Help appreciatted - Son want to get a Scion tC
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2
Help appreciatted - Son want to get a Scion tC
Hi All;
Could someone or several someones answer some basic questions for me?
1.) What is the pure pricing thing and how "strict" is it? Not looking to nickle and dime someone for floor mats but am not offended by haggling if there is some wiggle room.
2.) Are the delivery and processing charges and Documentation charges on the configurator always in the end price somehow or is this a way for the dealer to pad a little? Negotiable?
3.) There seems to be no advantage in searching for a used 2005 as the asking price is often beyond what would seem reasonable. True (yes I know depends on how well I bargain, but...)
4.) When do the 2007's come out and will there be a more aggressive sale of the 2006's at that time as is pretty much industry standard?
5.) Is there anthing you regret about buying or wish you had done differently?
6.) What options can't you live without..what would you strip if you had it to do over again?
7.) What std package option offerings seem to be the best value in terms of what you get for the $$$ ?
8.) Are there other cars in your opinion that match up well to the Scion tC as to looks and value? Honda Civic Si as an example seems to be in the same class but more $$$
9.) If there is little or no pricing leeway then is it only selecting a dealer you feel comfortable with or is convenient? What about sites like CarMax and then anywhere for service?
10.) Regarding financing/lease..did you go with the dealership and were there any special offers or did you arrange that on your own?
Guess I'll hold it to a Top 10 but I really appreciate the help!!
TIA;
SciondadinFL (maybe)
Could someone or several someones answer some basic questions for me?
1.) What is the pure pricing thing and how "strict" is it? Not looking to nickle and dime someone for floor mats but am not offended by haggling if there is some wiggle room.
2.) Are the delivery and processing charges and Documentation charges on the configurator always in the end price somehow or is this a way for the dealer to pad a little? Negotiable?
3.) There seems to be no advantage in searching for a used 2005 as the asking price is often beyond what would seem reasonable. True (yes I know depends on how well I bargain, but...)
4.) When do the 2007's come out and will there be a more aggressive sale of the 2006's at that time as is pretty much industry standard?
5.) Is there anthing you regret about buying or wish you had done differently?
6.) What options can't you live without..what would you strip if you had it to do over again?
7.) What std package option offerings seem to be the best value in terms of what you get for the $$$ ?
8.) Are there other cars in your opinion that match up well to the Scion tC as to looks and value? Honda Civic Si as an example seems to be in the same class but more $$$
9.) If there is little or no pricing leeway then is it only selecting a dealer you feel comfortable with or is convenient? What about sites like CarMax and then anywhere for service?
10.) Regarding financing/lease..did you go with the dealership and were there any special offers or did you arrange that on your own?
Guess I'll hold it to a Top 10 but I really appreciate the help!!
TIA;
SciondadinFL (maybe)
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SL Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 87
I'm by no means any authority on this but I'll share what I've learned from also being at the pre purchase/research stage. I'd be interested to see the real facts for some of these too, but anyway here's what I've been told so far.
- They seem very very strict on the pure pricing, one of the dealers I've contacted said they won't/can't budge on the car price, that they sell for MSRP and make their profit on marking up accessories/options/services.
- The dealers I've contacted also told me that the two charges you mentioned they add on there are also non-negotiable. One told me that this was set by Scion not by the dealer, I'm not sure that's true because one dealer has a different documentation fee from another.
- I've also noticed used cars being priced higher than new. Given the kind of car this is and some of it's target market, it's not a car I'd really want to buy used. Keeping in mind how rare these cars still are, I've seen several being driven around on the roads here and really being thrashed (bouncing off the rev limited in first and so on). Although this is an unfair generalization on my part, I'm personally quite wary of looking for a used one in case it'd been severely abused. If I was looking for a used one, I'd try and find one that was completely stock.
- The car is very well equipped as standard, and I've read here that many of the options are very overpriced from dealers. If I go ahead and get a tC, there aren't many dealer options I really even want, so I plan to pick up what I need later from more reasonably priced sources. The only thing I really want anyway is floormats.
Beware of the alarm systems too.. there seems to be a discrepancy between the factory installed 'Scion Security' alarm system, and dealers installing aftermarket ones. I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing, but make sure if you get this option, you know what you're getting.
- The other car I'm seriously considering is the Mazda3. They seem very comparable, though the mazda in comparable trim is a little more expensive. The Scion seems slightly better value from what I can see, and although it's close I prefer the styling of it too.
