So I am looking to get a new daily driver. I have narrowed it down to a few car but would like it if you guys could answer some questions for me. I am looking at a auto 08 TC. This will just be my DD. I don’t really plan on upgrading it to much I just need it to get good gas mileage and be reliability. The only thing I would like to do is get the most upgraded stereo system available. Besides that I really don’t need anything else unless you guys can tell me different? Like maybe I should get some other suspension upgrade or something. I would like to know what you guys are finding as common problems with the TC. Also I would like you to state if you are a guy or a girl. Just so I can see who is buying them. How was your experience with the negotiation of your final price? I have never owned a Toyota so I really don’t know if they will work with you or not. I would like to walk in with 18,000 cash and walk out with a car. Thanks for all your help.

 

i'm an 18 year old guy. i love my tC. to answer your questions:

1. well, the tC really doesn't get stellar gas mileage, but it's not too bad, either.
2. it's been very reliable to me so far
3. if i were you, i'd get the cheapest stock stereo option and upgrade it yourself with aftermarket electronics
4. you will not be able to negotiate price. scion calls it pure pricing, and it's why they're priced reasonable to begin with (you really wont be able to negotiate AT ALL. maybe, MAYBE you could get them to throw in some goodies in terms of options if the car has a couple miles or they don't have the color you want).
5. i'd say you wouldn't need any other upgrades...from what i can tell a tight suspension or big HP numbers isn't what you're looking for anyway
6. as for common problems, there are a few minor rattles which have plagued nearly all of us. other than that, i don't really know of anything serious.

hope this helps

-matt

 

Scions are pure pricing, so there is no negotiation.

If you are buying for gas milage, it might not be the car for you. But if you want a fun, resonably priced coupe, backed by toyotas reputation, then it is perfec!!

 

If you want a daily driver tC, don\'t upgrade the suspension. IMO, it\'s perfect for daily driving. Not too stiff and not too soft. It\'s a lot stiffer than an econobox like a corolla but a little softer than something like a Civic SI.

If your concern is to save gas, the tC kinda works for you. The reason why I said kinda is that 2,900lbs + 2.4L engine doesn\'t equal fuel saver.

tCs have great factory stereos. I think the 08s now come with an ipod connector standard. The tCs head unit is said by some to have the \"best\" ipod connector. It is nothing like the click wheel but works fairly well. I also don\'t know if they made the 6.5in sub in the RS2 standard on all tCs, perhaps someone here can verify. It will not shake the car next to you, but for the average listener who do not want their ears to bleed, it will do. Besides, if it comes standard, you don\'t have a choice.

The tC is a well rounded car. You will not find anything from any other maker for the price than can touch it, guaranteed.

 

Well , i know ive been talking about trading my car but for one the 08 System's are nice very good im not changing it.

 

Guy.

Could have bought a BMW, Acura, MINI, etc. Decided to take the tC after a test drive. (Paid cash for mine! Beats a monthly car payment!)

My tC is my DD, and the gas mileage is pretty good. Currently I get 26 in the city and 35 on the highway.

It's a Toyota. Need I say more?

If you want to upgrade your audio system; just take the free radio/CD player and go after market! For less than the price of the 'Audio Upgrade' you can get a new HU, Amp, and speakers and still have $$$ left over.

Pure Pricing FTW!

The only things you should look into if you're interested in purchasing through the dealership are the OEM Ground EFX kit and Spoilers. You can buy them later, but then you have to find somebody (unless you trust yourself) to install them. You'll probably end up spending more than just purchasing them when you buy your car. I would also upgrade the suspension. I hear the tC handles MUCH BETTER after a suspension upgrade. (That's my next project.)

Rattles. Nothing velcro/foam tape/turning up the volume **** can't solve.

I say, "Do it!". You won't be sorry.

 

25 Year old guy

Sounds like you might be better off with a Corolla. I mean if MPG is important and negotiating to $18,000 out the door, then I would say go for it. If you are looking for a DD that is fun, sporty, and reliable then get the tC. MPG is pretty good and it is a Toyota. It does not get anymore reliable than that. I agree that if stereo is important to you to go AM. It will be a much better sound quality. What you should take into consideration is what the tC comes with from the factory compared to other vehicles in it's class. Power windows and locks, keyless entry, sunroof, Ipod connection as well as an auxillery imput, cruise control, seven airbags, AC, CD player that will also play MP3 discs, subwoofer, and reclining rear seats. When you compare these features with other vehicles in its class, you would be spending a lot more money. But then again you will be writing the check every month not us!

 

I remember chuckling when the sales person told me that. They negotiated on both the price of my tC and on the value of my trade-in. Everything is negotiable. It took two toyota dealerships, and 3 managers at the last one, but I paid the exact amount to the penny what I intended.

