Official tC test drive thread
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: S/W burb of Chicago
As far as the type s.. that engine is meant for power above 4k rpms. That thing can take a beating. The tC, on the other hand, has been mentioned having good mid-range torque. Not that toyota engines aren't build as well, but hondas can take a much harder drive.
From what I've noticed, 2nd gear has the best acceleration, 3rrd is a bit weak, but 4th compensates for it somewhat. After driving my sister's type S for the last 3 days or so before I picked up my tC, I can honestly say I'm happier w/the tC. It shifts much smoother, the stock system sounds much better, and I prefer the appearance of the tC over the rsx.
From what I've noticed, 2nd gear has the best acceleration, 3rrd is a bit weak, but 4th compensates for it somewhat. After driving my sister's type S for the last 3 days or so before I picked up my tC, I can honestly say I'm happier w/the tC. It shifts much smoother, the stock system sounds much better, and I prefer the appearance of the tC over the rsx.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5
From: Toledo, Ohio
yes, at 65mph, the rpm's are at 3000. but that's nothing. thats the normal shift point. look at where the redline's at... 7900rpm's. on the highway, im normally going about 80-85mph and its only revving to 4000-4500rpms. in 5th gear, its weird, the tach and the speedo are at the same positions 
in traffic, revving to 3K in my car is nothing at all. its normal. you have to rev to about 2K just to get it moving, and after about 2500rpm's the torque curve is plain flat, but there's just not enough torque(142lbs/ft at crank). revving to 3500rpms is nothing when the redline is more than twice that. in traffic, i usually tool around 5K rpms just so i can hit VTEC for some passing power. below the 5800rpm switchover, the RSX feels just like a civic. i get anywhere from 250-320 miles on a tank of gas in the city. i've seen 400 miles per tank a few times driving to my relatives place in nebraska. only problem is it takes premium 
i really love the shifter in my RSX, although that stupid gear grind is coming back. im glad acura sent out a TSB about it and fixes it for free. already had it fixed once though, and its just annoying.
also, on the type-s, the factory bose subwoofer has its polarities switched from the factory. merely reverse the positive and negative wires leading to the amp/sub and it will sound a million times better.
in traffic, revving to 3K in my car is nothing at all. its normal. you have to rev to about 2K just to get it moving, and after about 2500rpm's the torque curve is plain flat, but there's just not enough torque(142lbs/ft at crank). revving to 3500rpms is nothing when the redline is more than twice that. in traffic, i usually tool around 5K rpms just so i can hit VTEC for some passing power. below the 5800rpm switchover, the RSX feels just like a civic. i get anywhere from 250-320 miles on a tank of gas in the city. i've seen 400 miles per tank a few times driving to my relatives place in nebraska. only problem is it takes premium i really love the shifter in my RSX, although that stupid gear grind is coming back. im glad acura sent out a TSB about it and fixes it for free. already had it fixed once though, and its just annoying.
also, on the type-s, the factory bose subwoofer has its polarities switched from the factory. merely reverse the positive and negative wires leading to the amp/sub and it will sound a million times better.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: San Mateo, CA
Originally Posted by tC Junkie
Im not going to post any specs, or silly reviews we've heard a thousand times before......I just want to say I had an orgasm cornering a corkscrewesk' road.
lol j/k
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 37
I test drove a tC yesterday and liked it very much--but I have a real problem with the roof.
The car I drove had been sitting in the sun for a while with the windows up. When I sat in the driver's seat I could feel heat radiating from above. I put my hand on the ceiling and felt the flimsy vinyl cover that shades the moon roof. It was very hot to the touch and when I retracted it I could see the problem--no insulation what so ever. The sun comes in through the glass roof and the heat is trapped by the greenhouse effect. There is no way to have a rigid sliding panel like my Camry has because that would obscure the rear moon roof. The shade has to roll up into the small space in front of the rear moon roof so it has to be thin and flexible. The roof also reduces headroom, as all moon roofs do.
Does anyone have any experience with a roof like this? How do you keep the car cool? What if you just want to sit in the car for a while without running the engine and air conditioning? I think there will be a market for a roof kit to replace the glass with insulated metal panels. I wish they had made the panoramic roof an option instead of standard equipment. They could have made the car less expensive and it would be a better car--cooler, quieter, lighter, more rigid, and with more headroom.