- I'm not so sure what's the best route to go with the financing. Since there's seemingly no bargaining on the price, it seems somewhat pointless to get financing elsewhere with the view of making a cash offer (I may well be wrong though). What I intend to do is find the best rate for financing elsewhere & get pre approved, then see if the dealer can beat it. As an example, the dealer I checked is offering 6% apr over 60 months, capital one autofinance offers rates on new cars from I believe 5.6%. Keyword is probably 'from' there but worth checking out. I've read of Scion dealers matching other finance agreements.
- They seem very very strict on the pure pricing, one of the dealers I've contacted said they won't/can't budge on the car price, that they sell for MSRP and make their profit on marking up accessories/options/services.
- The dealers I've contacted also told me that the two charges you mentioned they add on there are also non-negotiable. One told me that this was set by Scion not by the dealer, I'm not sure that's true because one dealer has a different documentation fee from another.
- I've also noticed used cars being priced higher than new. Given the kind of car this is and some of it's target market, it's not a car I'd really want to buy used. Keeping in mind how rare these cars still are, I've seen several being driven around on the roads here and really being thrashed (bouncing off the rev limited in first and so on). Although this is an unfair generalization on my part, I'm personally quite wary of looking for a used one in case it'd been severely abused. If I was looking for a used one, I'd try and find one that was completely stock.
- The car is very well equipped as standard, and I've read here that many of the options are very overpriced from dealers. If I go ahead and get a tC, there aren't many dealer options I really even want, so I plan to pick up what I need later from more reasonably priced sources. The only thing I really want anyway is floormats.
Beware of the alarm systems too.. there seems to be a discrepancy between the factory installed 'Scion Security' alarm system, and dealers installing aftermarket ones. I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing, but make sure if you get this option, you know what you're getting.
- The other car I'm seriously considering is the Mazda3. They seem very comparable, though the mazda in comparable trim is a little more expensive. The Scion seems slightly better value from what I can see, and although it's close I prefer the styling of it too.
- I'm not so sure what's the best route to go with the financing. Since there's seemingly no bargaining on the price, it seems somewhat pointless to get financing elsewhere with the view of making a cash offer (I may well be wrong though). What I intend to do is find the best rate for financing elsewhere & get pre approved, then see if the dealer can beat it. As an example, the dealer I checked is offering 6% apr over 60 months, capital one autofinance offers rates on new cars from I believe 5.6%. Keyword is probably 'from' there but worth checking out. I've read of Scion dealers matching other finance agreements.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Naples
3.) There seems to be no advantage in searching for a used 2005 as the asking price is often beyond what would seem reasonable. True (yes I know depends on how well I bargain, but...)
I bought mine used from a Mazda Dealership where I bought my wife's new car 5 months prior. They just received the Scion TC on trade and didn't know much about it themselves. They tried to convince me that it had an upgraded (bigger) engine, but I knew that they only made the 2.4L camry engine for this year. They were asking $19,000 for it with 14K miles on it. I was able to move them down to $14,500 for my car. I told them that I could buy a new one fully loaded for close to their asking price. I would suggest if looking for used that you check non-toyota dealerships. They just received a white one the week after I purchased mine and were asking $20,000... I went back 3 months later and they still have it and it is priced at $17,000 now. I'm sure they may move more on that price.
5.) Is there anthing you regret about buying or wish you had done differently?
No. I love the fact that they come very equipped..look sharp... get about 30mpg (with daily driving of 80 miles on the interstate)... and can easily be modified if desired.
6.) What options can't you live without..what would you strip if you had it to do over again?
I could do without the back seat. I really wanted a 2 door because I was tired of driving everyone around. No back seats would give a little more trunk space.
7.) What std package option offerings seem to be the best value in terms of what you get for the $$$ ?
Unless you order it new, you get what you get pretty much. Standard options seem nice enough.
8.) Are there other cars in your opinion that match up well to the Scion tC as to looks and value? Honda Civic Si as an example seems to be in the same class but more $$$
I checked out Honda's (civic and accord), Mazda 3, and Toyota's (camry and corolla)... I just got out of a Nissan and I can honestly say that I am very pleased.
INSURANCE: I was paying $242/ month for car Insurance for my wife's 2005 Mazda 6 Sport V6 and my 1999 Nissan Sentra 1.6L 4 Cyl (I had a lot of bad speeding tickets). Swapping my Sentra with the 2005 Scion TC that I bought raised my 6 month premium by $1 (one) dollar. The Scion TC has one of the best crash ratings out there. Don't quote me, but I think it is 5 stars all around except for head on for the passenger which is 4 stars.
I hope this helps.
