Me and the wifey picked up our new 2005 xA in phantom gray last night. There was about a 70 mile drive home from the dealership and we loved every minute of it! Looking for some mods now. I am pretty sure I will do the exhaust and CAI, but I like it just the way it is. Maybe it's just the new car jitters. But, this is a cool forum you guys got here and I look forward to catching up on all of the posts!

 

Congrats on the new ride. Dang it really does seem like every one is getting a scion

 

it doesnt seem like that chuck......they are ......this is a growing community..... :D :D

 

I highly recommend springs. . . I personally went with TRD's because I didn't want to go too low,b ut Goldlines and Tein's are both great as well. . . not to mention this REALLY improves the look of the car (by filling up the nasty gap in the wheel well). Plus, it's a relatively inexpensive mod, considering the huge increases in traction, handling, aesthetics, and above all else safety.

 

I know what you mean about everybody getting the same car. But down here where I'm from I'm the first person in the town with a scion in general. Not even any xB's around here. So it's kind of cool, but they'll catch on sooner or later. Because at first I wanted a mazda 3s but it was like everybody either had that or a 6. I love this scion. I'm just kind of scared to mess with it.

 

I'd like to get some springs, but like I said I'm kind of a weiner when it comes to adding stuff on. I am pretty sure I will start with the exhaust tho. Springs will probably come towards the end. I am also scared of springs because of the bad roads around here. Do you bottom out much?

 

dont be scared and once you make your first change you will go mod crazy like some of us others have...great choice of color and xA's are just really fun cars to drive/own and even look at..

I hope your Scion treats you well and welcome to ScionLife... :D

 

you wont bottom on TRD's its like a 1' drop so its enough for a lower look but you are in NO DANGER whatsoever..Assuming you drive like a normal and law biding perosn

 

Yeah, I remember mod fever from motorcycles when I was really into cruisers. I've always loved imports/street racers/ricers whatever you wanna call em'. And now I finally get the chance to start one. So I'm really looking foward to it.

 

Nah, I never drive hard. My wife on the other hand is a freakin' crazy lady. What about anything past the 1"? Any scraping then? Cuz I'm finding some cool deals on ebay. Thanks alot man!

 

That's why I got the TRD's. . . a lot of fat people, with the f and not the ph, like to bum rides off me. The TRD's are fine, and the ride is 95% as smooth as stock. It took me awhile to confidently take a speed bump at a good pace, and it did not bottom out. Because you have a short wheelbase, bottoming out will not be a problem. The only thing you will have to watch out for are those pesky parking lot bump stops, and in general the front plastic scratch gaurds. But even then, you have to be driving like an idiot to really scratch the car. Slowing down a little, and a little bit of angle is a good safety precaution.

But seriously, it is NOT a problem. I had to make an emergency maneuver once, before I got the springs, and I could feel the rear end dive, and roll, and do all kinds of stuff that didn't inspire much confidence (was goin 80mph with 5 people). With TRD's or even better springs, you can slam the car as hard as you want in either direction, and it turns nice and flat, with lots of confidence. I havn't had an exhaust done, but I think gains are minimal. . . again, I know it's your car, but seriously give the springs a second thought. They are definitely worth every penny.

 

I've got Tanabe DF210s which drop 2.5 inches... real low... but looks good and feels great! I'll only scrape if i go over speedbumps too fast... havnt bottomed out *yet*!

I also have a K&N ColdAirIntake, DC Headers, and Magnaflow Manifold-Back Exhaust from Precision Muffler (theres your plug Gabe), SUN Hyperground wires, and a Tanabe Strut Brace.. theres other stuff too but those are the performance pieces.

All in all, the car works very well with all of the mods... welcome to scionlife!

 

Hey, between the exhaust, headers, and intake, which single item do you think gave you the greatest gains?

 

i'd say go with the intake. i have a friend who used to design exhuast systems for HKS, and he said that the exhaust doesn't really do anything on an engine like ours unless it has an intake on it.

 

they all work together as a better breathing system.. but if i had to pick one.. i'd go with the full manifold-back exhaust from Stylis in Milpitas.. new high flow cat, resonator, muffler, and tip... hooked into the headers.

but after the intake and headers came in... in can tell its a bit quicker. I didnt used to screech my tires in 1st and 2nd gear pulls like i do now! and no, i dont think my tires are THAT much worse than they were before.. lol

 

that's awesome . yea i got the 2005 xa also and it is the work of god. it is such a smooth ride. can't wait for modes. so much can be done with that car. i can see it now. going against those people with there hondas who think those are the fastest cars in the world... blah well anyways cograts on the car

 

springs are the no.1 thing i am doing and then a set of yoko 50s.i probably wont go with exhaust tho,no straight roads around here. so will try to get it down a bit.

 

Really? When I first got my xA i could Screech through 1st and Chirp on 2nd. ... After getting the CAI I can get it to Chirp in 3rd on dry roads if I do it right. My next engine Mod is going to be a custom Exhaust. Just trying to decide which header to use.. Leaning towards the EL Prototypes.

 

This is part of the reason I decided to shell out the extra 2k for the RS 1.0. That and it's just a damn good deal.