So doing a little out loud thinking here just looking for some replys and ideas.

I came out of a 06 rav4 V6 and went down to the Xb for the gas milage
From a $$$ point of view it was a very good move (gas bill and car payment went way down) But I hate this car it's not very fun to drive the gas bill could be better so here I am thinking of what to do?

Ideas in no order

trade for mini cooper (hardtop base)
trade in for civic ex
put in hotkis sways for some driving fun haul @55 on paying down the loan and keep my fingers crossed for the honda CRZ ( I have loved the CRX ever since I first seen then and the idea of getting the spin off of it sits well with me.

Soon to be wife has a crv and my car is used for commuting 140 miles per day now soon to be changing but still 35 miles each way.

Tell me what you think...... and thanks in advance

 

You think the xb2 isn't any fun but you want a Civic EX or Mini Cooper (base)?

Unless you get the supercharged or turbo Mini or a Civic Si, both of those are a downgrade IMO.

You want something more fun.........get a v8 with RWD. Going from one fwd 4 cylinder to another that has less power/tq than the one you have doesn't make sense.

 

looking for fin in the curves and better MPG
http://automobiles.honda.com/cr-z/

^^^^ that is suppose to be coming into production in the next year or two
not many specs out but looks to be a decent combo of HP and high TQ since it will be a sport ver of a hybred

 

You can improve your commuting mileage by changing your driving. The xB is capable of mileage better than what the EPA says. Any way you look at it more speed and better acceleration means you have to sacrifice something.

 

How much do you owe on your xb2? Are you ready to take a huge hit on trade-in?

Do you realize how long it would take you to come out ahead in saving more money with a owning mini/civic than your xb2?

Financially wise, you're making a bad decision because you're worried about MPGs.

 

Wow if you are such a Honda fanboy why did you buy a Scion? Did you even test drive the xB first? cuz if you did and didnt like it, but bought it anyway you should probably buy a helmet next...

 

Swap for an xD? They look more fun to drive at least.

 

swap it for an 06 Rav4

 

big part of the reason is I am on my 3rd windshield with 22K miles and the transmission has a grind going into 4th and 5th since I bought it and the dealer says nothing is wrong.
I am only willing to loose so much time running to the dealer

 

I vote that you start modding! If your car isn't lowered I'd do that in a heartbeat. If you're worried about ground clearance I think the TRD, Eibach Pro kit, or Tanabe NF210 springs leave plenty of ground clearance to drive normally on city streets. driveways, speedbumps, etc. This will improve your cornering ability dramatically.

Then take advantage of the online Hotchkis sale and get a set of front and rear sway bars for $225-ish. Ot at least get the TRD rear sway bar.

If you spend another $350-$500 on springs and sways, your driving experience will change. Scions are not that hot out-of-the-box. They're made to be worked on, so get workin'! If you don't find this type of thing interesting or gratifying, then maybe you should look elsewhere, like the Civic Si or Mini Cooper S. Certainly not the base models.

Also, I've taken a few road trips in the xB2 and when I do I get between 28-32 mpg going 80+ mph on the freeway (avg speed about 60-70 mph, when accounting for acceleration, rest stops, etc.) It might be harder to top that in a car that will be more "fun" than the xB2.

 

OK, stuff like that would leave a bad taste in my mouth as well. Maybe the clean slate/empty wallet approach is better in your scenario.

 

How are you on your 3rd windshield? Did it just start cracking or is it due to rock chips?

Are you still on the stock tranny fluid? If so, you need to updgrade to Redline MT-90 or AMSOIL mtf to fix that problem. The stock stuff sucks BAD.

 

first crack going over a speed bump started as an 3 inch crack on passangers side extended to 1/2 the windshield by the time I got home

2nd crack was from a 1/2 inch pebble doing 45 on 206 on my way home drivers side again started as a 4 inch crack and was over 14 inches long by the time I got home.

both cases toyota did there PEN TEST digging the crap outta the glass and saying that the first one was a pit that was there before hand

so now I am on the 3rd windshiled and wating on that one to go

I have not done anything diffrently from the cars I have owned in the past.

and yes I am on the stock MT oil the car ought to run right from the factory ??

 

I have an XB2 and a Mini Cooper S so I think I can speak about this topic. Granted I have the turbo model, the MINI will undoubtedly be a funner car to drive than the XB hands down on a 35 mile commute. There's no ifs, ands, or buts about it, the MINI is that good. I used to own a Dinan stage III M3 with coilover suspension and would still rather drive the MINI as far as fun is concerned.

However, for daily cruising after work with the wife and the kid, the Scion is just a much more practical and comfortable car. It's the perfect car for driving to Costco or going for a long weekend trip. My wife and I switch cars so it's a good combination driving in between both cars.

IMO, get the fricken' MINI. My coworker was the first one I knew that bought a Mini, and now his e46 M3 is the one that mostly stays home. After he showed me his, I went out and bought one too. We talk about it so much, we have a third coworker who is going to trade in his 350Z to get one next year. My wife's boss, who is an executive at Stanford hospital has a husband that also adores his Mini Cooper. He is a VERY successful lawyer that helped closed a multi-billion dollar cellular deal that recently made news on Yahoo and the dude chooses to drive a MINI, not Ferarri.

Even if you don't get the turbo it will be a VERY fun car. It handles great, "feels" faster that what it really is, and never is boring to drive. It has a great community at northamericanmotoring.com and has enough aftermarket parts available if you're into modding.

Here's a pic of mine BEFORE I lowered it. After being lowered on KW Variant 3 coilovers, the damn thing is a blast!

 

How fast were you going over a speed bump to crack you windshield? The pebble thing, ____ happens that's why you have insurance for!

Yes the car should run right from the factory & no it doesn't always happen that way. The tranny issue has been there ever since the 05 TC. If you want to help the issue, do what I said.

You must not do much research when you buy cars......Every car has its pros & cons (which you will find out when you buy a civic or mini).

 

the speed bump was taken at about 3 mph I have done my share of retard driving when i got my first car 10 + years ago been there and got the tickets to prove it

 

It sounds like you have your mind made up... Go buy the Mini...

 

I'm also on my third windshield. the first two cracked very easily by very small coarse grain sand size paricles, they were both toyota glass. My third windshield is ppg glass it has seen several small grain gravel hits and not even a scratch. PPG glass is the goods.

 

Whoa, Rav4, xB and now Mini? I thought I was a finicky driver! I've had alot of cars and the xB is by far my favorite. No, it's not fast but it's not a bore either. I've had two cars with automatic transmissions (one was in high school and the other was a Caddy) IMO, anyone who drives an auto shouldn't complain about cars being no fun to drive. D Unit - I love your Mini, it's mean lookin' and I bet it's a blast to drive.

 

For the windshields I recommend getting full coverage on the windshield so that way when you do bust one no money comes out of your pocket second i have done a ton of mods to mine and i love driving around corners at high speeds and flying down the high way i out run hondas all the time plus hondas suck ___. Next is that the xb2 is a lot of fun compared to my old car which was a 95 chevy with a small block 350 in it and the drivetrain was changed from a fwd to a rwd and that thing was basically a 4 door monte carlo. I think you would be making a mistake if you sold the b but that is just my opinion so do what you want i just think hondas are pos's