The car I drove had been sitting in the sun for a while with the windows up. When I sat in the driver's seat I could feel heat radiating from above. I put my hand on the ceiling and felt the flimsy vinyl cover that shades the moon roof. It was very hot to the touch and when I retracted it I could see the problem--no insulation what so ever. The sun comes in through the glass roof and the heat is trapped by the greenhouse effect. There is no way to have a rigid sliding panel like my Camry has because that would obscure the rear moon roof. The shade has to roll up into the small space in front of the rear moon roof so it has to be thin and flexible. The roof also reduces headroom, as all moon roofs do.
Does anyone have any experience with a roof like this? How do you keep the car cool? What if you just want to sit in the car for a while without running the engine and air conditioning? I think there will be a market for a roof kit to replace the glass with insulated metal panels. I wish they had made the panoramic roof an option instead of standard equipment. They could have made the car less expensive and it would be a better car--cooler, quieter, lighter, more rigid, and with more headroom.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Originally Posted by Giddy Nihilist
I wish they had made the panoramic roof an option instead of standard equipment. They could have made the car less expensive and it would be a better car--cooler, quieter, lighter, more rigid, and with more headroom.
On a side note- for the people who have driven the 4AT and the 5spd, is there a noticeably big difference in the acceleration between the two? I wouldn't say the acceleration on the 4AT felt like it was much better than my Camry, and I definitely want something faster than that.
-Michael-
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From: Virginia
If you look at hatchback vehicles which also have a moonroof, there is really only about 18 inches where there is no roof/back glass. So I don't mind having an all glass roof (hopefully I will be saying the same thing once I get mine).
Kevin
Kevin
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From: Orlando, FL
this is for the people that actually owns the tc.. can you confirm the actual size of the light bulbs. ive only heard rumors. is it the 9005 and 9006?
i won't put a deposit down on the car until i actually drive the 5spd.
and one thing i forgot to mention. i think the seats were a little overstuffed to my liking... anyone feel the same way?
i won't put a deposit down on the car until i actually drive the 5spd.
and one thing i forgot to mention. i think the seats were a little overstuffed to my liking... anyone feel the same way?
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Joined: Feb 2004
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Someone in another thread posted the bulb info from the manual. Search should help.
About the seats, like I posted in this thread, they fit me like a glove. However, I'll withhold the final verdict until at least a 2-3 hour nonstop drive to check for pressure points. My worry is that they'll be too soft and develop pressure points, but due to the design that holds you in place there won't be a chance to change position easily.
About the seats, like I posted in this thread, they fit me like a glove. However, I'll withhold the final verdict until at least a 2-3 hour nonstop drive to check for pressure points. My worry is that they'll be too soft and develop pressure points, but due to the design that holds you in place there won't be a chance to change position easily.
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From: Orlando, FL
well i read the other threads and they are not cold hard facts about the actual size. i've only sat in the driver seat only for about 3 minutes. they are comfortable but i dont know if they are good for long trips. so when you do get back from that 3 hour or so trip. please post how you felt about it. 
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From: Newark, DE
I drove an automatic Scion tC in Azure Blue and I liked it a lot. Plenty of room, nice ride (sporty but not harsh) and a good deal of power. The ride was similar to the Mazda3, with maybe a bit less road noise and harshness over sharp bumps. With the windows and roof closed it was very quiet with virtually no wind noise. The auto was ok, but it will be much better with the manual. It had a tendency to upshift too soon at part throttle. You really had to nail it and keep it there for it to keep it from upshifting. I guess that's why the auto has higher EPA gas mileage figures than the manual (which is uncommon.) The interior materials were very nice, and I think I liked the dash and console a little better than the Mazda3. It's a little cleaner but equally distinctive. I like the "rice paper" texture on the dash and doors. It gives the plastics a nice matte finish and is pleasing to the touch. It might also hide some dust, which would be nice. The seat fabrics seem high quality, with a black sporty checked insert on all the seats (similar to the Mazda3 or Mazdaspeed Protege.) I sat in the back seat and it would be ok for people my size (6', 240 lbs) or smaller for short trips (much better than my MX-3, for instance,) but I wouldn't subject anybody to a long road trip back there. And three people across in the back is wildly optimistic, unless they're under 10 years old.
Anyway, my Black Cherry Pearl with 5-speed should be here before the end of July. If it comes in and I decide I don't want it I can always get my deposit back. No side air bags, they're kind of hit-or-miss at this point. I probably would have paid for them, but I would have to wait an extra month or two to get them on the car I want.
Oh, and I don't know if I'll get the 18" wheels (as the standard 17"s look better in person than in the pictures) but it sounds like they'll give me a good deal (~$1600 with tires) if I want them. I don't believe I'd get a credit for the stock wheels though.
