hey everyone in the market for scion. i post over on the toyota nation forums sometimes under this same name. my buddy jd huyler referred me. i'm a current owner of a 1999 toyota corolla thats coming up on 185k miles. it's served me well for almost 4 years, but isn't the best car to be commuting in anymore every day 188 miles round trip to work. i was leaning towards either a brand new honda fit, or a brand new corolla. i only have half of what those cars would cost brand new, and due to a poor credit score probably couldn't get a good rate. so i'm taking the cash to buy a used scion. somewhere around $8k-$9k grand. maybe $9500.


i know a bit about the xb, but how is the tc? i'm leaning towards the xb cause it seems like a great car, and i've wanted one for a while. unfortunately up until this year finally they have been out of my preferred price range, and now have finally depreciated enough. the tc seems to have not as good ratings, but a guy i know's wife has one, and says it's been good. 90k miles or under is good for me. with the way i commute it will be up to 200k in 4 years. basically i just wanna know the pros and cons of the tc particularly. am i better off with the xb? hoping to get one within the month. it would definitely be an 04 most likely because they seem to be the best i can afford. thanks for your help in advance, and looking forward to my new scion!

 

Welcome. I don't have any personal experience with tCs, but my Sentra SE-R was similar to the tC in power and EPA estimated fuel economy.

What's your commute like, and how do you drive it? If you want to cruise at 80 mph, the tC will probably be smoother. If you've got congestion that keeps your speeds down to 55-65 mph, the xB won't have to run at 3500+ rpm, and will give you at least 5 mpg better fuel economy. The xB is rated about 5 mpg better highway, 8 mpg better city, and 7 mpg better combined than the tC. Plus it's far roomier, better looking, and cheaper to insure. Additionally, it's less likely to have been abused by its previous owner.

With gas likely to reach $5/gallon this summer, and $50 fill-ups likely, fuel economy is something to seriously plan for.

 

Yes, I agree with Sentra. I highly suggest the xB if you are looking to save gas. It is by no means a comfortable ride, but it will save you at the pump. If you want comfort and power, go for the tC. If you want fuel economy and style, go for the xb.

Here are some MPG figures:

Your Corolla: 24-27 MPG City/ 30-34 MPG Hwy depending on your transmission
2005 tC: 20 MPG city/ 27 MPG Hwy (Automatic)
2005 xB: 27 MPG city/ 32 MPG Hwy (Automatic)

The tC will definitely take a toll on your wallet by 5MPGs or more.

Use this tool: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm

I have a 2006 xB and I average about 27MPG with the majority being city driving. http://www.fuelly.com/driver/ajcadoo/xb

Sentra is the king of MPGs here on the forums. He recently got a 1000km tank of gas, aint that right there sentra?

I bought my 2006 xB in September 2008 with 39K miles in L.A. It was a steal and I have had zero problems. It was salvaged though because of a severe rear-end accident.

You have a long commute so comfort might be a priority. maybe test drive both cars and see how you like them.

 

I was surprised to find the tC average on fuelly.com was about 27 mpg, 3-4 mpg better than the EPA estimated combined fuel economy, and only about 3 mpg behind the xB average. But fuelly.com lumps 1G and 2G xBs together, so the xB average is lowered by all the 2Gs that have the same 2.4 L engine as in the tC, but far worse aerodynamics.

Yes, I pulled a 1000 km (621.6 mile) tank with my xB, averaging 58.84 mpg. I also averaged 38 mpg average for 20,000 miles with my Sentra SE-R with its thirsty 2.5 L engine, which has the same EPA combined FE as the tC.

FWIW, my xB's fuel log on fuelly.com is here.

 

thanks everyone. i'm really toward the xb. my 99 corolla is having problems every other week. a lot of people tell me to save my money, and keep it, but i don't think so. i just did some side work for my friend, and my tax refund, and the money i use to sell the corolla i can buy the xb. in the last 5k miles i've replaced the crankshaft position sensor, thermostat, and now the engine coolant temperature sensor or whatever it is has gone. so i don't know when the next time will be i come into this money. rather than spend it fixing the corolla, and repairing it i am thinking just invest in something a little newer, because the corolla has ran it's course.

 

Yeah, for the most part the xB is a highly reliable car. The Japanese knew what they were building.

