Its offical the new xB has hit the mid-west Omaha NE to be exact. Performance Scion of LaVista got two xBs in, the blackcherrycrush was a auto and was sold. I drove the other, a silver 5speed base with no options sticker was $16,230. 100% made in Japan just like the tC. The dash mounted stick felt like a short throw shifter much tighter than my 06 stick. Fit and finish was Toyota all the way. I was worried about the rear visibility as some of you might be, thanks to say not a problem did not even notice the rear pillars. Power was up from my 06 1.5 liter, but was not as great as every one has claimed. It did not however feel underpowered. If you have driven or own a auto tC it comes very close and there is defenetly potential. The motor feels like a good fit and the average MPG on the dash when I got in was at 19.9 when my test drive was over (20 miles or so) it said 20.5 MPG. My drive was all city and I got up to just under 50 mph, it does get up to speed faster than the last generation, and feels like its going to be a great commuter car. One thing I noticed was it sits lower and the roof line is lower. I placed my left arm out the window and it was much higher than the older xB. The dash is very nicely laid out and everything is well placed, the rear hatch has more room and the rear seat feels the same as the 06 but slightly more reclined. One thing of note was the dealership is reciving six more xBs with in a week or two, so my thought was if you did not order one you just my be able to drive in and pick one up, or in my case dream and test drive.
Post your questions I will reply.

 

Did the high clutch pedal bother you too? My knee kept hitting the back of the wheel...I don't know why the clutch is higher than the brake.

 

how is the 1st and 2nd gears? are they just like the first gen or are they really creamy? What did you like most about the new xb as compared to the old one? I'm getting ready with loans and down payments right now to buy the new xb. I have to teach this guy how to drive 5 speed so he will buy my car. I.....can't........wait.......any........longer!

 

I also don't think Scion failed at designing the new xb, the only thing they need to do is to change the name. Then everything will be alright with me. And they should also make the 3rd gen more boxy. With more sharp edges and less curves.

 

To the first question, the clutch did feel high and it also released at the top felt different from my 06. But I got use to it right away, at my job I drive all kinds of crappy trucks with bad clutches (UPS)so it did not bother me. Felt good once I was off the lot.

 

And the second question, first and second gear were noticeably smoother than the 06. I come from the thought that the more power you have the smoother the shifts, when you have a car like a 06 xB you have to really give it some gas on hills to launch good and smooth. The 08 has noticeable torque right away. Its just like a larger square tC lol.

And what did I like most over my 06? It would be the overall feel of the interior and the seating position (much lower like a car) what I dont like is the 20mpg, my 06 does 28-32mpg all the time.

 

how is the view? do the blind spots bother you? Is the space on the dash and under the rear seats usable space for you? How do you feel about it's akward nose? How much money do you see yourself pouring into this car for mods?

 

the view is fine, no blind spots. the space under the seat would be great for amps, I like the style, and I not pouring any money into this car because I dont own one.

 

Good to hear they kept the space under the seats for amps Does it handle sluggish with the bigger size and more weight? I haven't seen any here yet...Going to the Backstage next month to check it out....

 

The new xB isn't an xB. I think the second thoughts many of us are having is that although it's a Scion, it's not in the original xB tradition of "less is more." The original is good simple spacious, non-pretentious and very foreign feeling transportation with tons of room and a bit underpowered - it has all the hallmarks of what the VW Bug and Microbus did in the 1960s. The new one is a whole different vehicle, clearly made for the young American market. I'd be interested to see how its sales compare, espcially in my age group where the original did quite well in spite of Toyota's marketing stratgies toward the younger generation. They should have called the new one something else (xTc - as in ecstasy) and taken the original, added a bit more suspension and another 18 inches or so for baby carriages and even wheelchairs and marketed it as a Toyota for the MPG concious middle and older aged folks who don't see the need for a gas guzzling SUV (S-tupid U-nnecssary V-ehicle)

 

Actually, it is an xB; says so right on the bumper. No matter how hard the gen 1 owners cry, it is an xB and will always be part of the xB lineage. The modern Ford Mustang has less in common with its first gen than the new xB has in common with the 2006, but it is still a Mustang.

 

For the record, the xB shares as much with the tC as it does with a Camry or Rav 4.

 

Maybe you should check here for real mileage numbers.
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...=asc&&start=20
You will find reports from 25 to 27 mpg and hwy numbers of 30+ mpg.

Glad to hear you liked it overall except for some misinformation you received on the mileage.

 

Nice review. I sat in the drivers seat and back seat of the new t2B (i'm calling it a t2B from now on). I think the roofline is as tall as before. Then again I am only 5'7". I know the drivers seat goes up and down. Try to set it as low as possible.

 

There was no misinformation about the gas mileage the xB I drove said 20mpg on the dash, as the average mpg.

 

If you drive it hard or keep the revs high like a lot of people do with manuals, then you can definitely average 20 MPG. However, in the hardest driving I've done since owning the xB2 the last tank was just slightly worse at 26.9 MPG. That's getting everywhere faster and accelerating faster than the Gen1.

And YES, this is an xB. It's just progress being made so get over it. I swear, I never heard so much whining about something so insignificant in my life. It's like the name is gonna come to your house in the middle of the night and kill you.

 

I agree people need to get over it. There is a new xB so what, all it is, is a better newer version. Thats life and in three years there will be a newer better one again. Also Im sure the new xB gets great gas mileage all my review was on was the xB I test drove nothing else just facts. So we can drop the mpg thing.

 

I've heard that Toyota is trying to filter on Scion's non-target demographic. So perhaps one of the reasons for the bigger engine and lower fuel economy was to scare off those who aren't part of that target.

I'm 23. My fiancée bought an 07 tC last year and we've loved it. I've always been a fan of the last xB but wasn't quite ready to give up having at least some horsepower(I've owned a sports car for 6 years now) for a new car. I just know I wanted something "different" and with four doors. Also not something too quick thus eliminating my desire to race things. :-)

This new xB is everything I dreamed of. Similar style, even more room. An engine that can at least merge with traffic in the way I would like it to. Not like what I feel was way underpowered when my friend let me borrow his 05 xB for a small road trip when I was considering buying one of those.

I'm also really pleased with the ride. I'm going to like this new car. The only annoyances I had when I test drove one were the door handles seemed flimsy to me, not in build quality but in shape/size. Also I was disappointed by the lack of the auto up/down front windows like the tC has. I know it's cheaper than a tC(not much), but that seems like such a simple thing they could've added. Though I'm sure someone will have a mod out for that within time.

 

I will say that the blind spot IS a deal when you are going into and out of parking spots. Not a problem when you are driving, but you do see it when maneuvering in parking lots.

 

I test drove the automatic xB today, and I fell in love.

For I guess a non luxury car, it rides incredibly smooth. it was almost as smooth as my fathers 04 acura RL. I didnt seem to have any blind spot issues as you guys say, but maybe I just wasnt paying as much attention to parrallel parking because i was so enamored by the Interrior. It felt as if I was 4'2 in that car.

As for the rest of the interrior, the radio wheel control, I have always felt, should be standard throughout the car industry as I have had it on my acura. And I can see why people get so giddy when scion put it on the xB. the underseat storage was a great idea by Scion! Especially for a college student like myself. I can loose and forget my books in there without a problem now! The trunk storage was not too small yet not too big. Maybe in better words, Perfect! The one thing that I wish scion would have done was made the seats electronically controlled, as I love that feature but its not a deal breaker.

Overall, I am looking at every plausible option to buy this car. I heart it.