I apologize if there have been posts like this... i've seen ppl get mad about searching before posting...

Alright, I really want to get a new 06 NB tC, with the ground effects, pedestal spoiler, and iPod capability. all at a little under 20 grand.. however, my payments would be around 350 a month for 6 years, and i wonder if it'd be worth it. with my job right now, i could make the payments and pay for all the other things i need, but other than that it'd be tight. like no play-money my car now is a pos, 97 chrysler cirrus with 143,000 miles. the tranny is really going out on it, and i don't want to pay to get it fixed if it costs more than the car is worth.

my real dilemma is whether to go new vs. a used car. used would be cheaper, but you never know if you're going to get a lemon, plain and simple. if i went new it'd be a tC for sure. i test drove one at a dealer in town, and i liked it so much. although, if i do buy, i want to go to a different dealer than the one i did. they were unknowledgable, pushy, and weren't going to give me the kbb trade-in value i know my car is worth. all they wanted me to do was buy the one tC they had on the lot, which i couldnt have done even if i wanted to at the time.

i guess i do have a couple questions though...

first, if i ordered one, would i have to put down a deposit? i've read some posts here and i think it's been around $500. just wondering if it was the same for everyone. and when the car comes in, does it count as part of a down payment?

second, anyone here from the pittsburgh area? if so, where did you go to get yours? the dealer i went to was on mcKnight... Davis toyota scion... i'd reccomend anyone to stay away

That's all i have for now. if i have anymore thoughts/questions, i'll add to this thread.

 

you'll be sooooo happy with your tC that you won't even think about doing anything that'll require any play money.

(other than mods. all of mine are sponsored by Discover.)

 

Yes, my deposit for the tC is $500.

$350 for 6 years? Whoa, your APR must be 15%+.

The sales guy at my Scion dealer was very talkative, but helpful and friendly. Got me the custome ordered car in 2 days. Going to pick it up tonight.

BTW, find out how much your insurance is going to be before you buy.

 

do you really need $2k worth of ricer mods?

if you like the tC, just get it stock and it'll be easier to pay the monthly bills. don't forget that it'll be more expensive than you usually expect due to taxes/fees/etc.

 

To be honest, it doesn't sound like your in a position to have a new car. Why struggle so hard and deprive yourself to get something that's going to lose money over time. Probably not what you wanted to hear, but find a nice reliable used Toyota and hold off on the new car purchase until you can do it comfortably. Just trying to be practical. Now, if it were a house you were trying to buy, that's worth the struggle. Appreciation vs. depreciation...

 

yup
you might be happy with your new car.
but you will worry about your wallet.
and what about insurance? u need full coverage too.

 

What's up man- I'm in the Pittsburgh area- where are you at?

First- props to you for asking the questions. So many people get a job and a bit of money and run out and buy a new car without really seeing if they should. Kudos to you.

I think your decision is based on a couple of factors. If you have a long commute to work or are in a job that keeps you in your car a lot, then you might want to spend the extra $$$ to get something that's under warranty that you know will be reliable. That still might be used, of course, but at the end of the day, you don't want a beater car. There is something to be said for owning your first new car. If you can buy the car pay the insurance, the rent and other bills and have $$ left to eat and go out from time to time. Then it's probably ok to buy the car. If that's going to be a struggle, then you may want to reconsider.

If you buy a car that's used at least try and get something with a lot of life left in it. Whatever you decide, do your homework. Spend time on sites like AutoTrader, Edmunds, KBB, cars.com, etc. to establish Fair Market Value for whatever car you end up buying. You will be a much more educated consumer if you buy a used car this way KNOWING how much similar vehicles are selling for in your area. Also, if you're going to buy a used car that's no longer under factory warranty, it's probably a good idea to set some money aside. I highly recommend the website www.carbuyingtips.com to anyone shopping for a car. A lot of their stuff doesn't apply because of Scion's pure pricing policy, but for any other car- new or used- their info is invaluable.

