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Scion tC
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i have a manual tC. does your engine vibrate when the A/C is on and you're stopped at a red light or stop sign? mine does. i can see the RPM flicker a lot. it goes away when i turn the A/C off
1) i want to change the stock head unit, install my own sub and amp and speakers. will this void the warranty even if the parts are made by pioneer?
2) im having a problem with the a/c. when its turned on and im stopped, say at a red light, the engine vibrates. i would expect this from an older vehicle (like my old 91 miata), but not from a new 05 tC. does anyone else other than soapdish experience this problem?
3) i like driving with my windows down. i have noticed however that when i drive with them open and am driving more the 75mph the seatbelt starts going crazy and makes a really annoying sound from the wind coming in. i really hate when this happens. are there any others like me out there that like having windows open that are experiencing the same thing?
other than those minor problems, this car is perfect and perfect for me...
i appreciate the help very much.
thank you all and happy tC driving!!!!
If you replace the radio, obviously the new pieces won't be convered by Toyota, but it should not void the rest of your warranty, unless the installation can be proven to have screwed up something else (ie, if they splice the wiring harness which casues the ECU to fry, Toyota ain't paying for that!)
I have noticed the wind issue also, since I like to drive with the windows down too. I think you get some buffeting at the B pillor (behind your head), since the doors are longer than in a 4 door sedan. It just seems to be a function of the design. It does get a lot of air to the back seat though, which can beat up the kids in the back at higher speeds.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Looking forward to meeting everyone!
: )
Mackabee
The dealer can't predict when this car will ever arrive. Still waiting to hear from them on 9/30 district allocation.
Am I the only one in this jam? Or is Tc really Prius spelled backwards? Advice, hints & strategies greatly appreciated.
-TCrazy.
One particular dealership is offering to sell me one of thier demo cars (manual transmission OVER 1000 miles not sure how much over).
Should i even consider a demo car? Its a toyota and will have a warranty so does it make a big difference? They said they cant negotiate the price because its a scion.
What would you recommend? thanks!
2) Especially not with a dealership who says they aren't willing to lower the price on a car with over 1000 miles!
3) Run, do not walk, to another dealer.
Second question is: The recommended 5000 mile or 6 month maintenance vs. the usual 3 month 3000 mile maintenance - which do you prefer?
the 5K/6 months is probably fine for normal usage. I do a lot of short hops, so will probably do an oil change at 3-3.5K, which will be about 4 months or a little over.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
This is Texas/OU weekend. Be prepared for the southbound pilgrimmage!
I've seen 3 tC's this week in DFW. Another Black Cherry, Black and Indigo. We're looking sharp!
Here's a story for ya: I see a blue tC sitting on the showroom floor. I said, "Hey, you've got another blue one." The dealer said, "That car is cursed." Of course I asked why and he replied, "The first owner couldn't prove her income (she was a stripper and I guess she didn't claim her tips!), so the car came back. We sold it again only to have that owner be unable to prove his income, too. So, I think it's cursed." I thought, "hmmm, must have been the guy that gave her all the tip money!"
I wanted to ask him how it is that dealers will let you walk out with a car without verifying that you make what you say you make? Then what happens? Do they send the repo man to take the car back?
It's called a spot delivery. Sounds like this dealer isn't very good about picking out candidates though.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
However, 6+ weeks wait for a car w SAB, depending on color, is normal.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Didn't notice anything in the owner's manual about it, so I would assume it's not necessary.
- Do not drive slow at high gear.
- Avoid hard stop.
- Do not race the engine.
- Do not drive at one speed for a long time."
-
I don’t have the manual with me right now, I may be missing something. I suggest not to listen to the dealer and follow the break-in procedure in the manual.
If you want a specific color, that cuts it further down. Indigo is not a popular color (~10% of all cars). Therefore, you are looking at 1%. That mean that there is only 1 car fitting your configuration for every 100 cars. My was superwhite (~25% of all cars). Therefore, just slightly better at 2.5% Hope that this answeres your wait.
