Went w/ what the dealer had. Lucky for us it was a M/T. My next Scion will be an A/T...my box is my 6th car in a row w/ a M/T.

 

You're yawning about a manual?

As if driving an automatic was more interesting?

Never heard that perspective before.

 

I'm ready for a boring A/T after driving M/T for so long...is what i meant.

 

Ah, I got ya.

 

<--A/T...Wifes Xb is M/T.

 

Automatic is the way to go.

 

Manual

 

Auto was the best choice for me for Southern California traffic...

...and it's not like I was looking for performance out of a 108 HP Toyota built on the Echo platform

 

I should be getting my Xb soon, although I'm still caught up between buying it in 5sp or auto. 75% of me is saying to get the 5sp, 25% the auto. As of now my Scion rep has located a manual TCM for me(all he has is auto cars in stock) that I can have immediately, but my heart is set on the RS 2.0, if it's acquirable. Also, my first time driving it was an automatic car that I did get to drive for a little while, my initial impressions were driving locally, the automatic is fine. On the highway, it really feels like it runs out of breath quickly and realy needs to push to get up there. I know it doesn't have so much to do with the tranny as it does to the power of the car, but I figured the manual will at least "feel" more powerful. I'd also be driving it anticipating stop and go traffic, which is notorious on the highway that I take to get to work. I dono man, I'm still set on 5 sp, but there's still that chance of the last second switch..
Ed

 

If you are even a *slightly* aggressive driver or you are the type of person who will take your car out for a drive *just* because you love to drive it, then I think you need to get the manual.

If you're more of a point "A" to point "B" kind of person and dread the idea of having to shift in traffic, then maybe an automatic could be what you're looking for.

I would definitely take the manual for an extended test drive before deciding on an automatic, if you think you're about to go that way.

Let us know what you do and post some pics of your cool new ride!

 

take it out on a winding road course and really drive it before you decide

 

wow 7777 views...
oops I just ruined it

 

sorry should contribute...
but like ppl have said...
I view the xB as a practical car... not a sporty one ...
so auto is fine... its a people lugger...
If I want something sporty I might go with the xA or tC.

That said auto tranny needs some serious help... so the little power mods add up and hopefully bring it on par with a manual.

Yeah grade logic would've been nice... but I don't find it so hard to pop the O/D button on or off...

 

We've got Grade Logic and it works very well, IMO.

 

Got the man!

 

Hi,

My xB has the 5 speed, and while it is fun to drive, it REALLY needs a 6th gear/OD to bring the 65+ mph revs down. I know this is on another topic thread, but I can't remember where I saw it last week when I found this site.

Short of that, for maximum gas mileage, I would think a taller tire (don't go shootin me) within the physical limits of the vehicle height etc would go part way towards that goal. I think the xB should be able to see close to 40 mpg highway with a more firendly final gear in the tranny.

Point being that typically gas MPG for manuals that I have ever seen are several mps higher than an automatic tranny. Maybe that has changed of late with more automatic tranny science.

But this little engine with the right gearing should get 5 mpg better when highway revs are more like 2600 +/- instead of current 3500+

Now granted the real reason is probably the lawyers said some jerks will end up implanting themselves into a tree cause the engine winds out so nicely and that .6 (as quoted from that other tranny gear ration thread I referenced) would increase the top end speed much higher than they want to deal with; air resistance etc not being addressed here 8-) .


Dave

 

Automatic

 

I just don't get why manufacturers do this...? maybe they're afraid the xB will do absolutely nothing if you step on the gas pedal when cruising at 65mph in a taller 5th or new 6th gear.

 

believe it or not I only had one choice and that was auto. I'm freakin 21 years old and I don't know how to drive stick.. My dad says only a man should learn how to drive a stick women don't know anything about cars..... I love cars tho..it's what I grew up around...old muscle cars and imports. but I'm still learnin'.. hopefully I learn some useful stuff on these boards about my B.

 

Simple, V8's have the low end torque and power to run at 2500RPM at 75-80 mph.

Teeny tiny 1.5 liters don't

You might notice that every car with an engine this small and a similar power-to-weight ratio roars along at a pretty high RPM on the highway. It's a necessary evil. Just look at the powerband of the car and see how much torque and horsepower is available at 2000-2500 RPM and you'll quickly realize why this ain't gonna happen.

I got used to it pretty quickly, most of us do.

That said, if it really makes you crazy, there is an option. You could swap in the final drive gearing from a Toyota Echo. I beleive it's about 3.90:1 vs. 4.30:1 for the xB. That would drop you a good 3-500 RPM at speed. Of course regular xB's and xA's will be kicking your a$$ in acceleration, but you will probably get better mileage.