I bought mine used from a Mazda Dealership where I bought my wife's new car 5 months prior. They just received the Scion TC on trade and didn't know much about it themselves. They tried to convince me that it had an upgraded (bigger) engine, but I knew that they only made the 2.4L camry engine for this year. They were asking $19,000 for it with 14K miles on it. I was able to move them down to $14,500 for my car. I told them that I could buy a new one fully loaded for close to their asking price. I would suggest if looking for used that you check non-toyota dealerships. They just received a white one the week after I purchased mine and were asking $20,000... I went back 3 months later and they still have it and it is priced at $17,000 now. I'm sure they may move more on that price.
5.) Is there anthing you regret about buying or wish you had done differently?
No. I love the fact that they come very equipped..look sharp... get about 30mpg (with daily driving of 80 miles on the interstate)... and can easily be modified if desired.
6.) What options can't you live without..what would you strip if you had it to do over again?
I could do without the back seat. I really wanted a 2 door because I was tired of driving everyone around. No back seats would give a little more trunk space.
7.) What std package option offerings seem to be the best value in terms of what you get for the $$$ ?
Unless you order it new, you get what you get pretty much. Standard options seem nice enough.
8.) Are there other cars in your opinion that match up well to the Scion tC as to looks and value? Honda Civic Si as an example seems to be in the same class but more $$$
I checked out Honda's (civic and accord), Mazda 3, and Toyota's (camry and corolla)... I just got out of a Nissan and I can honestly say that I am very pleased.
INSURANCE: I was paying $242/ month for car Insurance for my wife's 2005 Mazda 6 Sport V6 and my 1999 Nissan Sentra 1.6L 4 Cyl (I had a lot of bad speeding tickets). Swapping my Sentra with the 2005 Scion TC that I bought raised my 6 month premium by $1 (one) dollar. The Scion TC has one of the best crash ratings out there. Don't quote me, but I think it is 5 stars all around except for head on for the passenger which is 4 stars.
I hope this helps.
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Scikotics
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,757
From: West Des Moines, IA
Re: Help appreciatted - Son want to get a Scion tC
I suppose I can take a stab at answering these questions as well.
1.) What is the pure pricing thing and how "strict" is it? Not looking to nickle and dime someone for floor mats but am not offended by haggling if there is some wiggle room.
-It is pretty strict. I tried to get my dealership to throw in a little extra stuff because I had an "interesting" dealer experience when getting my car. (Nobody's fault, just a little lack of communication at the dealership). Scion's pure pricing includes the accessories. They told me that if they threw in any extras, they could get their Scion selling permit thingie revoked.
2.) Are the delivery and processing charges and Documentation charges on the configurator always in the end price somehow or is this a way for the dealer to pad a little? Negotiable?
-I think every dealership has this to some degree. You can try to negotiate it to a lower price, but I would imagine they charge the same fee for every car they sell.
3.) There seems to be no advantage in searching for a used 2005 as the asking price is often beyond what would seem reasonable. True (yes I know depends on how well I bargain, but...)
-Pretty much true. You might be able to find a 2005 for a little less, but it probably won't be too much less than a brand new one. Scions in general hold their value VERY well. (Bad thing for trying to buy a used one, but good for you down the road when you go to sell it.)
4.) When do the 2007's come out and will there be a more aggressive sale of the 2006's at that time as is pretty much industry standard?
-Doubtful, they might knock a little bit off the price, but not much. Scions usually sell very quick. I saw a brand new 2005 Release Series 1.0 at a dealership recently. It was about a year old, and still going for the original sticker price.
5.) Is there anthing you regret about buying or wish you had done differently?
-I wish I wouldn't have had any dealer options installed (my shift ****). After buying my tC, I found I could get the accessories much cheaper online.
6.) What options can't you live without..what would you strip if you had it to do over again?
-I got airbags in mine which I believe is money well spent. I would get all other options off the internet though. Every part I have seen sold by McGeorge and TRD Sparks offers very good instructions as well as many DIY's here on the website.
7.) What std package option offerings seem to be the best value in terms of what you get for the $$$ ?
-Get it stock and buy upgrades on the net. All Scions come equipped the same from the factory with the exception of transmission, airbags or none, or the Release Series cars.
8.) Are there other cars in your opinion that match up well to the Scion tC as to looks and value? Honda Civic Si as an example seems to be in the same class but more $$$
-The Acura RSX is also fairly close to the tC as well as the new 4-cyl Eclipse. People always compare the tC to those cars, but don't realize that the tC is more of a luxury/sport car than one built for speed. The other cars will probably go faster, but the tC is far more comfortable while still being fairly quick. Plus, it has a Toyota engine powering it. One of the most reliable in the business.
9.) If there is little or no pricing leeway then is it only selecting a dealer you feel comfortable with or is convenient? What about sites like CarMax and then anywhere for service?
