Hey how's everyone doin'? I just wanted to say that this is one of the most informative and friendly car forums I have come across on the internet. :D


-I don't know if this has been asked before, but does anyone know if the tC automatic transmission will have a gated shifter, and if it does have a gated shifter, will it also have "manumatic" shift capability via the stick like the 04 Solara V6?

Being that the tC is a sporty tourer like the Solara, I don't see why they wouldn't offer at least the gated shifter.
I know that "manumatic" is not available on the 4cyl Solara, but it would certainly give the tC that much more of an edge over the competition. Especially since Mazda offers it on the 3.

The only reasons I can think of why they would not be offered are of course the cost, and maybe fear of product overlap between the tC and the Solara.


Any and all comments will be most appreciated.

im pretty sure the tc will have a gated shifter but i highly doubt it on the manumatic... even though i personally think the feature would be great but it would bump up costs too much... the only picture of a scion tc automatic i have seen is the photo in the pdf file brochure of the tc at http://www.scion.com

A manumatic would be great. The Mazda 3 has one.

I feel sorry for those that don't know how to drive manual yet... I was in that crowd about two years ago, but I learned off a WRX (not smart at all)

Being it's AWD and has about the worst tranny imaginable...

For those that are wanting to play gearshifts, I seriously suggest you invest 500 bucks on a beater that has a 4 speed or something you can beat the crap out of and get yourself started on learning stick... Don't do it on your new car...

Manualmatics might be fun, but just remember it's all just a torque converter... There really is no feeling in the world to replace a downshift... Which is the whole reason people drive manual LOL no one drives for the upshift... You can say those 1/4 mile guys do it a lot, but they do it for the acceleration not for the fun and control :D

I don't believe there will be a "manumatic" feature on the tC.

Seriousely, check out the Mazda 3s, it has a pretty sweet interioir, great engine, amazing handling, and apparently has a manumatic option. All this will cost you less than a tC most likely...

I know you already know about the manumatic on the 3, but definately check that car out if it is a feature you desire. Google it and read up.

Some people just like Autos better. I agree the Mazda 3 is going to be hard to beat.

Probably going to have the same tranny from the 4-cly. Camry.

I know people like auto better, but these are not the people that ask for a manualmatic auto...

Those that want manualmatics are either

1) Old with family and don't want to give the kids a whiplash on a bad shift

2) Manual drivers without the know how...

And most of them fall under number 2 more since we're talking about the tC because it isn't really an "old guy" family car... Try as you might, but the back seats are still in coupe form and won't accomodate your "kids" for too long...

I won't deprive anyone's love for the simple D and go automatic life, but I'm just suggesting that if you fall under group 2, putting 500 down on a bucket and learning might be worth more than putting 1000 down on the automatic (assuming the cost of a manual is cheaper per usual)

Also, you really can't beat down shifting :D :D :D

doesnt it take the manuamatic a little longer to shift that manual? my cousin has the base rsx witht he sport shift(manuamatic) and everytime he is racing or driving fast, it hits the limiter everytime he shifts. even if he shifts at 6500 rpm (redlines at 7k rpm). but then again that can just be my cousin.

I haven't driven it, but my friend drove it and it's very laggy... Almost like stepping on the gas really hard and waiting for auto to downshift for you... It electronically rev then engages I think which is pretty much slower than if you fully pedal to the metal to make the car downshift itself... I dunno how it is on other cars tho...

All I have to say is, you still get no engine braking, it's pointless to downshift an auto. Which is exactly why I suggested what I suggested and not to bash people that rather drive auto because they don't know how to drive manual... (Hey I was there a year and a half ago)

I also learned in San Francisco with all the fun hills and what not, and it only took maybe 6 months to be totally comfortable and not worry about dying out..

I tried to find a rental place with manuals but no luck... But I asked a friend to teach me on his first gen MR2 and I drove two hours before I picked up my WRX and drove that till I totalled it... (I drove it for stress release and it ended up being more stressful)

I feel sorry for those that don't know how to drive manual yet... I was in that crowd about two years ago, but I learned off a WRX (not smart at all)

Being it's AWD and has about the worst tranny imaginable...

