evosky

So most of us have had the privilege of owning/using a car before getting the xBox, and there definitely have to be some good stories about those old lovelies. I think it would be pretty cool to see where we're all coming from, and it's nice to reminisce ...

So this post is for you to tell YOUR old car story and how you ended up getting into an xB.

Of course, I'll start it off.

-------------------------------

So my old car was a silver '93 mazda 626 LX (4cyl - auto). It was my mom's old car, and we had gotten it new in '93. I got it when i first got my permit at 16 and loved it. It had a good throttle response and was quick on the uptake, though it was a bit sluggish at the top end when pressing hard. anyway, it was my daily beater throughout highschool and i drove that thing like crazy. I drove it like it was a sports car and even a rally car, taking the corners at high speeds and going through the backroads like nobody's business (haha, DE and PA backroads rule). So basically, i worked the hell out of that car, which is probably why it had so many problems.

the loose fan belt was a constant issue, but easy to fix. had to replace the spark plugs and hoses once because there was a hole in a hose, so fire was apparently spewing out of it, thus creating crazy idling blips. my headlights began to wear out, and so I replaced them with ultra-white, blue tinted sylvanias (my only mod, if it even is a mod, done to the car) and eventually, the electronics on the car began to give way, and it was downhill for the car from there. the oil light would flicker on and off for about a month, and then one day driving home from school on I-495, my engine blew. yeah, blue smoke, my engine crunching, everything. basically, I had thrown a rod from oil starvation, which i wasn't aware of (which is why you should check your dipstick weekly). i got AAA to tow and did a whole engine replacement (even had thoughts about maybe keeping the car as a project car). that was spring '04.

forward to early summer '05:
i had been looking into new/preowned cars for about a year, dreaming about nice cars that i could get when i eventually could make the money. i had asked my parents about considering the IS300, and my dad took me seriously on it and even went for a test drive (we already got two lexus cars from that dealer, so they were a bit more willing to negotiate). however, the price still ended up being too high for our purposes, and insurance for it is too much at my age.
a couple months later, i suggest we go look at scion, to see what's good over there. of course, as a car guy, i already knew a lot of what scion was about but never had tried any of their cars. so we go, and the dealer has only one white, modified xA in the showroom and says that all models are on a 6-month waitlist. that xA was pretty sweet (had tons of aftermarket parts and was going for about 33K) then he remembers that they actually just got an xB from a recent auction. he takes us to the back lot and shows me what was to be my current '04 BCP xB. I go for a test drive and was surprised to find how well it handled and how responsive the engine was. my salesguy says that it would probably be sold soon, and that if I were to want to get a scion, I would have to act quickly. That was a Saturday.

The next day, I pore over financing and practicalities for an xB with my dad. We conclude that for the right negotiation and price, it would be a deal. We go back to the dealer and end up buying the car right there. I got 1000 bucks trade-in for my old 626, a car that i was a little sad on leaving, as so many memories were created with it.

koalaty2

Was given this truck (a 1951 Chevrolet, Thriftmaster, in line 6, 216 ci, 97 HP) in 1966 at 16 years old. It was my Grandpa's (he bought it new) and Grandma gave it to me to get to and from my new job. This was my first introduction to "mods". Bought chrome "rims" for it. Had seats and door panels recovered. I installed floor padding and thick green house carpet (doing this on my xB now). Replaced wood panels in bed with "oak" planks (marine varnish) and chromed the ribs. Installed front and rear side lights (they didn't come with them in 1951). Installed seatbelts for 3 (that was a safe thing to do). Installed wood/chrome steering wheel. J.C Whitney was my friend Installed "Clifford Research...6=8" split headers, and ran chrome dual cut pipes with glasspacks to just in front of the rear wheels. Painted dash matching color. Installed cassette deck (it didn't have an OEM radio) in glovebox and 2 speakers (I am sure from JC Whitney) behind the seat, and custom chrome door handles and window crank. Memories....................... Still upsets me when I think of the reason I ended up selling it, but: Live and Learn. It was not very aerodynamic either. 0-60 in 30 seconds, 30 seconds in the 1/4 mile. The xB is a hot-rod in comparison.

