. Driveway Clutch sucks butt - I just finished my girlfriend's car.

 

QFT - even the clutch. performance parts on a 100hp econobox are almost laughable, and i'm proud to say that my engine bay is all show.

 

go search websites for xb stuff. if theres anything you like check the price and then compare if scion sells the same and for what price.

only thing i'd get when purchasing one is cruise ( so it's warranteed and negligeable payment change) and floor mats.

 

laughable maybe. but faster than stock? hell yes.


and clutch? even if not for performance the stock one will go out if you add any performance options at all in all reality.

 

My Injen SR came with the CARB exempt plate on it...has this changed since?

If money is really not an option, and you dont want to do it yourself...go online, get the info (makes, model#'s, etc.) of all the stuff that you want on your box...then contact a place like autobacs or something. They actually order all of their crap online anyways, so they can get whatever you want...have them order it all, and contact you when it arrives. Then bring your car down on a weekend and have them put it all on/in for you.
It will cost you buttloads, but the dealerships are generally pretty limited in what they offer. If you want all TRD crappiness, go to any dealership- but if money is no concern, go all JDM on yourself.

 

06 xb's have a carbon filter and removing it ( incorporated into the stock airbox) makes it fail carb compliance.

 

My problem is the time... if I can get like kind of a appointment for the weekend and they finish I can go aftermarket.

Also, I don't have the tools and space to do "medium, big or complicates" installations..


Anyone know where to go arround Monrovia to have most of the part install?

Then my concern is about if I have any problems.. I don't want to be fighting with the installers...

Thanks!!

 

That is a genuine concern. What parts do you want the dealer to warranty?

 

which specific upgrades were you looking at doing? that will likely impact our recommendation.

shift ****? do it yourself
cold air intake? with the restrictions you've provided... dealer
spoiler? i still say DIY, and don't drill, but that's an opinion.
clutch? dealer for sure, and the clutch on these things typically fail quicker than you would expect.

 

the trd clutch is garbage. and WAY overpriced specially whe n you factor in dealership labor.

 

kapo, did you say money was not an issue?

 

*TRD Struts/Shocks Kit Dealer
*TRD Sport Muffler NO PROBLEM HERE, I know where to go
*TRD Lowering Springs Kit Dealer (but I want lower it more than 1 inch.. or you really see the difference?)
*TRD Quick Shifter No idea how to do install this... but someone said do it my self.
*TRD Assembly Clutch Dealer
TRD Front Strut Tie Bar Myself aftermarket
TRD Rear Sway bar Myself aftermarket

No spoiler or body kits (for now). All my concern are the internal mechanical parts.

Then, cold air intake? they offer that? In scion.com they don't have that.

I need a good place in SoCal about Scion parts and installation.. =/

Thanks again!