I am about to purchase an 06 xb when they become available and i have been looking at accessories.. stock and aftermarket. Which stock ones should i get and can someone explain what the difference between coilovers, struts, shocks and all that is. Im not a big car person, but i want to know what to get to improve the ride and lower a bit.

 

First-I think you can generally buy the same parts offered by the dealer for less by looking around. Only real upsides are that dealer bought/installed items are warrantied...and the costs can be included in the loan.

As far as springs/struts/coilovers goes, just getting lowering springs will be the cheapest way to improve the handling and lower the xb. You can pick up a set (all 4 corners) for about $150. Easy to install. Coilovers, from what I understand, are much more expensive, but the xb will handle better and go even lower.

What other options/accessories are you looking at?

 

Anything dealer installed is gonna cost you a lot of money because I work at one. But anything installed at a dealership is warrantied for 3 yr or 36k miles under the standard bumper to bumper warranty. If you don't know anyone or trust anyone around your neighborhood to hook you up, get all the performance parts as much as you can afford. Get a 5spd if you can, that would definitely be a better choice, but the auto which I have is fun to putt putt around. If I had to do it again I would have gotten it with the factory spoiler.

 

we have a concensus, dealer accessories are expensive but warrantied. but, if it's an original toyota/scion part (such as TRD springs or struts), most dealers prolly wouldn't question you regarding if it was installed at time of purchase.

 

This is my question too: Go for the factory option parts and pay for them with the car loan, or wait and pick and choose the best ones from the aftermarket.

Getting all the performance parts only add about $20 a month to the loan, and though they might not be the best out there, they are warrantied. Cherry-picking the best aftermarket stuff should provide better parts I'm sure, but probably at greater cost and at a lot more work just in finding the right stuff (Especially for a neurotic guy like me who has to over-analyze everything before committing to it).

Can everything on the list be installed at home with basic tools?

 

then realize that the parts you are getting installed from the factory are not the best choices out there (by general consensus)

everything but the front springs can be installed at home
the front upper tie bar will be a pain without a lift (2 jacks will work)

finding the "right stuff" is as simple as believing the stories told here on ScionLife, try this

 

Front springs can be installed at home, in under 30 minutes, all it takes is a friend and mechanical aptitude.