More pics on page 5 at site below:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/606193

bB2NER

My first car was given to me at the age of 16 by my dad in 1979. It was the classic 1968 Ford Country Squire Wagon. It was gold with the woodgrain sides. Also had the fold up headlight covers. Looks like I've come full circle with another wagon in the box

evosky

Whoa, nice old antiques. can never go wrong with big blocks.

DarkBoxJr

I had an '88 Volvo 760 Turbo that was handed down to me when I turned 16. It was fairly fast to begin with, and I really didn't do any modifications whatsoever until the last couple of years that I drove it. The first thing I did was get a K&N cone filter and modify the stock airbox for use as a heat shield, and I kept it that way for a couple of years until I bought a manual boost controller. The B230FT is a bulletproof engine, and I ran 12.5 psi all day long. For a while it would spike to 1 bar, but there's an ignition cut-off when boost gets that high, so I wasn't able to enjoy it very much. Most of the time the exhaust consisted of nothing but a downpipe, ending below the passenger seat, making for some very exciting rides. Anyway, I decided it was time for something smaller/lighter, and more efficient. The Volvo only returned about 15 mpg at best, and used premium fuel, and with gas prices the way they are it just didn't make sense to keep it. Now I have an '05 BOP xB, with an Injen short ram, DC Sports strut bar, and Tein S-Tech springs. I still miss the power of the Volvo, though. I guess a turbo kit is next on the menu then.

Fuzz_man

I had a 2003 F-250 Powerstorke Diesel truck. I am moving to Columbus in about a month and a half. That thing got about 18mpg and doesnt fit in parking garages. So I had to get rid of my baby. I miss it alot. *sniff sniff*

d0tSpLiT

My story

First car, 98 Ford Contour SE. Automatic. K&N Short-Ram Intake, B+G Lowering Springs 1.6"F 1.75" R, SVT Struts, SVT Lower Intake, Complete Dual Audio System. Enkei 17x7 RS-1 Wheels (I believe its RS-1). First got the car to go to school, brother used it. Then started to do research about it and built it for HID (Hot import Daze) and entered in October 8 2005 (only for team Participation awards with Team Redefined and Currently member with team Redefined) . I am also a member or an ex member of Contour.org.

Oh yeah BTW , ORIGINAL PAINT!!!!!!! for good 7 years, going to snow, Desert, and ocean constantly, thats the original paint!!!!

Sold the car (due to its reliability and also it wasnt worth anything ($1000 for trade!!!!) and it wasnt due to the mods I put. Got another car, but crashed it, then got my xB which im very happy to have, but I will not crash this box!!!!!!!! I love it too much.


The Drive home from the day after Hot Import Daze, Oct 9 2005 (thats me in the yellow shirt )

gslippy

My "old" car was a 2002 VW Passat V6. It was beautiful and unreliable, with a trip to the shop every 3 months for some weird problem or other - electrical, brakes, engine, AC, alignment, and on and on. The last straw was when it began burning oil at 33k miles. So much for German engineering. I don't miss it. Besides, it was smaller inside than the Lunchbox.

ck1dog

1991 Mazda Miata. 202,800 miles, 30 mpg, 120+ mph (with the hard top on), one quart of oil/2 weeks.

redfins

first car---53 chev sedan-52 ford sedan-57 chev-49 ford 4 door-these were all field beaters..age 13 to 15----triumph spitfire-rambler sedan-vw bug-vw bus-52 ford stationwagon- 69 chev wagon-59 harley sporster-62 austin healey 3000 mk 2-49 harley pan head-bsa 500cc one lunger-63 chev sedan-61 olds hurst.you know the one that carries expired people...61 chev pickup-59 ford pickup-another rambler-chev van-a couple more motorcycles-datsun pickup-61 merc stationwagon-a couple ford rangers-a dodge van-62 ford dump truck-238 detroit-with a 5 and a 4 trans-last one traded in on xb was a 2001 ford ranger-i i mite have missed a few..