 

come buy mine... 12k :D

 

I am sure there are some shady dealers out there willing to break the rules and haggle. But I wouldnt personally deal with them. If they are willig to break a corporate rule to get a sale. What are they willing to do when me, the common consumer needs somethng from them?
Once a crook, always a crook. And your dealer is a crook.

No knock on you. You just wanted the best eal you could get, and got it.

 

What? Breaking corporate rules? Pure Price, no negotiation? If the cars are "pure price", that would mean that they break even on scions. That's not how you run a business. Their weak attempt at "No haggling" is just to try and buffer what they loose on negotiating on the Toyota and Lexus brands, and they aren't loosing money on them believe me.

Paying what is on the sticker is the craziest notion I can think of. Murder makes more sense than paying MSRP.

I'm flabbergasted. FLABBERGASTED!

 

Happy birthday by the way. :D

 

The scion pure pricing refers to, they set a price and MUST stick to it. It is not the cost they pay, OBVIOUSLY. But a price Toyota/Scion set and requires their dealers to obide by. If a dealer is find to be abusing the pure pricing that is set in their rules, they have the chance of loosing the ability to sell scions at their dealerships. Them being toyota. Toyota does not want the mark up that honda is so common of to ruin what the Scion is marketed at. its all on the Scion site and explained how it works.

it both keeps them from being able to charge you INSANE prices. And keeps you from being able to haggle.

So, not to call you a liar, but I doubt you paid under what the price is of a tC. You might have negotiated the trade in, but everyone does that.
I have yet to see anyone on any forum pay less for their tC than what everyone else paid. You might have gotten them to go up on the trade in, but thats a completely different story.
Scion actually asks peple to call corporate and file a complaint if they hear of a dealership not following the pure pricing guidelines. And it goes both ways. both charging more and less. (this has been discussed on scion forums for years. And I have yet to see anyone prove it otherwise. But I am sure there is the ODD ball case where someone either got taken, or got a deal)


Oh and thanks. Its been a horrible Bday tho

 

Man.

Upgraded Ipod cable deck, or navigation. And Trd springs/struts. only thing i wouldve done differently when buying my car. Other than that I love it! Rattled yeah, Milage, itsnt THAT bad.. This message board? awesome..

 

That blows. My 22nd birthday was the worst ever.

I wouldn't trust their own website trying to comfort me into a policy to not negotiate. That's like believing the government because they have no reason to lie to you. Haha

 

As a Scion Manager at a Toyota store....I guarantee you paid the pure price for your vehicle. All they did was adjust the price of your trade. All they did was hit you very low to start (we call that a nuclear pencil) on your trade, then came back, showed you more money for your trade...and adjusted the price of the new car to make it look like a great deal. I guarantee they made money on the deal...otherwise they would have let you walk like the other dealer.

Scion audits each dealer to ensure each deal stays true to the system. Scion has made the penalty too great for any dealer to even want to break the rules. This goes beyond the price of the car. It also includes the price of accessories and financing. In addition, extras are not allowed...if you do it for one person you have to do it for everyone....and it has to be posted.

The Pure Price does everyone a great favor.....have you checked the resale value lately, how about consumer reports Top 10 list of highest resale.

 

i really dont want to read all of the posts, so i dont know if anyone answered it... but yes, all of the 08 tC's come standard with the sub. sorry if someone already answered this.

 

Thanks guys great advice so far (I would like to hear some more). I am very seriously considering this car. I will go test drive one some time this month. I would like to know what the difference between the stock stereo and the upgraded version is? Also I do not want to break my warranty. That is one of the main reason I want the car…. Reliability. So if I install my own stereo and such will that void any warranty. Also lets say I decide to install a k&n filter on my scion and not l have the dealer do it would that void my warranty? (yes I know this could be easily changed before I brought the car in and no I do not want the k&n intake I just want to see how tough they are on upgrading, basically are they tougher then any other car company due to the whole idea this car was built to be modded)

 

not all '08s come with the sub. my friend just got an 08 and he doesn't have the sub. they do have an "upgraded" CD deck, darker (color) gauge/hvac lights, standard ipod connector, standard side-airbags, and the clutch grabs a little earlier than the 07's...i know, i have an 07, my friend has an 08...he copied me tho cuz the first night we each got our cars (his a month after mine), we scraped our wheels like idiots.

 

K&n filter wont void your warranty, K&n intake (the tube and filter replacing the stock intake tube and box) wont void your warranty.. unless it causes the problem.. aand a stereo wont void your warranty unless you blow the headunit by shorting it out.. but its easy to take out any stereo and make it stock again..