So, short intro -

I had a '10 Fit automatic that I bought in Oct '09, wanting to get away from driving a 4WD SUV. The Fit is a great car - I liked a lot of things about it, especially the fuel economy and the very useful cargo space (seriously, it's like an SUV back there). But, at 6'1 with long legs, I couldn't get comfortable in there. I fought with it, trying to find a way to make it comfortable, and then (D'oh!) on a whim, took a tC for a test drive.

Wow, first car I've ever owned that required me to slide the seat FORWARD a notch! And these seats feel great - nice and firm, nicely sculpted, without any hard pieces of seat frame easily felt through seat-foam that is too soft (ask me what I really think about the Fit's seats... they're f'n HORRIBLE! My sciatic nerve very nearly crawled out of my leg and flagged a cab after my first 3 hour drive in there.)

So, anyway, I traded in the Fit. I was about $1500 upside down, but the way I see it, I have to pay for that. I can either do it while driving the Fit or while driving the Scion, and in the Scion, my interest rate is lower (4.4% for 72 mos, and I plan on paying it off way earlier than that - the longer term and lower payment just gives me greater flexibility). To be specific, that $1500 will cost me $209.28 over 72 mos, vs $199.50 over the remaining 51 payments from the 66 mo. loan on the Fit!

Anyway, WOW! I really like this car. The driving position is about 7 billion times better, it's great to have a real transmission again with a Man-Pedal for my left foot. I thought I'd be happy with an auto with paddle-shifters. I wasn't. Since legroom is a big concern for me, I tested it against the Civic coupe - the numbers seem to lie - the Civic claims an inch more, but there's simply no way that's accurate. The Civic engines also leave a bit to be desired - I was tired of listening to a boomy little engine rev to make enough power to merge onto the freeway, and the Civic gives you the choice of a not-very-powerful 1.8L, or a has to rev to live 2.0. This seems more or less like a Civic with an Accord engine (I'm a long-time Honda guy - I always kinda wanted a Prelude back in the day - this is like a Prelude with an actual back seat, not just watermellon holders with seat-belts).

The only things I'd like to change, are:
- Disabling the automatic beep when you lock/unlock.
- Putting some type of softer/padded cover over the center armrest.

Otherwise, this thing seems to be just about perfect for me. I still can't believe they fit this much content into a car that sells for $18,995 (minus an extra $1000 for being active duty military).

It is taking some getting used-to in a few regards. The Fit sat high, with very low door sills, and expansive glass. That car literally had no blind-spots. It feels very different to sit so low, with my shoulders even with the bottoms of the windows (I like my seat low for the legs-out driving position). A few of the reviews complain about the hard plastic, loud interior,and rough ride, but after owning a Fit for 18 mos, and an Element for 3 years prior to that, this thing seems pretty smooth and quiet. I don't spend much time feeling the plastic panels, so I don't care.

The stereo - I got the base Pioneer unit, and it sounds just fine to me. But then, I listen to a lot of NPR and classic rock, so I don't need thumpin' bass, and between being around airplanes and riding around on a sport-bike, my hearing doesn't any extra help disappearing. I spent enough time in my teens driving around in a car with 2 12's in the trunk... I'm over that.

Anyhoo, the iPod interface is very good. I don't know why the reviewers complain about the stereo - it's got a much better interface than the one int he Fit, and the iPod integration is FAR FAR better. There are a few weak spots in the ergonomics - the cruise controls being on a weird little nub instead of the steering wheel spokes - it's like something GM would come up with (I kid, I kid. GM would stick EVERYTHING on the turn signal stalk).

I just refilled the tank for the first time. How accurate is the mileage computer? It's showing me averaging between 24 and 25 with mostly city driving; in the Fit, I was usually around that until it got broken in, and then it usually stayed around 27 in town (stupid automatic). If it's doing this well already, I can't imagine it will let me down.

Oh yeah, I almost bought a Scion in '06 - I test-drive a gen1 xB when I bought the Element. I liked some things about it, but my ex-wife had an Echo a few years before, and too many things about it screamed Echo. Also, the front legroom was a bit lacking (always an issue, always an issue. I wish I'd paid better attention when I bought the Fit).