If your dealer was able to secure a VIN#, that means that they received official allocation from Scion and it is up to the dealer on whether to sell the car to you.
It points to a lack of communication between Corporate Toyota and dealers on how the dealers could deal more honestly and factually with legitimate consumer concerns on delivery of their cars. It seems like one long public relations fiasco in my own experience. The corporate folks have been extremely polite and helpful but the dealerships could use some fast corporate TLC in the Scion tC's release and availability problem issues.
Insisting on air bags was the problem all right. It took 8 weeks for one of the dealers to get allotted my second color choice (with a VIN no of the unit still in Japan). Going in to finalize the order and deciding whether to hold out for my first color choice was a tough decision.
After 2 hours of listening to me waffling and worrying, my sales rep finally produced a printout of all of the tC's coming into the LA port for the Aug/Sept and Oct/Nov periods. There, I saw some enlightening numbers that forced my decision. The port's allocation, for the entire west coast, included only one Azure Pearl manual with side air bags for each of the two delivery periods. Now, even with my multiple orders, I doubted my success at being able to snag that one and only unit arriving.
The printout showed 7 azure pearl manuals coming without side airbags, 7 white manuals with, 30+ flint mica manuals with, etc. Anyway, the numbers were helpful in determining the "odds" of getting my preferred choice. I'd recommend anyone else holding out for a single color choice review those numbers in determining how long you're willing to wait. In my case, I had several dealers who preference ordered my color and promised that I would get the car in 2 to 8 weeks. Not true at all; the dealers can only preference what the port is targeted to receive. In LA, that means lots of white, silver, and flint mica, fewer azure pearl, cherry, and indigo.
My white, manual, SAB tC is due for arrival in late Oct - taking a full 3 months to get my second color choice from 13 dealerships. So much for this new Scion sales experience being easier and carefree?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
According to numerous dealers, the models coming with SAB's is 5-10%, in both manual and auto. I found the number to be closer to 10-15%, in both manual and auto, looking at the LA port numbers listing.
Among transmission choice, color choice, and SAB option, the SAB option is the most limiting factor. Certainly, specifying a single color choice and transmission type further limits the available units.
According to Toyota management interviews I read in earlier test reports, the company underestimated demand for SAB's because they calculated the younger generation buyers that the car is targeted for would be more price conscious than safety conscious. Toyota apparently underestimated the number of older folks, who either have more to live for or who simply have grown smarter about safety, that would be attracted to this vehicle. The company's supposedly already increasing the percentage of units with SAB options. Those of you who can wait will have an easier time in 05.
Being on a tight budget, I too have always sought the lowest price on new cars, and never cared much for hidden features that I can't see or feel. Consequently, safety was never a factor that I'd pay extra money for.
When I first started considering the tC, spending an extra $650 on SAB's wasn't even a consideration for me. In the process of shopping for a new car though, I started to do some real research - all the road test reports on performance and handling, all the consumer reports on reliability, all the forums on personal experiences, and... all the safety crash ratings and test reports from NHTSA and IIHS. Man, did I get an eye opener on the difference among cars in crash tests and safety ratings - like seeing that the new Mazda 3 I wanted so badly had a poor side crash rating. I remember working a wreck this summer while I was still pondering the tC/Mazda 3 choice. The car over the side looked like it had gone through a trash compactor, and my touching the dead bodies put a renewed sense of vulnerability and safety concern into me. That clinched the tC for me over the Mazda 3. It also put new light into considering the SAB option.
We all make compromises on price, performance, handling, economy, style, and safety in the car we choose. In this case though, you're choosing between $650 in your pocket or an insurance policy you hope you'll never use. I wrestled with this too - until I read a good SAB article available on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) website. Go there, find the article on the left side column, and read it.
The best statistics, which are really quite extensive and thorough, show that SAB's reduce side impact deaths by 45%. That's pretty significant, and doesn't even account for the serious injuries prevented. The new SAB's, like on the tC, also have variable deployment rates made to specifically protect you in a rollover too. The effectiveness of SAB's is now so good and so proven, that Honda has committed to making them STANDARD on ALL of their models by 2006. Since that's the trend already, I believe the other manufacturers will follow suit - just as they did for front air bags 10 years ago. Five or more years down the road when you sell your car, any car without SAB's will be considered less safe - and probably worth a bit less.
