I took the family down to see and test drive the xB2. We were a little too late because we had to wait for the family before us to finish their test drive the last available car and they then chose to buy it. Another couple after us hit the same problem.

The scion rep said that all of their XBs came in with the upgraded radio. I told him we wanted one with the base radio. He looked at the cars coming in (he said he had six more on the way) and he said they all had the upgraded radio and that the base was back ordered. This occurred in Austin, TX.

Are others experiencing the same issue with the Radio. Any information on that ?

 

They can remove the premium radio and install the "base" for you if they want to sell you the car. (Sounds like they are pushing unnecessary expense accessories)

My mothers car was shipped from port w/o a radio so there was no delay and they installed it at the dealership.

EDIT: Ok so I got curious and checked the inventory of local dealerships, they all have the premium radio so maybe there are supply/demand issues. I would still tell the dealership is obsurd to wait for a car because of the radio and offer to bring it back once the base radios are available to install. All this for a $425 radio??? Wow....

 

Had same problem with my dealer. Got the keyless entry with upgrade. Sounds good but was told that they anticipated Booming sales of upgrade because of Ipod Connection. Thats what I was told.i like the upgrade anyway.

 

The only problem with their logic on that is that the base unit has the iPod connection too. So does the NAV unit btw.

 

Asked the dealer when I test drove and outside of some fancy graphics (they were cool) and the ability to plug in an amp - he said there was not difference.

The ipod connection is standard now.

 

You be aware the IPod and aux connection is standard on all radios in the 2008 xB.

If the dealer wants to sell you the car, they will make it work!

 

problem is I am guessing these are selling pretty good right now, so they figure someone will buy it the way it is. the base radio will cost them as much to add as the premium already on it

I am new to Scion, but the premium radio is almost $600 if not already installed and the base is close to $300. How does it makes sense for them to remove it when it will cost $300 to get a base radio?

spend the $389 get the upgraded radio and add some cool screens to it

 

Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see any options on the 400 radio upgrade that made it worth the extra money. I rather put the money on some other upgrade.

I told the dealer to call me when they get that inventory issue resolved.

 

If you look at "Build your Scion" under "Sound" on scion.com you can see that the base radio is a no cost item.
http://www.scion.com/bys/pub/setStartOptions.do
The premium costs $389 extra. Many here would rather pay $750 or so and get the Pioneer Avic D3 that does pretty much everything the $1950 NAV unit upgrade does for about $1200 less. In that case why waste the $389?

 

This issue is likely caused by the Southeast Toyota and Gulf State Toyota Distribution groups. SET and GST have the tendency to add non-factory options to the vehicles such as leather seats. Good thing my state is covered by Central Atlantic Toyota!!! Dealers typically buy vehicles from the distributors and not directly from Toyota.

 

because $750 is almost twice $389, then doesn't look stock and needs adapters for steering wheel controls

I bought a premium someone took out because I really want the stock look and controls

But overall if you don't want it I would agree with you get the base.

But I think you missed what I was saying. They probably won't change it because the cost involved so I was saying for $389 just buy it and enjoy it

 

Uhhh....This doesn't look stock?

and I still have my steering wheel controls. Bluetooth/Nav/DVD/iPod/Sirius/PS2 all for 1200 installed, man I love my Avic D3

 

nice install $1200. ust a bit more than the $389. and it looks really, really close to stock

Again, I am not arguing what you can get for the money, basically if the person is willing to wait for an XB without the upgraded radio then they should.

I was saying I wouldn't let the $389 stop me from buying it now.

Also, thought $389 may not be the greatest deal from the factory for that radio, it isn't horrible either. The Navi seems extremely excessive, but I have checked out it's feature.

Here is crutchfields offerings in the $250-$400 http://www.crutchfield.com/S-mviXRAA...251+%2D+%24450

Just so people can compare what they are getting to whats available.

 

You are missing the point Noodles and I (along with several others) are trying to make.

If Noodles was forced to pay the $389 for the premium stereo when he intended to install the Avic D3 (which for $1200 functionally compares to the $1950 unit offered by Scion and is a lot less btw), then the $389 is wasted money. I too plan to install an Avic Z2 or D3 and I will be very unhappy if forced to pay the extra $389 for something I will never use.

