Technically, neither generation is a box. They both have a sloped windshield and an elongated hood. I wonder if Pinzgauer owners get ____ed when gen 1 owners refer to their vehicle as a "box".

PDX_xB

 

Yaaah, I considered that, but decided to go by the actual sales years since I was certain to be "corrected" either way !

No way they'll just kill the tC, though they certainly could morph it.

 

Maybe that's clear to you, and I can certainly understand the perspective, but the fact is, both models are designated xB, and so the "1" and "2" provide differentiation.

At this point, by the way, it's pretty darned obvious you hate what happened with the xB transition. I thought we'd all got past that attitude on this forum, so perhaps you're just displaced? Take a look at the index and you'll see there is also a forum for the original xB, people there are perfectly welcome to hate the new edition ! (Though frankly, I think most don't, dissapointed is probably a better description .)

 

Amen, bro! That's my idea of an intelligent and also enlightened viewpoint. Pretty much everything changes, it's just a question of when and in what way. It doesn't mean the old is bad or the new is better, it's just change.

 

It's not a HATE thing at all. The xB2 is a fine car, I just wouldn't buy one. It's just not square enough to seriously call it a box. It's more of a box envy thing I think, wanting to be square but stuck with a rounded version. No biggie.

 

xB is xB period . If it doesn't say 2 after it everyone should know what it is.
Why do you assume xB owners "hate" xB2s? The only thing I hate is Scion for trying to market the Runion as an xB replacement instead of coming up with a new name for the new model. 2 completely different platforms with no parts in common. It was pure name recongnition to boost sales of the new model off the shirt tail of the xB. I thought this was all common knowlege by now.

End of rant... Carry on.

 

haha gotta add my $.02 but the only thing that made me go to xB2 was the RS5...but i wouldn't mind goin back to gen1 RS3 especially! I could never fathom why toyota didn't give us the actual xB/bB replacement...now thats a killer little car, maybe they could have still brought the Rumion over and kept it rumion with said panels,bumpers and lights and sold it as Toyota Rumion or even Scion Rumion, or hell even xB2...Personally i would say they should have called it Scion xB2, with JDM body...im not biased at all...LOL

 

Box envy? Are you serious? Those of us who have gen2 xBs chose them because we prefer them over the gen1. I could have easily picked up a used RS3.0 (my personal favorite of the gen1 xBs) for less money than I paid for my RS6.0. So, while I still like the RS3.0, I prefer my RS6.0.

I have yet to hear a single gen2 owner say they wish their car had corners that were more square. In fact, the ONLY people I EVER hear badmouthing the gen2 are gen1 owners. I wonder why? I don't see gen2 owners putting down the gen1 in the 1st-Gen Owners Lounge. Yet, gen1 owners think nothing of slamming the gen2 here in the 2nd-Gen Owners Lounge. I have no idea if the motivation behind such posts is hate, jealousy, envy or just insecurity, but whatever the reason, if you are truly happy with your car you wouldn't feel the need to put down someone else's choice.

PDX_xB

 

I think the xB2's here to stay. Just had to add my opinion; I love my xB2.

 

Yeah, my best bud has an 1st gen with a stick, and I love smoking him in my automatic. I had plenty of time trying out the first gens, and they are quite simply not a practical car for long distance freeway driving in a state with harsh long winters and mountainous terrain.

also the stereos sucked, the seating was far too vertical, the ride was like a Ford Festiva and the Auto trans felt like it was ancient.

I loved the looks of it. but I love the looks of my gen2 just as much. but then I also love my stereo,seats, engine, trans and Ride(<which I'll love more after I get NF210's)

also, I paid 11,000 for my xb2, which is as much as my buddy paid for his 05.

its just a better car, in terms of usability. the first gen may be a work of art... but in so many ways it was never practical...

but I can say, I really agree this car shouldn't be an xB. I mean... all the x-A-B-D's were tiny engined econocars. I fail to see why it couldn't be called say... a tB since its somewhere in the middle between the tc and the xB.

 

If there wasn't a gen2 xB, I wouldn't own a Scion. I fell in love with it at the Portland Auto Show last February. I told my wife then and there that my next vehicle would be an xB. Thanks to cash-for-clunkers, that became a reality a few months later.

