After looking at the xB's for a while, and even driving a few at dealerships, I finally got one. I like it. What I bought was barely used - 3400 miles. It has a few options which I would not have bought, but they were already on the car, so...they are mine. I do have 2 questions, though:

1. The car has a spoiler on it. I'm in the camp that does not appreciate the appearance of these things, but as I said, it was there and since the car was used the price was right. I am assuming that if I was to pull it off, I would find several holes in the top of my rear hatch. Am I correct? Maybe it will grow on me.

2. The car has the premium radio in it with the iPod connection and the volume controls on the wheel. I had just purchased a JVC head unit with a HD tuner for my last car. I pulled it out when I sold the other car. Should I mess with the Scion radio or leave it alone? The two units are similar in functions except for the HD tuner. The HD tuner is interesting, but not outstanding. Are the any issues with the stock uniits?

Thanks.

 

1: Yes, four holes. two different sizes with the larger ones about 1/2" in diameter.

2: If it were up to me, I would keep the stock one, but I have never heard HD radio. Satellite is good enough for me.

 

i have heard of HD radio....I bet it won't last...go with Sirius! Keep the spoiler looks alot better with IMO.

 

I bought mine without the spoiler, then added it, but that is a personal thing. However, It's probably not cheap to have the holes filled and repainted. I'd say keep the spoiler.

As for the Head Unit. It is my understanding that if you change the HU, you would not be able to use the steering wheel radio controls. If thats the case, I'm keeping my HU. To me the steering wheel controls are like TiVo. Life before TiVo was fine. I liked watching tv, but now with TiVo, I hate going to someone's house and watching TV without it.

 

You CAN still use the steering wheel controls on many aftermarket stereos. You just need to install a PAC Steering Wheel Interface module. They are available here.

If you use HD radio on a regular basis, then install the aftermarket radio. If not, then I wouldn't bother with it unless you plan on doing some other modifications to the stereo in the future, such as adding an amplifier. The aftermarket unit has RCA pre-outs, where the stock radio would require installation of LOCs in order to accomodate the amp. Another thing to consider is that the usage of LOCs to create an input for an amplifier causes the amplifier's input to be responsive to the stock stereo's Fader, whereas most aftermarket radios have a separate Non-fading Pre-out for something like a subwoofer.

 

Cool, I guess I read wrong. Thanks for the info.

 

yeah i ordered the spoiler also and i was thinking i should de-wing the box cuz almost every TCM box i see has it so when i when to take it off and saw 4 holes i too was like OMG but ohh well. gotta live with it.

 

Thanks for the info.

I bought the HD tuner because I was curious and Crutchfield had enough rebates to let me indulge. Personally, I was never all that impressed with it. The rest of the unit does everything that the enhanced stock radio does, so I'll keep the stock unit. Especially since the PAC Steering Wheel Interface does not work with that model. I do like the steering wheel buttons.

As to the spoiler, maybe it will grow on me. Or someone will whack my rear end. Actually, my wife crumbled the hatchbach on her brand new Matrix the first day she had it. She had sold a Saturn sedan to buy the 'Yota and was marvelling at the hatch while the car sat in the garage. She jumped in to run an errand, forgot to close the hatch, caught it on the open garage door and proceeded to bend it like a pretzel. But my insurance company would be suspicious if it happened twice, so I better not go there.