My TRD Springs, shocks and 17" enkeis came in yesterday, I'm getting them installed, so I'll let you guys know the diff between trd and stock. I'm really happy with the handling of the stock suspension, much better than what I traded in on my xB (a 02 PT Limited).

 

I would like to comment on the amazing effect of the traction control system. I was driving down the highway at about 65 when some guy to my left realized he was missing his exit and jammed on the brakes and swerved in front of me to cut across two lanes. I hit my brakes and cut very hard (at that speed) to avoid hitting him by only a few inches, but the maneuver was extreme. My back end started to come around which I would have tried to counter steer out of, but I didnt have to. The dash started beeping, what felt like the hand of God, pushed my back end back in line, and there I was going straight down the road. It happened so fast I never had a chance to react to the pending fishtail. It was REALLY amazing.

I am one of those people that believes in knowing the limitations of your vehicle. I will go to an empty parking lot in the rain and stand on the brakes to see what the vehicle will do. I had tested the ABS several times, but never the traction control. I was up in the mountains a week ago on a wide gravel road and tested the traction control. It works incredibly well. On several corners I sped up and cut very hard and caused the rear to begin to fishtail. Each time the light in the dash beeped and the same predictable "push" in the rear straightened the car out.

It makes me feel really great to know that my wife is also driving a box.

 

someone who i refered to our dealer had said something about a new RS version becoming available? Bright red with a Factory OEM moon roof? supposedly 10,000 of these units will be made but not sure if the story is being told correctly, it was 2nd source so. IDNO it would make an attractive option. but i'm not one for glass roofs

 

I think you're refering to the VSC or Vehicle Stability Control. The "Traction Control" is when you're drive wheels spin at a different rpm from each other. when the Traction control senses slip of a drive wheel, it applies the break to that wheel. it feels a lot like ABS.

 

I have stock steelies and tires but the Hotchkis strut and sway bars Gabe of Precision Muffler installed make my XB really steady. I have almost no body lean and even in crosswinds the ride is incredibly steady. If you feel like your XB is going to tip or you want a really leanless ride adding sway bars works great.

 

I have stock steelies and tires but the Hotchkis strut and sway bars Gabe of Precision Muffler installed make my XB really steady. I have almost no body lean and even in crosswinds the ride is incredibly steady. If you feel like your XB is going to tip or you want a really leanless ride adding sway bars works great. :D

 

And yes, the VSC really can not play any part in keeping the vehicle from rolling over. But it is really cool - I know the VSC system on the Carrera 911 can create a rotation point by braking the correct wheel - I'm not sure what the xB's system is capable of.

 

I spent last weekend up at the buttonwillow race track - 3 miles of fast turns, elevation changes, and 100mph straights - it handled great. I have only minor suspension mods (Eibach Pro-Kit) and it was doin great - keeping up with, and even passing other cars. The braking was good, my rotora rotors probably helped some, but very little brake fade even after several hard laps, and no hint of any chance of rollovers, and that's pushing the box just about as hard as you can push it. I was very impressed how well it handled out there.