-Make sure you take a look at the service department at the dealership you want to buy from. I take my tC in fairly often for various fixes. Nothing big, just the oil changes, warrenty work, etc. My dealership is great, they treat me well, and give me good customer support.
10.) Regarding financing/lease..did you go with the dealership and were there any special offers or did you arrange that on your own?
-I leased through Toyota Financial. They gave me a pretty good interest rate and I got $400 off the price of my car because of the college graduate discount. I also got a $50 Scion gift card in the mail for financing through them. I am pretty satisfied with financing through Toyota Financial.
Good luck with the tC. If you get it, I am sure you won't be disappointed.
1.) What is the pure pricing thing and how "strict" is it? Not looking to nickle and dime someone for floor mats but am not offended by haggling if there is some wiggle room.
-It is pretty strict. I tried to get my dealership to throw in a little extra stuff because I had an "interesting" dealer experience when getting my car. (Nobody's fault, just a little lack of communication at the dealership). Scion's pure pricing includes the accessories. They told me that if they threw in any extras, they could get their Scion selling permit thingie revoked.
2.) Are the delivery and processing charges and Documentation charges on the configurator always in the end price somehow or is this a way for the dealer to pad a little? Negotiable?
-I think every dealership has this to some degree. You can try to negotiate it to a lower price, but I would imagine they charge the same fee for every car they sell.
3.) There seems to be no advantage in searching for a used 2005 as the asking price is often beyond what would seem reasonable. True (yes I know depends on how well I bargain, but...)
-Pretty much true. You might be able to find a 2005 for a little less, but it probably won't be too much less than a brand new one. Scions in general hold their value VERY well. (Bad thing for trying to buy a used one, but good for you down the road when you go to sell it.)
4.) When do the 2007's come out and will there be a more aggressive sale of the 2006's at that time as is pretty much industry standard?
-Doubtful, they might knock a little bit off the price, but not much. Scions usually sell very quick. I saw a brand new 2005 Release Series 1.0 at a dealership recently. It was about a year old, and still going for the original sticker price.
5.) Is there anthing you regret about buying or wish you had done differently?
-I wish I wouldn't have had any dealer options installed (my shift ****). After buying my tC, I found I could get the accessories much cheaper online.
6.) What options can't you live without..what would you strip if you had it to do over again?
-I got airbags in mine which I believe is money well spent. I would get all other options off the internet though. Every part I have seen sold by McGeorge and TRD Sparks offers very good instructions as well as many DIY's here on the website.
7.) What std package option offerings seem to be the best value in terms of what you get for the $$$ ?
-Get it stock and buy upgrades on the net. All Scions come equipped the same from the factory with the exception of transmission, airbags or none, or the Release Series cars.
8.) Are there other cars in your opinion that match up well to the Scion tC as to looks and value? Honda Civic Si as an example seems to be in the same class but more $$$
-The Acura RSX is also fairly close to the tC as well as the new 4-cyl Eclipse. People always compare the tC to those cars, but don't realize that the tC is more of a luxury/sport car than one built for speed. The other cars will probably go faster, but the tC is far more comfortable while still being fairly quick. Plus, it has a Toyota engine powering it. One of the most reliable in the business.
9.) If there is little or no pricing leeway then is it only selecting a dealer you feel comfortable with or is convenient? What about sites like CarMax and then anywhere for service?
-Make sure you take a look at the service department at the dealership you want to buy from. I take my tC in fairly often for various fixes. Nothing big, just the oil changes, warrenty work, etc. My dealership is great, they treat me well, and give me good customer support.
10.) Regarding financing/lease..did you go with the dealership and were there any special offers or did you arrange that on your own?
-I leased through Toyota Financial. They gave me a pretty good interest rate and I got $400 off the price of my car because of the college graduate discount. I also got a $50 Scion gift card in the mail for financing through them. I am pretty satisfied with financing through Toyota Financial.
Good luck with the tC. If you get it, I am sure you won't be disappointed.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,409
From: Redneck Riveria
1) Pure pricing means "Advertised price = transaction price". The car is priced about 4% over cost w/ no hold back, and comes with an insane amount of standard features. Considering the limited availability, when dealers get busted for skirting the system, they lose 30% of their allocation. This hurts dealers because a lot of the money they make from Toyota is based off of performance bonuses, if you lose 30% of one line, it can kill a small dealership and cripple a larger one.
2) Delivery fees are charged by the distributor and are clearly marked on the window sticker. They vary a little between regions. Doc fees are charged by the dealer and vary dramatically. I know of one dealer that does not charge a Doc fee, but they put Toyoguard on everything, so it's a wash.
3) You might find a used one cheaper on a non-toyota lot, but the amount of work involved in doing so might negate any benefits. What this tells you: The car has outstanding resale value and is a worthwhile investment...as depricitating assets go at least.
