I buy, fix and sell 1st Gen xBs people still love them. I sold one an hour after listing it; I sold another to someone driving halfway across the country to buy it because it had low miles. They are easy to work on, parts are inexpensive, they are incredibly reliable and have a timeless style. I feel this will be a sought after classic to the likes of the VW Bettle.
@swiftWord I have family in Woodruff SC....South Carolina is awesome....but I love Florida. My xb is still running strong. I found a guy who is going to paint it for $2k....I plan on keeping it awhile. I also have a Honda Element.... The honda is great and some what reliable but the scion blows it a way.
Same thing with Kia and the Soul, I feel this demographic issue exists, in general, with cheap, cheerful, and spacious box cars. Only difference is Kia saw potential and doubled down on the Soul, while Toyota gave up on the XB.
Customers should be customers. Green is green young or old. The problem is car companies assume 25yos don't have much money and want to get them hooked on the new car loan treadmill for life. Retirees and older workers have money and strong credit. Car companies want them to buy the big, cushy and expensive Avalon or Grand Marquis lines....they don't like it when Grandpa Joe cheaps out on a Scion or Fiesta....because there's more in his wallet they want to mine.
@@markmeador I think the Element made for a cute young girl but old man also bought them because I know one old guy ( already passed away ) owned a Honda Element
Same here in my country, Honda and Yamaha develop a scooter for female demographic, but in the end male also buy them, thus the 2 companies have to manufacture scooter with sporty design to apppeal for the male
@@tocreatee5736 Yeah because it's a KIA. KIA was and still is trash, they build cars so poorly they assume nobody will try and steel it which is why they didn't have immobilizers until 2020.
The fact that the Kia Soul is such a hot seller is evidence of a poor commitment from companies, i felt the same about the Nissan Cube as well. I loved the cube the most. America is ready for cuter cars imo
@@NotChand13rBing I had the 500x and my only complaint was it really was a Fix it again Tony situation. There were constantly issues w/ the car the 6 or so years that I owned it. I really wish Italian manufacturing took a page out of the Toyota playbook. I would love to own another Fiat but they really need to get their reliability game together. I also think it was a major missed opportunity to bring back the 500 as a RWD EV platform. I dont see why it needed to be FWD.
@ubacow7109 You're comment is ironic, cause owners of most cars are wishing companies would bring back 4 wheel drive, rather than standard front wheel drive crap.
@@CurlyFromTheSwirly I mean i dont see why you cant have both~ Nearly every company makes a platform that supports AWD/RWD/FWD simultaneously. . xB for instance was built on Camry Platform which is now the Toyota Global Architecture platform. Which is why nearly every Toyota now is a Camry underneath technically. There's also more application specific reasons why companies would choose one drive train config over another. In addition now that EVs are now more common, its a lot easier to implement diff drivetrain configs w/ different motor layouts.
I thought the TC was rather boring compared to the Celica. I have a 2000 GT with a lazy 4-speed automagic and it was more fun to drive, I think I feel asleep while driving the TC.
@@ceciliacarrillo6923 Yes, the FRS/86/BRZ is indeed a prime example of the affordable Toyota coupe, even though it's just another Subaru. I don't believe the Celica's legacy can ever be resurrected, so vehicles like the BRZ, 86, GR Yaris, and so on should fill the role instead. I've had the chance to drive a 2018 86 and the experience was slightly less exciting, though the vehicle was a very close successor to the Celica, even down to its interior design. It's a shame that has Subaru's Boxer engine and drivetrain. Had Toyota used their own motor and transmission it could have been something more interesting.
As a construction worker, I've seen so many Scion XB's and Honda Elements being repurposed as work vans by electricians. They usually remove all the rear seats which leaves a lot of space and the high roof is also a perk. Since panel vans are expensive, that's the route some trade workers take.
Auto manufacturers have forgotten that they need to appeal to entry-level buyers. They don't want to produce less expensive cars with features people want because they have lower margins. Instead, they're incentivized to build higher profit trucks and SUVs that fewer people can afford.
They've also forgotten to really push efficiency. Hybrids and EVs wouldn't be so expensive now if they were more commonplace. Nobody is taking climate change and pollution seriously by keeping them expensive.
@@EssenceofPureFlavor People buy SUVs because they want to go off road with them. And those who don't want them because they can do things with them that they can't do with cars anymore. BTW, even Toyota's two-seater sports cars are too small for me.
@@DTD110865 Very, *very* few SUV owners take them off-roading. Those who do usually drive 30 year old highly modded Wranglers or 4Runners, not brand new Suburbans.
@@EssenceofPureFlavor Suburbans have come in both 2WD and 4WD models through most of the post-WW2 era. But as I also mentioned, those who don't use them for off-roading use them for things you can't use a car for anymore.
Missed the day when many Japanese cars wasn’t americanised or in Nissan case Frenchnised by Renault, or Toyota Supra being Germanised by BMW. Not only old scion look very Japanese but also old Infiniti and Acura
Older middle aged women loved the first generation Scion Xb; Even at twenty years old Women who weren't familiar with the Scion brand want to know where they can get one,
It appealed to the opposite intended demographic 😂 Apparently some other commentor said it was popular in California with younger people. I can see how it appeals to both, it's roomy (skateboards, groceries, canes, passengers, you name it!) Can all fit. Good visibility, economical, reliable. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Same thing with the Toyota Matrix - targeted 18-24 year olds, 35-45 women were the ones that bought 'em. Bought my '03 Matrix 10 months ago; fixing up deferred maintenance issues but it keeps on chuggin'. 🥰
I lived in California when the first gen of xB came out in early 2000’s. It was VERY popular among young people. I personally didn’t like it because it looked funky and seemed to associate with kids who loved modifying their cars. Circumstances made me own a used one well after it was discontinued. I was in love with it right away and wish I bought a new one when it came out.
First gen Saturns were terrific little cars with a loyal following. I remember quite a few of them with over 200,000 miles at a time when that wasn’t the norm for American made vehicles. It wasn’t until GM started marketing Opels as Saturns that they became less imaginative,less reliable and more expensive,which helped lead to their extinction.
The mileage and durability of Saturns is what first attracted me to the brand. A lot of people now don’t remember that it used to be when a vehicle was about 80k miles or so, it was considered to be on its way to the junkyard. (1980’s K cars, anyone?) My aunt got a Saturn, put over 300k on it, and it was still going good, so I went to the dealer. I was not disappointed. Even brand new cars were affordable with a minimum wage almost full time job. (I was about 18, part time but worked a lot of hours). In the showroom, they had a photo album of Saturns that have been in accidents, and each photo has some details so you knew what kind of accident. I was really impressed as some of these incidents would have killed the passengers and destroyed the cars in other available vehicles at the time, but the Saturns were reinforced with metal bars where it counted, and even in vehicle rollovers a person could walk away alive. The fiberglass outer panels resisted a lot, and the give made them more durable. I had only once a panel got cracked on the car when a deer rammed into it, and was the only part damaged, easily replaced. When I got my first Saturn, my insurance went down a lot. I asked why, think it was a mistake since I now had a loan and needed full coverage, being a new car I thought it would have gone up. The agent said because of the reinforced frame and other safety features was the reason for the lower rate. GM screwed up the Saturn brand because wanted their other junky cars, and we were sad to see it end. I still have a couple Saturns and refuse to give them up. Saturns and Toyotas are all about what we drive.
@@Lzzeecrkrs I was visiting somebody years ago, and I took them out for a ride in my car. Some guy in a Saturn SW1 wagon came flying by, almost plowed into me, and ended up driving on this friend's family lawn. Not only did that driver survive, and his rolling piece of tupperware come out unscathed, he ended up taking out a stump that the family had been trying to remove from their lawn for years.
My mom bought a 2012 second Gen xB and she loves it. We have had no issues, it’s super reliable, and economical. Plus for a small car it’s roomy inside and gas mileage it’s still plenty good.
It's a great example of how a design that is more polarizing can be more popular than a design that is trying to make everybody happy. Cars which have had their designs influenced by focus groups often start to look similar to all the other cars that have done the same. Then they have to compete with all these other similar looking cars. A unique car might appeal to a smaller percentage of the population, but for those who like it, there is rarely any competition.
I've recently come to the conclusion that I have inherited an '09 xB. My father-in-law loaned it to me when I was going to school last year and every attempt I've made to return it to him he refuses and says that he'd rather have me drive it than have it sit as he didn't drive it much. Now he's at the point where he really shouldn't be driving. I gotta admit it really isn't my cup of tea. I find the visibility terrible, blind spots on both rear corners and the short windshield keeps me from seeing stop lights if I'm first in line. I also find the dash configuration maddening, center mounted gauges make me feel unbalanced. Despite those and other complaints it does have it's merits. It's fairly peppy but doesn't feel fast, I'm usually 5-10 over the speed limit before I know it. The head room is AMAZING, I'm 6ft and easily have 8" from top of my head to the ceiling. Back seat has a ton of leg room, fitting 4 large adults is hilariously easy. And good cargo space. My FIL says it's his favorite car he's ever owned so I know I won't be selling for some time, too much sentimentality wrapped up in it. So I've decided to start doing some small quality of life improvements such as upgrading to a modern head unit with wireless carplay, a backup camera, and roof rack. It is a reliable little car, is inexpensive to operate and never complains. Plus it was free and only has 71k miles on it!