Anyway, my Black Cherry Pearl with 5-speed should be here before the end of July. If it comes in and I decide I don't want it I can always get my deposit back. No side air bags, they're kind of hit-or-miss at this point. I probably would have paid for them, but I would have to wait an extra month or two to get them on the car I want.
Oh, and I don't know if I'll get the 18" wheels (as the standard 17"s look better in person than in the pictures) but it sounds like they'll give me a good deal (~$1600 with tires) if I want them. I don't believe I'd get a credit for the stock wheels though.
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Took home a 5 speed flint mica TC with side air bags yesterday.
Apparently I was first in line at our "local" Scion dealership (245 miles away) to get a tC. They had no problem selling me their first tC right off the truck. When I got it, the only miles on the car were from the mechanic. The dealership was pretty big, they sold Subaru, Nissan, Mazda, Toyota, Scion, etc.. and salesmen from all of them rushed up to talk about the car when I took it for a spin. Even the owner of the dealership shook my hand and complimented me on the car. Very cool indeed.
1. The stock stereo.
I read quite a few posts saying the stock stereo was weak. It far surpassed my expectations for a stock stereo (I wasn't expecting much, I've never had a car that came from the factory with a stereo that was worth a crap)... I think some people's expectations have been far to high. I would say that this system sounds as good as the Mach 1 system in my friend's Ford Explorer; you've just got to play with the settings a little. Check out the SSP button, it'll add some thump to the music, but might cause a little distortion at real high volumes (I think it's labeled SSP, my memory isn't so great. Anyhow, the button is on the left, use it if you're taking the car for a test drive and have some tunes to listen to)
The door for the head unit hasn't really grown on me yet.. it's not all that easy to open. Maybe that'll change as I use it more, Idunno. A couple times I had to push on the door so hard to open, it pushed the FM radio button while I was listening to a CD. What would really benefit this car would be volume and track controls on the steering wheel so at least basic stuff on the radio could be operated with the door closed. When I was first driving the car, I kept wanting to increase the volume with the fan speed control when the head unit's door was closed.
2. Suspension.
Not bad. Better than expected.. At the car's weight, I expected the suspension to be about like my girlfriend's Altima, but there is no comparison; it feels MUCH more solid, very fun to drive. My Celica handles better, but the ride in the tC is so much more comfortable. I would say that it's an excellent compromise between road feel and comfort. I've ordered TRD springs and shocks, and the front strut tower bar.. can't wait for them to come in to see the difference they make.
3. The sun shades.
I haven't closed them for more than 5 minutes since I got the car. They're like I expected them after reading the posts. There are little spots along the sides where some light can come through, but it wasn't any big deal to me. Since the roof remained fairly quiet, I never really had the urge to shut them, which brings me to my next point:
4. Wind noise.
Hardly any. Even at highway speeds - 70-80 mph - the wind noise was very low; with a the stereo on at a quiet volume, I couldn't hear it. The moon roof in my celica was crazy loud even at 45mph with the shade open. Needless to day, I'm happy with how well the glass roof seals.
5. Power/acceleration.
I can't really say much about speed/acceleration. The only tC I've driven is my own, and I'm still suffering through the break-in period. The first couple hundred miles were torture, having to shift before reaching peak torque. Now I'm revving a little higher, but hardly ever getting above 4500 RPM.. just as the feels like it's really pulling, I've gotta shift. I keep telling myself it'll be worth it later. I love 2nd and 3rd gear, they pull pretty hard. First gear seems really short. When turning at a stop sign, it seems like I'm always shifting in the middle of my turn. I guess it wont be a problem after I feel more comfortable taching it a little higher.
Civic drivers don't know what they're missing, the torque down low is great. Getting up hills and passing doesn't require a downshift. Even at 40mph in 5th gear, I just give it some gas and accelerate, no down shifting required: great when you're feeling lazy.
The car revs higher in every gear at most speeds than my girlfriend's Altima. I'd want to drive a tC with an exhaust before getting one for myself; I'm afraid the higher average RPM will annoy me combined with the amplification from an aftermarket exhaust.
Apparently I was first in line at our "local" Scion dealership (245 miles away) to get a tC. They had no problem selling me their first tC right off the truck. When I got it, the only miles on the car were from the mechanic. The dealership was pretty big, they sold Subaru, Nissan, Mazda, Toyota, Scion, etc.. and salesmen from all of them rushed up to talk about the car when I took it for a spin. Even the owner of the dealership shook my hand and complimented me on the car. Very cool indeed.