It is the perfect vehicle for my needs. It's also fun to own and drive and I love the look (especially now that it's lowered and properly modded). I wanted something that was fun to drive, but I needed something that could be my daily driver and double as the second car for a family of five.

The gen2 xB met (exceeded, actually) all of my needs. I'm a big guy (6'4" 230 lbs.) and my 14-year old son isn't far behind (and gaining daily). So, the first thing that impressed me about the gen2 xB was the roominess and the comfort. The car is small enough and econimcal enough to serve as my daily driver to and from work, but also comfortable enough to take the whole family on longer trips on weekends and vacation.

In any case, it's the perfect car for me, but that doesn't mean I think it's the perfect car for everyone. I still like the gen1 and will seriously consider getting one for my twins when they turn 16 in two years - if I can find a used one in good shape at a decent price. They do tend to hold their resale value (good when you're selling, not so much when you're buying).

The NF210s were one of my first mods (after the wheel/tires and shift ****). They really improved the look of the car, while maintaining ride comfort and handling (maybe even improved it a bit - I didn't really have the stock springs on the car long enough to get to know them).

Interesting perspective. The gen2 xB does share the same engine as the tC. However, the tC is a 2-door coupe and the xB is a 4-door that's considered a wagon. So, while the gen1 owners may protest, the gen2 xB has more in common wih the gen1 than the tC.

PDX_xB

 

Most of the "bad blood" between the xB Classic "City Car" and the xB2 "highway car" would never have happened if Scion hadn't called the totally different class of vehicle an xB.

Both are good vehicles, but they are intended for different purposes, different markets.

Personally I expect the xB2 to continue on for probably a 5-6 year run simply because of the economy, despite Scions official statements at the beginning that it's models would have three year runs.

As to which is "better," both are good, but they have different jobs. I've recommended the xB2 to a number of people because it is a good vehicle that would meet their needs, but that does not mean that I want one. For the average US family market, the xB2 is a MUCH better vehicle, it's just not the tiny City Car, the UUV (Urban Utility Vehicle) that the original xB was.

For my uses I want/need a City Car, not a freeway cruiser, and when someday I need to replace my xB I hope that some manufacturer has a good one on the market here. If the newer bB (or Materia) that replaced the original were available here, I'd buy it tomorrow morning.

 

Back to the original topic, does anyone else think the gen3 xB will be a 4-door based on the Hako concept (or similar). As mentioned, the next gen tC will likely be derived from the Fuze concept. So, I don't think it's far fetched that the gen3 xB will be derived from (not identical to, but similar) to the Hako.

PDX_xB

 

Kerry, I personally think that the xB2 "replacement" will follow the very same pattern that the xB "replacement" did: Longer, lower, wider, more power.

All manufacturers that sell cars in the US have the tendency to do that at each model change until the vehicle just gets too overblown and puffed up and they hit reset and start over.

Look at most any Toyota model: Those that started out small, with small engines progressively grow into larger and larger, heavier and heavier, more and more "deluxe" vehicles with ever larger engines.

It's not just Toyota (or Scion, xA>xD, xB>xB2), but all manufacturers in the US market. Want a stellar example, look at the Ford Thunderbird which started it's life as a tiny 2 seater with a six cylinder engine and eventually ended up being built on a Lincoln Chassis carrying a massive amount of weight and a huge V8 before they finally hit "reset."

So, my "prediction" is that the xB2 will be on line for 5-6 years, then morph into a larger, heavier version of the family wagon it has become, more expensive, more deluxe.

I'd be very pleased to be wrong.

 

Tomas,

I hope you're wrong. I think the current gen2 xB is "right sized" for the American market. It's currently rather uniquely positioned. It's current completion is either undersized and under powered (Cube, Soul), or over priced (Element). I looked at all of these, as well as the Mazda5 and the gen2 xB was the clear winner in size/power/price. I've owned Hondas in the past and liked them. So, I wanted to like the Element, but it only seats 4 (deal beaker) and costs a lot more than the xB. The Cube and Soul had less room and less power than the xB. There were things a liked about the Mazda5, but ultimately, the xB had more headroom, more leg room, cost less and had more power. xB FTW!

