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Scion tC
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Comments
The tC has more of a coupe/sedan window angle anyway, but I think all cars should have a rear wiper, not just hatchs/wagons!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The tC does what the original Celica introduced in America did to my eyes. It invites a closer look, and when you look, you like what you see. 0-60 in 7.4 seconds? Is that really true, dudes? Anybody checked that out in their tC?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I agree, this tC has me watching it close because of it's build quality, great looks and driving excitement quotient. Add to that great initial price-pointing along with the fact that I don't really need any options added to the already impressive standard features list.
I also like this xA RS 1.0 car they're currently selling. In Absolutely Red it looks great with the trim sport profile tires and nice wheels. I have learned that when they sell all 1,550 of those red ones that's it and next year they will release the xA RS 2.0 in Blue color. Some early complaints with the xA are lack of power(it has the 105 horse 4 cyl)and kind of a bumpy ride because of the Sport tires and stiff suspension. Usually those complaints are buffered with more postive comments than total negative ones and the car retails for only $15,500 with the extra goodies already on it from the factory. The tC and xA 2.0 have my full attention. Almost. The 2005 Kia Sportage will be fighting against them for becoming my next baby.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Factory tuned handling (I'm guessing it will be better, I haven't driven one yet)
Faster
more sales = more aftermarket support
Better looking (personal preference)
tC Supercharged -
Resale
TRD support (which has the negative of being extremely expensive)
I think the SS will be the higher performance vehicle, and the car I would rather own. (having not driven either)
This might be true for the cobalt to but in my opinion the styling has an old honda Civic look to it and im not sure about the options but loading the chevy with options to equal the tC in price and feel is going to be pretty tough.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Thanks,
A tC is not going to impress you with gas milage, but if you mean like the power you get from it you will get a grin on your face. 20Mpg Rough average, but will dip into the teens
Like someone said above it definitely does remind me of the old Celicas. My mom had a 1980 celica and it had a similar rounded rear and back window. I think that car was longer though, I remember being able to get actually human beings in the back. I drove that car when I was in high school 10 years later. I'm replacing my '00 celica which became flooded and died an premature death.
I drove one yesterday, it was the mechanic's car, no one had any tC's on their lots, they don't sit for very long. The only thing I didn't like was the quality of the materials on the dashboard, it looked a little cheap and that little radio cover is cute, but I didn't think too necessary. But for the price I think it's a good deal. Hopefully I won't regret the mediorce gas mileage.
But I still like that tC.
and in the winter run with half to a full tanke for added traction
just a thought.
Thanks so much!
I think the tC is a good buy if it is exactly what you want.
I remember when a college buddy bought a Renault Alliance, partly because Motor Trend gave it "Car of the Year." Bwa ha ha ha ha.
For most of the time that he owned it, the Alliance featured "No Wheel Drive." The transmission's electronic "brain" would refuse to provide power to any of the wheels, thereby ensuring 100% traction, even at the vehicle's top speed (zero).
If you insist on an SS vs. stock tC comparison then I would say that at the $6-7k more that the Chevy will cost, you better be getting a lot more car. (Which I doubt)
The same could be said for most of the other cars in the MT Comparo. A comparably equipped Mazda 3 will cost you about $2,500 more and the Mini over $3k more (+ premium gas). (I shopped them all).
I pointed out to MT that while they were salivating at the $1,200 in OPTIONS offered on the Mazda (Satellite radio and tire-pressure monitor)they overlooked the fact that both of these are STANDARD on the tC.
For a balance between sport and comfort, an indisputable reliability heritage, fresh look, and unbeatable standard equipment, there simply is nothing out there to compare to the VALUE of a tC at $17,000 (auto).
I've seen several complaints about the mileage on the tC and have to believe them, but cannot relate to them based on my experience.
I'm getting better than I expected, hope it doesn't change.
A few pages back, I think we were comparing the Cobalt SS and the Supercharged tC, and I was sort of continuing that.
I'd still take the Cobalt LS or LT over the tC, I like the engine much better, I'm sure the handling is superior, and I prefer the looks.
tonylexus -
I meant to compare it to the supercharged tC - my mistake.
For a balance between sport and comfort, an indisputable reliability heritage, fresh look, and unbeatable standard equipment, there simply is nothing out there to compare to the VALUE of a tC at $17,000 (auto).
I don't think the tC has any sport in it, but it is comfortable and has a lot of storage space. Scion doesn't have a particularly good "reliability heritage," even if Toyota does. (for whatever reason) And I think the styling is closer to highly derivative than fresh - subjectively speaking.
For $17k, I'd rather drive an Si (bought my 02 for $16k, if that sort of thing was still available), Cobalt, Mazda3 or Mini Cooper (off the top of my head).
It's still a good value, and a good car. I'm nitpicking. It's just not sporty - at least not any more sporty than a Corolla S or something, and that's my only knock on it.
Every car in this price range is a compromise. None of the cars you mention handles like the Miata (the Mini comes closest, but it's WWD). The Miata is a compromise too, it has a heavy air conditioner and a passenger seat.
The Cobalt slalomed faster for motor trend than any car you named, Miata included. I don't care what the rear suspension of the Cobalt is, it is a killer handler.