 

i've always swore by toyotas as far as little cars go. my mothers taurus is an 02, and it's got 80k something on it, and something breaks on it every month. it's to the point that as long as the car is actually running they won't get anything fixed until it needs to be towed, because so much stuff has went on it including the transmission. she's had the car since brand new, and it's probably the poorest car i have seen owned by a woman in their 70s!



i'll be honest i don't think i would wanna buy a newer toyota just from reviews, and my ex wife's 09 corolla. nothing to do with the gas pedal issue either. before my wife, and i split we bought an 09 corolla brand new. when she left me i gave her the car completely with the deal if i sold our house i wouldn't have to give her half of the sale. she's had the car in, and out of the dealer for warranty work 4 times, and as of the other night the car has 23k miles. i've even read more than once that the new generation scions are having a lot more problems than the first generation.


my 99 corolla i've had for 4 years almost. put over 60k miles on it, and it's got me where i wanna go usually, and my 187 mile trip to work round trip. been having to fix a lot of things lately, and just trying to do what i can myself. the rates mechanics charge are too high for me, and after 4 repairs a year that usually equals what i could pay financing on something brand new. unfortunately my credit is bad now. got into some trouble with my mortgage, and was in the toilet with work over a year ago. so i figure now i can buy something for $8500 bucks with 80k-90k miles, and get 4 years out of this. first i just gotta fix some things in my corolla that has caused the check engine light to be on for years. never gave me any trouble with the lights, but it would probably sway a potential buyer. then i can get an xb!

 

Be patient. I got my RS 3.0 with 37k miles last year for $8500. This year, I'm seeing more xBs on the market in that price range.

 

yeah the prices of the early model xb's have finally depreciated enough for me. i don't always have this kind of money laying around though. i'm waiting for the $4500 next week from my buddy i did the side job with. he hasn't got paid yet either, but he's been in hawaii all week on vacation with his girl. once i have that along with the rest of the money i'm getting the xb. worse comes to worse i can always borrow a grand from my mother. found one for $7500! an 04 with only 70k miles! within a year i will probably have it over 100k, but thats alright. just hoping i can get $1500 for the corolla thats all. even though the blue book is closer to $2500 bucks! hoping to get this xb by the end of the month.

 

be careful with gas going up the XB resale market may folloe

 

Like he said!

You cannot go wrong w/ either a xB1 or xA (if your considering the xA that is). xA will get you even better mpg then the xB1, plus they tend to be less expensive (due to the fact that xB1's were invoiced at about $ 1000-1500 more when new).

Just be sure to check it, recheck it ... before you wreck it!!

 

Highly reliable, and decent mpg. 146,000+ miles, and my '06 still runs great, with 30mpg.

 

so i bought it about 10 days ago. the kid wanted $7500, but said he would take $7000 cause he wouldn't be needing it when he transfers to a college further away. very impressed, but have one question just one thing i'm a little worried about. rather than make a new topic i figured i would ask here.


i usually let the car warm up until the blue lights goes off at least if it's the first time i drive it all day. for the first few minutes after i get going only when in gear i hear a slight chirp. i also hear it for the first few minutes when accelerating. after 2 or 3 minutes it stops. i can't pinpoint if it's coming from the belt or if it's slightly behind that, and underneath the car. i've heard similar noises with exhaust leaks. i was just hoping this isn't a transmission problem? think my corolla may have done this, but i forgot. like i said it's a slight, and quiet chirp. it's not a very loud squeal. should i be worried or not? is this common with these cars? it's in gear when idling, and accelerating for the first few minutes. it's also not loud enough to hear if the stereo is on. this is for an 04 xb! automatic transmission!


other than that very satisfied with this car. getting at least 30 mpg on the highway, and with only 71k miles on this thing i'm hoping to keep it for 4 years, and by that time it should be to 200k miles! thanks in advance! sorry for the dumb newbie questions!

 

Congratulations on your xB! What color?

Doesn't sound normal to me. Could be a lot of things - water pump, alternator, loose serpentine belt, AC clutch or idler? I wouldn't worry much about it being your transmission, as I've never heard of automatic transmissions making chirping noises.

Take it to a shop. Most won't charge you for a diagnosis.

