Hi guys,

Im a proud owner of an xA since June, and I have a question.

I bought mine with an automatic tranny, and I was wondering what it would take to swap it in for a manual, if its even possible at this point.

Its got almost 2600 miles on it (that right there prolly would not allow a trade in) along with the subwoofer, led illumination, and iPod adapter installed at the dealer, no other mods. Id like to know also how much it would set me back if I did.

Ive read stories of how swapping costs more than the car usually and was wondering if trading in is still possible.

 

This you gotta ask the dealership because they determine the price and everything.

My sister bought a new Honda Civic 2006 back in June, she wanted to trade it in for a Scion tC and well..they said she had to pay 15k on it and she didn't want to. I think it all depends on how your payment for the car at the moment and other stuff like if you scratched/crashed it and what's in the car.

 

might be cheaper to actually convert the transmission to manual... I have a 59 El Camino that's been Manual to Auto and back to Manual...

 

since you have only had hte car since june i would just trade the car in..

but for my situation i have had the car for almost a year, and have invested a good amount of money into it.. so i feel that swappin tranny's would be best for me.

also, i think it may be a little harder and more $$ for you because you would have a hard time finding hte parts.. while with the tC there are like 10000 wrecked tC's everywhere.

 

Make sure you drive a manual for a while to be SURE you like it better. There are times I wish I'd gotten an auto.

 

These cars are so affordable, just go buy another one....

Chances are, if you are financing, you are upside down in your value, so, it would not be a good idea to trade. Same goes for selling it outright. You'd have to pay off the first loan before you could get a second.

IMO, unless you are going to auto cross it, learn to love the slush box.

 

I wanted a manual at first but now I'm glad I didn't. I'm just too old and lazy to change gears. I haven't had a manual since my '66 Beetle in High School.

 

I have to ask - why? Have you always owned manuals or is this your first?

Just curious.

 

Heh the first car I ever learned to drive was a 1947 *****'s jeep converted to a mailman truck (my grandpa was a mailman as he got bored with retirement) and it was a manual. Got pretty darn good with that then I inherited a 96' civic with a manual, which I traded in for the xA. I got the auto in the first place as I kind of got tired with the gear shifting and all but now I miss it.

 

Haha cgrossi - I got an automatic when I left for college after driving only manuals and I did exactly the same thing you did. Loved it at first, and quickly began to hate it. Back in a manual now, and my xA will be a manual as well.

Good luck getting back in a manual!

 

Standard (5 spd) transmission is the way to go. The only way to squeeze all the fun out of the 103 stock ponies. And the 5 spd is the gateway to giant Go-kart land if you decide to mod your xA. Hurray for my giant go-kart.

 

There have been reports of some folks slipping a 6sp in an xB, it would probably fit an xA as well......

 

I've had manuals for a LONG time. My other two vehicles are manual (Miata and supercharged Dakota). Maybe if the XA auto wasn't SO GOOD I'd feel diferently but the manual shifter is kinda kluncky and the clutch feels fragile and is just lately getting over it's chattering.

 

I have the standard 5 speed manual I want to swap in a 6 speed with 5th and 6th being just a little taller gearing so i can commute 80mph at 2,000 rpm

 

You do need a taller final drive....and more torque to make it safe. A 6th to 3rd downshift isn't practical.

 

Actually if you look on autotrader, every dealer including Toyota dealers have xAs listed at HIGHER than the original selling price. WTF? Kelly Blue Book also appraises the vehicles at higher than their BRAND NEW price. I think its a complete load of crap. You can't sell a USED car with 20-30,000 miles for more than it was BRAND NEW.

 

Why not--it has been done with Scions consistantly.

 

Simple economics Weeze... Supply and demand. The Scion brand has already proven it's value, and by it's low production volume and high quality, people will pay what it takes to get into one.
Personally, I am glad I own something that has appreciated for a change.

 

just ebay one. you can get a salvaged xB or xA for around 4 grand then just pull the parts you want and part out the rest. then you could sell the scrap for weight at a junkyard.