SR20DE_MAN

It all started with a 1989 Ford Aerostar that I got back in '94. Akthough it was a piece of turd, it took us to a lot of places. I kept it until '97. Then I inherited a 1991 Mitsubishi Galant. I went through 2 motors & 3 transmissions. It was an even bigger piece of turd.

Finally, in August of 2000 I was finally in a position to buy a new car. Around then, I was really considering the Ford SVT Contour, but Ford did not want to sell me the car at a decent price. Needless to say, I headed over to a Nissan dealer to look at the Nissan Sentra SE. I wanted that model, since it had the legendary & ultra reliable SR20DE motor. Fortunately, one of my friends worked there & hooked me up with one. So far it as 115,000 HEAVILY abused, redline bouncing miles & not a single problem. Maintenance does wonders. Hahaha! But yeah. It basically spends most weekends in the canyons. I just got some Ksport coilovers & a 4 point lower tie bar. I still have to install them.



In 2003, we got a Toyota Sienna LE Symphony Edition. It was a nice minivan, but that thing sucked gas like there was not tomorrow. Not to mention that we really didn't need something that big.



In 2004, I saw a box running around & I was like, "Oh!!! That looks neat!" So yeah. in January 2005 we went to the LA Autoshow & got into one & were very surprised that passenger comfort was a hell of a lot better in the xB than in the Sienna. Everything is cramped in the Sienna, although it's a lot larger. The xB is more efficiently laid out, but a lot smaller. One day I went to a dealer & test drove one. Yeah. It didn't have as much power as the Sienna or especially the Sentra, but it was perfectly fine for what it was. Well, I fell in love with it, but at that time, we couldn't get rid of the Sienna.

Fast forward to 2006 & we were finally in a position to let the Sienna go & buy an xB. We went to a dealer in Carson & bought the xB. We already put in 5,000 miles on it. It's such a fun little car. I went & got some wheels for it too.



It's one of the best big little cars that we have ever bought. Everyone that gets into it is amazed that it's really roomy & very comfortable inside. They can't believe it. A lot of them now want to buy boxes! I tell all the kids that they should buy one. It's small, but very roomy. You can manuever this thing easily in most parking lots. It sips gas. Although it's not powerful, it does pick up well for what it is & it looks funky cool. What more could you possibly ask for?! Toyota got it right! ( ^o^) <3

WSU-Coug

1986 Buick Lesabre
I got this in high school from my parents and it eventually just became mine. I drove that sucker all through college. Those trips to school and home and back are 315mi one way. All I asked our of my Big Blue was that it got me through college. It has done even more than that, but now that I am working, and moving from Seattle to SoCal, I am not sure she can make it. I will miss her so. I have tried to keep her up as best I could... I will miss you big blue I am going for the xB because it will be the best car I could possibly. I need great mpg because of the gas price in California, and xB is where its at! Except I am still waiting for mine to arrive... 2 weeks and counting
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xBster

