So this is probably not what most people in here are looking to do, but some of you might be interested or may be able to help me.

The tC uses the camry engine. but gets a little more horsepower and a lot worse gas milage, 29 tC 34 camry, and the camry weighs at least a few hundered more pounds.

My question is this, did they get the extra horsepower out of the engine by simply modifying the engine computer? and if so, could the tC be tuned like the camry to get a lot better milage, with only a small power loss?

 

Gearing. The trans in the Camry is geared much lower. At 60mph on the freeway, they'll turn like 1500rpm in top gear, while we're near 3000rpm.

 

ohh, makes sense, bastards, we need a 6th gear

 

indeed

 

what the fvck was toyota thinking not giving the tc a sixth gear.they gave the celica one why not the tc.yeah i agree we need a sixth gear real bad but nothing we can do about it maybe in the future they might

 

I think toyota was more concerned with trying to make a 160hp car feel quick. They somewhat succeeded in doing that at the expense of mileage as well as additional wear and tear to the engine. It's all in marketing, they knew the demographic of the car was for young people who don't really care as much as they should on gas mileage. Also, developing a 6 speed trans would have certainly upped the price on the tC which is not what they wanted to do. That being said, I think 5th gear should have been much taller that what it is, I mean it's only intended to be a cruising gear anyway.

 

I really think they will come out with an upper model tc and adress that issue. Just like the 6th gear only came in the GT-S.
Maybe the tC will be a tC-s or something like that. I really think they have the market to have different level cars (all three included xA, xB, tC) Everyother manufacturer has it, i think scion will follow suit.

 

I disagree...Scion is able to offer the prices they do by not having trim levels. The only factory options are Color, trans type and air-bag configurations. There may be some sort of special model (RS series) that they would consider these options for, but they would most likely rollout the parts for a new model year. Remember, the tC is basically bastardized from a variety of other existing Toyota platforms (Camry engine and trans, Celica suspension and brake parts, ETC) to reduce costs, so developing more new parts than necessary goes against the whole low cost Scion philosophy. I may be wrong, but based on their past, I dont see that happening in the future.

 

yea, I see them coming out with a new sportier car before they "upgrade" a tC

 

A taller 5th gear would be nice....
Also, are any of you really getting anything near 29? I'm getting 22, at best. A few years back it wouldn't bother me so much, but I walked out of work a few months ago and gas was $3.50 and it really hasn't improved that much since (but then, we all know this equally well). What're you guys getting MPG-wise?

 

mine's a five speed and so far I average around 26+ mpg with alot of heavy traffic driving. Also I've only filled up once since I installed my I/H/E, and I actually went up to about 27.5 mpg on that last tank. could've just been a fluke though

 

When my 05 was NA, after about 15,000 miles, I started averaging about 29 mpg. Then I put my 18"s on and dropped back to 28. Then I got blown and dropped to about 24. It's funny how happiness was accompanied with less mpg.

 

it all depends on how you drive.drive it smooth and easy and you should get what they estimate but remember the miles per gallon are based @ 55 mph.i can get over 420 miles on a full tank crusing at 65-70 on a road trip but thats to damn slow so yes my gas milage sucks too

 

I've meticulusly tracked the mileage of every vehicle I've ever owned. My wife gets around 26 in town and we get 30 +/- 2 on the road. The best was 33 and the worst we've gotten was 18(heavy flogging).

 

I get about 25-26 MPG with city/high-way with trraffic. On a road trip I would think 30 would be just about right. Because of the gearing you don't get as good as you could on the highway.

 

my first tank of gas i got 27mpg, 2nd i got 25, 3rd (today) i calculated to be just over 23mpg.... what gives? i'm assuming it's no big deal, maybe i'm running into more red lights and heavier on the gas. but i hope this pattern doesn't continue... i still drive pretty light considering i'm still within the break in period. i got under 800 miles on the OD at the moment.

 

I do about 24 usually. I'm probably going to get my worst mileage ever out of this tank. But damn that injen CAI sounds good at full throttle!

 

Ive gotten as low as 23 and as high as 32. Usually I get about 27-28. Its all how you drive. You can drive fast and get ok mileage as long as you are smooth.