For those that are wanting to play gearshifts, I seriously suggest you invest 500 bucks on a beater that has a 4 speed or something you can beat the crap out of and get yourself started on learning stick... Don't do it on your new car...

Manualmatics might be fun, but just remember it's all just a torque converter... There really is no feeling in the world to replace a downshift... Which is the whole reason people drive manual LOL no one drives for the upshift... You can say those 1/4 mile guys do it a lot, but they do it for the acceleration not for the fun and control :D

yeah downshift is great and manual brings the muscle feeling to a car but i live in Philly not the surrounding areas of philly and philly is the 5th largest city in the us and it just seems pointless to shift threw the city when its basically just a stop and start, thas why hardly anybody in philly has manual transmission. when i get my tc im usin for daily driver not for some weekend joyride so the manual route is not gonna come till i atleast have one auto

the Tc won't have a manutronic option (damn)- no mention of it in the factory manual

Now okay people we have been over the Mazda 3 before. Preppy much the same MSRP as a TC but that is without a sunroof or 17 inch wheels.

I really liked the road feel of the Mazda 3 but with all the options I wanted the price rose to about 22,000 while with the tc my base price with 1 option put me up to 18,000

But Mazda does make a great car, I'll be interested to see what Mazdaspeed's version of the 3 turns out to be.

But Mazda does make a great car

You Do know that MAZDA is made/owned by FORD. I'll just leave it at that. :lol: deeBO

Ya, don't kid yourself, the manualmatic will not be nearly as good as the manual, the shifts are laggy and its pretty easy to hit the rev limiter. U have to shift pretty early. But if u cant drive the manual or have little kids, the manualmatic is pretty cool.

I like the dual-clutch DirectShift manumatic that some of the new Audis have. It seems to be the first that combines a decent ride with faster shifts than even the best driver can make with a manual. One clutch engages the current gear while the other anticipates your next gear - its pretty tight. A lot of manumatics I've driven seem like just glorified versions of the [2] and [1] slots on my auto, which are lame.

But Mazda does make a great car

You Do know that MAZDA is made/owned by FORD. I'll just leave it at that. :lol: deeBO

Stop spreading the FUD :?

Ford owns a PORTION of Mazda (something like 30% or something like that) and they share platforms (the chassis that underpin the 3 and 6). But the 3 was designed and is built in Japan.

Calling the 3 a Ford is about as lame as calling a Matrix a GM vehicle.

Don't get me wrong, I love Toyota, but the brand whoring going on around here is unbearable sometimes.

I like the dual-clutch DirectShift manumatic that some of the new Audis have. It seems to be the first that combines a decent ride with faster shifts than even the best driver can make with a manual. One clutch engages the current gear while the other anticipates your next gear - its pretty tight. A lot of manumatics I've driven seem like just glorified versions of the [2] and [1] slots on my auto, which are lame.
omg i know what ur talking about, i love that. Now if only the Audi tt they offer it in was worth the money...

Some people just like Autos better. I agree the Mazda 3 is going to be hard to beat.


but it is a MAZDA. That is the same thing as a FORD. the TC will blow all of the competition away.
The Price: 16,465.00
The warranty: 5yr 60k
The value: Toyota
The engine: 2.4l 4cyl 160hp coming out of the #1 selling car in the usa (camry).

Some people just like Autos better. I agree the Mazda 3 is going to be hard to beat.


but it is a MAZDA. That is the same thing as a FORD. the TC will blow all of the competition away.
The Price: 16,465.00
The warranty: 5yr 60k
The value: Toyota
The engine: 2.4l 4cyl 160hp coming out of the #1 selling car in the usa (camry).

Some people just like Autos better. I agree the Mazda 3 is going to be hard to beat.


but it is a MAZDA. That is the same thing as a FORD. the TC will blow all of the competition away.
The Price: 16,465.00
The warranty: 5yr 60k
The value: Toyota
The engine: 2.4l 4cyl 160hp coming out of the #1 selling car in the usa (camry).
have you actually driven a mazda 3 for you to make that comment?