1. The stock stereo.
I read quite a few posts saying the stock stereo was weak. It far surpassed my expectations for a stock stereo (I wasn't expecting much, I've never had a car that came from the factory with a stereo that was worth a crap)... I think some people's expectations have been far to high. I would say that this system sounds as good as the Mach 1 system in my friend's Ford Explorer; you've just got to play with the settings a little. Check out the SSP button, it'll add some thump to the music, but might cause a little distortion at real high volumes (I think it's labeled SSP, my memory isn't so great. Anyhow, the button is on the left, use it if you're taking the car for a test drive and have some tunes to listen to)
The door for the head unit hasn't really grown on me yet.. it's not all that easy to open. Maybe that'll change as I use it more, Idunno. A couple times I had to push on the door so hard to open, it pushed the FM radio button while I was listening to a CD. What would really benefit this car would be volume and track controls on the steering wheel so at least basic stuff on the radio could be operated with the door closed. When I was first driving the car, I kept wanting to increase the volume with the fan speed control when the head unit's door was closed.
2. Suspension.
Not bad. Better than expected.. At the car's weight, I expected the suspension to be about like my girlfriend's Altima, but there is no comparison; it feels MUCH more solid, very fun to drive. My Celica handles better, but the ride in the tC is so much more comfortable. I would say that it's an excellent compromise between road feel and comfort. I've ordered TRD springs and shocks, and the front strut tower bar.. can't wait for them to come in to see the difference they make.
3. The sun shades.
I haven't closed them for more than 5 minutes since I got the car. They're like I expected them after reading the posts. There are little spots along the sides where some light can come through, but it wasn't any big deal to me. Since the roof remained fairly quiet, I never really had the urge to shut them, which brings me to my next point:
4. Wind noise.
Hardly any. Even at highway speeds - 70-80 mph - the wind noise was very low; with a the stereo on at a quiet volume, I couldn't hear it. The moon roof in my celica was crazy loud even at 45mph with the shade open. Needless to day, I'm happy with how well the glass roof seals.
5. Power/acceleration.
I can't really say much about speed/acceleration. The only tC I've driven is my own, and I'm still suffering through the break-in period. The first couple hundred miles were torture, having to shift before reaching peak torque. Now I'm revving a little higher, but hardly ever getting above 4500 RPM.. just as the feels like it's really pulling, I've gotta shift. I keep telling myself it'll be worth it later. I love 2nd and 3rd gear, they pull pretty hard. First gear seems really short. When turning at a stop sign, it seems like I'm always shifting in the middle of my turn. I guess it wont be a problem after I feel more comfortable taching it a little higher.
Civic drivers don't know what they're missing, the torque down low is great. Getting up hills and passing doesn't require a downshift. Even at 40mph in 5th gear, I just give it some gas and accelerate, no down shifting required: great when you're feeling lazy.
The car revs higher in every gear at most speeds than my girlfriend's Altima. I'd want to drive a tC with an exhaust before getting one for myself; I'm afraid the higher average RPM will annoy me combined with the amplification from an aftermarket exhaust.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Orlando
well... i didnt get to drive the tC but i rode in one. i think this dealer is really protective of their new cars and so the dealer is only allowing people to drive if they're ready to buy. im not ready to buy yet..... anyways here are my impressions
the ride was smooth. very quiet.
i dont know about the panoroof yet cuz it was raining so i couldnt open it.
the seats were stiff. itll probably loosen up after a few sit - downs but it will take a bit to get used to.
the "rice paper" dash did feel kinda funny... ive never had any experience with this material so im not sure how cleaning would go.
even with the black interior, with the roof being all glass and such.. the car felt very open. this might have had something to do with the way the dash and windshield were. the dash seemed long. anyone who's ever been in a vw new beetle knows what thats like.
trunk was smaller than i thought but still enough for my sub box when im ready for it. i may build a new one just cuz i could save a lil space that way.
my mom sat in the back seat... she says she didnt feel the "metal bar" some people were complaining about so iono about that one.
the car was automatic but we could feel that extra tq so it was a pretty big difference from my civic.
the dealer did mention that the manual has a lot more pep to it though.... but im sure u all assumed that already.
anyways... ill be back with a more indepth review and pics. i may go either wednesday or thursday morning.... definitely friday to hopefully pick up my indigo ink tC!
the ride was smooth. very quiet.
i dont know about the panoroof yet cuz it was raining so i couldnt open it.
the seats were stiff. itll probably loosen up after a few sit - downs but it will take a bit to get used to.
the "rice paper" dash did feel kinda funny... ive never had any experience with this material so im not sure how cleaning would go.
