Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options
Scion tC
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Really can't wait for the darned thing to show up so I can find out for myself.
What's the opinion from the (at least one) owners out there? ANyone who sat in one?
Gee35 - You sit in it? If you fit, I should!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
: (
mackabee
and as for those concerned with headroom, like i said, i'm 5'10" and have enough head room up front. and the height adjustable seats help a lot, so most taller people should not have a problem. i agree with daddo that clutch travel is a little long, but it doesn't screw up my right leg at all.
another note, at first its difficult to judge how much distance i have front and back because of the slope of the front hood and sight lines, but i've found that i generally have more room than i originally thought.
clevelanders, the dealer, sunnyside scion/toyota, i worked with has pre sold 7 through july so far and they have an azure blue manual in the show room.
Can you explain to me what happens in this situation? Is the "port" allowed to do whatever they want? If the customer specifically states no options can they still sneak a few things in on the car? Floormats are no big deal since they can be sold to another customer down the line but can the port add, say a spoiler, when the customer didn't want it?
Also are you sure side airbags are already available? I've seen very little mention of the side airbags from Toyota so I'm thinking the first few months none might not be built with them at all.
Curious about the clutch. My maxima and Miata have fairly different clutch feels. I think you pretty much get used to what you got. The only car that ever really bothered me was a passat, but I suppose you would get used to that too.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
COuldn't really tell much lese out the interior, but the roof looked sharp, and should help the interior be nice and bright.
Have to make a run down tomorrow when they are open to take a test sit. I can at least check headroom, but can't try out the clutch/shifter placement, since the one they have is an AT.
If it passes the headroom/seat fit test, I don't expect the clutch/shifter to be an issue, so I can be in mine by the end of the week.
Actually, there is a short shift kit available (or pending) for anyone who finds the shift throws too long. Not sure if it improves the accuracy (vagueness) though, not having ever experienced one.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Quite easy to get in/out of the back, especialy with the memory seat. Belts don't get in the way. 2 doors are actually much better with manual seats, since power ones tend to be painfully slow.
Trunk isn't particularly big (or deep), but looks like a golf bag will fit with the panel in place. Lots of room with one or both sides of the rear seat folded. Wouldn't want to take a family of 4 on vacation with it, but for around town use, s/b fine, and more than fine if you don't have rear passengers.
Dual roof was neat, certainly brought more light into the cabin. Features and controls seemed efficient and well laid out. Radio controls were OK, the vol. up/back buttons fell right to finger, so not having a knob shouldn't be an issue.
One concern is that the huge dead pedal intruded on the foot well a bit. Not an issue on the AT, but seems like it would hang up the left foot using a clutch. WOnder if it is smaller on the manual versions?
Fit and finish was excellent. Really felt like a more expensive car. Not big by any means, but still looks/feels substantial.
Now, just need them to get "mine" down from the port so I can test drive and see how the clutch/shifter work. Based on the test fit/crawl over, I'll still go ahead and get it unless there is a problem with sing the clutch.
Also, seats were pretty comfy. Fairly substantial lumbar bulge (not adjustable), but felt like it was in the right place.
I still think for the money this car will do well. The one I scoped out was AT, with mats and the 6 CD, and still only stickered at about 17.8K.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
: )
Mackabee
Saturday comes and goes, no car. Of course Sunday is a free day.
After lunch today I call to ask the whereabouts of car. The dealer tells me the manifest now lists the car as "on the ground" but still not at the dealership. hmmmmmm
By dinner time tonight, I call back because I'm doing a trade-in but I still have the old car whose payment is due TODAY! As you might imagine, I'm getting nervous - I frown on late payments. The dealer says, "Yeah, we've paid off your car, don't worry about that. And I found out where your car (tc) is. It's still in port in Seattle."
This after he already screwed up the paperwork! I had been in contact with the original salesman and had added a couple of options. When we finally had all the paperwork filled out and signed, I noticed something odd and said, "So this car is going to have x,y,&z, right?" Turns out the original salesman didn't pass on my desires to the salesman that actually did all the work. Whatever, I said to myself, I didn't need all that stuff anyway.....but then today happened!
So, the story goes that the car is being sent to Chicago (again?) and will be express shipped directly to Lexington upon arrival and that final date won't be before July 8!
Thank God the guy screwed up what I REALLY wanted....who knows how long it would be. But I'm curious to know, if that guy said the car was on the ground to the dealership and it really wasn't, then what was he looking at on the manifest to make him think that? Or was he just pulling my leg all along?
