What is the down side to the tC? It sounds too good to be true. From what I have heard so far it sounds like Toyota could get away with rebadging the tC as a Lexus and selling it for $30k.

The only down sides to the tC I have been able to come up with is:

-Possible quality flaws https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14905
-Not enough head room https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15016

But I dont care that much if the CD player skips, and the gas will not fill right. The major parts come from time tested cars. The Camry engine should last decades. As for the head room, I will have to wait for a test drive. Though it is not much worse then a Civics head room.

Can anyone else think of anything wrong with the tC?

 

Pretty much nothing....

The "catch" as you say is that their strategy is to sell us a cheap car for 16K instead of 25+ and then hope that when we buy all their 40 options on it, by that time, it will be at least 18 and change... so that's why

-Emo

 

Toyota is trying to catch the under 20 crowd. If they sold the tC for $30,000 then they would not be selling any to this demographic. As the other poster noted, Scion is hoping over time, the young folks will buy accessories (which are definitely overpriced).

Kevin

 

Does it come with cruise control?

If not, that would be the flaw...

 

Yep, the tC comes with cruise control standard. Guess it is perfect.

 

Limited Interior Choice

With the only choice being black for the interior, some people might feel limited in choice. Also, there is no option for leather...

 

True, I guess you cannot get leather as of now. However I don't want leather (too expensive, harder to maintain, not as durable). And I like the silver/black theme on the interior. But I suppose it is possible another color could look better. So I guess the tC is not perfect. :D

 

the "catch" is all the added accessories that you don't need and that people add. they have obviously took in account what the profit margin is with the set price.

 

If you want leather, you can have a local shop do it. My friend got his Sequoia done for $1500. Not bad for a full sized SUV.

 

The catch is it's a FWD coupe econobox. Wtf you do expect for around 17k? This isn't anything new. Lexus' are RWD luxury cars. It's not even a comparision. God...

 

so vicious...u need a girl tiberian?

 

As long as she knows the difference between a Lexus and a <20k car.

 

Besides RWD, the badgeing, and maybe leather what makes the tC unlike a Lexus?

 

eh hem....There is a lexus with FWD. the ES 330. Just FYI.

 

there is a huge jump... which $30k car are you comparing too...

Subaru WRX STi / Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VIII... approx $30k... also 300hp... but they both have cheapo interiors, nothing like the interior of a luxury car...

BMW 3series... 180ish hp, inline 6... smoothest engine in the world... great trasmissions, great track record... 0-60 is slower than the tC... plush interior, great handling... RWD...

Cadilac CTS??

things aren't done for free, this is not a Lexus, I keep hearing that, but face it... they are cutting corners, they AREN'T giving the car away for free... this is not a $25k car for $17k... I guarantee that you will see that when it comes down to it... dont' confuse a new body style with some sort of magical tranformation that transcends the rules of cost and quality... the $25k Solara is not "close" to a 3 series... two reasons = #1-the Solara is a $20k car (see #2 for explanation)... #2 - they only make a handul as compared to the mass produced Accord... check the numbers, you pay for this unwanted exclusitivity...

so this is how they plan on keeping costs low... #1... make a ____ load of them... #2... cut corners in places you aren't thinking to check...

is this gonna be a great car... YES!!
is it gonna be competition for $30k sports cars... NO!!

 

they are also saving money by making them monospec.

My ugrade budget will hopefully get it on par with an evo but we'll see.

Scion is trying to get us to buy from them for two reasons

1. they make a ton of money on each trd part & option.

2. Once we grow up they hope we'll graduate to buyying a camry for our family car or even a lexus because we had good experiances with our scion vehicals.

Why make $1000 today from a customer when you can build brand loyalty & end up making $30,000 down the line?

 

Yes, FWD is the main diminishing factor.

While throughout the nineties I did fix up a lot of imports, I'm kinda past that. These days, trying to make a FWD go fast is stupid with so many decent AWD and FWD offerings.

I like to fix up cars, but if I'm not going to make it fast I'd want to go for looks. However, putting wheels, kit, etc on this car will just make you a ricer.

Basically, I'm just waiting to check it out in person next month and see how good of a value it is. If it's not all it's made out to be I'll just buy a 350Z or BMW.

 

and I will sell you my '01 BMW... I'm tired of sinking major bucks into a car that is depreciating at the same rate as any other car... it still breaks down... it isn't perfect...

my solution... swap my $650/month for BMW for much smaller payment... better gas mileage and cheaper fuel... spend the savings on my '75 914... which has basically gone ignored for the past few years... I will still own my 914 when I die... but my 3 series will of course be long gone...

 

Well, I can lease a BMW for $299-499 a month and they cover all maintenance up to 50k miles/4 years. I would never "buy" a BMW, but the lease + free maintenance is a good deal (considering the regular price of BMW maintenance!).

The Z I will buy.

Anyway, I'm just like you. I can get a car I really like, or I can get a car that's pretty good for a lot less money. I just have to wait and see if the tC is "pretty good". The only thing I don't like so far is the FWD and the front wheel well sits in too far (kind of a goofy stance), but I can probably get over that for $16k.

 

you absolutely cannot lease a $299 BMW... that is a sales gimmick... they do not bring the stripped down version over here... there might be 5 examples of a stripped e46 since '00... I talked to my saleman about it...

I'd rather pay $400 for 36 months and have equity in a Toyota, than to pay $650 for 5 years...

and I guess I am at a crossroads of my life, where I'd rather have a bigger house... I did the flashy red car... now I want a little bit of ZIP for a whole lot less ZAP....