Well, Ive been reading these forums for a couple months learning about the xB as my 1998 Silverado is getting old and the 8MPG its V8 engine gets is getting old! Today I went and test drove a 2006 xB that the dealer had completely tricked out, dual moonroof, navigation, custom sound, fiberglass and I was pretty impressed (and not just b/c of all their addons). Sure it had a lot less power but Im alright with that

I think I will be getting my 2006 xB this month but I have several questions (some I alread know answer to - I just need that extra push! )

Auto or Manual? I have been driving an auto all my life however Id really like to go w/ manual for the *fun* aspect, yet I am a little cautious abou buying an xB manual and having to completely learn on it - unfortunately I dont know anyone here who has a manual that I could learn on...

Secondly, today the dealer said I could go w/ aftermarket alarm (two way) that they could install thru a partner or the standard scion security...is one really better then the other? i know that the scion one wont be two way...but it is an OEM part, is the scion brand a good option?

This is all I can think of at present, but I appreciate any answers/advice you can suggest

Will

 

Do you have any experience at all driving a manual? If so it shouldn't be a problem to learn. My xA had a real obvious shifter so you know if you're in gear or not, some trannies have a loose gearbox and it feels kinda sloppy.

It's not that hard, just might need someone to help you get started from there it's all about how good you want to become.

 

Kinda, about 6 years ago my dad tried to teach me how to drive a 1971 Chevy Power NOTHING and column shift..i never got it - i dont know if it was hte fact I was young or the fact that thats a miserable truck but I really want to learn - its just hard going out and buying 1 $15,000 car w/ a transmission youve never driven before...

 

haha the new cars that are manual are better to drive im pretty sure once you buy hte car it wont take you more than 1 hour to learn all the things needed to drive a manual =D

 

A column shift manual is just weird getting use to even for people who know how to drive a manual transmission, or so i've been told. Ive never had to drive a manual column shift vehicle thankfully. Getting use to a floor manual just takes some getting use to. Don't buy a car that you are not comfortable though. I know how to drive manual, my 98 civic was a manual. However, with the xB, there isnt really much of a difference in the matter of speed. Buying a car that sucks when stuck in traffic isn't fun or smart. If it was a tC or a actual sports car, I would recommend a manual. For a 103 Hp box with wheels on it, a manual transmission isnt going to help much.

 

1 hour? Takes more than a hour of practice to learn how to drive a manual without grinding and stalling. I gurantee it took you more than 1 hour to drive a manual good.

 

STICK! The xB has a slick shifting transmission that's one of the easiest I've ever driven. I started on a '56 IH pickup with no syncromesh (need to double-clutch!) and if I can learn on that, anyone can learn on the xB. Just one thing: don't EVER ride the clutch! It needs to have the pedal in or the pedal out unless you're just starting from a dead stop. Riding the clutch WILL burn it up in a very few miles.

ENJOY YOUR BOX!!!

 

Took me 20 min. to learn. I went to the Scion dealer.. I told them I wanted a manual, but wanted to test drive the auto since I didn't know how to drive stick. She taught me in 20 min. No stalling, no grinding.

SMOOTH SAILING.

 

Here's the catch, be confident. Manual is NOT hard to learn, it's that loose mysterious "shifter" that many avoid when it should be a requirement when learning to drive.

I had to make serious compromises with my girlfriend so I could get an manual again. She does not necessarily have time to learn how to drive it but does seem to want to. Mind you I would be teaching a deaf person so I can't sit there and tell her what to do easily.

Just go for the manual, learn how to avoid traffic if you sit all the time. As much as I hated sitting in traffic with a manual all the joy I gained in every other situation was well worth it.

The manual xB I test drove had a real firm shifter, it only had maybe 15 miles and I didn't really want to go crazy with it also we were in city traffic. But I think I'll take a whole day to just go out and drive it when I get mine! I am so excited haha

 

The XB stick is definitely easy to operate, so don't be intimidated if you decide to go manual. Make sure to limit the number of riders (and no cell phone!) during your first month or so, that way you'll be able to build confidence with the stick.

The real deciding point should be how much stop and go traffic you have to deal with on a daily basis. I have a manual XB and have always driven manual (20+ years), but if I had a hour commute in heavy traffic there's no way I'd go with manual. I don't know many people who would say that a manual in traffic is fun. Good luck with your decision.

 

Auto.

My '06 is my first auto trans ever (i'm 47), and I am generally a performance enthusiast and like shifting.

However, the auto trans in the Scion is a helluva piece of engineering. I love how the RPM slowly adjust lower and lower if you cruise at a steady speed. Gas mileage is great. If I cruise at 40, the trans will adjust till the RPMs are down around 1500.

If you do alot of freeway driving you will appreciate turning a lot less RPM than the manual. I just drove from Tucson to El Paso at mostly 85mph, and at even close to 100mph was barely turning 4000 revs.

Just my 2 cents.

Fel

 

I love driving a 5spd, however, I love that my xB is an auto. Commuting in a 5spd sucks, bottom line.

 

When I was 15...back in the day I used to take my moms audi out all the time....it was a 5 speed.....and learned pretty quick how to drive a stick....it's easy to learn.

 

ahhhhh... decisions decisions!
I think i will be ordering mine this month - i Just need to figure out which route I want to go!
I mean, I just foudn out I got an internship at disney so Ill be doing a lot of commtes to work and school and in general just a errand and going to movie car...so I dont think I will be sitting in too much traffic..I drove an auto today and it was fun...but a part of me inside wants to go with a manual!

any ideas about the alarm issue as well?

thanks guys keep it coming

 

I don't know too much about the factory scion alarm. However, I'm sure it will have a shock sensor, and its probably ok for the most part. Range will be ok. Aftermarket with a 2 way pager will give you more range, more options, and you could go with remote start too!

 

yea..i have a 2-way aftermarket on my truck right now and its *ok* im kind of leaning towards going to scion b/c im moving to florida soon and itll be much easier to get it fixed if something goes wrong..

 

If you do some research here on SL you will see that the Scion alarm is not worth it. You can get much better out there for far less then what Scion will charge you plus more if you add it to the cost of the car via financing. I just recently bought a nice AutoPage alarm with lots of options including remote start for $300 installed.

I have also read that the Scions are very forgiving when learning to drive a manual tranny. Just keep in mind that if you are coming to a stop or in an emergancy push in the clutch. Me personally i would love to own a 5 speed, but shifting gears all day in NJ traffic ( 13 speed ) i get more then my fill of that shifter in the middle of the floor.

BTW .... the manuals are almost a second faster in the 8th mile.

 

Sometimes I grind. I've stalled twice since I've had it. It happens, and I've driven 4spd and 5spd for awhile. You'll get used to it. The xB is fun, and I'm sure you'll love it.

 

oh you lucky barstard.... I just went from an old 6x4 twin stick to a damn super 10....what a total POS !

 

Can anyone explain this further? What is this about the transmission continually adjusting the gear ratio to keep lowering the RPMs as you drive?
I know the automatic turns about 500 RPM less than the manual at 80, but didn't realize it was this intelligent ;-)