So TRUE!
Here in coastal CT, I-95 has become a rush hour Stop & Go ZOO!.
As much as I would have preferred a manual transmission, it just MAKES NO SENSE to use a manual transmission on our overly congested roads.

Imgine taking 1.5 hours in rush hour (on a good day) to travel a 1/2 hour distance (25 miles) in normal times.

On a BAD DAY, it could take 3 - 5 hours.
- All that would take would be a good snow storm or a nasty tractor trailer crash.

I will have to admit that, after 3 days of driving it around, the black BOX is growing on me and folks seem to think it matches my "unique" personality.

 

In TN it only take a heavy rainfall to snarl traffic.

 

As someone who has been here awhile, here is what i suggest. Youve been bitten by the box bug, now enjoy it.

My suggestions ...

1) suspension. I would suggest the Progress Springs with the stock struts and shocks. The strut bar and Progress rear sway are nice additions as well.

2) wheels. Cant go wrong with 17s. I run a slightly larger tire as well, 215/45R17

3) intake. Get rid of the restricting stock intake. I recommend the Injen short ram that sits behind the drivers headlight.

4) exhaust. Any axle back will help. Borla is nice, and not ricey sounding.

everything else is up to you. Im sure youll find that once you start, you cant stop. Theres interior lighting, tvs, big stereos, turboes, super chargers .. etc etc.

I would strongly recommend you do your shopping here under the classifieds. Look for local sales on stuff you want and not pay top dollar. Yeah, the parts may be used, but right now the dollar talks and most want/need to sell. Good Luck.

 

^^Nice list but... The stock struts and shock have got to go. Upgrade to Monroes! FTW

 

you need to get a pretty lady to sit in the passenger seat

 

same as NC..some people in the south can't drive

 

no one mentioned endlink bushings.....

 

Going slow and fast! I will run 80 mph @ 3100~3200 rpm against a stick box all day! And I can go up I-5 @ 8 mph stop and go, no problem. 8 or 80, I like my auto!


Here in Cali, the sun in their eyes causes a slow down...can't see the numbers on the cell phone I guess! And don't even go out in the rain! People do 70 mph like its dry out. I guess mongo SUV's don't crash.


Oh, yeah douglasinct, get that armrest!!!

 

I did try the Monroes in the rear a year or so and it was too soft in the rear. I couldnt corner with out cutting into the rear tires! Yep, thats right, the Progress springs are that soft.

 

Do you have a rear sway bar?

 

yes, and i still cut into the tires.

 

cabin filter (see the DIY, $10)
black sheet to cover cargo ($5)
armrest (Zeta w/storage, $120)
iridium spark plugs (Denso, NGK $35)
Sylvania SilverStar Ultra headlight bulbs ($40)
Monroe rear shocks ($70)
rear sway bar (Progress, $120)
cruise control ($500)

You could try removing the snorkel on the airbox and see if it runs better. I would stay away from intakes since you have an automatic. All of the power gain is in the upper RPM and you'll lose power at lower RPM- where your auto is probably shifting during normal driving.

Don't know about fog lights. They never did anything worthwhile on the vehicles I had them on so I never bothered on the xB.

Whenever you replace the tires, upgrade to something good. Yokohama AVID TRZ in stock size handle and grip much better the OEM Goodyears.

 

Not necessary. Your not driving a high performance engine. OEM AutoLights will do just fine. Gap them to .44M

I forgot all about these. These are a worth while investment. The SilverStar are Sylvania bulbs, but there is a similar bulb that is made by GE i believe that is the same, but less money. You can get these at your local Wally World for about $28 a set.

This couldnt be any further from the truth. You dont have to be a brain surgeon to figure out that if you get rid of all the baffles ( this makes the intake quieter ) and allow the intake to breath easier you will get better gains across the board. I have lots and lots of miles on my xB, and my lower end never ceases to amaze me. Change your plugs and oil regularly and keep the MAF sensor clean and youll get plenty of pep.

 

Sounds like a rear spacer/wheel offset or tire size issue.

 

Im sure it was. I run the standard 42MM offset with a 10MM spacer. That and a 215 doesnt help, but i still didnt like the way the rear handled. Wayyyyy too soft in the corners.

 

That is strange cause I have stock springs back in, 1/2" rear spacer shims, 5987 Monroes out back and Whiteline rear bar and I don't have that problem. It's anything but soft.

 

Like i tell everyone, Progress is the softest spring out there.

 

I will. They're a cheap, worthwhile mod and they don't take long to install at all.

On a spring note, I really like the DF210s.

As far as the snorkel mod; at this point, I'd consider it a proven mod. Lots of people have done it and 99% of them notice some benefit. It does make the stock box less restrictive, and it's free, so you can't really beat it. That being said, if you do want an intake, I have the Fujita shorty and I love it.

 

Sure, whatever you say. My experience with multiple cars has been that installing an intake drops torque below 2,500-3,000 RPM on every one. Power is greater than stock above 3k RPM and higher peak HP, but it'll be slower off the line than stock when driven normally. It depends on how you drive if it's worth it. I have the Injen SRI in my manual, I know how my xB drives before and after. Stop and go rush hour traffic has made me consider reinstalling the stock intake more than once.

Same for the iridium plugs. I know how my xB drove before and after. There's more than one thread about them, it's not my opinion. Maybe you can get some standard plugs and gap them more than spec and it'll run better than stock. Maybe not. For the extra $20 every couple of years, I'd get what works and not have to mess with re gapping them during their service life.

Then again, I also wouldn't recommend 17" wheels (expensive, rougher ride, heavy) or a $300 exhaust (maybe 1 HP increase at 5,500+ RPM) to someone with an automatic asking for "practical and beneficial" mods.

 

i didnt pay 300 for the exhaust. And the wheels werent that expensive either.

I dont care what you drive or how you drive it. I can only vouch for mine and what i have done with it. I dont burn oil, and get great MPG. Yeah, its slightly harder to get off the line with my 17 ... but i still have caught many off guard.

To the guy who posted this, try several things out, see what works best for you.