I prefer the auto. If I wanted a fast car, I wouldn't have bought the Box.

 

I drove the auto at the dealer then drove an XA stick (didnt have an XB) and you can tell the difference right away. I like being in control of my own gearing, I live downtown also and its not big deal to shift in and out of gears. But like it was stated before its not for everyone

 

I don't know why people say manuals are hassles in traffic... I've driven through Houston rush hour many times, and many other long periods of stop and go, and there's no problem with the stick. Basically I'm not a wuss.

 

the box is auto, the tC is stick. I didn't feel that the power the xB has was worth all the shifting.

 

I went from a Manual xb to an Auto , no regrets, I am in traffic way to much for a manual. If you know how to work the Auto, its not that bad.

 

i like both, auto and manual... i got the auto xb... i dont feel bad about it and no one else should either...

 

We have a winner folks!!! The xB is slow PERIOD

 

ding, ding, ding!!! When I get the Supra in 2010, then the 350hp, 6sp tranny will warrant a stick, not the box...

 

I used to work 5 miles from home. If I still did, I would have gotten the 5spd. Of'course I would have enjoyed using the car to more of it's potential. But commuting 70 miles a day in traffic... I wouldn't give up my auto!

 

Interesting thread. I am seriously considering ab xB, and the most significant decision is the transmission. I'm inclined to go with a 5 speed, because that is what I've been using for my 40 years of driving. I've been researching the xB purchase on this forum, and it seems like the autos have the potential to get better mileage on the highway, but actual results give the edge to the 5 speed. Unfortunately most owners who post mileage fail to indicate what transmission they have!

One major criteria for making a decision on this car is low cost of operation. In my experience, automatics have fewer maintenance problems and will last 200k without repair. I was distressed to see indications of short clutch life with the manual. Our current Previa family van has 271,000 on an automatic, and I KNOW that a manual transmission would have used up a clutch (or three) in that distance! I keep cars for a looong time.

So, can any of you experienced xB owners speak to the maintenance issues related to your transmissions (including clutch)? Please indicate if it is a mauual or an automatic. Hey, and if you can, indicate what kind of mpg you are getting in city vs highway driving ...

Thanks, KCT (Mountain Bike Racer - 10K driving per season to events)

 

It's all how you drive man. I had a s-10 4 cylinder with 5spd and 155k miles and I never changed the clutch. I have the manual xB, and it does just fine. I prefer 5spd over auto for control more than speed. The only way I drive auto is if it's rear wheel drive and luxurious.

 

hey why you got to knock on the auto, i love my auto box and would nt trade it for sucker stick.... it s not like your on the track.. plus a box is for nothing more than to cruise..... if you want to go fast get a sports car...

 

I love shift'n but 300+ a day in Bay Area commute traffic... after working all day in the hills a stick is mandatory but for day to day traffic I'm say forgit about it...check my 110,XXX happy clutch free mile on the odometer... the auto is the only reason I ended up getting the box, I needed to start commuting and my GTi wasn't going to cut it.. needed a new car I could lounge in on the way home without shifting get good mileage, be reliable and look good..xB was perfect and I have been addicted to Scions ever sence then! I have actually never drove the stick yet but have learned that if it's the speed your after, momentum is your friend just pick your lines wisely and drive smoothly! Course I wouldn't mind the ZPI turbo to give me an edge on those short merges on 101!

 

NO WAY! Automatic transmissions have hundreds of moving parts, and while driving style and manufacturer are huge factors in thier durability, over-all automatics fail much more often. A manual trans only has maybe a hundred moving parts with a negligable amount of wear, excluding the clutch. If you drive conservatively, a clutch can make it 200K. The pressure plate in this series motor was a bad choice. It was taken from an engine that produced less power, and was once of the few bone-head moved on Scion's part, but it's not unreliable. If you accelerate at 100% trottle all the time and feather the clutch, it'll go...
Look at it this way: The only reason the Automatic gets better gas milage on the highway is because the drastically steeper final gear overcomes the massive amount of parrasitic loss from hundreds of moving parts spinning and pumping fluids thru maybe a hundred wearable parts(Valve bodies, seats, seals, torque converter, hydrolic pump, ect..)which in the end results in a 2 mpg increase. I don't think its worth it.
In the little experience I have (only being 22) I've seen or helped my dad replace, or rebuild 4 automatic transmissions on 3 cars that where automatics since as long as I remember, Only 1 clutch. My dad keeps cars around for a long time too. Our van saw 180K I think. Subaru was 200K(which was the clutch), the Cadillac saw 140K, and my brothers VW is still kickin at 150K.
This thread turned into something I didn't intend. I ment just to rib the guys with autos a little, but I'm glad that the conversation has stayed informative enough for a potential buyer to use as reference.
In the end, it just comes down to what you think will better fit your life with consideration to driving style, terrain (mountains EAT autos), personal preference, and maybe some consideration to if you want a little more accessable performance(with the manual), however little it may be.
P.S. - GET AN RS 4.0!!!

 

who said a manual means race/ go fast?


I cant drive an autoamatic. im always looking for a clutch pedal when it comes time to upshift or down shift. my passengers laugh at me when this occurs :-(

plus the xB has a very high fun to drive factor. especially when you install a TRD quick shifter

 

We have an automatic. The worst mileage we've had was about 26mpg, in winter (VT), when the car was new. The best we've gotten is about 38mpg, on a long Interstate trip. In general, now that the xB is broken in, we average about 34mpg driving around town in warm weather. We live in a semi-rural area and drive responsibly.

The automatic seems to work well. However, we've never driven a standard xB for comparison.

 

i'VE had my manual xB for 3 months now and wish I had the auto. I has a civic95 4dr before this and could shift the download shift and upshift to get the most out of the revs. It had plenty of pep and could concentrate on other things in the car, like picking my nose!

seriously, even driving the manual you'd expect a lot more gain in performance but on rolling country twisties, the gears do help but not by much. just do more work and less enjoying the scenery in the big windows.

want the best of both worlds? i drove the latest Mazda MX-5 6 speed auto with manual shifting paddles. now that is fun.

but xBs are still cool. I've been seeing a lot of them on the roads here.

I actually got a manual this time because I always wanted to learn. now i've learned and all done! no more!

peace
j

 

It's only 98HP (revised formula) - AT or MT, you can't get water from a stone. You want performance, get a different car. The xB is simply an economy car.

It's a case of personal preference, that's all. Somebody have 0-60 times for AT vs MT from a trustworthy source? (your driveway does not count)

Facts will settle the "who's faster" debate right away.

I really miss driving MT in the snow, but wanted a RS, and found one - with AT. No choice.

 

I'm a lazy ___ auto driver.. so? haha .. j/p

 

To those that say a manual is just as easy to drive as an auto. I say driving a manual is twice the work. And its easy to prove. To drive an auto you need one hand and one foot. To drive a manual you need two hands and two feet. I've owned manuals in the past, There is a small "cool factor" but If you do any driving in traffic an auto is so much easier.