I have been reading quite a bit about the tC lately and one thing that I have repeatedly seen is that while driving at freeway speeds (70-80 mph) the engine is pushing 4000 rpm. I don't really like the sound of this, and was wondering what people have done to fix this (turbo, sc, I/H/E...) thanks a bunch.

 

there is nothing you can do about it. the car is just fine pushing 4k although thats about 90mph

 

Ok. I did assume that the people who were _____ing about it were also stretching the truth just a bit. All I'm really concerned with is the noise level in the car.

 

its really quiet inside when it stock but once you add the goodies of coures the car is going to be louder but still quiet inside also they are notorious for rattling panels near the hatch but not all of them mines started doing that but thats whats the warranty is for

 

yes, the "sportiness" of the manual tc comes from the gearing, 70mph = 3200rpm. stock the noise on the highway isn't so bad, the ASL (auto sound balance) from the headunit drowns it out too. but add an intake and exhaust and you really hear it, but i prefer it personally. I really think these "rattling" issues are just a big load by whiny people, I've had no rattling issues at all.

 

^^^ like i said not all tc rattle^^^^^ mines never did till last week

 

11k miles, and no hatch rattle.

If you want quietness, then I'd suggest some type of dynamat'ing in the back hatch. There is very little sound insulation back there... and if you get an exhaust, it does tend to reverb through the cabin.

Keeping it stock, you won't need any insulation.... But keep in mind that dynamat can truly make any geo metro as quiet as a $100k Lexus.

The super short gearing issue cannot be rectified by any simple means. You'd have to tear into the transmission, which is a single unit with the engine block, and then make a custom gearset with your chosen ratios. Not easy, and not cheap.

 

When I brought my tC home a year ago, I had to drive it for about 10 miles on the highway. I was shocked that I could talk at a normal tone of voice going over the buckman bridge (which I would have to yell for anyone to hear me in our 30K Nissan Maxima). The car is very quiet. And I usually do about 75-80 on the highway around here and if I have the radio on, I don't hear the car whining at all, if I don't have it on, the sounds not loud at all. I have an automatic so I dunno if that changes anything from the manual, but I'm usually only hitting about 2500-3000 rpm. The noise comes from the 4500 and up range.

 

yea i think i'v read that the gear ratio is longer on the auto, thats right isnt it?

 

yea, cause the manual is a 5-speed and the auto is only 4.

 

when u get your tC, just tear it apart and throw in deading everywhere it in....you will notice a BIG difference. i mean the tC is fairly quiet for the price you pay. but if you want someting silent...your only option is to tear it apart and make it quiet.

 

I didn't think about dynomat... That's a good idea because I work at best buy and can get it really cheap. Another question I have is what the stock exhaust sounds like. I haven't had a chance to drive one of these yet because nobody around me has any (not even the dealers).

 

The tC has excellent features versus the cost. Yeah its not quite as nice as a lexus IS300 but its also about 13,000 dollars cheaper. The tC has more sound deadening material than anything built by Toyota that's not a Lexus, according to this thread: http://<a href="https://www.scionlif...hp?t=35024</a>

I think if you leave the stock axle-back exhaust alone it stays quiet even with an intake and header.

 

if you change anything in the exhaust system its gonna get louder. i would believe especially the header

 

man i rocked 100mph with HKS axleback from florida to texas, (12 hour boring drive) and the rpms were around redline the entire time. I dont recomend this but my car still drives as if it was fresh off the lot and i really get into some spirited driving....so if you are worried dont be, cuz i am probably one of the best at destroying a good investment and so far this car has done nothing but fought back by not breaking...(KNOCKS ON WOOD LOUDLY)lol anyhow sound deadening is a great investment ecsp. after modding any of the exhaust!! oh and i have only had mine a year and i have close to 24,000 miles on it.

 

100mph near red line. wow what gear were you in. 4th?

 

Its pretty quiet up to 80 mph unless its raining - for some reason the rear wheel wells don't have much soundproofing and some people have been bothered by the noise. I don't find it to be all that bad.

 

lol i was thinkin the same thing

 

hahaha dumb a$$ for got there was a 5th

 

well there is no 5th in the automatic,
but even then......