What visibility issues? Me personally it’s great it’s really roomy and had great visibility and it’s pretty dang fast I have a 2011 try doing a tune up replacing your spark plugs and wires and coil packs and see if it’s faster
@@SpeedyGeneralMotorsINC Quoting myself here: "blind spots on both rear corners and the short windshield keeps me from seeing stop lights if I'm first in line." The large rear pillars take up a lot of real estate and block my sight lines when I need to check my corners and the mirrors don't make up for it. Installing a backup camera has largely solved that issue and I would recommend doing so. If you don't experience these issues, that's great, however this is my experience.
I recommend a 2009-2010 Honda fit. Visibility might be a little better, but it's nearly the same type of car as the xB, just styled differently. Best car I've ever owned and amazing on gas!
2004 xB here, but I bought it in a test market in San Jose before they went live other places. The California DMV listed it as a 2003 model because it wasn't in the database when I got it. This is still my daily driver and it's at 220k and going strong. I think Toyota killed it because it was *too* good. It wasn't helping them sell cars -- it was like the vw bug of its day. And holy crap, the paint job -- it's still factory perfect 21 years later.
My 05 paint job is trash here in Southern California but the car is still going strong and I love it. Only 130k on it though. Looking for one with a spoiler that has a clean title and nice body.
The Scion xA was my only car for 4 years for my family of 3 living in western New England. We've been through blizzards, storms, and drove cross country. I was very happy to have a car that's been through it all.
I don’t care what anyone says but the 2nd Scion XB is an absolutely amazing car for the money it is affordable, it’s comfortable, it roomy, it’s good for hauling a lot of weight in the back ( mine probably hauls more than 1 ton worth of food and doesn’t even squat very much), its a good motor, they never let you down, and overall it’s a great car oh and I almost forgot about gas prices how about after driving a car for a week about 400 miles a week my car needs 45 dollars with these crazy prices and when it’s empty empty 50 like how can you complain about that. Great car for the money I don’t get why people don’t love the 2nd gen’s like they should they are better than the 1st gen in many ways but to be fair I don’t hate the first gen and I have never driven or owned one before I have had 7 2nd gen Scion XBs in the last 2-3 years so I’m a big fan
I had a 5MT 2nd gen XB and even tho I really liked how spacious and comfy it was for what it is (an economy box) it had horrendous mpg, marking 19.4MPG on the info screen, and it burned oil like crazy lol.
@@AkioWasRight it was just a Corolla mini wagon which was being sold elsewhere in some slightly different shapes. Maybe Toyota wanted to streamline the engines built to just a few and the Corolla engine was the smallest they kept. If so it might not have fit in the old gen microbox with an automatic tranaxle that North Americans and Australians want 9:1....really almost 96:4 in a generic driver. Was tge 2nd gen assembled in Cali or another US plant to evade the tariffs?
@@STho205 Gen 2 XB is just boring and ugly. Gen 1 XB just looked better, and the young audience loved that. Even here in south east asia people imported Gen 1 XBs and modify them for looks.
I got an 05 w/ 200k miles. For what it is, it's the best cash car you can buy. Hardly ever have trouble and when i do it's cheap to fix. I love the upright seats for my back.
I purchased a white 2013 XB new in 2013. I can get up to 43mpg on a short 25 mile country road trip with only a few minor hills with nobody pushing me. Not bad for WV driving. Only 47,000 miles in ten years of driving in spring, summer and fall. I park it for the winter. I will not let this car go. I have an element for winter and a black santa cruz as a toy that has never been driven in snow, rain or a a wet road(1500 miles in 16 months of ownership).
I have an 08 xB automatic in "hypnotic teal mica" for the last 14 years. The second car I've ever owned. Purchased with 18,000 mi. in 2010 with one previous owner. Bought a lifetime XM subscription for about $400 (before they merged with Sirius).paid for itself 10x over. Now im at 150k on the ODO. I dont do much driving. Live in NJ work in NYC and use public transit mostly. I love in a dense urban area and i have an electric scooter (actually an electric unicycle) that i use often and has replaced a lot of my solo/local trips and errands. I LOVE this car. I was sad when they discontinued in 2015. They just dont make cheap reliable cars anymore like this. Window visibility is so good i dont need a backup camera or sensors in the side mirrors. Fold down seats, ive moved 4 times with this car, including a queen mattress! Added a trailer hitch too when i used to have a hitch mount bike rack. I've towed with it once or twice too. Plenty of dings and scratches but i love her to death ❤️. No car payment, and minimum insurance policy. Air conditioner is starting to fail but im keeping up with all the maintenance and i think i still have years of useful life left! Thanks for the history on this great car
I love my 2011 Scion xb it’s the best car I’ve ever had it’s so good looking and soo much fun to drive I absolutely love it I will never ever sell it it’s a forever car ❤️
Mom was 84 when she bought the XB with the 5-speed, and drove it home from Toyota of El Cajon. (I drove the '63 VW bug back home). Mom's first new car since her '67 VW Squareback, also her last. She died last year @ 101.
I have a 2008 Scion Xb 206 k miles on it have had it for 6 years one of best cars I’ve ever had reliable just regular wear and tear fixes good on gas and very roomy bought it for only 2500$ in 2018 love these cars 💜💜👍😎 🚙
Love my 08 XB. An an amazing car. So much room inside, especially when folding seats down and fast and nippy. I guess I shouldn't say anything lest prices go up on newer models.
I just got a 2006 scion XB with a manual transmission… So far I’ve been able to change out the engine oil transmission oil and rebuild a door hinge now it has a new life… I have absolutely love this thing so far😊
IDK if it was by design, but one reason we passed on the large (to us) Element, was that you could not fit a 48" standard sheet of plywood in the 47" wide rear deck.
I love my 1st gen (03-06) xB/bB I think eventually these will be rare a sought after as a collector. I kinda went crazier than most xB owners by adding a Greddy turbo and currently auto x/track xing it 🤘💀 📦🔰🏁
The biggest problem with the second gen was the engine. It turns into an oil burner after 150k miles. Piston rings were too soft and Toyota even admitted they screwed up. My 2012 blew it's engine on my birthday last year, half way to see my dad and sister. Car had 240k miles on it. Had to pay $250 to get it towed home. It still sits in my front yard today. Up until then it had been a great little car. And before anybody starts accusing me of not properly maintaining it, my son is a mechanic and the car got regular oil changes and I kept it topped of on oil in-between. We had just replaced the front struts and were going to do the rear shocks the next weekend. Only other thing that broke was the A/C compressor after around 200k miles. We figure what finally happened is the timing chain broke. It was my second Toyota, my first being a 2000 Echo... and yes I loved that car. Over 300k miles and would have been more if not for a truck turning into my son's lane of traffic.
My 2008 scion xb is the most amazing car ever, drove it through Parker Az in a 120 degree weather, carrying 6 pas sengers, luggage etc and never even had any issues, it has 190k miles runs like new!
Hehe, I also love my 1st gen 2006 xB. Hands down the best car I've ever had (not really saying much, though). It's reliable, surprisingly spacious, still gets great gas mileage and has great brakes, very important for my 1+ hour rush hour commute. Just today had my 200k service and it's still going strong. Hopefully I can push it to 300k before I have to get another car...
@ronalddelrosario7405 Just stay on top of your fluid change intervals, and it will. I own an '02 camry with the same 2.4ltr engine found in the 2nd gen xB, and the tC(@AZ-FE). It had 190k mi. when I bought back in 2020, The family that sold it to me had neglected the car and thought it was dying, so they sold it to me for dirt cheap. All I did all the routine maintenance it needed incl. all the fluid changes & a new set of tires which came out to just under than $1000 for all the new parts & fluids. I made sure to change the oil every 4k-5k miles, and 4yrs later, it still drives like new with 243k mi. on the odometer. By far one of the best cars I've ever owned: Easy to fix, wide parts availability, great mpg(30+), cheap registration & insurance. It even passed emissions testing in CA. with 1 of the 2 catalytic converters being completely empty on the inside! Everything still works: power lock & windows, A/C, etc. Like You, I plan on keeping that thing on the road for as long as possible. I hope your xB makes it to 500k mi. These older toyotas deserve to be treated well. They are gems for sure!
Fun story: I sat in an xB in 2006 and loved the leg room front and back. I then test drove one and loved it so much I wrote a check. I got the five speed because it didn't feel so gutless. After I bought it, I showed it to a friend and he and his wife liked it so much they bought two of them. They each had their own. Mine now has 240k and is as smooth as puddin' to drive. But people like my friend and his wife and me are why it failed. We're all roughly the same age. I turned 70 this year. 🤣 Sadly, I hit a deer with mine at 160k miles and didn't bother to fix it (only cosmetic damage, but BAD cosmetic damage). I had to chain it to a tree and back up fairly hard to stretch the nose back in position. So now I have this car that I LOVE driving but my wife can't wait for it to fail because she refuses to be seen in it. And I rarely drive the FR-S since I retired. It just sits in the garage with the trickle charger except for the occasional trip to church to keep the seals soft. BTW, it's still on the original clutch. 😁 Regarding the second gen xB, in my mind that extra 600 lbs was like carrying four adults around with me all the time. That destroyed one of the huge draws of the car - efficiency. And I STILL throw that little sucker around almost as much as the FR-S. I rented a new Kia Soul a few months ago on a visit to Seattle. I loved that car in every single way. Unfortunately it's a KIA and I don't expect it to go more than 100k miles. And then there is the oil burning issue...
