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2008 Scion xB - new design... love it or hate it?

63 messages,  Last post on May 24, 2009 at 7:44 AM

You are in the Scion xB Forum.

What is this discussion about? Scion xB, Automotive News, Wagon

Messages Page 5 of 7

#41 of 63 2008 XB by babbajo

Jun 05, 2007 (1:02 pm)

I bought the 2008 XB and I love everything about it. I traded in a 2006 Scion TC to get it. I loved the tc but needed more room, and the XB has given it to me.I am 62 years old and on my TC I put a big dragon on each side of my car. It was a silver car and I put a black dragon on it. I also added red pin striping to the dragon. Everyone in my town loved my car from 8 to 80 years old.

#42 of 63 Re: 2008 XB [babbajo] by tonyklo

Jun 05, 2007 (1:25 pm)

Replying to: babbajo (Jun 05, 2007 1:02 pm)
Hi!! Glad to see it is not only 20-somethings buying the great xB's! I'm 57 and as I said in an earlier post, I had a 2005 white xB we used to call our "little white milk truck" because it reminded us of the old '50s home delivery trucks. We got our white 2008 xB automatic last week and enjoy every drive in it. I'm in the Chicago area, and it would be fun to see (nearest major city) where the posts are from.

#43 of 63 Re: 08 Xb Auto [vu2000] by aatherton

Jun 06, 2007 (7:27 am)

Replying to: vu2000 (Jun 04, 2007 7:48 pm)
"... For those of you who does not like the way this car looks, don't buy it or buy an 07 Xb.
 
I did not buy my xB1 for its looks, and would not buy the xB2 for its looks. I buy for function, utility, and and how it fits my body. I like a high car that is easy to enter and has lots of headroom. A car with tall windows to see out of all around, with a low belt line so I can rest my arm on the window sill.
Scion could have kept us all in the fold, if only they had made incremental improvements to the xB1, like the normal progression of a model. But the xB2 is a new design that does not do what I want. While I don't mind the extra size and power and cost, I don't like the chopping of the headroom, the raising of the belt line, the resulting slit windows, and no place to rest the left arm. Scion has introduced styling to the xB, but with loss of those things that mattered to me.

#44 of 63 Where? by girlbuffalo1

Jun 07, 2007 (9:37 am)

babbajo- I'm in Lafayette Indiana--not too far from you. I can't wait till I see someone else in town the a new XB--Mine will be 3 weeks old tomorrow already! The dealer only got two in mine (black) and a silver one which already had a sold tag on it but then my sales person said someone might be backing out ect--so I don't know if the silver is still there or not. I'm so very happy with this UUB (urban utility vehicle)

#45 of 63 2008 XB Safety Features by johndintexas

Jul 02, 2007 (2:15 pm)

I'm thinking of buying the new 2008 XB. My wife and I were actually shopping for a Vibe/Matrix, but it's impossible to find one of those with optional ABS and side curtain airbags. So the salesman at the Toyota dealership asked us if we'd like to look at the new Scion XB because those come standard. At first we thought, "a Scion, no way." But once we got passed the silly marketing campaign and weird looks (we don't love the way it looks, but don't mind it, either) we test drove it and liked the ride, and really like all the standard safety features.
 
The salesman, though, and no other salesman at any other Scion dealership have been able to answer my question about the safety build of the new 2008 XB. I know it has side air bags, but does anybody know about how it's designed with side crumple zones, etc. I can't find any of this info on the Scion website or any other website. The 2006 XB rated poor in side impact crash tests. The new 2008 is heavier and also now has side air bags, but sometimes side air bags don't actually improve the crash test results in small, economy cars. So I'm wanting to know how the structural integrity has changed or been improved, or maybe if it hasn't and so that's why I can't find out this info.
 
I would very much like to wait on buying one until after side crash test results have been released (only the front one has been done so far) but I'm in a situation where we have to buy a new car within the month, and aside from that, I'm leaning toward the Scion, but I really don't see a point in spending thousands of dollars on a car that might rate poor.
 
Any thoughts or info would be great on this subject. Thanks!

#46 of 63 Re: 2008 XB Safety Features [johndintexas] by bigfieroman

Jul 03, 2007 (6:29 am)

Replying to: johndintexas (Jul 02, 2007 2:15 pm)
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as "side crumple zones". It is just the door, the impact beam/B pillar, and the airbags. The 2008 xB has side airbags (protects your body) and head curtain airbags (keeps your head from bouncing off of hard things).
 
There is no real way to tell how well it will take a side impact until the test is performed. The doors are heavier than the last generation, which is a good sign, but your question cannot be answered until the test is performed. I would venture a guess that it will do considerably better.

#47 of 63 Re: 2008 XB Safety Features [bigfieroman] by tonyklo

Jul 03, 2007 (12:23 pm)

Replying to: bigfieroman (Jul 03, 2007 6:29 am)
Hi! If you find the crash test results or other interesting info please post a link to it. Before I bought my 2008 xB, I spent time on www.scion.com using the build your xB. It shows the car in zoom and you can open the hood, doors, and tailgate to see inside. Notable items: Power brake vacuum assist chamber and master cylinder is on the Passenger side actuated by a cross-rod, and the Power steering is Electric Motor assisted, not driven by belt drive from the engine as the norm. Also, on my 2005 xB the standard Pioneer radio display could be changed to display any message you want upon power-up (didn't try the 2008 yet).

#48 of 63 Re: 2008 XB Safety Features [bigfieroman] by natatac

Jul 03, 2007 (7:04 pm)

Replying to: bigfieroman (Jul 03, 2007 6:29 am)
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=825

#49 of 63 Re: 2008 XB Safety Features [tonyklo] by w9cw

Jul 04, 2007 (7:04 am)

Replying to: tonyklo (Jul 03, 2007 12:23 pm)
Re. the display message on the radio during power up . . . yes, this can be done on the 2008 as well.

#50 of 63 poor choice of OEM tires by subjective

Jul 07, 2007 (2:10 pm)

The only serious problem with our 08 XB has been the Bridgestone EL400-02 tires. At 1300 miles we had a sidewall failure, a perfectly straight separation from the edge of the tread to the rim. We did nothing to cause this failure and Bridgestone refused to replace this tire which we strongly believe is a manufacturing defect. Reviews from most customers of Tire Rack owning this tire reviewed it to be poor in wear and driveability. If others buy a new 08 XB my advice is to make a serious attempt to immediately trade these tires out for a better tire such as the serenity, but it seems to me that customer service with Bridgestone is nonexistant. They did not answer my emails and I could not find listed anywhere an 800 number such as the other tire manufacturers list.

Messages Page 5 of 7

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