I have some things to ask...

#1. What were the common problems with 08 XBs? It's a common trend that the first year of a new model usually has something wrong with it (even stuff as minor as random noises coming from the body, etc.).

#2. Did the 09 XB fix them?

I ask this because I don't want to buy a problematic car. I just want solid quality and peace of mind. Thanks for posting!

 

Unfortunately, some of the problems I saw with the xb are:

1.) inability to stop smiling when I drive
2.) people constantly staring at me giving me the thumbs up.
3.) too much room I can't utilize when I'm moving stuff around
4.) passangers having too much comfort and thus everybody wants me to drive all the time
5.) constant craving to want to go driving somewhere all the time
6.) loving this car too much

and I do not believe Toyota has addressed ANY of these for either the 09's or any other upcoming revisions. DAMN YOU TOYOTA!!!

 

i've got an 09 an it does have the same problems. No. 5 is a on going problem with no cure.

 

ive got one of the earlier 08s
Q1) lots of body creaks in the 08. front A-pillar creak, B-pillar creak around the seatbelt area, etc etc

Q2) they fixed it mid-way in 08. the RS5.0 doesnt even have these creaks

 

So they fixed it mid 08, so 09 should be no problem, right?

If so, then I'm pretty excited

 

I suffer from #1, #5 and #6. I bought this car for short road trips and I was driving home today on the freeway listening to Pearl Jam and just lovin' my car and life while on the way back. This car is enjoyable in all the ways that my WRX wasn't.



I've got an '09 with 802 miles on it and no creaks so far. I thought I had an irritating creak but then we figured out it was just my keys rattling lol. The only gripe with this car is that I wish it had a few more inches of trunk space with the rear seats up. I haven't tried yet but I don't know if I will be able to stack multiple suitcases on top of each other in the back because of the angle of the rear seats. I'm glad I purchased the 3M paint protection film because I've already noticed spots where rocks hit the film. The xB's shape doesn't help much with avoiding chipping.

When I test drove the xB, the suspension acted weird on broken pavement. It seemed to kinda rock the xB back and forth or something. Now that the suspension has 800+ miles on it, that problem is long gone and I LOVE the way it rides. I like it so much that I'm not sure I would upgrade the wheels/tires because the cushy ride is so nice to me coming from a WRX with harsh suspension.

Fromtheold, you should enjoy driving the xB. In my opinion, it offers one of the best values out there. It's quiet and more comfortable than the competition and has a great engine and ipod capabilities are standard which is great for me because now I don't need to carry around my cd case with 200 cds.

 

Definitely suffer from numbers four, five, and six. Cure: Drive more. :D

 

I don't consider the xB creaky at all. Other then my slight A-Pillar creak, I have nothing! I'm up to 13,000 miles now. The creak doesn't really bother me, I more consider it car personality!

 

Same thing here. I have just over 1000 miles and the suspension feels better and better every day. A lot more responsive than new but not harsh at all.

 

Being really picky, I find the auto trans having a mind of its own on a coast or steady state at 1000-1200rpm. The tach jumps. I think its the lockup converter deciding to be on or off. It sometimes feels like it down shifting. Time to see the dealer.

Otherwise, 4 hour trip to NJ with the AC on 70mph avg.. 30.3mpg

 

Mine does that too, in the give or take 1200rpm range. It does it frequently, so I just wrote it off to "that's how it is" and then I speed up a little.

 

Totally agree

 

I don't see what the problem is with that. 1000-1200rpm is too low. At that rpm you're lugging the engine. I can't imagine any situation where I would be at less than 1500rpm.

 

I notice it when I'm coasting down hill or to a stop, and the rpm's get in that range. It feels kind of like the ECU isn't sure what air/fuel mixture to use, so it fluctuates a little bit. That's why I never worried about it. The second I step back on the gas, or touch the brakes, everything is fine.

 

Ah I see.