My last vehicle was a 04 F-150, I got it to pull my fold-down camper. It was very nice, bought new wheels, step bars, bed cover, chrome grille cover, the list goes on and on...when the fuel prices spiked last summer I just couldn't keep putting $70.00 a week in the gas tank. I actually decided in July to buy a second small car (an '89 Escort) to drive to work and park my truck for a while. Well 6 months later my truck still sat all but one day a week.
I had seen a couple of commercials on TV about the xB, thought it looked pretty cool, but hadn't seen one in person. I made to the new car show after Christmas, they had an xB on display, got inside, First reaction "WOW...Look at all the Room!". That's really all it took for me. The next nice day I went to a new Toyota dealership, took a short test drive and traded for my '06 TCM xB. I only had one hint of doubt when I watched my pretty truck drive around the back of the building. But when they took me out to the service area and showed me my new car all cleaned up, I just grinned...Been grinning ever since as I pass all the Gas Stations, SUVs and Trucks everywhere I go with my 30+ MPG.
I only have to fill up every 2 weeks and for just $26.00. I can always rent a truck if I want to pull my camper, or even sell it to buy more STUFF for my xB. I did keep my Escort though for the bad weather days and drive to work. Why Bang up my new car if I don't have too.

smeg

I moved here from the UK about 3 years ago, and was in a tight spot, so ended up with a used 2000 Nissan Altima ... I did get the SE model, so I got better springs, spoiler, nicer gadgets.

(click thumbnails for better pictures)


Crashed it a week after buying it, $4k in insurance repairs.




http://smeg.serveftp.org/Smeg/America/car/crash/

In the last month or two, its revs started to fluctuate when I was at red lights, so took it in for costly servicing, tune ups and eventually some repairs. Sank almost $400 into it over a week.

Then it just never got better. Traded it in for a black xB. I was expecting maybe $3k for it, KBB said a good condition model would be $4k. They gave me $5.5k!

I'm loving life right now, massive flooding in this area right now means most sedans can't get around so easily, but the higher engine of the xB makes my life much simpler.

Mexicola420

i drive a tc but i dont think that realy matters....... my old car was a really beat up 93' Eagle Talon (same as mitsubishi eclipse) it was fun because it was already beat up and i got it for $100 bucks so i had my fun with it..... i would take it and drift in the dirt and user it like a rally car... but i blew the timing belt racing a mustang and it was more than i paid for the car so i was like f**k it... and i took over payments from my friend on the tc

tCscotty

iTrader: (1)

First car was 1988 caprice classic. One of the best cars I ever owned. That thing could take beatings like no other. Sold it and got my first project. A 1984 s10. Shoe horned a 400 sb chevy in it. I learned a lot about cars/trucks while working on that. Bought a 84 chevy full size van for a winter beater. Traded the van for my caprice. The kid I sold it to lived down the road from me, so I con'd him into traded it back. Picked up a 84 s10 blazer with a 350 sb. Fixed it up a little bit and sold that. Parted out my s10 truck. Tried to trade my caprice for a 98 grand prix GTP, but the dealership didn't want something like that on their lot. So I bought the GTP and sold the caprice to a relative. Traded the GTP for a 98 Dodge Ram 4X4. Destroyed it by taking it through corn fields and stuff. Traded that in for a 05 tC while it was still driveable. Traded the tC for the xB.

06B0X

First car was a 96 Civic CX hatch that I did a bunch to. Second car was a 2000 Corolla that got t-boned and destroyed by a big SUV. Now I got the box.

I stayed with Toyota cause I left the accident scene w/ a cleanly broken left hand and thats it (they cut all four pillars off the car).