Some people just like Autos better. I agree the Mazda 3 is going to be hard to beat.


but it is a MAZDA. That is the same thing as a FORD. the TC will blow all of the competition away.
The Price: 16,465.00
The warranty: 5yr 60k
The value: Toyota
The engine: 2.4l 4cyl 160hp coming out of the #1 selling car in the usa (camry).

How clueless are you? The Mazda3 is NOT a Ford. The Focus/Mazda3/Volvo S40 all share the same basic platform and that's it. Each was developed indivudally beyond that (i.e., the S40 has AWD and available straight-5 engine).

I swear some of you know NOTHING about platform sharing or manufacturers sharing resources.

You guys saying a Mazda is a Ford are nuits. Guess what Ford also owns some of Jaguar and Land Rover. Does that make them "Fords"? No.

Don't go saying warrenty is better on the scion, the scion warrenty is only 3 years 36,000 with the powertrain at 5 years 60,000. The mazda 3 has a full warrenty for 4 years 50,000.

While I will say I'm not a ford fan I like the mazdas I've driven.

Owning one I don't think is for me, but I will admit they are fun to drive.

if madza is made by ford.. why the hell do some of you people like the RX8? mazda is partly owned by ford like someone mentioned above.

if madza is made by ford.. why the hell do some of you people like the RX8? mazda is partly owned by ford like someone mentioned above.

Like I said, they're clueless badge whores :lol:

Ok if somebody knows about ford and Mazda, its me. I am a mazda enthusiast (big fan of the rotary engines) All my cars have been Mazda’s (Mx3, Mx6 and RX7's 1st secon and third gen, 5 in total) if I had the money I would be buying a Mazda6 or an rx8 instead of the tC. Ok the mazda3: about a 15 to 20% of the car is made by Ford in Mexico, the Mazda6: 30 to 35% made in Mexico, Mazda tribute is 45 to 50% made by for in Mexico (its almost the same thing as the escape) the B truck pickup is the same thing as the ranger. But in the end what matters is that Mazda in Japan designs them all.
When you go to the ford.com page you get he option to go to 8 different pages (ford, Lincoln, Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin) they own part and contribute to the manufacturing and distributing of all of those companies just like they do in Mazda, but you don’t see the name of Aston Martin being degraded for being "owned" by ford like Mazda or Lincoln, I wonder way that is.

Ok if somebody knows about ford and Mazda, its me. I am a mazda enthusiast (big fan of the rotary engines) All my cars have been Mazda’s (Mx3,Mx6,rx7 1st secon and thir gen, 5 in total) if I had the money I would be buying a Mazda6 or an rx8 instead of the tC. Ok the mazda3: about a 15 to 20% of the car is made by Ford in Mexico, the Mazda6: 30 to 35% made in Mexico, Mazda tribute is 45 to 50% made by for in Mexico (its almost the same thing as the escape) the B truck pickup is the same thing as the ranger. But in the end what matters is that Mazda in Japan designs them all.
When you go to the ford.com page you get he option to go to 8 different pages (ford, Lincoln, Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin) the own part and contribute to the manufacturing and distributing of all of those companies just like they do in Mazda, but you don’t see the name of Aston Martin being degraded for being "owned" by ford like Mazda or Lincoln, I wonder way that is.

Mazda 3s
Where Built: Japan

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2004/mazda/3/100364240/specs.html?tid=edmunds.n.researchlanding.leftsidenav..8.Mazda*

True but assembly parts for them were made by ford in Mexico, like ford does with many other of their company’s

I just started learning how to drive manual... talk about a serious learning curve. Need to head out to a open park and practice there.

I'm doing it with a 82 Chevy Citation V6 :shock: 8)

I just started learning how to drive manual... talk about a serious learning curve. Need to head out to a open park and practice there.

I'm doing it with a 82 Chevy Citation V6 :shock: 8)

same here but im learning on a 88 Toyota Pickup truck.