Just a warning this might get long, but I will try to post up some good info. Since I might be one of few to own both an 05 and an 06 I'd like to talk about some of the differences I have noticed between my cars.

Throttle Response - My 05 either had a problem, or a feature. Now while I never got a CEL my throttle position sensor could have been bad or misadjusted. It had this problem since I got it where there would be a delay when hitting the gas, mainly from 0% throttle, which would sometimes cause me to lug down 1st and 2nd gear up shifts and make it impossible to blend downshifts. I complained on here like others of a 'delay'. Since I have been driving my 06 for a while now I realized it was not a delay but a dead spot at the top of the pedal. But I suppose it could have had something to do with a slight behavioral modification to the TPS or ECU. Either way, my 06 is lightning quick from 0-100% throttle now.

Clutch - The 06 seems to have a quicker engagement. Like it has a slightly grabbier clutch plate and maybe even a slightly stiffer pressure plate. If someone wants to check if there was a part number change, that would be nice. Could just be because it is new.

Brakes - The 06 has a MUCH stiffer brake pedal feel. My 05 had a light pedal at the top that required very little pressure to engage the brakes with a decent amount of stopping force. The top of the pedal throw now requires more pressure to equal the same amount of stopping power of the 05. This in my opinion is VERY WELCOME! I didn't like my 05's brakes because it felt like a cheap sedan, my 06 has more sporty feeling pedal. This could be due to a slight modification to the brake system, from lines, pads, fluid, to brake boosters, or? Checking part numbers here might be beneficial to those seeking a stiffer pedal.

Tires & Handling - The 06 had the Yoko tires instead of those crappy Bridgestone's. (no news here) These Yoko's are very nice!! The car seems to handle more stiff then I remember my 05 handling when it was stock. It could be the tires but I don't think so. There is less body roll and yaw while accelerating and braking, and MUCH better turn in. The turn in is likely all the tires, but slight suspension geometry changes or toe-in could effect turn in.

CAI hole - Didn't expect this when I was installing my CAI. The hole for the CAI pipe seems to be slightly larger and the metal is now more rolled then it was before. I was able to get my CAI into the hole this time in about 3 minutes or less. Granted it was my second time installing it, but those slight changes had to have effected it.

If someone wants to chime in an squash what I think has changed, go ahead. It could be all my imagination, but this is what I have noticed from my hands on experience of driving my 05 and 06.

 

I'd strongly gamble on the side of imagination... pretty pricey from a manufacturer's standpoint to change that many parts.... Tires/Stereo/Steering Wheel/Wiring is pretty easy...

 

i have 06 with bridgestones. Yokohama tires aren't standard with the 06. It's more of a flip of a coin if your get bridgestone or yokohamas.

 

I doubt it's your imagination.. parts are changed or improved every model year for a particular car.. it's continuous, most automakers do this too.. The part no. could even be the same now as it was last year but because it's made now, it's the revised part using the same part no. so you're probably correct in that little things were tweaked and changed without a news release or toyota telling everyone..

good observation!!

 

agreed, it just depends what yours came overseas with. i have bridgestones as well, some one the lot that were sold had yokos....

 

Thanks for the comments. I was only a bit surprised to find these small tweaks here and there because I hadn't heard anyone or anything from Toyota about it. They are all welcome in my book though.

 

My biggest questions is how is the hatch rattle in 06? Any improvement over 05?

 

Believe it or not, I had 20k miles on my 05 with no rattle and no sunroof issue. My 06 has the hatch 'clunk/rattle' over only weird/odd bumps that hit it just right. Once I get all my mods on in the next week or so I'll track it down and repair it one way or another.

 

Personally...I have an '06 and I havnt heard a rattle. I also agree that the tranny on it seems a lot smoother than the 05 I test drove.

 

I got my 06 back in sept. no rattles, no sunroof issues. but i still got the potenzas and quickly learned how horrible they were. and the obvious changes are really the stereo and steering controls.

 

So how much would if cost to trade in an 05 tc?

Just wondering if the transactions are smooth?

 

I traded my 05 for an 06. I owed around 13,300ish and the dealer gave me 14,500 for my 05. It had 20k miles, trd springs, sways, and tint when I traded it in.

 

We have the Yokos!!

 

I got the Bridgestones on my 06' Tc, but im not complaining, they do jsut fine right now that my ride is stock. Once my tires wear down im planning on buying new wider rims and way stickier tires.

 

I hope the tC I'm going to order next month comes with Yoko's!

 

wait till you touch a puddle

 

yes.. yoko's arnt that great.. well not the model wwe have.. no grip what so ever.. i hate it... rain= slip

 

It rains all the time here in Portland for the last week, the grip in the wet is very respectable and I have yet to hydroplane.

 

Just got my Tc 2 days ago, it came with the Yoko's. They seem pretty good to me. It snowed today in Nyc, so i'm going to test them out.

 

What's so bad about the bridgestones?? i Dont really kno about tires.. ..