Sincerely bummed out
The build quality of the tC is excellent. The fit and finish is great, with the body panel gaps minimal for a car outside of the tC's price range. Cabin noise is very low, even at highway speeds. There was a slight rattle coming from lower left of the driver side foot-well (near the fuse panel). The doors and hatch have a very solid feel when they are closed. The buttons and knobs have a good feel as well, but I worry that the radio "cover" could be easily broken. The panoramic sunroof is SWEET!
The interior was pretty good, and the level of comfort the seats provided surprised me. I'm 5'8", and there was plenty of room for me in both the front and back seats, although my head was pretty close to the rear window while in the back. The middle armrest was a little too far back for me to comfortably lean on, but it was still useable (in other words, it wouldn't stop me from buying the car). The door armrests are also in good locations in terms of ergonomics. Getting in and out of the back seat was fairly easy. The seatbelts for the front seat were placed a little awkwardly, but it's probably something I'd get used to after a while. The gages were easy to read, and I wouldn't mind having one for oil pressure. I'm not sure if I could fit my golf clubs in this car without folding down the rear seats...I guess I should have brought them with me and tried it out. The car "fit" me very well.
The ride is very smooth, but not plush. The tC easily maintained 50+mph on a small radius on-ramp without a hint of tire squeal or TOO much body roll. The suspension was able to absorb most of our numerous potholes, and the steering always felt dialed in. During launch, the suspension was able to keep the nose fairly planted without too much fore-aft movement.
The engine sounds and feels like a 4-cylinder, although engine noise is really minimal under 3,000 rpm. That said, the car is very quick off the line, and is fast enough to get one into trouble. Maneuvering through traffic was a breeze, with the 5-speed doing a great job at keeping the engine in its torque band. I saw 3500 RPM at 80 mph in 5th gear. A 6th gear would be a welcome addition for those of us who live in states where traffic moves at 70+ in the slow lane, and the engine feels like it would be screaming after breaking the triple digit barrier (not that anyone would drive that fast anyway...>) ) Although the clutch travel was long, I found the clutch was fully disengaged about halfway through the pedal travel, so I was able to back away from the steering wheel somewhat.
I only have one complaint, and it really isn't about the car. The sounds system needs an upgrade. The standard bass, treble, balance, and fade adjustments are available, but the adjustments are coarse. The tweeters work well, and there is a whole lot of treble, but even at the highest bass setting (5), I had to STRAIN to even make out a small rumble. I realize that I am nit picking, but I really enjoy a deep, rich sound. My musical tastes run from classical and jazz to house and techno, and the tC's sound system just seemed to bypass the entire lower half of the sound spectrum.
Last but definitely not least, the car looks classy. To me, it looks like a cross between a Lexus IS-300 and a BMW 6 Series. I’ll call it refined aggressiveness. The lines are great and everything flows together. Adding the rear spoiler will definitely add a nice touch to rear of the car. This car definitely got its share of admiring glances.
So, after all is said and done, this is an excellent car. In terms of bang for the buck, I don’t think it can be beat. If you’re in the market for a 2-door coupe under 20G’s, this is the car for you!
mph rpm
60 2700
65 3000
70 3200
75 3400
80 3600
so these are kind of high rpms for this car and engine together, but the good thing about the gearing is that if you need to pass or merge, or just feel like speeding up for fun, power is immediate. and i do agree that a 6th gear would be nice. for those people getting an automatic, i've read that the automatic gearing is tuned closer to that of a normal camry. but back to people that prefer a manual, i like how the gearing is set up.
also, i haven't used a full tank yet, but with about 280 highway miles so far, and about 60 city miles, i've gone through about 3/4 of my gas tank. so by my estimates, on this first tank i should average in the low 30s mpg for gas mileage. i'll have to see how that does long term. but pretty good so far.
so with my 340 miles so far, i absolutely love this car. from the sparkling flint mica paint on an athletic yet elegent contoured body, to the glass roof, the seats and its versatility, i think its the perfect car (for me at least).
(also, for people financing, i was told this would be the last year for the $400 college student discount, for anyone whos graduated within the last 2 years)
This would be much easier if I could just test drive a stick model to see how it really works.
Also, anyone willing to try the golf bag test?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
No where near as buzzy as my Miata though. Not really much different than my Maxima either (maybe 1-200 RPM higher.\
If the car is quiet (road noise, etc) and the engine isn't making itself heard, you really only notice the RPM by looking at the tach (and when you fill up the tank). With the Maxima, if the radio is on and the roof open, I can't even hear the engine on the highway.