I drive a KIA soul, and I must say, it’s way easier to park a toaster than an F-150. It also has some of the best headroom and 360 visibility of any car I’ve driven. TOYOTA should have been keeping notes.
I drive a 2005 xb with manual transmission with > 250k miles. If the Kia Soul was available with manual transmission, I'd be willing to try it out and possibly make the switch.
@@nunyabeezwacks1408 i have a 05 manual too, im looking to making it a nice show race car. i also have a 06, it had 432k miles, all original. never get the kia soul, there are millions of reasons to not get the kia soul.
I just bought a 1st gen. I've wanted one for years, since I first took a ride in one. I was amazed by the space and potential. Now I have one for the fuel economy, but now it makes me want to spend money modding it.
I have ‘05 with 372,000 miles. I’ve beat the living crap out of it and it won’t die. Trying to maintain her better, but it’s a fun car. Easy to work on and learn.
I owned an 06 for 9 years...from 35k miles to 175k miles. Great freaking car. 5 adults, no problem...a moped and a pit bike, easy...2x8 sheet of plywood...yep that fit too. Dirt cheap to keep running, held up to snow/salt without rusting out. Did well in the snow. Just a solid, all around capable rig. No cruise control was my only real complaint. Had the 2nd gen followed the same formula, I would have bought it when replacing my 06. I ended up getting a 2016 Corolla. It does what I need, but without all the fun and utility that the xb gave. Despite the xb having 40 fewer hp than my Corolla, it was just as quick, due to weighing 800 pounds less. That's what sucks...USA regulations changed and now small cars are bigger/heavier...even though they have less interior space.
Got mine as a first car 4 years ago still have it put 60k miles on it lowered it, sway bars, and on some rays gramlights. Still getting 25mpg or more and very reliable.
I almost bought the 1st gen xB. Then I learned Toyota was making the tC. I waited and wasn't disappointed. I bought myself a tC and put a turbo in it shortly after. I was putting 270hp to the wheels. I was smoking Celica GTS, RSX S, Civic Si without breaking a sweat. I sold it when I was expecting my first child and needed a family car. I'm kind of glad I did. That car brought the worst in me and my heavy right foot on the streets.
The xB is my wife's favourite vehicle ever. Her only regret in motherhood is having too many kids to fit in it. Minivan life will never fill the xB-sized hole in her heart.
Interesting video. I remember when Toyota introduced the Scion brand. First thing was that each model would have only one production run. It would then be replaced by a new model. Hence the xA was replaced with the xD. By that logic the xB should have been replaced with the xE (assuming E hadn't been used yet). But instead, Toyota was afraid that buyers wouldn't go for the new xE because it wasn't the same model as the outgoing xA (just like trying to compare an original Corolla to a present day one, the only thing in common is the name, not the parts). Unfortunately, the new xB was so different from the original one that as shown in the video the sales crashed. It wasn't that the new xB was bad, just not what buyers of the original xB wanted. Meanwhile, Kia introduced their Soul, and Nissan their Cube. While the Cube was, in my opinion, too weird looking, the Soul was enough like the original xB to steal sales from Scion. Now, both the xB and Cube are gone, leaving Kia with the "Soul" survivor.
The funny thing is that they marketed the Scion to younger people who wanted to modify them, but the reality is that I only saw elderly people actually drive them, the xB especially. I assumed it was the affordability, the reliability, and the fact that it was easier for them to get in and out of.
I currently have a 2006 Scion xB 1st gen with 160k miles. I love how it looks and cheap in gas plus also reliable. 1NZ-FE engine is bullet proof. As long as it has regular oil changes.
Here in my country we have more than cars... we have MINI TRUCKS, not Kei Trucks, and the most common one is the Hyundai H100, you can use it as a Flatbed or a Box Truck, you can't escape the Hyundai H100, they are EVERYWHERE 🇳🇮 Oh and we also have TukTuks.
Shout out to my old Scion xA. I was broke as hell but that thing never broke down and never needed anything more than an oil change. Eventually rust got too bad. But that car got me to work for many years without any issues.
I’m own a silver 2006 xB 5 speed that I bought in November of 2006. I liked the styling when I first saw it. When I heard that they were changing the styling in 2007 and I saw early renderings, I didn’t care for the new look, so I bought one of the last 2006s. The only option that I added were upgraded rims. It is still stock, has 180,000 miles and runs great.
1st gen xB and the unique design outside japan was the key. here in europe we don't have bB in 1st or 2nd gen. but we got the Daihatsu Materia or known as Daihatsu COO in asia. its the same as the 2nd bB gen of japan. I love the design from, so i bought a Materia and build my own bB 2nd gen. I also have a 1st gen bB now in my garage. i hope toyota will bring a 3rd gen of this masterpiece!
I think part of the story has been missed. I recall Toyota doing surveys on how the xB could be improved. Scion owners gave a long list of things , such as more power. So some of the changes asked for lead to the second generation. For sure that went off the rails, but "be careful what you ask for" came into play here. I loved my 2004 xB and traded it in at 230,000 miles for a 2015 RAV4. I didn't buy the new xB for many reasons. Ironically, I now own a wheelchair ramp van 2012 xB because a good friend needed it to get around. I now use it regularly at an assisted living home and it works out very well. Its only drawback is some riders feel jostled because their chair ends up over the axle. I also still have my 2015 RAV4....so reliable!
I owned the 4-door hatchback XD, sadly got totalled over 8years ago, and I haven't replaced it since. I just haven't found a newer model that gives me the same or better value, efficiency, and design the XD used to. I could fit 4 tall people comfortably with plenty of trunk room and it was perfect for parking in tight spots. I once managed to load 2 party tables, the 24 folding chairs, a larger cooler, and my 2 very tall siblings in it. I miss it every day. My auntie still drives her XB wagon and I'm hoping to buy it from her soon.
At first I wasn't keen on the xb. But now I appreciate it. 1st Gen. Second Gen is good inside but not outside in my opinion. I owned an Echo. Served me well
As a long time jdm enthusiast and tech, i chose to purchase a first gen (5 speed manual) recently. Super reliable and simple (cheap and easy to maintain) platform. Spacious af. Lots if aftermarket support (already slammed it on coils). And love it or hate it - its super unique. Thanks for the vid
The XB is called the bB in Japan, and the second generation also sold well. It was a popular car not only among young people but also among old people in rural areas. This is because it is square and easy to drive. Another reason is that it is cheaper than the Corolla. The Corolla-based bB was big and expensive, so it didn't make sense.
I bought a new xA in '06.I conisederd the xB but just wasn't into the boxy look. One price, one config- fully loaded. I was in and out of the dealership in about an hour. total cost was $13k. Paid it off in just over a year. It was truly a high quality car at a low price. I miss those days. Now I have a Kia Soul and love it just as much. No better value than a small, low price, boxy car.
proud xb owner. bought my 2004 5mt with 200,000 miles for $2000 five years ago. Drove a hundred thousand miles since then. really spacious, people seem to like being inside because of the high ceilings and visibililty. look out for oil burning, thats the only real problem. Ive replaced a lot of suspension ball joints and front bearings, but thats what happens after that many miles
oh and very enjoyable to drive! I feel very connected to the inputs, and i wouldnt want the stock exhaust note any quieter or louder. Theres a resonator right below the front seats and i think its perfectly tuned
Second generation of XB took advantage of the CVT in Japan (Corolla Rumion) with a 1.8L which made it a little more economical despite its anti-aero shape with a slightly rounder front than the NA version.
I love my 2006 Scion XB. I use it for commuting and camping. I made a platform that can sleep 2 adults in a double bed arrangement and now tow a 1997 tent trailer with it.
I had an xA from new for nineteen years. I preferred it over the xB for the slightly better performance and looks, but the xB was an experience with that distant A pillar. It was like driving a living room around. The extra cargo space from the box shape would have come in handy many times.
We liked our 96 Saturn 4 door. It went 220,000 miles. When my brother and sil tested a Saturn, the salesman wanted to show off how resilient the plastic door was. He cracked the door when he backkicked it. We enjoyed an 05 Scion TC, drove it 240,000 miles. Required very few repairs, just regular maintenance.
People absolutely wanted cars made of Tupperware. GM didn't adapt that brand, didn't know what they had, started pumping out Chevrolet Malibu's with saturn badges on them to save money and then 2008 killed it. The OG saturn was a really good idea.