The real question is, how come the tC can't do better with it's inherently superior suspension setup?
I'm not going to call the Cobalt the top FWD performance car until I drive one myself, but on paper it is the class leader.
I can't comment on the Cobalt's performance, because I never did seriously look into it. With Chevrolet's quality record, I couldn't justify buying one (especially in the first year), even if it turned out to be the king of Super Stock.
Either way, I guess there are comments for a tC vs. Cobalt SS forum sometime in the future...
Steering feel and tire grip are what most people really feel, and the tC is fine here.
Another big advantage of the tC is that it is about the only smallish sporty coupe/hatch that has a really usable back seat, especially in legroom. Makes a big differerence for people with kids to tote around (like me).
I also find the tC plenty quick for my normal use, and pretty entertaining on the rare occasions I can actually wind it out.
Funny how some people consider a feature-laden, well rounded car to be a good thing, and some folks slam it for being too balanced.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
If you want a "sports" car, nothing mentioned in these tC 'comparo's' should be on your list in the first place. They are sporty, what you see is what you get - period.
The tC, like all the others in this class, are indeed compromises when it comes to 'sport'.
I contend, again, all things considered, (price, reliability, refinement, performance, standard equipment, and execution)at $17k the tC cannot be beat. The $16k Si mentioned in another thread was less $, but not as well equipped and comes only with a stick shift as do several other "sporty performance" contenders (nice cars, stick is not my preference).
As mentioned a few tiimes earlier, the SRT4 looks great in the magazine performance tests, but many (including myself) would never consider actually buying one due to the reliability and quality issues no matter what the 0-60.
We all have our priorities and preferences, and there are a lot of things to consider in a vehicle. For me, getting most of what I desire and need, engineered and assembled well (trustworthy), at a reasonable cost, = VALUE. The tC fit this bill for me. The other cars I shopped were certainly in the running, but what ever advantages they may have had (and some didn't have any) did not justify the extra cost.
Truth be told, had I wanted to spend more than $20k, I would have probably bought a used Lexus IS 300 over the new Mini, RSX, and Mazda3 I was considering. Can't speak much on the Cobalt, but I believe it is a derivative of the G6 and that did not impress me as much as the others I mentioned. As for car magazines and balance- about the only negative thing I have ever heard them say about any Lexus model is that they are TOO PERFECT - yet they have yet to win one of their comparo's. I thought perfect is what we were striving for - go figure.
Chevy does need a hit, but a supercharged SS would cost me nearly $6,000 more than the tC (only 4 grand more if I picked up the super charger) and in the end the cars would probably be worth the same (the tC maybe even more) after five years. So I'm picking up my tC on Friday.
Thanks!
Anybody participating in this thread that has a Black Cherry Pearl one? How's the paint treatin' ya? Still diggin' it?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I happen to have the Black Cherry. It's a challenge keeping it shiny in Michigan but when its clean it is fantastic - lots of envious comments. Great in sun and at night. Had some reservations when I chose it, but no regrets.
Design is certainly a personal preference (they did actually sell some Azteks!) but the tC works for me in all the ways you pointed out. Scion made a statement with a fresh look that was not overdone.
First of spring I'm getting a $17-20k car, and it was between Tacoma Prerunner, Mini, or tC, Mazda 3, and tC won. Mini is too expensive and limited (space). Tacoma is also very limited. The 3 is expensive for a Mazda, resale will not be what a tC will, but I like the warranty. I sat in the tC at a car show recently, and it blows Mazda 3 and Honda Civic Ex away in style, inside and out. The dash is awesome, the standard roof is unparalleled, versatile back seat/hatch.
I hate when mags put cars in contest and they don't make sense. The Cobalt SS can ONLY compare to the Mini S or SRT. THATS IT!
The SRT would wipe the floor with it, and the Mini will be worth TWICE what the Chevy will in TWO YEARS!
DrFIll
It was not as fast as the SRT-4, but outhandled and outbraked it. And it out-everythinged the Mini-S. It is the probably the best all around performer of the three, but I could see buying any of them.
: )
Mackabee
I believe they got 7.4 0-60 and .82 on the skidpad. Not too shappy for what is basically a 17K car. No, it isn't as much of a handler as the MiniS or SRT4, but at least the ride doesn't punish your kidneys. If you don't want the level of understeer designed in, there are readily available suspension upgrades.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I am going to test-drive later today, so I guess I can find out for myself, but just looking for some advice from current owners.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
1) Have you found a good pair of cheap floor mats that fit nicely?
2) Is the XM tuner worth the (now) $467 price? Or could I get the exact same thing from best buy for less? (Meaning it works with in-dash headunit instead of a completely seperate thing.)
3) Could I buy the wheel locks seperately instead of with the vehicle?
Anything else I should be sure to ask or be sure of? This will be my first car purchase, just graduated from college last month, yay for Toyota College Graduate programs.
You can get the XM done aftermarket (still run through the head unit I'm pretty sure). Can't say to the price, but at least you get a Toyota warranty and for sure the correct bits/pieces. Or just spend $100 and get a portable unit.
Sure, you can buy the locks and put them on yourself. I'm not sure what they sell for at the parts counter, but I think they went for $59 installed, so it was much simpler to just have them put on.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.