4) 07's will be out begining of july or so. No rebates will be had on the 06's, but on the off chance you just happen to find an 06 w/o 2k worth of dealer/port installed accy's, Scion will bribe you with goodies to take them away, not $$$$
5) I sell them, I want one, and my customers are insanely happy w/their purchases.
6) You don't need any options as they are stocked with standard features. You might consider the mats (they are 2-way and you can take out the carpet to make them all-weather), and the iPod connection. It's only $260 bump for it if you get it with the purchase of the car, while it's upwards of 700 if you get it done after the fact. Most of the accy's are not like this, but because the radios are put in at port and come from Japan ready for it, it's realatively easy to slap in. However, if you have to pay a tech to rip out, and then intall, and then run wire to the connection, it becomes considerably more. However, these foks here all run aftermarket stuff for the most part, so if your son is going to add one of those head pounding systems, you may consier not going with this. Wings are fun too, but it's purely subjective.
7) No packages, they are all built the sameway, fully loaded. It's called monospecing, and it's the reason the car retails for 18 instead of 20 or more.
8) Nothing matches well at that price. Period. A Focus costs 18k, and they are worth 8k a year later and it is completely outclassed by the tC. The Civic can be had for around there, but not the Si. The Hyundai Tiburon is a decent car, but more money. The Acura RSX is an outstanding automobile, but again, costs a lot more.
9) You just need to pick a dealer you are comfortable with that is convienient. Although keep in mind, some dealers do not trade with other dealers, so you have to take what they have on the lot or what they have comming in. These are generally the dealers with the worst reputations as well, because they don't neccessarily tell you, "we don't trade, so take what we got or get lost", they just aren't completely upfront with you if what you want is not in their pipeline.
10) You will be 100% better off by bringing your own money to dealer, especially if you have great credit. My finance manager pulled a bureau for me once and out came an 835. His eyes jumped out of his head and he said, "if I had an 835 beacon and you asked me for my credit info, I'd tell to you go &*^&*%(&%^(*&^ , I've got my own money!"
PM me if you like, I'm always around.
2) Delivery fees are charged by the distributor and are clearly marked on the window sticker. They vary a little between regions. Doc fees are charged by the dealer and vary dramatically. I know of one dealer that does not charge a Doc fee, but they put Toyoguard on everything, so it's a wash.
3) You might find a used one cheaper on a non-toyota lot, but the amount of work involved in doing so might negate any benefits. What this tells you: The car has outstanding resale value and is a worthwhile investment...as depricitating assets go at least.
4) 07's will be out begining of july or so. No rebates will be had on the 06's, but on the off chance you just happen to find an 06 w/o 2k worth of dealer/port installed accy's, Scion will bribe you with goodies to take them away, not $$$$
5) I sell them, I want one, and my customers are insanely happy w/their purchases.
6) You don't need any options as they are stocked with standard features. You might consider the mats (they are 2-way and you can take out the carpet to make them all-weather), and the iPod connection. It's only $260 bump for it if you get it with the purchase of the car, while it's upwards of 700 if you get it done after the fact. Most of the accy's are not like this, but because the radios are put in at port and come from Japan ready for it, it's realatively easy to slap in. However, if you have to pay a tech to rip out, and then intall, and then run wire to the connection, it becomes considerably more. However, these foks here all run aftermarket stuff for the most part, so if your son is going to add one of those head pounding systems, you may consier not going with this. Wings are fun too, but it's purely subjective.
7) No packages, they are all built the sameway, fully loaded. It's called monospecing, and it's the reason the car retails for 18 instead of 20 or more.
8) Nothing matches well at that price. Period. A Focus costs 18k, and they are worth 8k a year later and it is completely outclassed by the tC. The Civic can be had for around there, but not the Si. The Hyundai Tiburon is a decent car, but more money. The Acura RSX is an outstanding automobile, but again, costs a lot more.
9) You just need to pick a dealer you are comfortable with that is convienient. Although keep in mind, some dealers do not trade with other dealers, so you have to take what they have on the lot or what they have comming in. These are generally the dealers with the worst reputations as well, because they don't neccessarily tell you, "we don't trade, so take what we got or get lost", they just aren't completely upfront with you if what you want is not in their pipeline.
10) You will be 100% better off by bringing your own money to dealer, especially if you have great credit. My finance manager pulled a bureau for me once and out came an 835. His eyes jumped out of his head and he said, "if I had an 835 beacon and you asked me for my credit info, I'd tell to you go &*^&*%(&%^(*&^ , I've got my own money!"
