Hello,
I know this has been mentioned before, but I just got back from my first longish trip with my xD, and it's definitely time for a center armrest.
Something that adds a little bit of console-type storage would be great. Any suggestions? Has anyone gotten a good look at this one?
(No affiliations)
Thanks,
Andy

___

 

The IST has an optional armrest over in Japan. I'm trying to have a friend of mine get a hold of one for me, hopefully it will fit.

This is what it looks like:


I don;t know why Toyota wouldn't make it an option for us on the xD!

 

Interesting - thanks for the reply. However, I just ordered the one from eBay - I'll let you know how it works. By the way, this seller accepted a best offer of $97.50 + shipping, so it might be available even cheaper than that.
Andy

 

On Scion they had that armrest picture and said it would be out in Fall 2007 for us xD owners in the States. Now however, it's not on the site anymore! I'd actually like to nab that armrest as well if it actually fits properly. Actually I'm rather sad that an armrest is not standard in the xD

 

That's actually good to hear that they had the same picture, the one above is from the Japanese IST site. It's a fairly cheap option over in Japan, it comes out to a $100, add in EMS shipping and it should still be reasonable.

 

EMS shipping?

Andyman: was that armrest the one in the picture or one of the aftermarket 3rd party ones? I've seen 3rd party ones on eBay and didn't care for how they look.

 

EMS is the Japan Post Express Mail Shipping, very efficient way to ship stuff out of Japan, I've used them many times to get scooter parts. Not very cheap though

 

I'll definitely be interested in your opinion of the armrest off of ebay. I just got a new xD and really need a center armrest solution.

I'll be watching the forum for your expert review of the product!

- s a i n t -

 

Saint - it's on a UPS truck as we speak. I'll definitely post my thoughts after I get it in and use it for a couple days!
Andy

 

Does your tracking receipt show how much it weighs? I'm betting the ebay one is made out of plywood and my be a bit on the heavy side, Please make sure to take a pick of the mounting! Thanks :D

 

Well, sorry this has taken a while, but here's an update on this armrest.
Brief overview: it didn't fit.
More details: I submitted a "Best Offer" of $97.50, which was accepted, but shipping was still $22.50. I received it in a timely fashion, but when I tried to put it in, I had to squeeze it together and jam it down between the seats. My seatbelt receivers were just a little bit too narrow for this armrest to fit between them. It sort of fit with some "persuasion," but then the seats wouldn't move forward or back. Might not be a big deal for some people, but my wife and I both drive our xD, so we really don't want to wrestle with a console every time we switch drivers and need to adjust the seats.
I emailed the seller about a full refund including shipping, since the item was obviously not as described. The seller claimed they would give me a full refund when the receive the armrest, as long as I left them positive feedback. Leaves me up a crick if they decide not to refund me, but that's all I can do unless I have to file a complaint with eBay. I'd rather figure things out directly with the seller first - we'll see, and I'll post here with what happens. FWIW, the packed weight was about 7 lbs, and it cost me about $13 to mail it back to California.
So anyway, unless someone has other information about this product or the seller, I'll have to recommend that you stay away from this armrest. If they could make it an inch narrower, it'd be fine, but as is, it doesn't fit properly.
Also, if you look at all closely, you can tell this is clearly home-made. I don't think it looks "cheap" (it sure could be worse), but it doesn't really look professional either - the vinyl/pleather is a little loose, and the hinge on the lid is a pretty cheap hardware store special which has a little bit of side-to-side play in it.







I guess I could have replaced the hinge, but after paying someone $120 to get this thing to me, I shouldn't have to "fix" it. If the hinge were the only problem, I could have dealt with that.

It looks OK once it's in, as long as you don't open the lid or look underneath, but it doesn't do anything to improve the looks of the interior either. You can't see from the pictures how tight it fit, but I really had to smack it and lean on it to get it all the way down. And like I said, once it was in, neither front seat would move at all - the armrest squeezed them too tightly.






Hope this helps, and if anyone's still interested, I'll post back when I find out about my refund.

Does anyone know anything else about the IST armrest? If I know someone in Japan, how hard would it be to get one? Are they available directly from a Toyota dealership, even if you didn't buy a car there? Or, if someone is having one shipped, could I pay you to order an extra one?
Let me know.
Thanks,
Andy

 

That sucks! Though when I saw the legs on that thing on eBay I was a bit weary about getting it. Though hopefully someone will have connections to get the IST armrest, or Scion will give in and release it now!

Start flooding Scion with requests for the armrest they had promised to be out in the Fall?

 

Andyman, thanks for taking one for the team! If I were you I would hold back on the feedback and just send the armrest back and wait for refund, then leave your feedback.

I've got a friend over in Japan looking for the armrest.

 

Yeah, I'd rather not leave feedback until I have the money in my account. But the seller specified they'd only give me a full refund (including shipping) if I left positive feedback. The shipping was pretty significant (~$36 total both ways), so I'd really like to get that back. Maybe I'll see if they'll refund my purchase price, then I'll leave feedback, then they'll refund my shipping. Sounds complicated, but I guess that's how the game is played - C.Y.A.!

As far as the IST armrest, I just asked a friend in Japan to be looking also. So far it looks like the armrest comes as part of a $400 package including floor mats when you buy the car new, but they haven't found out if they're available individually, or after you purchase a car.

I'll keep you posted if I learn anything.

Andy

 

Well, I found some more "information" on the ist armrest... First, it's apparently actually called a "コンソールボックス" or "KONSORUBOKKUSU". That clears things up right there. If you're interested in more, here's a page (translated via Google) from Toyota-Japan's Ist site that shows the option package including the KONSORUBOKKUSU. According to xe.com, 42K yen is about US$390. Seems like a great deal, since you also get the "Pure side visor Toyota car models". I was just wishing I had some of those.
More seriously, since the OEM Scion stuff is typically available here (eBay, etc.) far cheaper than it is as a dealer-installed option, I wonder if a ist KONSORUBOKKUSU would be available on Japan's version of eBay.
Just thinking out loud...
Andy

 

I just ordered my xD last weekend...and my sales lady told me that they have an armrest for the xD....its like the one for the xB that fits into the center cupholder. She ordered one for display, but hadn't received it yet....so I'm not sure how good it looks or how well it fits. For me its something I'll definitely be looking for once mine comes in!

 

just curious will the jdm one clash with the e-brake?

 

Hey,

I run the Scion department at a local dealership. Scion is currently working on an armrest for the Scion xD. There were a few matters that delayed its intended fall debut. However, I have been told that in that they will be releasing the armrest, tentatively, within the next 2 to 3 months. Hope that helps, and Ill post a message when it becomes available or I hear anything more.

Dan

 

Daniel,
Thanks for the information. Do you have any idea why Scion can't just use the Ist armrests and import them to the US? Seems like they already have one in production, so I don't understand what there is to "work on". But of course I'm just guessing here...
Also, do you have any info or guesses on price?
Thanks,
Andy

 

Andy,

I have no idea why they wouldnt import the IST armrest. I can speculate that it goes against copyright laws, or perhaps a trade agreement, or some other nonsense like that. Essentially Scion has the armrest but is looking for the supplier. So I have many customers, like yourself that unfortunately have to wait in limbo. As soon i know anything else I'll post it here.

Dan