We bought late '06 XB, since I didn't like the looks of the new model. We had to wait two weeks for a stick shift. (I test drove it off the lot, bc the salesman couldn't drive a manual). It currently has under 69K miles on an 18 y-o car. I only change the oil and am on the second set of tires. My only problem has been the field rats chewing some wires, giving me some idiot lights, and the windshield washer stopped working four years ago. (I would be happier without a damn computer and have real gauges---the only electronics should be the radio). Some day I'll get it looked at, but it runs just fine. (I should change the antifreeze). Complaints?----Maybe a 6th gear, for 2500 rpm @ 60. The wiper stalk is too near the wheel, and I sometimes turn the wipers on my mistake. After driving 40 hp VWs most of my life, this thing is luxurious.
This also happened to FIAT. In the EUDM, more likely the italian one, FIAT launched the Sedici, a Suzuki Sx4 rebadge; it was aimed at younger people, but fascinated elderly people because of its height and comfort and its small price gap between this and the Punto. Of course hunters also used it as it was marketed as a comfortable 4x4 5 seater. My grandparents bought it new, they hate how it drives, but I like it, it's a comfortable compact diesel crossover.
I picked up an 05 manual transmission in camo green color with 88K miles in December of 2020, at the time it was the lowest mileage 1st gen with a stick from a rust free area I could find, the interior still looked brand new. Can't say enough for Toyota quality, only minor repairs associated with it so far, had both rear door lock motors fail, but was able to get all 4 from amazon for $45, did it myself in 20 mins a door. Had a wheel bearing go bad too but that's it and I only paid $5k for it back in 2020, best money I have ever spent on a car without exception. Paid a lot more in the past for a lot less bang for the buck. Only complaint is that 5th gear in the manual cars is not nearly tall enough of a gear, super buzzy on the highways at freeway speeds. You can swap out the final drive gear with a corolla's of the same generation which should be good for an additional 500 rpm drop, exploring this option soon.
My '06 runs 2000 rpm in fifth gear @ 40. At 80, it's up to 4000, which is higher than the 3500 I usually rev between gears. I'd like 6th gear with 80 @ 3500 rpm.
My friend actually has both xB models. The older one is his daily, and the newer one has a massive sound system. Personally, I like both, but the first-gen still gets a lot of compliments. Especially given how popular little kei vehicles are in the US right now. Smol is the new big, I suppose!
My 2015 Rules! I have a 5 speed manual. It’s pretty zippy. Handles well. Feels very solid. Good crash test results. I love the cool seats with retro squiggly design. I’ll keep it forever! The prior model feels more flimsy, had poor crash test results, less features.. but still a great car. I like the 2.5 model the best.
We've been driving a 2015 XB for several years and love it, its a great little car. We need to sell it and are quite bummed about it. Hey, if you need a great little low milage car...
Both the xA and xB sold a lot to older people because they had a higher than normal seating position than a typical car, but not as high as a typical SUV, so they were the perfect height for people with arthritis and other mobility issues that could no longer get up from the lower seating position of a typical sedan, nor climb into a high SUV or pickup.
okay there's something critical you missed this video, the main reason the 1st gen got phased out was changing safety standards in the usa. 2007 was the when the new rules went into effect and the 1st gen was not able too meet those standards. it was a short run in the usa and toyota often breezes over how well they did in the us market.
Thank you I believed this to also be a cause but I couldn't find any data on it. I wonder if Toyota would have imported the bB2 otherwise, and also wonder why the xB2 got such a big engine.
@@tonygibbons5they had poor safety scores before the second gen came. There was no way to improve that, either. You don’t want to be crashed into in a side collision.
@@SeanChandlerit got a bigger engine by consumer demand. Also it would be incredibly sluggish for America in 1.8 Corolla form (Japan had that motor as the base).
What's more dangerous than a motorcycle??? I wish the government would leave the cars alone. Just give me seat belts, and I'd be satisfied. '65 tech is just fine with me.
One of best cars I owned in my 75 yrs, '10XB. Purchased in '16 with 25k miles for $10K. Great utilitarian, I fix lawn mowers, trouble free, (sans the white paint recall), just works. Narragansett Bay
The Scion xB would still be around if the 2008-2015 Scion xB had the 2.5 180hp motor, and the Tc had 210hp. With my 9.0 RS Scion xB I can Chirp the tires on takeoff if i want. And it's automatic too. But alas Toyota seems to hate style, room, and fun.
I ended up buying a Corolla Cross because we had 7 gen 1 Rav4s, and one gen 1 XB. We couldn’t find something small, as the current Rav4s grew as large as the gen1 Highlander. If a new Gen 1 XB came out, that was non-electric, I would totally buy that.
It was love at first sight for me the first time I saw it on the road and vowed to one day own one...three years later I was able to afford one with 32000 miles on it, 14 years later and at 340000 miles it's still going strong; I just wish I could find someone in the Chicago area to fix the rust on it before it's too late.
I love my XB. I bought my RS3 in 2006 and had to put down a $500.00 Deposit just to see. I still own it with 97,000 on it and still runs like brand new even after i have been showing it in car shows for 13 years.
My wife had an 06 1st Gen xB and loved it. I am rather large and had no trouble getting in and driving it. Frankly it was a great car. Unfortunately when she was no longer driving I sold it a month before the covid car crisis hit. Wish I kept it and sold my Tundra.
The xb was one of my favorite cars i always forgot about. Everytime i see one i want one but then I'd forget about it 5 minutes later. I will buy one with a 5spd one of these days... if I remember them.
I buy, fix and sell 1st Gen xBs people still love them. I sold one an hour after listing it; I sold another to someone driving halfway across the country to buy it because it had low miles. They are easy to work on, parts are inexpensive, they are incredibly reliable and have a timeless style. I feel this will be a sought after classic to the likes of the VW Bettle.
I kep trying to find a good 1st gen xb. Where you at? Automatic tranny.
Are you in Florida? I just bought my 2nd 06 xb rs 3.0. needs a little work and new paint. love these cars!!!
@@johnathoncastro I'm in S Carolina
@swiftWord I have family in Woodruff SC....South Carolina is awesome....but I love Florida. My xb is still running strong. I found a guy who is going to paint it for $2k....I plan on keeping it awhile. I also have a Honda Element.... The honda is great and some what reliable but the scion blows it a way.
We have 4 of them!! Best cars ever
Honda had the same problem, they made the Element and the old people loved them
Same thing with Kia and the Soul, I feel this demographic issue exists, in general, with cheap, cheerful, and spacious box cars. Only difference is Kia saw potential and doubled down on the Soul, while Toyota gave up on the XB.
Customers should be customers. Green is green young or old.
The problem is car companies assume 25yos don't have much money and want to get them hooked on the new car loan treadmill for life.
Retirees and older workers have money and strong credit. Car companies want them to buy the big, cushy and expensive Avalon or Grand Marquis lines....they don't like it when Grandpa Joe cheaps out on a Scion or Fiesta....because there's more in his wallet they want to mine.
The elements issue was pieces literally fell off of it
@@markmeador I think the Element made for a cute young girl but old man also bought them because I know one old guy ( already passed away ) owned a Honda Element
Same here in my country, Honda and Yamaha develop a scooter for female demographic, but in the end male also buy them, thus the 2 companies have to manufacture scooter with sporty design to apppeal for the male
Original Owner ‘06 Xb. 114,000 miles. I love this car. I want another one. New. I paid $14,100 for it. Reliable. I love no frills. 35mpg in the city
my sister got KIA soul, start burning oil at 20k miles.
original owner '05 XB. 196,500 miles. going places! i want another one too
With that engine you can go 300k ease! These cars 100% are better than the sheap things that sell today
@@tocreatee5736 Yeah because it's a KIA. KIA was and still is trash, they build cars so poorly they assume nobody will try and steel it which is why they didn't have immobilizers until 2020.
@user-ss6zt2mo1l
Yours is still new! With 6 times that mileage it will still be going 💪🏽💪🏽
The fact that the Kia Soul is such a hot seller is evidence of a poor commitment from companies, i felt the same about the Nissan Cube as well. I loved the cube the most. America is ready for cuter cars imo
That’s exactly why I love my Fiat 500, and am getting the new 500e. It’s cute and unique and just plain fun
@@NotChand13rBing I had the 500x and my only complaint was it really was a Fix it again Tony situation. There were constantly issues w/ the car the 6 or so years that I owned it. I really wish Italian manufacturing took a page out of the Toyota playbook. I would love to own another Fiat but they really need to get their reliability game together. I also think it was a major missed opportunity to bring back the 500 as a RWD EV platform. I dont see why it needed to be FWD.
The Kia Soul had the dancing rats in a commercial, so they had an advantage. 😂
Yes, I know he they're hamsters.
@ubacow7109
You're comment is ironic, cause owners of most cars are wishing companies would bring back 4 wheel drive, rather than standard front wheel drive crap.
@@CurlyFromTheSwirly I mean i dont see why you cant have both~ Nearly every company makes a platform that supports AWD/RWD/FWD simultaneously. . xB for instance was built on Camry Platform which is now the Toyota Global Architecture platform. Which is why nearly every Toyota now is a Camry underneath technically.
