First time poster, soon to be purchasing an Xb, and I was reading all on the boards and elsewhere (edmunds.com for one) that steering wheel audio controls were going to become an available feature. The lady was awfully shady about the question, not having info at first, but when further prompted admitted it, why are they doing this?

Chandra: Hi, my name is Chandra. How may I help you?
Joe: Will the xb be getting steering wheel audio controls?
Chandra: Hello Joe. At this time Scion does not have any information on steering wheel audio controls being added to the xB in the near future.
Joe: Edmunds.com has is listed as being added to 06 models.
Chandra: Yes, this is for the upgraded unit with iPod control.
Chandra: It's an additional accessory that can be purchased through your Scion dealership.
Joe: So, an xb ordered now with the ipod upgrade will have steering wheel audio controls?
Chandra: Yes, that is correct Joe.

 

no one knows. probably a mid year thing.

 

All I will totally say if mid-year 06's get the audio controls I will be completely ticked off. I chatted with them and they told me mid-year models will have the controls and other 06 owners can't add it as its a port installed option. Watch me get the parts and install it!!! *growl*

 

it'll cost more and be more of a pain to modify it. just sell yours and make cash

 

"just sell yours and pay cash"

Huh? Selling any car is a big PITA, and the box is no difference. If you put together the real cost of selling and buying new you will lose. I say buy the the new steering wheel and a whole new steering rack if you have to to make it work!

 

dude i have the 06 xb with ipod upgrade i didnt get audio controls

 

OK, just got the memo today from Toyota Motor Sales...

...Salsa red and Shadow Mica will hit the east coast around mid january and the west coast as usual will see it first in December. Also, the steering wheel controls will be included with this new mid year release. However, the base price will be increased by $150 to compensate. On the memo there was something about a "freshened look" on the interior upholstery. Im not sure what that means...

I posted this in another thread about the controls and color change for mid-year '06. As far as the chatters on Scion.com, I have found them to be helpful with some things and useless on others. This would be one of the useless times...

The steering wheel controls will come with ALL head units not just with the iPod upgrade.

 

will we be able to buy this ? i need to kow because i might be getting a new deck !

 

My dealer says xBs after the first of the year will have it.

I too, was informed that the $260 iPod upgrade came with s/w controls. They were wrong. So basically, I paid $260 for something I could have done for around $100. Oh well, at least I did not have to install it and it does work reasonably well.

Good luck!

BTW, if you get a new deck (aftermarket) the controls won't work with.

 

What's the big deal with having steering wheel stereo controls? You can't move your hand one foot to the right and change the song or turn up the volume you lazy bastards!

That's just as bad as those people who have remotes for their stereos. It's like your sitting right in front of the tv, what the hell do you need a remote for?

 

COSIGN!@#$ I feel the same way. I ordered an 06 xB on Nov 11th - so the new model has that stuff on the steering wheel? who cares?!?!? I can see that being very necessary if you're going 140mph but at highway speeds, or on the street.... come on now!

What's next? Window buttons on the steering wheel?

 

these cars are worth more than they sell for. go look at used xB's they sell for as much or more than new ones...

 

back to the steering controls...

i think they will add it, because the tC and xA owners got it, and there's a pretty good asking for the xB's controls, and i could guess that mid year they may get it...

but consider that you may choose to upgrade to an aftermarket head unit for sound clarity and performance (even if you dont add an amp, an after market unit has better volume and usually better adjustability)

 

Wellll, they may be asking for more, but they only get more if the buyer is really stupid. The used car places have to tack on a certain amount of bargain room. Also, a lot of the xBs I see used have wheels and other things that crank up the price.

On the original topic, I wouldn't mind having wheel controls on my '04. Hitting those little volume buttons when driving down a rough street is a moderately challenging eye-hand coordination exercise. It would have killed them to put a volume **** on the unit!

 

^^^ Yeah the '04 head units arent designed very well and would certainly benefit from some steering wheel controls...

 

I suppose the person I spoke with didn't directly answer the question because they probably don't want people to know if they dont have to. I mean, they have new cars still that do not have the swac, and whether you like them or don't, to the majority of buyers, you would rather have them than not have them.

PS: Dealer left me a message today and has a tcm coming on the 21st if i want, but I'll have to find out if it has the controls or not.

 

why is this steering wheel control thing just a big deal?? it's been around. i have cars with them and i don't necessarily find it all that great.
there are so many people talking about this being the biggest thing in recent history.
get a life

 

It isn't a huge deal. I mean, it's not the sole reason for anyone to buy a car. But if they are adding it in the middle of the model year, you couldn't help but feel slighted if you bought one without it, then a week later they added it.

 

 

I am holding out for the salsa red with steering wheel controls because it will be rare. I plan to keep my xB stock and in 10 years I will have a very rare color and model. Mid year changes have become very vauluable in the past. Think back to some of the 1/2 year sports cars of the 60's and 70's and what they are worth today.

Could the '06 Salsa and Mica colors be as rare as RS? How many do you think will be built for the remainder of the '06 model year?

The xB' we own today are a first of their kind in the states and the very existence of this huge forum community proves that this body style will become a huge collector item in 10-15 years. So always change your oil and don't crash! The more my '06 xB will be different than your '06 xB, the better for me.