I normally never travel very far in my car though (use the family van for trips). Maybe 1-2 2 hour runs a year, otherwise mostly local, so not really an issue.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
: )
Mackabee
Finally realized what this car should be compared to: the Mini. Maybe it's the panaramic moonroof, but the concept is the same, except the tC has enough room for passengers (and some cargo), and costs less (MiniS performance for a strippo base Mini price, plus Toyota relaibility and a dealer on every conrner).
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Keeping with the subject; they gave me a VIN for my tc (they had to have it for the paperwork, after all). This was before they figured out where it actually was. I asked whose VIN actually ended up on my paperwork when they told me about the mess-up. They told me it's the VIN for the car that's still in Seattle. Does that make sense? I guess I just don't understand how you could pull the correct VIN but not the correct location. Not to mention that they swore to me my trade-in has been "taken care of" i.e. paid off, but then said to me, "It's okay, you've got a 30 day grace period before it would show up on your credit report anyway." If the car is paid off, why would I worry about that? It all makes me nervous and any advice is more than welcome!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
: )
Mackabee
p.s. I did drive the car last night for a very short period of time. 10 miles roughly, most city driving. This car has lots of low end torque. Very nice tight steering, reminds me somewhat of my gen1 MR2. Seat is very comfortable, plenty of side support in the thighs and upper torso. Some have complained about noise. This car is not much noisier then the current Camry which is very quiet. I avoided quick starts as we want to break this car in properly, although at times I did punch the accelerator a few times.
Mackabee
Checked with my salesperson today. Supposed to be moving to "freight" status (I think). He thought it could be on a truck by tomorrow, and arrive in 2-3 days, so maybe Saturday, slim chance Friday, possibly Monday. Or maybe it's really in Seattle ;-)
I will believe it is coming when it is on the lot. The salesguy also promised that no one other than the mechanic who PDIs it will drive it before me.
Hope this was worth the wait after all this time. I'll be bummed if it turns out I don't like it once I finally get to drive it.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Mack, any recourse for me if they make another mistake and the late payment lands on my credit report?
Now for the first impressions. My other car is a '02 BMW 330Ci, and 'no' the tC isn't better, but it is definitely 85% of the driving experience for less than half the price. My wife is a realtor, and I thought it best to get her a beater like the tC, rather than have her beat our bimmer into 100,000 mile submission before it turns 3 years.
Anyhow, the car is definitely fun. It holds the road and corners very well, and those 17" rims sure make a difference. The car also feels more "tossable" than it looks. I was surprised at how much torque was available on this 4 banger when I accelerate out of a turn going up a slight incline. I seriously cant imagine a better alternative for 17K, with this combination of killer looks, driving ability, and standard features.
And finally, first time I've seen pedestrians turn their heads to look and stare in admiration at a $17,000 car.
Love this car. An instant classic. I'd love to see this car take on the soon to be released BMW 2 series coupe or the turbo version tC take on the Celica and RSX, in the $20,000 coupe shootout.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Will finally be able to wander down and drive one this afternoon. They just have to run it through the shop. If all goes well, it will be in my driveway this PM, just in time for thunderstorms to roll through.
If this deal goes through, I really need someone to buy my Miata to get the garage bay back. Maybe my wife will want to park outside for a while? (yeah, right).
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I stopped by a dealership in Savannah and they had an automatic tC for test drive. The first thing I noticed was that the engine is extremely quite. The engine felt more like a V6 or V8, I accelerated hard and was at 80mph before I thought I was above 60. The car was very confident and predictable on the highway, which was one of my concerns because I drive alot.
Overall I am very impressed, the tC lives up to the hype. I put a deposit down on a tC 5-speed at Heyward Allen Scion of Athens, GA. They had great customer service, a short wait list, and the lowest Documentation fee of any dealerships I could find. I will let you all know what I think once I get it and put a few thousand miles.
Oh, I didn't have any issue with the clutch and the dead pedal.
Car had 4.x miles on it when I test drove, and about 8 when I took it home, so it wasn't joyridden.
Early impressions:
Feels very substantial (ride, heavy doors), almost lexus-like. Extremely good noise insulation, just a smidge of tire noise. Gives the impression of being a more expensive car, but you can see where the extra weight went.