There's also more application specific reasons why companies would choose one drive train config over another. In addition now that EVs are now more common, its a lot easier to implement diff drivetrain configs w/ different motor layouts.
even though this guy made the xB look like it was the face of Scion, it would be funnier knowing that the Scion tC was Toyota's best selling Scion car
My fiance has. 2010 Scion tc
I miss my 05 tc
I thought the TC was rather boring compared to the Celica. I have a 2000 GT with a lazy 4-speed automagic and it was more fun to drive, I think I feel asleep while driving the TC.
@@aku2dimensional I feel like the best one is the scion FRS
@@ceciliacarrillo6923 Yes, the FRS/86/BRZ is indeed a prime example of the affordable Toyota coupe, even though it's just another Subaru. I don't believe the Celica's legacy can ever be resurrected, so vehicles like the BRZ, 86, GR Yaris, and so on should fill the role instead. I've had the chance to drive a 2018 86 and the experience was slightly less exciting, though the vehicle was a very close successor to the Celica, even down to its interior design. It's a shame that has Subaru's Boxer engine and drivetrain. Had Toyota used their own motor and transmission it could have been something more interesting.
I bought a new Scion XA 2006 Drove it till 2016. Sold it to my relative He is still driving it today in 2024 With no mechanical issues whatsoever
As a construction worker, I've seen so many Scion XB's and Honda Elements being repurposed as work vans by electricians. They usually remove all the rear seats which leaves a lot of space and the high roof is also a perk. Since panel vans are expensive, that's the route some trade workers take.
There was a guy on cape cod that did roofing out of his. Wild Bill.
Great idea!😁
There's a video of girl living in her 1st gen. XB.
Auto manufacturers have forgotten that they need to appeal to entry-level buyers. They don't want to produce less expensive cars with features people want because they have lower margins. Instead, they're incentivized to build higher profit trucks and SUVs that fewer people can afford.
They've also forgotten to really push efficiency. Hybrids and EVs wouldn't be so expensive now if they were more commonplace. Nobody is taking climate change and pollution seriously by keeping them expensive.
But if they sell fewer of them that doesn't necessarily work to their benefit. People buy SUVs because they stupidly want SUVs.
@@EssenceofPureFlavor People buy SUVs because they want to go off road with them. And those who don't want them because they can do things with them that they can't do with cars anymore.
BTW, even Toyota's two-seater sports cars are too small for me.
@@DTD110865 Very, *very* few SUV owners take them off-roading. Those who do usually drive 30 year old highly modded Wranglers or 4Runners, not brand new Suburbans.
@@EssenceofPureFlavor Suburbans have come in both 2WD and 4WD models through most of the post-WW2 era. But as I also mentioned, those who don't use them for off-roading use them for things you can't use a car for anymore.
Miss the days of small affordable yet stylish cars... 😢. Xb gen 1 and 2 were both amazing!
Missed the day when many Japanese cars wasn’t americanised or in Nissan case Frenchnised by Renault, or Toyota Supra being Germanised by BMW. Not only old scion look very Japanese but also old Infiniti and Acura
I’m so sick of ALL carmakers NOT making subcompact economy cars anymore. Not everyone wants a big SUV.
Prefer the benefits of the 1st gen.
I have a 05 Scion xB. I’m trying to hold on to it. I think it will become a collector item.
Same 😂
It's getting close to that now. Especially in this economy. Stylish, roomy, reliable, and affordable. Perfect car for 2023.
What can all of the backseats come out? So I can be turned into a van with only two seats
@@williamperri3437 I’ve seen it done if you really want to but the back seats play a huge role in Sound deafening
@@Dakotah_H Gotcha. Good to know. I am all about the car interior behind quiet.
Older middle aged women loved the first generation Scion Xb; Even at twenty years old Women who weren't familiar with the Scion brand want to know where they can get one,
It appealed to the opposite intended demographic 😂 Apparently some other commentor said it was popular in California with younger people. I can see how it appeals to both, it's roomy (skateboards, groceries, canes, passengers, you name it!) Can all fit. Good visibility, economical, reliable. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Same thing with the Toyota Matrix - targeted 18-24 year olds, 35-45 women were the ones that bought 'em.
Bought my '03 Matrix 10 months ago; fixing up deferred maintenance issues but it keeps on chuggin'. 🥰
Looks like they also into a Japanese looking car which 2000s Corolla and Camry doesn't
I lived in California when the first gen of xB came out in early 2000’s. It was VERY popular among young people. I personally didn’t like it because it looked funky and seemed to associate with kids who loved modifying their cars. Circumstances made me own a used one well after it was discontinued. I was in love with it right away and wish I bought a new one when it came out.
The xb is so awesome! Miss mine and still happy to see so many on the roads despite their age and sales.
Bought the 05 new because I thought it was so ugly it was cute and it would fit two car seats when my wrx wouldnt. Still have and love it
First gen Saturns were terrific little cars with a loyal following. I remember quite a few of them with over 200,000 miles at a time when that wasn’t the norm for American made vehicles. It wasn’t until GM started marketing Opels as Saturns that they became less imaginative,less reliable and more expensive,which helped lead to their extinction.
The mileage and durability of Saturns is what first attracted me to the brand. A lot of people now don’t remember that it used to be when a vehicle was about 80k miles or so, it was considered to be on its way to the junkyard. (1980’s K cars, anyone?)
My aunt got a Saturn, put over 300k on it, and it was still going good, so I went to the dealer. I was not disappointed. Even brand new cars were affordable with a minimum wage almost full time job. (I was about 18, part time but worked a lot of hours).
In the showroom, they had a photo album of Saturns that have been in accidents, and each photo has some details so you knew what kind of accident. I was really impressed as some of these incidents would have killed the passengers and destroyed the cars in other available vehicles at the time, but the Saturns were reinforced with metal bars where it counted, and even in vehicle rollovers a person could walk away alive.
The fiberglass outer panels resisted a lot, and the give made them more durable. I had only once a panel got cracked on the car when a deer rammed into it, and was the only part damaged, easily replaced.
When I got my first Saturn, my insurance went down a lot. I asked why, think it was a mistake since I now had a loan and needed full coverage, being a new car I thought it would have gone up. The agent said because of the reinforced frame and other safety features was the reason for the lower rate.
GM screwed up the Saturn brand because wanted their other junky cars, and we were sad to see it end. I still have a couple Saturns and refuse to give them up. Saturns and Toyotas are all about what we drive.
@@Lzzeecrkrs I was visiting somebody years ago, and I took them out for a ride in my car. Some guy in a Saturn SW1 wagon came flying by, almost plowed into me, and ended up driving on this friend's family lawn. Not only did that driver survive, and his rolling piece of tupperware come out unscathed, he ended up taking out a stump that the family had been trying to remove from their lawn for years.
@@Lzzeecrkrs GM really should have made all their cars like Saturns, not make Saturns like all GMs.
@@iluvcamaros1912 totally!
My 2000 SC2 that I purchased new had 360,000 miles before I traded it.
My mom bought a 2012 second Gen xB and she loves it. We have had no issues, it’s super reliable, and economical. Plus for a small car it’s roomy inside and gas mileage it’s still plenty good.
It's a great example of how a design that is more polarizing can be more popular than a design that is trying to make everybody happy. Cars which have had their designs influenced by focus groups often start to look similar to all the other cars that have done the same. Then they have to compete with all these other similar looking cars. A unique car might appeal to a smaller percentage of the population, but for those who like it, there is rarely any competition.
Scored an 06 with 40k miles. It's basically new.
Hell yea! I got an 06 back in 2021 with less than 30k miles.
For how much?
@@RichieD_21it was dirt cheap before the covid hit, im regretting. they sell at 3500$ at dealership. now they doubled
Scored an 04 manual in 2023 wi th 108k
Love this car!
@@holdencawffle626 rocker panel rusted?
I've recently come to the conclusion that I have inherited an '09 xB. My father-in-law loaned it to me when I was going to school last year and every attempt I've made to return it to him he refuses and says that he'd rather have me drive it than have it sit as he didn't drive it much. Now he's at the point where he really shouldn't be driving. I gotta admit it really isn't my cup of tea. I find the visibility terrible, blind spots on both rear corners and the short windshield keeps me from seeing stop lights if I'm first in line. I also find the dash configuration maddening, center mounted gauges make me feel unbalanced. Despite those and other complaints it does have it's merits. It's fairly peppy but doesn't feel fast, I'm usually 5-10 over the speed limit before I know it. The head room is AMAZING, I'm 6ft and easily have 8" from top of my head to the ceiling. Back seat has a ton of leg room, fitting 4 large adults is hilariously easy. And good cargo space. My FIL says it's his favorite car he's ever owned so I know I won't be selling for some time, too much sentimentality wrapped up in it. So I've decided to start doing some small quality of life improvements such as upgrading to a modern head unit with wireless carplay, a backup camera, and roof rack. It is a reliable little car, is inexpensive to operate and never complains. Plus it was free and only has 71k miles on it!
What visibility issues? Me personally it’s great it’s really roomy and had great visibility and it’s pretty dang fast I have a 2011 try doing a tune up replacing your spark plugs and wires and coil packs and see if it’s faster
@@SpeedyGeneralMotorsINC Quoting myself here: "blind spots on both rear corners and the short windshield keeps me from seeing stop lights if I'm first in line." The large rear pillars take up a lot of real estate and block my sight lines when I need to check my corners and the mirrors don't make up for it. Installing a backup camera has largely solved that issue and I would recommend doing so. If you don't experience these issues, that's great, however this is my experience.