I'm afraid that if Scion makes the xB any larger and more expensive they will leave a market segment where they are the clear winner be competing in a market segment that is already saturated with larger wagon, small SUVs and minivans. I hope they keep the gen3 "right sized" and don't make it so big and expensive that it becomes just another minivan or SUV wannabe.

PDX_xB

 

The Cube and Soul are not in the same class. They would be competition of the xB if it were still in production.
We all know the xB2 is far superior to the xB in (outside) size, power, safety ect.... We love our MPGs, smaller size (outside) and larger interiors without side airbags.

 

geez can't we get along.... I would never buy an xb2 if the original xb was still around but if I want to stay in a Scion it my only choice...
The Xb2 actually should never have been called an XB the real continuation of the blood line is the bB presently sold in Japan .... I wish they had brought that here I would have bought it already
All that being I want and RS 7.0 because there is no direct replacement for what I presently own.....BTW different is not bad... what Jeff said is the true feelings of a lot of XB owners we bought into a brand and a type of product and got left behind

 

I like both models, so I purchased the original and the sequel.

 

I have owned both and i have loved both of it there both awsome cars in its own class. IMO First gens have a more unique look that got ton of looks.

Truthfully ... the only true Scion is the TC.. first gen xbs are bBs and second gens are sold as Corollas at the Corolla dealerships in Japan. XA is the IST and XD is the IST. The TCs were never Marketed in Japan as any renamed Toyota.

So the XBs first gen and second gens are two totaly diff cars. becuase there still is the 3rd gen bBs in japan that toyota never brought to the usa as the gen 2 Xbs.

The Rumion is actually the XB.. not the other way around. becuase the rumions came out after the 2nd gen xb did. Rumion are a whole new diff car that toyota came up with using the XB platforum. and if you kept up with the scion world. rember the T2B Prototype that was the prototype for the gen2 XBs. Scion built the gen 2 XBs via asking current scion owners what they wanted.. and guess what many were asking for a larger car with more HP. SO scion give the customers that..

For me i would have loved for scion to have kept it the bBs..

Also the replacement for the TC is going to be debuted at the NY Auto Saloon in March. SO the TC is finally getting a long over due make over. "FUSE"?????

No matter what SCION is the best brand of car i have ever owned.. THey have always taken care of there customers even after they have bought there cars.. Shows, Parts, contest, Owner inputs.. any other dealership would tell you see you later its your car.. when was the last time you saw Honda throwing a party in Florida and inviting a ton of owners to see the unvieling of the new XB and paid there plane fares and hotels!

 

Concurred Tomas.

My whole "beef" with the xB2 is not about anything other than the name.

Back in the day (lol) it was said that the xA and xB would get entirely new replacements, name and all. They did that for the xA, but not for the xB. Okay, but the xB2 is not an xB in any sense. It does not carry unique styling, it does not have a presence, it does not speak to you when you see it. You don't get that "feeling" when you walk up to it. I know this. My parents bought an '08 CSM xB2. It is a great vehicle for families and for people to get out on the highway. I like the xB2 as a car to get you places. My folks use it for everything and it is great. But, it is much more suited to the small suv market than anything. But you just don't get anything with it other than a car. I get my folks' xB2 confused with suv's a lot. Had the xB2 been called anything else, this convo wouldn't be happening.

Whomever said the xB is bad in the mountains and the highway, totally incorrect. I live in the mountains and go to school in the mountains. I have to drive four hours to get to my campus, 3/4 is all highway, and my xB never has a problem. Doesn't hurt to get 35mpg on the trip out there either. Also, my xB does pretty damn well in the snow. I have never had a problem. It's no big deal for us to get 2 feet and more. The box never has an issue. The RS2, nor the BSP we had before, ever has a problem in the snow.

The xB2 is as boxy as a spoon. It annoys me to know end when people call it a box.

I love and adore my xB. I plan to own one more in my life.

I also agree with Tomas in saying that the xB2's replacement will just be bigger and fatter and have little to no resemblance to the xB2. It is how the industry works. Look at the Z series.