Seems pretty quick, but I haven't tried to wind it out yet (break in and all, plus to much traffic). haven't had it on the highway yet.
Nice handling. Good steering, plenty of grip and road feel.
Amazing amount of passenger room inside. It really is a 4 passenger car. Must be fairly wide, because my wife and I weren't rubbing elbows, and the kids were swimming in the back seat (my 8 year old could put her legs straight out behind my wife). They also like the reclining seats.
Still have to get used to the logistics of only having 2 doors (my one big concern with this car). Probably won't be an issue after the joy ride phase is over, since I don't often have back seat passengers (or if I do, it doesn't make much of an impression). I guess we will get used to it.
Flint Mica is a beautiful color, and looks real sharp on this car. Glad I got it instead of the blue I was originally looking for.
Carpet mats are neat. The back part (near the seats) are ribbed rubber. Not sure if it is for asthetics or practical though.
Gearing does seem a touch short. I probably was running a few RPMs more than I am used to (frmo my Maxima) and found myself in fifth a little more often around town. With all the torque on hand, they could have reduced the final drive by 10% and still had plenty of performance, plus better mileage (and a little quieter cruise). But, given how quiet and smooth the car is, I don't think the highway performance 9noise) will be a problem. Plus I won't be travelling with it, and it has to be quieter than a Miata!
Will post more once I have had a chance to play.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
: )
Mackabee
headlights were nice and bright, good highbeams too. The dash lighting was nice, sort of yellowy/orange. I was expecting more red, and much prefer the color it is. Very easy to see also.
The speedo is huge BTW, with well spaced numbers. A nice change from some cars the cram all the numbers together.
Also discovered the the moonroof has 2 retracted settings. All the way back, and 2" short of that to reduce thumping when you have the windows closed, a neat feature since there aren't back windows to crack.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I have to stop in tomorrow and drop off the keys to my trade (the spares) and will ask them also.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Up to 36 miles so far.
Also, Scions sorta come with free "maintenance". You get 3 free oil changes, which is about all you get out of a BMW free service plan. So, the only maintenance costs for the nex 1.5 years is tire rotation if I bother to have it done.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
: )
Mackabee
P.s. my son told me the stereo would be the first thing to go since he didn't like the fact you can only adjust the bass and treble and no mid range. I told him about the SSP which has the neutral, hear and feel sound settings and he still wants to swap it out later on. I thought it sounded rather good in the hear and feel settings, but what the heck do I know I'm just his dad and going deaf anyway : )
Mackabee
I just cant get over how well made the interior appears; it simply does not look "cheap". It's a casual elegance that eschews a gimmicky cluttered look that Acura seems to prefer with its RSX
But back to the handling... I am so looking forward to seeing what a TRD suspension upgrade can do to this baby.
many congrats to Mackabee (and your son) and stickguy for their recent arrivals. I'm still patiently waiting! hurmphhhh
I'm sure Mack has seen more than a few situations where the customer comes in owing more on the car than it is currently worth. Often, the difference keeps getting rolled into the next purchase, until it builds like a credit house of cards. (I haven't financed a car in over 20 years, though I have occasionally used a personal credit line make a purchase a few months before I would have been able to if I had to pay straight cash at the time.) Most working folks still finance, but this tendency to try to buy more car than one can really afford is driving some to be constantly "under water" - the car is never worth as much as the loan balance.
Mack: I think the stereo sounds real nice. The SSP really does make a noticable difference in the type of sound.
Car and Driver has a road test this month. THey actually seem to really like it, although it wasn't quite as hard-edged as they would like. Reading between the lines, it's more of a sporty car than a sports car (true IMO), but they loved the quality, and compared the structure to a vault. It really is a solid, quiet, substantial car, but still plenty frisky. A good compromise for people that want some style and fun to drive, but also need some comroft and practicality.
I had the AC on before (rare for me) and a CD in, and frankly couldn't hear the outside world. Very Lexus like in that way.
Yeah, it's a little heavier than it could be, but the weight was well utilized.
Still, the only real quibble I have is they geared it a little short. Reduce the final drive by 10%, and it would be perfect.
I'm really starting to like this car, and it is an unbeatable value.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Gap insurance is a good deal, lots of insurance companies are offering it now to new car buyers. I do see a lot of people that are "in the bucket" or "upside down". Only way to avoid that pitfall is to put a substantial down payment, keep the car until the loan is paid off, and buy the new one close to dealer cost as possible.
; )
Mackabee