I recommend a 2009-2010 Honda fit. Visibility might be a little better, but it's nearly the same type of car as the xB, just styled differently. Best car I've ever owned and amazing on gas!
06 owner here 2nd best car I have ever owned....behind the 1983 Tercel SR5 AWD Wagon
We had a Tercel wagon, loved that car, unfortunately it was done in by a lumber carrying truck 😢
Loved the Tercel. Rusted like a shipwreck, though.
Alaska moment
2004 xB here, but I bought it in a test market in San Jose before they went live other places. The California DMV listed it as a 2003 model because it wasn't in the database when I got it. This is still my daily driver and it's at 220k and going strong. I think Toyota killed it because it was *too* good. It wasn't helping them sell cars -- it was like the vw bug of its day. And holy crap, the paint job -- it's still factory perfect 21 years later.
My 05 paint job is trash here in Southern California but the car is still going strong and I love it. Only 130k on it though. Looking for one with a spoiler that has a clean title and nice body.
My neighbor , still has hers, my other neighbor has 2 in San Jose CA ❤😂🎉🎉
The Scion xA was my only car for 4 years for my family of 3 living in western New England. We've been through blizzards, storms, and drove cross country. I was very happy to have a car that's been through it all.
I don’t care what anyone says but the 2nd Scion XB is an absolutely amazing car for the money it is affordable, it’s comfortable, it roomy, it’s good for hauling a lot of weight in the back ( mine probably hauls more than 1 ton worth of food and doesn’t even squat very much), its a good motor, they never let you down, and overall it’s a great car oh and I almost forgot about gas prices how about after driving a car for a week about 400 miles a week my car needs 45 dollars with these crazy prices and when it’s empty empty 50 like how can you complain about that. Great car for the money I don’t get why people don’t love the 2nd gen’s like they should they are better than the 1st gen in many ways but to be fair I don’t hate the first gen and I have never driven or owned one before I have had 7 2nd gen Scion XBs in the last 2-3 years so I’m a big fan
Because the 2nd gen looked Americanized. That's exactly everything the 1st gen wasn't.
I had a 5MT 2nd gen XB and even tho I really liked how spacious and comfy it was for what it is (an economy box) it had horrendous mpg, marking 19.4MPG on the info screen, and it burned oil like crazy lol.
@@AkioWasRight it was just a Corolla mini wagon which was being sold elsewhere in some slightly different shapes.
Maybe Toyota wanted to streamline the engines built to just a few and the Corolla engine was the smallest they kept. If so it might not have fit in the old gen microbox with an automatic tranaxle that North Americans and Australians want 9:1....really almost 96:4 in a generic driver.
Was tge 2nd gen assembled in Cali or another US plant to evade the tariffs?
Some don't mind but I think people will buy a Scion so they can experience the Japanese domestic Toyota models
@@STho205 Gen 2 XB is just boring and ugly. Gen 1 XB just looked better, and the young audience loved that.
Even here in south east asia people imported Gen 1 XBs and modify them for looks.
I got an 05 w/ 200k miles. For what it is, it's the best cash car you can buy. Hardly ever have trouble and when i do it's cheap to fix. I love the upright seats for my back.
I purchased a white 2013 XB new in 2013. I can get up to 43mpg on a short 25 mile country road trip with only a few minor hills with nobody pushing me. Not bad for WV driving. Only 47,000 miles in ten years of driving in spring, summer and fall. I park it for the winter. I will not let this car go. I have an element for winter and a black santa cruz as a toy that has never been driven in snow, rain or a a wet road(1500 miles in 16 months of ownership).
I love my 2008 XB. 178,000 miles and still runs like a top. But getting 43mpg seems a little much unless your going downhill.
A lot of old people liked the Scion xA and xB. They are very comfortable to get in and out with low floors and tall seats.
Love my 2014 XB , Got it new and I am surprised at how many people tell me they had a XB and regret selling it. Also I have had several offers to buy.
I have an 08 xB automatic in "hypnotic teal mica" for the last 14 years. The second car I've ever owned. Purchased with 18,000 mi. in 2010 with one previous owner. Bought a lifetime XM subscription for about $400 (before they merged with Sirius).paid for itself 10x over. Now im at 150k on the ODO. I dont do much driving. Live in NJ work in NYC and use public transit mostly. I love in a dense urban area and i have an electric scooter (actually an electric unicycle) that i use often and has replaced a lot of my solo/local trips and errands. I LOVE this car. I was sad when they discontinued in 2015. They just dont make cheap reliable cars anymore like this. Window visibility is so good i dont need a backup camera or sensors in the side mirrors. Fold down seats, ive moved 4 times with this car, including a queen mattress! Added a trailer hitch too when i used to have a hitch mount bike rack. I've towed with it once or twice too. Plenty of dings and scratches but i love her to death ❤️. No car payment, and minimum insurance policy. Air conditioner is starting to fail but im keeping up with all the maintenance and i think i still have years of useful life left! Thanks for the history on this great car
I love my 2011 Scion xb it’s the best car I’ve ever had it’s so good looking and soo much fun to drive I absolutely love it I will never ever sell it it’s a forever car ❤️
I saw way more old people driving an xb than young people. Old people flocked to the XB and PT cruisers like a moth to a flame.
I miss my 2nd gen xB. Little do people know, it's the easy chair of cars.
LOL!
Mom was 84 when she bought the XB with the 5-speed, and drove it home from Toyota of El Cajon. (I drove the '63 VW bug back home). Mom's first new car since her '67 VW Squareback, also her last. She died last year @ 101.
@@elultimo102 She surely knew what would last. My condolences 🙏
I have a 2008 Scion Xb 206 k miles on it have had it for 6 years one of best cars I’ve ever had reliable just regular wear and tear fixes good on gas and very roomy bought it for only 2500$ in 2018 love these cars 💜💜👍😎 🚙
Love my 08 XB. An an amazing car. So much room inside, especially when folding seats down and fast and nippy. I guess I shouldn't say anything lest prices go up on newer models.
I just got a 2006 scion XB with a manual transmission… So far I’ve been able to change out the engine oil transmission oil and rebuild a door hinge now it has a new life… I have absolutely love this thing so far😊
That’s awesome! I had an 06 manual as well.
In 2011 my parents bought a used 2009 XB with low miles and a 5 speed manual. It was great on gas, rock solid reliable and fun to drive. I miss it.
Damn I LOVE these boxy cars...Nissan Cube, Kia Soul, Honda Element, Toyota xB, even Ford Flex....but no one else I know does!!!
IDK if it was by design, but one reason we passed on the large (to us) Element, was that you could not fit a 48" standard sheet of plywood in the 47" wide rear deck.
I love my 1st gen (03-06) xB/bB I think eventually these will be rare a sought after as a collector. I kinda went crazier than most xB owners by adding a Greddy turbo and currently auto x/track xing it 🤘💀 📦🔰🏁
The biggest problem with the second gen was the engine. It turns into an oil burner after 150k miles. Piston rings were too soft and Toyota even admitted they screwed up. My 2012 blew it's engine on my birthday last year, half way to see my dad and sister. Car had 240k miles on it. Had to pay $250 to get it towed home. It still sits in my front yard today. Up until then it had been a great little car. And before anybody starts accusing me of not properly maintaining it, my son is a mechanic and the car got regular oil changes and I kept it topped of on oil in-between. We had just replaced the front struts and were going to do the rear shocks the next weekend. Only other thing that broke was the A/C compressor after around 200k miles. We figure what finally happened is the timing chain broke. It was my second Toyota, my first being a 2000 Echo... and yes I loved that car. Over 300k miles and would have been more if not for a truck turning into my son's lane of traffic.
My 2008 scion xb is the most amazing car ever, drove it through Parker Az in a 120 degree weather, carrying 6 pas sengers, luggage etc and never even had any issues, it has 190k miles runs like new!
Hehe, I also love my 1st gen 2006 xB. Hands down the best car I've ever had (not really saying much, though). It's reliable, surprisingly spacious, still gets great gas mileage and has great brakes, very important for my 1+ hour rush hour commute. Just today had my 200k service and it's still going strong. Hopefully I can push it to 300k before I have to get another car...
Have tead about these things going over 400k. Makes me happy only having 94k on mine haha
They will reach 300 easy
@ronalddelrosario7405 Just stay on top of your fluid change intervals, and it will. I own an '02 camry with the same 2.4ltr engine found in the 2nd gen xB, and the tC(@AZ-FE). It had 190k mi. when I bought back in 2020, The family that sold it to me had neglected the car and thought it was dying, so they sold it to me for dirt cheap. All I did all the routine maintenance it needed incl. all the fluid changes & a new set of tires which came out to just under than $1000 for all the new parts & fluids. I made sure to change the oil every 4k-5k miles, and 4yrs later, it still drives like new with 243k mi. on the odometer. By far one of the best cars I've ever owned: Easy to fix, wide parts availability, great mpg(30+), cheap registration & insurance. It even passed emissions testing in CA. with 1 of the 2 catalytic converters being completely empty on the inside! Everything still works: power lock & windows, A/C, etc. Like You, I plan on keeping that thing on the road for as long as possible. I hope your xB makes it to 500k mi. These older toyotas deserve to be treated well. They are gems for sure!