PM me if you like, I'm always around.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,091
From: Fresno, CA
I was hinted at toyota will be releasing alot of thier 07's in august or september, I would buy new, your intrest rate will be better, and if you were to find a used one that is in prime conditon your intrest rate on a used car plus the fact that these things are holding thier re-sale value you may end up spending more over the long run vs. new.
as for features, i really enjoy driving my scion, its quick out of the box, the quality of the fit and finnish is good for the price, i have heard complaints about paint but my Tc is an 06 and have not had any issues. As for the price its very reasonable for what they asked, and i enjoyed the fact of not negotiating the sale, however check around for a trust wrothy dealer, i have heard some stories on the forum of people getting ripped hard in the finance office.
Also like mentioned, do not use the dealer fincance, bring your own, that way they cannot screw you somewhere on the deal and pad your intrest rate, or what not.
as for upgrades, buy it stock and purchase them elsewhere, i got my floormats off ebay for 70.00.
the only factory upgrades that are worth the money are the airbags IMO, everything else including rims, factory body kit etc. can be bought aftermarket for a considerable savings.
good luck!
as for features, i really enjoy driving my scion, its quick out of the box, the quality of the fit and finnish is good for the price, i have heard complaints about paint but my Tc is an 06 and have not had any issues. As for the price its very reasonable for what they asked, and i enjoyed the fact of not negotiating the sale, however check around for a trust wrothy dealer, i have heard some stories on the forum of people getting ripped hard in the finance office.
Also like mentioned, do not use the dealer fincance, bring your own, that way they cannot screw you somewhere on the deal and pad your intrest rate, or what not.
as for upgrades, buy it stock and purchase them elsewhere, i got my floormats off ebay for 70.00.
the only factory upgrades that are worth the money are the airbags IMO, everything else including rims, factory body kit etc. can be bought aftermarket for a considerable savings.
good luck!
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,350
Side airbags are a must. I went with the ground effects and the fogs as well. If you do plan to make the front a little nicer, I suggest getting the ground effects from the dealer. Parts and installation make that cost well worth it imo. I don't think fogs are necessary, but if you got a few hundred laying around, why not?
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 118
From: Killeen, TX
everybody here has good advice, i'd just like to add that if you're going to compare a tC with another car, you've got to be realistic.
the civic si is NOT a fair comparison price or performance-wise with a tC. the EX model is, however.
i'm guessing by reading your entire post that the car's longevity and all-around quality are more important than horsepower numbers, so skip the srt-4, wrx, gti etc. etc. comparisons. more realistically, the tC compares to the new caliber, civic ex, cobalt, tiburon, and mazda3 like mentioned before. i hope this helps, and i have to recommend you get this car for your son. everyone will be happy with it, trust me.
the civic si is NOT a fair comparison price or performance-wise with a tC. the EX model is, however.
i'm guessing by reading your entire post that the car's longevity and all-around quality are more important than horsepower numbers, so skip the srt-4, wrx, gti etc. etc. comparisons. more realistically, the tC compares to the new caliber, civic ex, cobalt, tiburon, and mazda3 like mentioned before. i hope this helps, and i have to recommend you get this car for your son. everyone will be happy with it, trust me.
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Joined: May 2005
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From: Central PA
Originally Posted by Mötley
Originally Posted by amnsantiago
I got mine new, with side curtain airbags as an option.
ha, I got the same option aswell
...freaking useless I say.
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SL Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 210
From: NC
You will be 100% better off by bringing your own money to dealer, especially if you have great credit.
If the price of the car is negotiable the dealer may be willing to sell it to you for a little less if he is arranging the financing for you as in those cases he does get a percentage kickback from the bank.
Either way, you should contact your bank or credit union asa well as the dealer about financing. See who has the best rate. Be smart about your decision. People spend a lot of time deciding what car to buy and then spend ridiculous amounts of money because they dont spend any time shopping the financing.
In any case the dealer and the banks make a ton of money when they sell you life and disability insurance in with your loan. They make a ton of money on extended warranties also. Then you pay interest on all that money and about all you get is screwed.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2
Wow..thanks all..lots of great information and a show of force as to how beneficial this forum can be for those thinking about the Scionlife.
My son seems pretty set and we did look at a few alternatives but feature vs. price the scion looks much better.
Great advice about leaving off the options and purchasing in the open market !!
Thanks and feel free to add more..he still has another month of saving to do..<LOL>
My son seems pretty set and we did look at a few alternatives but feature vs. price the scion looks much better.
Great advice about leaving off the options and purchasing in the open market !!