If you have no intention of upgrading/ changing to an after market unit and you don't mind being forced to take the more expensive unit that does very little the base unit does not, then it's not a big deal. This is obviously where you are XBFred.

As Maria said, if the dealers want the business of they people who plan to install an after market unit (or even those who just want the base unit), they should be willing to change it out to the base unit. I'm not sure all dealers in the SET region for example will do that though since the upgrade unit is installed in every single xB at port by SET. I can assure you this is my stance. If a dealer tries to force me to pay the extra $389, I will go to another dealer. I would spend the equivalent in travel just to keep from giving that dealer the money.

I'm pretty sure that with a $389 travel budget I could find a dealer with a car that had a base unit.

Hope that is more clear.

 

That has always been a problem with buying a Toyota in Texas. The Gulf Sate Toyota Distribution groups ALWAYS seems to throw on extra options at inflated prices for all of its Toyota cars. I am disappointed to see they are doing this with Scion too.

For other regions of the country, are the cars showing up with the standard radio ? The sales rep said the base radio was back ordered and all of his were coming in with premium. They also show up with those 150 dollar car mats as part of the price.

 

ROXOR, you are the one missing the point. I said, then don't buy it and get one without. Find another dealer without it or wait. I totally agree with that. No reason to get something if you don't want to.

Again, I am new to Scion, but have purchased 20 new cars in my lifetime and have never heard of a dealer taking out an oem stereo to downgrade it. Besides paying for a base radio, they then have to pay for labor on top of that. It just doesn't make sense. AGAIN, I AM NEW TO SCION.

So if they do that great. if not, the just wait and get one without. But from what I see you they are being asked to do something that will cost almost the $389 to save that money. Does that make sense? By the time it is all done there is no savings. So then why would they downgrade?

I also did say oem navi seemed "extremely excessive"

So either get it the way it is, find one without, or wait until they have one the way you want. If they are willing to downgrade, then great, but it already sounds like they aren't

BTW- no one is forcing you to pay anything. Purchasing a car is a choice. You have the choice to buy it the way it is, buy a different one, or wait or get them to change the radio (which again doesn't make sense from a cost perspective) But I am new to Scion

 

Just bought my 2nd Scion out here in the Northwest, and it worked exactly the same way both times. I expect this is how Scion wants it to work:

The car I test drove (and bought) had NOTHING installed on it. No radio whatsoever (just a cardboard cover for the hole), no wheel covers (just the steelies), nothing. I then chose the options I wanted.

 

I bought the upgraded radio because I don't have the patience you guys do. I've bought and xA in 2004 and an xB in 2005. Both from the place in San Bernadino. I told Vincent at San Bernardino Toyota I wanted a Nautical Blue 2008 xB and he called me a couple days later to say they had one on the truck pulling in. I went down there as soon as I got off work and test drove it and bought it right then. There were other people looking at it. A lot of other people, but my salesperson made sure to give me first shot at it. The 2008 has the iPod feature but mine didn't work so I had to take it in and have them fix it. They followed the wires and found one was disconnected, so that's all done. I also ordered the illumination kit for inside and a spoiler, which they installed for me at the dealership the same time they were fixing my iPod. I love the radio controls on the steering wheel. That's just brilliant. Now to make an appointment to get the back windows tinted limo and the front tinted medium. I might also get a tattoo for my car. I would love to have a little something air brushed on the back hatch. Nothing major. It just seems to need a tattoo.

 

That is a cool way to do it. It would be nice if they all worked that way, apparently out here in So.Cal. it is not the way it is going.

I actually thought it was something similar to that, basically $389 already installed or bought later. After talking to a couple of dealers and Ask Scion @ Scion.com it does not. WHich really annoyed me.

I will be adding a few OEM accessories that I think are reasonable. Probably the sway bar and not sure what else since I already have the upgraded radio on the way

 

The point they are trying to make that your missing is scion is "pure pricing" the dealer shouldn't lose a damn thing. scions are "made to order" and ALL of the upgrades are supposed to be put in at the dealer not pre ordered with the vehicle, I would assume that if a complaint was made with scion about this, then someone would be getting a new a**, according to "scion rules" that is illegal and dealers doing that are suppose to have their scion franchise revoked. that is the same as negotiating the price and they do not allow that on a new scion.