Fun story: I sat in an xB in 2006 and loved the leg room front and back. I then test drove one and loved it so much I wrote a check. I got the five speed because it didn't feel so gutless. After I bought it, I showed it to a friend and he and his wife liked it so much they bought two of them. They each had their own. Mine now has 240k and is as smooth as puddin' to drive.
But people like my friend and his wife and me are why it failed. We're all roughly the same age. I turned 70 this year. 🤣
Sadly, I hit a deer with mine at 160k miles and didn't bother to fix it (only cosmetic damage, but BAD cosmetic damage). I had to chain it to a tree and back up fairly hard to stretch the nose back in position. So now I have this car that I LOVE driving but my wife can't wait for it to fail because she refuses to be seen in it. And I rarely drive the FR-S since I retired. It just sits in the garage with the trickle charger except for the occasional trip to church to keep the seals soft.
BTW, it's still on the original clutch. 😁
Regarding the second gen xB, in my mind that extra 600 lbs was like carrying four adults around with me all the time. That destroyed one of the huge draws of the car - efficiency. And I STILL throw that little sucker around almost as much as the FR-S.
I rented a new Kia Soul a few months ago on a visit to Seattle. I loved that car in every single way. Unfortunately it's a KIA and I don't expect it to go more than 100k miles. And then there is the oil burning issue...
The xB was a great car. My sister had one, it had lots of space, got 35 mpg and ran for 400,000 miles.
Owned two xB’s and absolutely loved them. One of my all time favorite cars ever. Wish they still made them.
I have had a 2008 XB since new. Best car ever. I have always had a passion for VWs but find myself wanting a first Gen XB. Very cool
I drive a KIA soul, and I must say, it’s way easier to park a toaster than an F-150. It also has some of the best headroom and 360 visibility of any car I’ve driven. TOYOTA should have been keeping notes.
kia soul is a copy of a scion xb.
I drive a 2005 xb with manual transmission with > 250k miles. If the Kia Soul was available with manual transmission, I'd be willing to try it out and possibly make the switch.
@@nunyabeezwacks1408 i have a 05 manual too, im looking to making it a nice show race car. i also have a 06, it had 432k miles, all original. never get the kia soul, there are millions of reasons to not get the kia soul.
Kia were definitely taking notes of the first gen xB 👀
@@nunyabeezwacks1408 the 1st gen souls had a manual option
I want an XB rn in 2024. With low mileage
Saw one under 80k miles and they wanted $9k for it. I was like 😱
Get it dawg 😂@@wakawaka1976
Have a 2nd gen XB. Love it, camry engine is great. Needs bigger wheels and 6 speed gearbox. This car deserved to live on. Call it the ToyBoX
I'm happy with my 08 xB.
I just bought a 1st gen. I've wanted one for years, since I first took a ride in one. I was amazed by the space and potential. Now I have one for the fuel economy, but now it makes me want to spend money modding it.
I have ‘05 with 372,000 miles. I’ve beat the living crap out of it and it won’t die. Trying to maintain her better, but it’s a fun car. Easy to work on and learn.
I owned an 06 for 9 years...from 35k miles to 175k miles. Great freaking car. 5 adults, no problem...a moped and a pit bike, easy...2x8 sheet of plywood...yep that fit too. Dirt cheap to keep running, held up to snow/salt without rusting out. Did well in the snow. Just a solid, all around capable rig. No cruise control was my only real complaint. Had the 2nd gen followed the same formula, I would have bought it when replacing my 06. I ended up getting a 2016 Corolla. It does what I need, but without all the fun and utility that the xb gave. Despite the xb having 40 fewer hp than my Corolla, it was just as quick, due to weighing 800 pounds less. That's what sucks...USA regulations changed and now small cars are bigger/heavier...even though they have less interior space.
Got mine as a first car 4 years ago still have it put 60k miles on it lowered it, sway bars, and on some rays gramlights. Still getting 25mpg or more and very reliable.
I almost bought the 1st gen xB. Then I learned Toyota was making the tC. I waited and wasn't disappointed.
I bought myself a tC and put a turbo in it shortly after. I was putting 270hp to the wheels. I was smoking Celica GTS, RSX S, Civic Si without breaking a sweat.
I sold it when I was expecting my first child and needed a family car. I'm kind of glad I did. That car brought the worst in me and my heavy right foot on the streets.
I still drive my 2008 xB I bought in 2007. Great car.
I'm still driving my 2005 XA. Still awesome and unique.
The xB is my wife's favourite vehicle ever. Her only regret in motherhood is having too many kids to fit in it. Minivan life will never fill the xB-sized hole in her heart.
I love my 08 xb. Still running strong.
Interesting video. I remember when Toyota introduced the Scion brand. First thing was that each model would have only one production run. It would then be replaced by a new model. Hence the xA was replaced with the xD. By that logic the xB should have been replaced with the xE (assuming E hadn't been used yet). But instead, Toyota was afraid that buyers wouldn't go for the new xE because it wasn't the same model as the outgoing xA (just like trying to compare an original Corolla to a present day one, the only thing in common is the name, not the parts). Unfortunately, the new xB was so different from the original one that as shown in the video the sales crashed. It wasn't that the new xB was bad, just not what buyers of the original xB wanted.
Meanwhile, Kia introduced their Soul, and Nissan their Cube. While the Cube was, in my opinion, too weird looking, the Soul was enough like the original xB to steal sales from Scion. Now, both the xB and Cube are gone, leaving Kia with the "Soul" survivor.
The funny thing is that they marketed the Scion to younger people who wanted to modify them, but the reality is that I only saw elderly people actually drive them, the xB especially. I assumed it was the affordability, the reliability, and the fact that it was easier for them to get in and out of.
Broke college kids 🤝 old folks on SS
God I wish Scion was still here and making xB's
Just the 1st gens---and I would still want a 5-speed.
I currently have a 2006 Scion xB 1st gen with 160k miles. I love how it looks and cheap in gas plus also reliable. 1NZ-FE engine is bullet proof. As long as it has regular oil changes.
gen1xBs rule!
Vanesa, my 05 Black TRD version, is the best car I've ever owned.
Here in my country we have more than cars... we have MINI TRUCKS, not Kei Trucks, and the most common one is the Hyundai H100, you can use it as a Flatbed or a Box Truck, you can't escape the Hyundai H100, they are EVERYWHERE 🇳🇮
Oh and we also have TukTuks.
Tuktuks are sure cute as are the little trucks.
Shout out to my old Scion xA. I was broke as hell but that thing never broke down and never needed anything more than an oil change. Eventually rust got too bad. But that car got me to work for many years without any issues.
I’m own a silver 2006 xB 5 speed that I bought in November of 2006. I liked the styling when I first saw it. When I heard that they were changing the styling in 2007 and I saw early renderings, I didn’t care for the new look, so I bought one of the last 2006s. The only option that I added were upgraded rims. It is still stock, has 180,000 miles and runs great.
1st gen xB and the unique design outside japan was the key. here in europe we don't have bB in 1st or 2nd gen. but we got the Daihatsu Materia or known as Daihatsu COO in asia. its the same as the 2nd bB gen of japan. I love the design from, so i bought a Materia and build my own bB 2nd gen. I also have a 1st gen bB now in my garage. i hope toyota will bring a 3rd gen of this masterpiece!
Didn’t know they got the second gen bb thank you for that!
I think part of the story has been missed. I recall Toyota doing surveys on how the xB could be improved. Scion owners gave a long list of things , such as more power. So some of the changes asked for lead to the second generation. For sure that went off the rails, but "be careful what you ask for" came into play here.
I loved my 2004 xB and traded it in at 230,000 miles for a 2015 RAV4. I didn't buy the new xB for many reasons.
Ironically, I now own a wheelchair ramp van 2012 xB because a good friend needed it to get around. I now use it regularly at an assisted living home and it works out very well. Its only drawback is some riders feel jostled because their chair ends up over the axle.
I also still have my 2015 RAV4....so reliable!
Toyota should remake these. I still have my 2011 xb with 139k miles on it and it's 2024 already. If they remake these i would definitely buy it.
I owned the 4-door hatchback XD, sadly got totalled over 8years ago, and I haven't replaced it since. I just haven't found a newer model that gives me the same or better value, efficiency, and design the XD used to.
I could fit 4 tall people comfortably with plenty of trunk room and it was perfect for parking in tight spots. I once managed to load 2 party tables, the 24 folding chairs, a larger cooler, and my 2 very tall siblings in it. I miss it every day.
My auntie still drives her XB wagon and I'm hoping to buy it from her soon.
I currently own a 04 XA . 5 speed and very fuel efficient . Love it and easy to service ❤❤❤
Scion iQ is my favorite Scion personally. I intend to keep mine for 500k miles.