Blackbelt

My old car stories could take a while. Here is a listing of my previously(and currently, i own 6 right now) owned vehicles...
1966 Impala
1967 Impala SS
1965 Galaxie
1966 Comet
1971 Pinto
1973 Javelin
1969 Torino 428
1971 Mustang Mach 1
1961 Falcon 428
1973 Vega
1974 Vega
1976 Vega
1979 Omni 024
1976 Ventura
1974 Nova
1971 Charger
1980 Rabbit C
1981 Rabbit LS
1983 Rabbit GTI
1971 Type 3
1971 Super beetle
1980 Rabbit C
1965 Impala
1965 Corvair
1969 Chevy C10
1969 Camaro
1984 Prelude
1987 Accord
1986 Accord
1985 Subaru RX Turbo
1981 Chevette
1986 GMC S15 4X4
1988 Voyager
1989 Voyager Turbo
1990 Grand Voyager
1990 Probe
1994 Probe
1987 Suzuki Samurai
1961 Nash Metrolpolitan
1964 Rambler American
1965 Rambler Classic
1991 Eagle Summit
1986 Merkur XR4TI
1989 Isuzu I-Mark RS
1987 Toyota tercel 4X4 wagon(actually, i owned 2 of these)
1986 Tempo
1990 Tempo
1992 Explorer
1989 Taurus
1995 Neon
1996 neon
1993 Hyundai excel
1992 Jeep Cherokee
1988 Jeep Cherokee
1994 Jeepd Wrangler
1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1987 Buick century
1989 Buick Regal
1979 Dodge Aspen
1987 VW cabriolet
1994 Camaro Z28
1988 Colt Vista 4X4
1995 Cirrus
2001 PT Cruiser
1988 Grand Am
1983 911
1988 Saab 9000
1987 Golf
1988 Festiva
1983 Subaru wagon
1988 Dodge Daytona
1983 mercury Marquis
1981 Citation
1961 Galaxie Victoria
1996 Grand Voyager LE
1988 Jeep Cherokee Limited
1989 Chrysler LeBaron Turbo Convertible
2002 PT Cruiser
1994 Dodge Shadow ES
1997 Jeep Cherokee
1996 Geo Tracker 4 dr
1998 Neon Expresso
1969 SAAB 96
2004 Dodge Stratus
1985 VW Scirocco
1994 SAAB 9000 turbo
1999 Dodge Stratus
2006 Scion xB
1997 Ford Escort LX Sport

tuvanhillbilly

Wow Blackbelt! I thought my list was getting up there, but I've got quite a few yet to buy to be in your league!
1967 VW beetle
1971 Karmann Ghia
1965 Dodge 1-ton flatbed
1974 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1976 Ford Granada
1975 Dodge Van w/ custom paint (crazy stripes), red&black ****, dark oak paneling and bed covered in pink fantasy fur.
Then I got married and left home and the car list became:
1985 Mazda B2000 (great, great truck- my Dad still has it, runs like new with almost 300K miles)
1972 Pinto (bought for $500, drove for 2 years, sold for $1,000)
1985 VW Scirocco Wolfsburg edition
1988 Toyota Tercel
1994 Ford T-Bird (V8 vroom vroom)
1990 Buick LeSabre
1986 Mazda 626
1991 Plymouth Acclaim
1993 Ford F150 4x4 supercab
2001 Mitsubishi Galant V6 (never, ever will own another Mitsu)
2006 XB RS 3.0
As you can see I come from the old VW school, and the XB is the only modern thing that comes close to the cameraderie and "joie de vivre" of banging around in the people's car. Now if I can only get some Empi 8 spokes to fit the XB I could die happy.

bB2NER

He's even got me beat. He does have a 6 year headstart though.

1968 Country Squire
1972 Ventura
1974 Maverick
1968 Torino GT
1973 Gremlin
1972 VW Bug
1968 Chevelle
1970 Chevelle
1971 Chevelle
1972 Chevelle
1971 Olds 88
1966 Chevy II
1976 Nova
1977 Nova
1975 Mercedes 300D
1973 Mercedes 450 SL
1976 Granada
1980 Volare'
1978 Skylark
1965 Ford F100
1987 Sundance
1988 Dakota
1974 Kawasaki KZ400
1977 Honda CB750K
1975 Honda CB750F Super Sport
1995 Ford E250 Van
1998 Ford E350 Van
1993 Ranger XLT
1993 Ranger Splash
2- 1963 Falcons 2dr and 4dr.
1964 Falcon Futura Convt.
1998 Monte Carlo
1997 Neon Sport
1992 Honda Shadow VT1100
2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport
2005 Kawaski Z750S
2005 Scion xB

There might be a few hoopties I forgot due to my Sometimers. LOL