Scion tC questions

I bought a 2005 tC for my 18 year old almost exactly a year ago. it's been perfect. I mean perfect. Cosmetically, mechanically and structurally perfect.

I cannot answer about the dealer as it has not been back. It is the easiest car to change the oil of any I've seen. Look in front of the right tire and theres the filter and the drain. I've only changed oil and rotated tires.

She is completely happy with it as well.

It is showing no wear, much better materials than its competitors. It must be light as the tires look just about new with 12k on them.

I read that the shifting mechanism was balky on these, but this one shifts great, good clutch too.

I got the curtain air bags, a bargain at ~$600 IMHO.

Finally, it is in a lower insurance group than a Civic EX, so it is cheaper to insure than my 2001 Civic!

I paid $17995 out the door including the curtain air bags. They said that Toyota prohibits discounts and that they would lose their franchise for discounting; I don't know if that was true or not, but I do know (at that price) it is much superior to a comparable Civic and a couple thousand $$ cheaper as well.

 

BTW, I think the cost is such a good deal, it reminds me of how Toyota priced the first Lexus 400LSs at a highly aggressive price point to establish the brand.

I would not be surprised to see the Scions increase like the Lexus brand did over the first ~5 or 6 years.

If I did not know the price of the one I bought, compared to the competition, I would have guessed a list of ~$23K and a "haggle" price of around $21k.

 

Great vehicle. Service at any Toyota store. I sell them! My niece has one and loves it!!

 

My sister has one. Had if for over a year now I think. She absolutely loves the car. No problems at all. Not a bad looking car and you do get a lot for your money. But since my sister has one, they will always be a chick car.

 

Scion isn't going anywhere as it is a stepping stone for younger consumers into the Toyota family with hopes of turning them into Lexus owners in 20 years or so.

Extremely robust Camry 4 banger under the hood with a TRD supercharger option, and later on, a turbo option for HP freaks, countless aftermarket tuning parts available, Toyota build quality and vast dealership network you can't go wrong.

 

I have a tc and love it. It has just over 11k miles and is perfect for the price. I added the rear and front spoiler, body kit, lowering springs, and front strut or tie bar.

 

my best friend bought a tc last year, and loves it. He was so obsessed with the brand that he did alot of college papers on it, so everything i tell you is from research he has done, or meeting with one of toyotas/scions advisors during the woodward dream cruise in Detroit.

Toyota released the Scion brand in order to build loyal Toyota buyers at a younger age. If you look at it from a marketing point of view, offering all the extra bolt ons, and encouraging customization is directly aimed at younger buyers.
Scion is really quite an amazing program. when we went to the dream cruise, they were the only brand there that had specific parking for any scion owner that wanted it, and a VIP room with tons of free stuff, not to mention great food. they had a DJ and were giving out cans of Rockstar energy drink to anyone that walked by. It was definetly a classy operation. However, in talking with the advisor I met there with my friend, he told me that the cycle is only going to be a few more years, then the brand will most likely be merged into toyota, thus creating a huge brand loyal following.

I personally think his car is awesome, I know he has never had any problems with it, and the cool thing is that there are all the same price anywhere in the US. I know that anything he ever needed for the car was taken care of at the toyota dealership, if that helps!

 

Congrats to your daughter; Yin, she (you) chose well!

 

Good taste then, eh... these cars are a sick deal. I love the 100% glass roof, great feature to put in if you want to attract teen buyers.

 

lol until the smaller piece comes off, and in turn takes the larger back piece off. Just something to keep an eye on. It has been a problem in the TCs. My sis has a white one. no problems yet. It is a nice looking car and relativly cheap, but as someone said, a chick car! here is my sister and her car.
Matt
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There has been a recall on the wind deflector of the sunroof.

 

They need to recall the chassis and its scary hop-understear charcteristics.

I am all for innovation, but there must be some reason to put sway-bars on cars and I'm thinking one of them is to keep the car from slipping and sliding into the next lane when you squeeze the throttle.

 

Too bad they don't sell these in Canada

 

As a long time member of the sport compact and import community, I can tell you that you've made a good choice. Scion is not going anywhere and as many people stated they brand was made to start young buyers off in a Toyota in hopes that ehy'll become Toyota and then Lexus owners in the future. Scion gives back so much to the tuner community that they are striving to create, that its insane....don't beleive me...show up to any Sport Compact or Import show or race and Scion has a VIP booth with tons of shirts, backpacks, food, water, sunscreen (very important at the drag strip with NO shade) and you'll see.

I hope she has tons of fun in it and you are happy with your purchase.

Rich

 

i think its a great car for the money
they look have way decent
its a toyota so it will run forever
i just would NOT get an auto as the local dealer around here where my mom got her avalon told me that its the same auto trans that has been used in auto camrys corollas and other 4 cylinder toyota and it needs a redisgn. thats just what he told me, who knows

 

im 17, haven't gotten a car yet.. well i looked into the tC, im getting a feeling this is a girls car, yet the guys are modding theirs, im looking into the cars, and id probaly just do lowering springs, intake and exhaust, and maybe some rims. Is this a girls car or guys, or equal?

 

Marty, you are a dealer? Are you going to NADA this year?

Edit: Didn't mean to hijack the thead. the tC is a great car. A guy I know has one and loves them.

 

Is it true you really can't negoiate price on Scions?

I think tCs are great cars, a little heavy for a coupe though.

 

We're looking at an xB with a wheelchair ramp for my father-in-law. This is good info!

 

Just be sure that before you allow your 17 year old to drive a car on the street without you in the car that she first completes a high quality performance and/or teen driving school such as the ones offered by BMW in S.C. and/or race tracks around the country....the ones that last several full days or a week ..not the ones that are just a few hours cruising around... Learning car control, braking having skidpad time,ect...are the best prep a teen driver can get before getting out on the road alone...just driving carefully on public roads and in parking lots with a Drivers Ed type teacher just doesn't prepare a teen for real world emergancies...it will save you insurance money and could save your teens life! I sent my teen daughter to the 4 day school at Panoz years ago and it really helped her get started right.

 

^^^ I think the Audi school at Road Atlanta is better for kids who will drive typical Japanese cars rather than the BMW school since they get to wail on front drive A4s. I took my oldest 2 daughters to the 2 day teen school there and will take the younger two when time comes. Good instructors.

A friend of mine took his son to the BMW school in SC and was a bit less then impressed, although he only bought the one day course.


BTW, don't buy a "silver low mileage A4 program car"....HARD miles....