Thanks and feel free to add more..he still has another month of saving to do..<LOL>
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,409
From: Redneck Riveria
They make a ton of money on extended warranties also
Unless the manufacturer is offering free money or dirt cheap money (incentive rates) bringing your money in is ALWAYS better. Credit Unions buy their dough from the Fed at a cheaper rate than banks do, which means they can sell it at a better rate, but they also have the right to call the loan due at any time (a right rarely exercised and usually only if they are going bankrupt). If you are going through the dealer, who is buying it from the bank, who is buying it from the Fed, you have an extra hand passing the cake, which means more crumbs will fall off. The crumbs are profit. You want as many crumbs left on the cake as possible. This is true with ANY product or service as well.
Re: Help appreciatted - Son want to get a Scion tC
I guess I can take a stab at some of these... I've been around this block a few times on the forums. 
Most of the stuff has pretty much been covered by everyone else, but I don't feel like reading it all, so I'm going to answer them all anyways. If it's repetitive, sorry.
1.) What is the pure pricing thing and how "strict" is it? Not looking to nickle and dime someone for floor mats but am not offended by haggling if there is some wiggle room.
You pay the advertised price. No wiggle room. No haggling. Or they can get in some deep crap with Corporate.
2.) Are the delivery and processing charges and Documentation charges on the configurator always in the end price somehow or is this a way for the dealer to pad a little? Negotiable?
I think some dealers may try to "pad" this, but it's often very close. When I was figuring payments at the dealer, they literally used the same pricing thing on the Scion website and that's what my payment was.
3.) There seems to be no advantage in searching for a used 2005 as the asking price is often beyond what would seem reasonable. True (yes I know depends on how well I bargain, but...).
Don't bother with used. Not just based on price, but some of the things I've read here on the forums would make me not trust any other used tC out there... You just never know.
4.) When do the 2007's come out and will there be a more aggressive sale of the 2006's at that time as is pretty much industry standard?
2007s probably in a couple months. July/August timeframe. There usually wouldn't be many 2006 models left to discount by that time, and the discount would be pretty unlikely anyways b/c of Pure Pricing.
5.) Is there anthing you regret about buying or wish you had done differently?
Not that I can think of...
6.) What options can't you live without..what would you strip if you had it to do over again?
The only things to consider from the dealer would be side airbags or the iPod upgrade. Anything else can likely be gotten cheaper/better in the aftermarket.
7.) What std package option offerings seem to be the best value in terms of what you get for the $$$ ?
Not really many "packages" with the Scions. Unless the dealer throws on their own "package" of options - but see #6.
8.) Are there other cars in your opinion that match up well to the Scion tC as to looks and value? Honda Civic Si as an example seems to be in the same class but more $$$
Si is a bad example of class. It's more power and more options and such. One of the other Civic models might be the same. Some people might also consider the Hyundai Tiburon in the same class... or Mazda 3... stuff like that. I'm not sure about the value of those though, probably not vehicles I would buy.
9.) If there is little or no pricing leeway then is it only selecting a dealer you feel comfortable with or is convenient? What about sites like CarMax and then anywhere for service?
Find some reviews of the dealers in your area if you can. Or go talk to them yourselves. Learn as much as you can about the cars and then test them on it. Find out who knows what they're talking about an who's feeding you BS to sell a car. I wouldn't bother with any other sites, since pricing isn't really an issue. Might as well stick with a registered dealer.
10.) Regarding financing/lease..did you go with the dealership and were there any special offers or did you arrange that on your own?
I was able to get mine with the College Graduate program. Awesome interest rate, $400 cash back, free year of roadside assitance... and something else I'm forgetting. My dealer didn't even know about it, but I had printed off the info sheet when I went shopping for it and they had to go look it all up.
Bottom line... be prepared. Learn as much as you can about the vehicle before you go so you don't have to take all of their BS. Consider the prepaid scheduled maintenance (extended warranty is up to you). I have 30k scheduled maintenance and I just take my car in and hand them a coupon. Then I drive away when they're done. Every 5k up to 30k miles. WELL WORTH IT, IMO.
Most of the stuff has pretty much been covered by everyone else, but I don't feel like reading it all, so I'm going to answer them all anyways. If it's repetitive, sorry. 1.) What is the pure pricing thing and how "strict" is it? Not looking to nickle and dime someone for floor mats but am not offended by haggling if there is some wiggle room.
You pay the advertised price. No wiggle room. No haggling. Or they can get in some deep crap with Corporate.
2.) Are the delivery and processing charges and Documentation charges on the configurator always in the end price somehow or is this a way for the dealer to pad a little? Negotiable?
I think some dealers may try to "pad" this, but it's often very close. When I was figuring payments at the dealer, they literally used the same pricing thing on the Scion website and that's what my payment was.