 

Welcome to the family, Occam. This is my first Scion as well and after 12K+ miles, the car is still great. I must admit though, I find being on this forum causes a constant nagging to modify something.

To answer your question, the mpg calculator in the car is off a little. Mine consistently reads 1.5 mpg too high. My mileage stays around 28-29 mpg with a mix of city (traffic really) and hwy driving.

BTW, I think you're the first to have those particular complaints (the beep and hard center console) about the tC, but I'm sure someone here has done something similar and can help you out.

 

I live in an apartment complex, and my assigned space is next to someone else's apartment on the front side of my building. I'm one of those people that's always running out to the car late at night to grab this or that, leaving crap in the console, etc., and I hate to constantly have those chirps going off. Seems like most cars do it silently unless you double-tap the lock button.

As for the armrest - not a big deal, but I saw that this company:
http://www.redlinegoods.com/ScionTC04install.shtm
makes them for the gen-1.

I don't have any big plans for mods. I'm not one to modify things for aestheic reasons for the most part - taillights are taillights, and nobody cares if you have LED bulbs. No way I'm lowering it - after drivng the Fit, it's nice to be able to pull out of driveways without hearing the bumper scraping. I may add a set of Clazzio covers. I had them in the Fit and really liked them. They're already making them for the 11+ tC:



Beangarage.com got them to me within 3 days, with minimum fuss and great customer support.

 

In the first Gen TC disabling That noise was as simple as
Pushing the key to on while holding the gas for 3seconds then pressing the brake twice,right turn signal,then honking 4 times,followed by turning the car all the way on all while having the bright lights on, oh and if u don't sing the national anthem while your doing it then u have to do it again.


Scion is cool like that ;)
LOL I'm sure some one will figure it out for the tc2 but its not worth it.

 

That's how the Fit was - to change the door autolocks, there was a short, choreographed rain-dance. Fortunately, the instructions were in the manual.

 

i was in the same position as when before i picked up the scion..i test drove the honda si the new ones,it was ok kind of car,you had to rev the hack out of it before it went any where,even at that i wasnt impress with it....ive drove the paddle shifters and semi automatic thing,just wasnt the same as driving a real stick with a clutch,unless they find a way to have a clutch paddle intergrated its not the same.....

good choice on your scion........and have fun with it

 

http://www.clazziocars.com/Clazzio_C...at_Covers.html


They are cheaper if you order them directly from Clazzio ;)

 

I don't believe that is the real Clazzios website (@gmail.com email, poor selection, awful editing). Theres another site run by an Orlando area reseller that claims to Bethesda real Clazzios. Z Regardless, the price is the same ($450 for leather) and Spencer at BeanGarage was extremely helpful.

The prices seems to be the same everywhere: $270 for PVC, $350 for Suede, 450 for Leather. Some sites don't stock them - you only get then by special order. I believe 11i-USA is the actual importer.

 

OK... so, here's my brief update:

Added leather black/black clazzios with Red stitching, and got the RedlineGoods padded armrest and shift-boot in black leather with red stitching to match:






As noted in another thread, I added a large black strip and a thin red one below it to add some visual interest to the sides.



That'll pretty much finish off my grand aftermarket plans... other than getting it tinted once I leave Cali and its arcane tint-laws, and hopefully paying it off well ahead of schedule. I've got the new-motorcycle bug that I'm trying to fight at the moment...

 

Looks great! The rediline boot and armrest match the clazzios perfectly.

Still think you should at least throw some springs in there and drop it a bit.

 

The last thing this car needs is less ground clearance and less suspension travel. The existing springs are quite firm, hold it fairly flat in corners, and it doesn't scrape on speed bumps, steep driveways, deep gutters, etc.

 

i love the altoids mod..matches very well with the red trim seats

 

The red motorcycle matches it too (as well as receiving a donation of leftover striping to cover a scuffed left fairing that was there when I bought it).

 

I love the Clazzios with the arm rest and shift boot - very nice!