As far as mods go- don't sweat it. It's really easy to get caught up in modding your tC. Especially after spending time here and reading and participating. I bought my tC in October and it's still totally stock. I don't have a lot of extra $$ and have never really been into the modding scene. I love my stock tC. It's what's right for me. I may add some things over time, but dropping the car on springs and paying for tint and multiple DVD screens just isn't a priority for me. I wax it a lot though, and guess what- it looks great. That's what matters to me.

As far as payment goes: I financed every penny of my car. Just over $17k with taxes and everything rolled in. I went through E-Loan online. My payment is $315 per month for six years at 7%. I don't have perfect credit, but it's not bad either.

Finally, I bought my tC from Bert Wolfe Scion in Charleston, WV. That's about 3.5 hours south of you. It's a haul, yes, but it was a phenomanal experience. I bought the car over the phone and they drove it up this way so I could meet them without having to drive all the way down there. Not sure if they'd do that again (I had some extenuating issues, which is why that happened that way, but that's another story for another time) but they're good people. If you check 'em out, ask for Dan Eldridge.

Hope this helps. Good luck to you...

 

that was a thoughtful post. concur.

 

i dont see why visual enhancements are "ricer mods". i'm not trying to make the car obnoxiously loud or pretend it's fast, i just want to accentuate the car a little.

i was researching and found out my credit union will finance me at 4.9 apr, and my monthly payments would be around 300 a month for 6 yrs, possibly less.

an update for everyone- after i posted i received a call from a different job opportunity. i'm holding off on the car purchase to see how that goes, but if it works out, the money situation wouldn't be a problem anymore, i know that for sure.

PMDJoe- thanks for your great advice. by the way, i'm in the city, mt. washington to be specific, but yeah, rich by no means, ha

 

No prob...

I currently live about 25 miles west of the city in WV near Weirton (which is why I bought the car in WV- plates, etc. and paperwork of the like is easier from a WV dealer). I grew up near South Park. Good luck with the job.

 

i'm going through the same kind of thing right now. i have a '95 caprice classic police package which will need A LOT of work in the near future. with the price of gas going up, i just don't think it's worth putting the money into it so it can just continue to suck gas. unfortunately these problems are occurring a little too early, as i will be starting a great job in the fall, but right now it's a little tight... and my credit's not that great. for a new car in the price-range i'm looking at, the only thing that's calling to me is the tc.

so, basically, i see exactly where you're coming from, time.is...

 

it's me again. i'm no closer to buying the car than i was. but! i'm trying to figure it out. took out the mods, left the ipod capable radio, its at 17,775 now, got a cheaper apr of 4.9% through my credit union, sittin pretty good at estimated $250/month payments. My only issue now is insurance. it's so expensive, from the quotes i got. i'm looking for a new insurance company here in PA because right now, the car i have now is registered in michigan, thus, that's where it's covered. i need to figure out all the policy options. i guess that's what an agent is for, huh? i'm open to suggestions of anyone about this topic too.

enjoy your tCs everyone, see you on the road

 

As far as insurance is concerned, if you don't have that many assets, it probably isn't worth getting anything more than the basic liability coverages required by your state. If you own a home (or you're under your parents policy) however, you shouldn't get anything less than 100/300. Being that you're financing your car, you'll most likely need comprehensive and collision. There's no easy way to get lower payments other than cutting your liability coverages. And like I said, if you DON'T own a home and you don't have many assets to protect that attorneys can go after, you might be fine with the minimum state requirements.

 

i was in an accident a few weeks ago, was hoping my car was totalled cuz i saw a nice rsx type s with 20k miles for 18000

 

If you have no savings to speak of, you should never get a car with payments that are more than 20% of your monthly income. JMO

On the same note, try not to extend the loan term to get your payments lower (especially a 6 year which goes beyond the warranty). Stick with a less expensive car.

 

My mother is an insurance agent in Pittsburgh (south hills area, near Century III mall). If you want, I will put you in contact with her. She can work up a very reasonable quote for you. If you are interested, PM me with your name and I will give her a heads up that you are going to call her (and then I'll PM you back with her name and office #).