Don't waste gas and time warming it up. If your engine is running, use it to move your car. Just keep the revs down, and stay off the freeways until the blue light goes out.

 

thanks! i guess i didn't need to make a separate thread either huh?! my best friend told me the color is called tan sand! it's more of a gray to me. i've seen most of the xb's in that color actually! it seems like the most common to me or at least what i've seen. i haven't seen anything about transmissions with these cars either while doing research at least not automatic ones! the only reason i was worried was because it only does it while i'm in gear! just reverse and drive, and only when cold.

i basically live only a half mile off what would be considered a highway so i need to warm it up for at least a minute or two first time of the day! if it's not the first time i've driven it all day i can move right away, and the light goes off before i hit the highway! since you brought up water pump which is worst case scenario out of all the things you recommended to look out for how much is labor on one? labor on water pumps always seems a pain in the ___ on a front wheel drive. i think the labor on my 99 corolla i just got rid of was like 5 hours, so it ended up being over $500 bucks parts, and labor. closer to $600 actually, and that was 4 years ago. also have you or anyone else noticed if parts have gone up due to the earthquake?

if for some reason it was the alternator there is a battery light. wouldn't that come on? it's come on in every vehicle i've had when it went. how much is labor on an alternator? i mean how many hours generally? belts i could do myself with no problem. my savings are officially drained due to the purchase now. sorry for all the questions. just a newbie here. excited about the car though. thanks for your help so far it's been very good!

 

yeah, the higher the RPMs, the faster that blue light will go out. You will be fine traveling on the freeway, I just wouldnt go above 65MPH those first minutes. You should be around 4200RPM in third gear.

As for the chirp, I have discovered it to be coming from my alternator. It hasn't caused me any problems in the 3 years of ownership so I am not thinking much of it. The slight chirping noise you have described is identical to the one I have as well. But if you are extremely concerned, you can always take it in to the dealership for an inspection.

As for Japan, I know they have shut down some plants that make the Yaris and 2gen xB, but idk about any parts shortages. That is an excellent question. I am sure the supply is still high, even if the disaster affected anything.

 

90% of engine wear occurs during those first few minutes of cold starting, so revving your engine over 2500 rpm on a freeway 1/2 mile after you turn it on is really abusing it. Still, I wouldn't just let it idle. I'd drive it a few miles to the next on-ramp, or around the block a few times just to get 15 mpg v. 0 mpg while it's warming up.

I suspect it's just normal belt slippage, as several others have noticed the same thing.

I've never replaced a water pump on a FWD car, so you know more about the cost than I do. Alternators can squeak without being on the brink of failure. Since belt slippage seems more likely, and failure of the water pump or alternator will have obvious symptoms, just save up your money, stash $600 into a rainy day fund, and enjoy your new ride.

 

i think it's normal too, and it's coming from the belt, but it's just weird it's only doing it in drive, or reverse! no worries though. one question though. i recall reading maybe on here doing a search i think it was that there are two belts on the xb? is this true? if it is what belts run what?


i'm very happy with my purchase. i have a 2000 f350 7.3 diesel. i also owned a 97 before that for 10 years i bought brand new. great trucks, and i use them for my side business, but i just can't do 36k miles a year on a diesel anymore. i can write off the mileage for my business, but it's still a lot of money to throw. with diesel at $4 a gallon not to mention getting only 14 mpg i can't afford to travel with that like i used to. back in the days of $1.60 a gallon diesel which doesn't seem very long ago in fact it seems like it was just yesterday i was able to do it. not no more. so i need the little commuter cars like the xb, and the corolla i had before this for my long rides. this is a very comfortable car too. handles very well too. very stiff suspension, and not the smoothest ride at all, but very impressed with the car so far. i even tested out the ac today cause it got a little warm just wanted to see how it worked, and it is great!

 

yup hopefully itll give you many miles to come. glad to hear its matching your tastes

 

I haven't had to work on my xB's engine, so that's my disclaimer. This link describes the serpentine belt R&R procedure. The serpentine belt (called the fan and generator v belt) runs the alternator, AC compressor, and water pump. The separate vane belt runs the power steering.

You can loosen bolts A and B and make sure the belt tension is correct. It may be a touch loose, causing your chirping sound. G/L.