You know, with all the high riding SUV's on the road, us little people in lowly cars really are more vulnerable. The tc's 3 side door beams are great, but they won't protect you from the SUV bumper that comes in through the glass above those door beams. The only thing between your head and that bumper is a SAB curtain.
Over the past several years, I've worked a lot of wrecks and seen a lot of people crippled and killed needlessly. I've also walked away unharmed from a fatality collision myself. I know which category I want to be in - and I've decided its worth an extra 650 to better the odds in my favor.
I Don't mean to be a party pooper. And, if you know all this and choose to live life recklessly - like Arizona motorcyclists that don't wear helmets or masses of drivers in other countries that don't wear seatbelts, then I respect your freedom of choice. But, at least make an informed decision and realize that you may not WANT to pay for SAB's, but that you do need them - if you value your life much.
I mean, I *do* feel better about having the safety feature... but still.
And I like the little SAB labels on my seat. haha.
Just took delivery on my Black Cherry Auto - waited a little more than 4 weeks and used two dealers to get it.
I was afraid that my expectations had been set too high while waiting but the tC is better than I had hoped for . Love it! Have not noticed any of the recurring concerns of other tC owners (sun roof popping, radio cover operation...), all is well- better than expected. The only thing I would change so far is a good-old-fashioned knob for the radio volume.
Some of the other per-peaves expressed here makes me think that some of these people need a life (i.e., more bulbs in the upper brake light?) The sound system is awesome, it's comfortable, quiet, solid, shifts seemlessly, is always in the right gear in my hilly area, and looks great. Still breaking it in, can't wait to test the limits. from what I can tell so far, should have no worries.
I have also heard complaints about the tires being noisy at highway speeds with the solution being "play the stereo louder."
I got my tc with SAB. It was worth the wait. I do realize that it cost $650 extra. However, some car insurance companies provide deductions for it. For example, 21st Century insures car based mostly on price, whereas Geico insures based on price and feature.
Geico rep asked me about each of the features on tc (front passenger driver airbags, SAB, ABS, tire pressure monitor, engine shut off, etc). I got a quote that is ~$150 cheaper.
Nope, i don't work for them or get paid for. Just a note, a lot of insurance companies does not have data for tC or even Scion. You will see big differences among the quotes.
Not much noise from the gear. Your transmission has to be really bad to cause noticeable noise. However, there is fair amount of noise on bumpy highway roads (It is not a problem if your city has the new rubberized asphalt).
I think that most of the noise is from the tires. The tires are low profile (side wall is very short) which provides better handling and cornering but less cushion. in addition the shock/spring are tighter too.
I noticed a huge difference in audio quality when I changed the SSP setting to car type xA. This may have been mentioned here before... it increases the sound quality dramatically.
Only real "complaint" is that the CD display doesn't scroll the text. Not a big deal, but I doubt it would've been hard to implement. I can live with it though.
Also, I saw that there was a $500 Cash Back Rebate for new graduates on the scion website, but when I went to the dealer, they said they only had lower rates for financing, no cash back. Does that depend on each individual dealer?
So, no, you can't negotiate a lower price. But you might get lucky and find a dealer offering lower prices on all cars of the same model. However, given that most people are waiting ~ 30-90 days for their tC, don't expect anything less than MSRP.
One dealer in Cleveland is charging $200 less than MSRP for all 05 xB's.
The College Grad program is $400, not $500. The program is through Toyota Financial Services, not directly through the dealer. So if they handle their financing through TFS, tell them to call them up and ask for clarification.
I've heard that Southeast Region Toyota dealers do financing through their own company, so they might give you a different answer.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
In any case, you've done well, even if by deception, in getting a rare color with SAB's. In fact, you got the car I ordered and wanted for 3 months. My white one's on the lot, waiting my pickup when I get home from vacation.
Enjoy.