At first I wasn't keen on the xb. But now I appreciate it. 1st Gen. Second Gen is good inside but not outside in my opinion. I owned an Echo. Served me well
As a long time jdm enthusiast and tech, i chose to purchase a first gen (5 speed manual) recently. Super reliable and simple (cheap and easy to maintain) platform. Spacious af. Lots if aftermarket support (already slammed it on coils). And love it or hate it - its super unique. Thanks for the vid
Nice! Had an 06 5spd and was great except for a common evaporator ac failure that was a bit laborious or costly to repair. Thanks for the comment!
I had a 2005 xb with a stick. I loved that car. Could fit my drum set in it and park where others couldn’t, and the stick made it a blast to drive.
The XB is called the bB in Japan, and the second generation also sold well. It was a popular car not only among young people but also among old people in rural areas. This is because it is square and easy to drive. Another reason is that it is cheaper than the Corolla. The Corolla-based bB was big and expensive, so it didn't make sense.
My 05 xa with 200k + is ridiculously reliable and gets 35mpg.
I bought a new xA in '06.I conisederd the xB but just wasn't into the boxy look. One price, one config- fully loaded. I was in and out of the dealership in about an hour. total cost was $13k. Paid it off in just over a year. It was truly a high quality car at a low price. I miss those days. Now I have a Kia Soul and love it just as much. No better value than a small, low price, boxy car.
The Scion dealer experience was awesome! No haggle no Mark ups
proud xb owner. bought my 2004 5mt with 200,000 miles for $2000 five years ago. Drove a hundred thousand miles since then. really spacious, people seem to like being inside because of the high ceilings and visibililty. look out for oil burning, thats the only real problem. Ive replaced a lot of suspension ball joints and front bearings, but thats what happens after that many miles
oh and very enjoyable to drive! I feel very connected to the inputs, and i wouldnt want the stock exhaust note any quieter or louder. Theres a resonator right below the front seats and i think its perfectly tuned
Second generation of XB took advantage of the CVT in Japan (Corolla Rumion) with a 1.8L which made it a little more economical despite its anti-aero shape with a slightly rounder front than the NA version.
I love my 2006 Scion XB. I use it for commuting and camping. I made a platform that can sleep 2 adults in a double bed arrangement and now tow a 1997 tent trailer with it.
I had an xA from new for nineteen years. I preferred it over the xB for the slightly better performance and looks, but the xB was an experience with that distant A pillar. It was like driving a living room around. The extra cargo space from the box shape would have come in handy many times.
the toyota echo was basically a 1st gen xB or xA. Same engine and base chassis- a lot of parts bolt up directly
We liked our 96 Saturn 4 door. It went 220,000 miles. When my brother and sil tested a Saturn, the salesman wanted to show off how resilient the plastic door was. He cracked the door when he backkicked it. We enjoyed an 05 Scion TC, drove it 240,000 miles. Required very few repairs, just regular maintenance.
People absolutely wanted cars made of Tupperware. GM didn't adapt that brand, didn't know what they had, started pumping out Chevrolet Malibu's with saturn badges on them to save money and then 2008 killed it. The OG saturn was a really good idea.
I love my Saturns!
We bought late '06 XB, since I didn't like the looks of the new model. We had to wait two weeks for a stick shift. (I test drove it off the lot, bc the salesman couldn't drive a manual). It currently has under 69K miles on an 18 y-o car. I only change the oil and am on the second set of tires. My only problem has been the field rats chewing some wires, giving me some idiot lights, and the windshield washer stopped working four years ago. (I would be happier without a damn computer and have real gauges---the only electronics should be the radio). Some day I'll get it looked at, but it runs just fine. (I should change the antifreeze). Complaints?----Maybe a 6th gear, for 2500 rpm @ 60. The wiper stalk is too near the wheel, and I sometimes turn the wipers on my mistake. After driving 40 hp VWs most of my life, this thing is luxurious.
Had one pass me on a interstate with a sign in the window " you've just been passed by a toaster "
Was it in San Diego?
This also happened to FIAT. In the EUDM, more likely the italian one, FIAT launched the Sedici, a Suzuki Sx4 rebadge; it was aimed at younger people, but fascinated elderly people because of its height and comfort and its small price gap between this and the Punto. Of course hunters also used it as it was marketed as a comfortable 4x4 5 seater. My grandparents bought it new, they hate how it drives, but I like it, it's a comfortable compact diesel crossover.
I'm still driving a 2005 XA.
Body parts can be a little hard to get but all the mechanical stuff is easy to find.
I picked up an 05 manual transmission in camo green color with 88K miles in December of 2020, at the time it was the lowest mileage 1st gen with a stick from a rust free area I could find, the interior still looked brand new. Can't say enough for Toyota quality, only minor repairs associated with it so far, had both rear door lock motors fail, but was able to get all 4 from amazon for $45, did it myself in 20 mins a door. Had a wheel bearing go bad too but that's it and I only paid $5k for it back in 2020, best money I have ever spent on a car without exception. Paid a lot more in the past for a lot less bang for the buck. Only complaint is that 5th gear in the manual cars is not nearly tall enough of a gear, super buzzy on the highways at freeway speeds. You can swap out the final drive gear with a corolla's of the same generation which should be good for an additional 500 rpm drop, exploring this option soon.
My '06 runs 2000 rpm in fifth gear @ 40. At 80, it's up to 4000, which is higher than the 3500 I usually rev between gears. I'd like 6th gear with 80 @ 3500 rpm.
My friend actually has both xB models. The older one is his daily, and the newer one has a massive sound system. Personally, I like both, but the first-gen still gets a lot of compliments. Especially given how popular little kei vehicles are in the US right now.
Smol is the new big, I suppose!
You forget that Jim Farley is Chris Fraleys brother. One is an SNL legend the other called an electric car a mustang.
Are you talking about the Mach E that's the second-fastest electric SUV or the Mach E that's outpacing all other Mustang sales 5:1?
My 2015 Rules! I have a 5 speed manual. It’s pretty zippy. Handles well. Feels very solid. Good crash test results. I love the cool seats with retro squiggly design. I’ll keep it forever! The prior model feels more flimsy, had poor crash test results, less features.. but still a great car. I like the 2.5 model the best.
We've been driving a 2015 XB for several years and love it, its a great little car. We need to sell it and are quite bummed about it. Hey, if you need a great little low milage car...
Both the xA and xB sold a lot to older people because they had a higher than normal seating position than a typical car, but not as high as a typical SUV, so they were the perfect height for people with arthritis and other mobility issues that could no longer get up from the lower seating position of a typical sedan, nor climb into a high SUV or pickup.
okay there's something critical you missed this video, the main reason the 1st gen got phased out was changing safety standards in the usa. 2007 was the when the new rules went into effect and the 1st gen was not able too meet those standards. it was a short run in the usa and toyota often breezes over how well they did in the us market.
Thank you I believed this to also be a cause but I couldn't find any data on it. I wonder if Toyota would have imported the bB2 otherwise, and also wonder why the xB2 got such a big engine.
Oh 😲 what didn't they meet safety wise?
@@tonygibbons5they had poor safety scores before the second gen came. There was no way to improve that, either. You don’t want to be crashed into in a side collision.
@@SeanChandlerit got a bigger engine by consumer demand. Also it would be incredibly sluggish for America in 1.8 Corolla form (Japan had that motor as the base).
What's more dangerous than a motorcycle??? I wish the government would leave the cars alone. Just give me seat belts, and I'd be satisfied. '65 tech is just fine with me.
One of best cars I owned in my 75 yrs, '10XB. Purchased in '16 with 25k miles for $10K. Great utilitarian, I fix lawn mowers, trouble free, (sans the white paint recall), just works. Narragansett Bay
The Scion xB would still be around if the 2008-2015 Scion xB had the 2.5 180hp motor, and the Tc had 210hp. With my 9.0 RS Scion xB I can Chirp the tires on takeoff if i want. And it's automatic too. But alas Toyota seems to hate style, room, and fun.
I ended up buying a Corolla Cross because we had 7 gen 1 Rav4s, and one gen 1 XB. We couldn’t find something small, as the current Rav4s grew as large as the gen1 Highlander. If a new Gen 1 XB came out, that was non-electric, I would totally buy that.
We had a 2nd gen xB and up until my spouses car accident she loved that thing. Didn't matter what you did to it that thing just stopped running.
It was love at first sight for me the first time I saw it on the road and vowed to one day own one...three years later I was able to afford one with 32000 miles on it, 14 years later and at 340000 miles it's still going strong; I just wish I could find someone in the Chicago area to fix the rust on it before it's too late.
I love my XB. I bought my RS3 in 2006 and had to put down a $500.00 Deposit just to see. I still own it with 97,000 on it and still runs like brand new even after i have been showing it in car shows for 13 years.
My wife had an 06 1st Gen xB and loved it. I am rather large and had no trouble getting in and driving it. Frankly it was a great car. Unfortunately when she was no longer driving I sold it a month before the covid car crisis hit. Wish I kept it and sold my Tundra.
The xb was one of my favorite cars i always forgot about. Everytime i see one i want one but then I'd forget about it 5 minutes later. I will buy one with a 5spd one of these days... if I remember them.