3.) There seems to be no advantage in searching for a used 2005 as the asking price is often beyond what would seem reasonable. True (yes I know depends on how well I bargain, but...).
Don't bother with used. Not just based on price, but some of the things I've read here on the forums would make me not trust any other used tC out there...
You just never know.4.) When do the 2007's come out and will there be a more aggressive sale of the 2006's at that time as is pretty much industry standard?
2007s probably in a couple months. July/August timeframe. There usually wouldn't be many 2006 models left to discount by that time, and the discount would be pretty unlikely anyways b/c of Pure Pricing.
5.) Is there anthing you regret about buying or wish you had done differently?
Not that I can think of...
6.) What options can't you live without..what would you strip if you had it to do over again?
The only things to consider from the dealer would be side airbags or the iPod upgrade. Anything else can likely be gotten cheaper/better in the aftermarket.
7.) What std package option offerings seem to be the best value in terms of what you get for the $$$ ?
Not really many "packages" with the Scions. Unless the dealer throws on their own "package" of options - but see #6.
8.) Are there other cars in your opinion that match up well to the Scion tC as to looks and value? Honda Civic Si as an example seems to be in the same class but more $$$
Si is a bad example of class. It's more power and more options and such. One of the other Civic models might be the same. Some people might also consider the Hyundai Tiburon in the same class... or Mazda 3... stuff like that. I'm not sure about the value of those though, probably not vehicles I would buy.
9.) If there is little or no pricing leeway then is it only selecting a dealer you feel comfortable with or is convenient? What about sites like CarMax and then anywhere for service?
Find some reviews of the dealers in your area if you can. Or go talk to them yourselves. Learn as much as you can about the cars and then test them on it. Find out who knows what they're talking about an who's feeding you BS to sell a car. I wouldn't bother with any other sites, since pricing isn't really an issue. Might as well stick with a registered dealer.
10.) Regarding financing/lease..did you go with the dealership and were there any special offers or did you arrange that on your own?
I was able to get mine with the College Graduate program. Awesome interest rate, $400 cash back, free year of roadside assitance... and something else I'm forgetting. My dealer didn't even know about it, but I had printed off the info sheet when I went shopping for it and they had to go look it all up.
Bottom line... be prepared. Learn as much as you can about the vehicle before you go so you don't have to take all of their BS. Consider the prepaid scheduled maintenance (extended warranty is up to you). I have 30k scheduled maintenance and I just take my car in and hand them a coupon. Then I drive away when they're done. Every 5k up to 30k miles. WELL WORTH IT, IMO.
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 210
From: NC
That, in and of itself, does not negate their usefullness. If you are planning on keeping the car for a while, or you drive a lot, they are well worth the money. They are more like insurance in my mind. You don't plan on using it, but it's nice when you got it. but of course, be smart about it, and pay cash for it if you can.
Unless the manufacturer is offering free money or dirt cheap money (incentive rates) bringing your money in is ALWAYS better.
Unless the manufacturer is offering free money or dirt cheap money (incentive rates) bringing your money in is ALWAYS better.
I cannot 100% agree with the "ALWAYS" part to the last statement. You have to do your research. I have been in and around the automobile business for over 25 years now and have seen many times where credit unions were better than bank rates and many times they are not. In the early 80's the CUs and banks could almost always beat Ford Motor Credit and GMAC and the other Industry owned lenders. Today there are so many special rates being offered by the manufactures that you really need to research. For all practicle purposes all deals are really cash as far as the dealer is concerned. He will get a check from you, your bank or CU, or from the institution he arranges the loan with for you. Granted he will get a kickback if he does the work, but if the APR is lower on that loan it is better for the buyer to take his loan than to go out himself and borrow the money. APR is APR, crumbs or not. I have sold many cars cheaper when the customer let me arrange the financing just because of the kickback. Some times this was not a smart thing for the buyer to do. If the APR was the same it made no difference. Personally I do not care if a dealer makes a percentage on a loan if he can give me 2.9% and my bank wants 5%. The whole point is do the research, ask questions, and consider the cost of the whole deal and see what costs you the least at the end of the loan.
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,114
From: Cape Coral, Florida
Everyone else seemed to answer your questions quite well, I just wanted to add one thing seeing you're in florida..
At the dealership I went to (Ft. myers toyota), they offer a lifetime warranty on the drivetrain (unlimited miles, unlimited time) as long as you get all of the service done there. If it's not a far ride you might want to check them out.. They offer that deal on any new toyotas and scions.
At the dealership I went to (Ft. myers toyota), they offer a lifetime warranty on the drivetrain (unlimited miles, unlimited time) as long as you get all of the service done there. If it's not a far ride you might want to check them out.. They offer that deal on any new toyotas and scions.