even with the black interior, with the roof being all glass and such.. the car felt very open. this might have had something to do with the way the dash and windshield were. the dash seemed long. anyone who's ever been in a vw new beetle knows what thats like.
trunk was smaller than i thought but still enough for my sub box when im ready for it. i may build a new one just cuz i could save a lil space that way.
my mom sat in the back seat... she says she didnt feel the "metal bar" some people were complaining about so iono about that one.
the car was automatic but we could feel that extra tq so it was a pretty big difference from my civic.
the dealer did mention that the manual has a lot more pep to it though.... but im sure u all assumed that already.
anyways... ill be back with a more indepth review and pics. i may go either wednesday or thursday morning.... definitely friday to hopefully pick up my indigo ink tC!
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 218
From: Orlando
one more thing... i forgot to mention the shades for the roof. they seem like if u abuse them theyll fall apart but if ur calm about opening and closing them... theyll last. it is spring loaded so u cant open it half way... its either full open or full closed. like i said... be calm about opening. dont just let it snap back.
with the shade open and the sr closed the car was still dead quiet.
find me on aim if u have any questions. ill try to answer them to the best of my ability.
aim - lvl7civic
with the shade open and the sr closed the car was still dead quiet.
find me on aim if u have any questions. ill try to answer them to the best of my ability.
aim - lvl7civic
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Well! This review below makes me want to get one! (more at the bottom).
I didn't test drive one, but sat inside for a while - not long though.
The outside -- in photos I thought were okay - but in person, there are little details that make me go "nice..."
The inside -- I thought immediately felt very expensive. Very very nice. Again, I didn't get to sit in it too long, but I did try out the seating adjustment. I'm not that tall, so it's fine for me. In fact what struck me was how much it felt like a coupe. From the outside it looks like a sedan -but with 2 doors :D Inside, I thought this might be what a Celica feels like -- I'm sold that it's a coupe after all!
Seat adjust -- okay, it seemed to me the height adjust is only the front part of the seat under your knees. Since it's a coupe (and not my xA), the seat should be reclined back. I test this by adjusting the seat forward for my left foot to be able to clutch effectively (pretending there's a clutch - it was an auto) - and comparing arm positioning to the steering wheel. I want my wrists to be just about at wheel level when my shoulders are pressing against the seat.
It took me a while to do this - this was practically all I did. I adjusted the seat height (knee height) in relation to the back recline, the steering wheel tilt, and the seat slide position forward until I got it! It definitely fits me! The seats are quite soft, and grippy also -- I'm guessing good for those lateral forces when cornering.
What I like about the review above is the comparison to the IS, which I test drove one from a friend who had one - and I know the feeling... (of which thereof she speaks) Also, I would want to drive the tC on twisty roads as mentioned above -- that's what I like to do now on the xA.
Yes... I am won over I think. Not sure I'm a candidate to be getting one any time soon... but I definitely like the car.
My advice - don't forget that it's a coupe - so although there may be legroom in back, don't expect to live there like in an xB.
Originally Posted by tC4me
WEEKEND TESTDRIVE
I asked my dad to bring home a camry for me to practice stick on for the weekend. (works for toyota corp) I figured he'd forget and pospone it for next weekend. So when I pull up from being out for the night, I was shocked to see a white tC sitting in my drive way. It had lots of options on it...side airbags, illumination, exhaust, OBX shift ****, sub, XM, 6CD, lip spoiler, cargo net and mats. Enough to bring the car up to 20K. I drive an 03 corolla so my review is based off that.
Exterior- SO nice in person. The lip spoiler was a nice touch to it. Made it easier to close the hatch. The sunroof looked great but open and close. My drive way has a tendency to make your car scrape when pulling out but I managed to get out without scraping...may have problems if lowered.
Interior- Very clean and expencive looking. Very roomy. (although Im quite short) The dash isnt a hard plastic and is actually kind of soft. The steering wheel was comfortable to grab. Guages did its full sweep, (thats the picture where it looking like im redlining and going 140) Found some more little things that made it great. On the **** to make the air hot or cold, there is a little light on the edge and as you turn it, it changes color. when on cold, its blue, then turns orange as you turn and then red when on hot. Seats were very firm and held me in when going around turns. Back was roomy for legs but very short on head room, even when reclined. (but its a coupe, so I expected that) The glass roof was very nice, but the covers were kinda cheep, but i didnt car much since its an inexpencive car. =o) Auto up and down windows were very nice, and my dad tested out the pintch protection. It works so it you have little kids or a dog, they'll be okay. Didn't like the sub. Too much base and was quite annoying so i didnt really listen to the radio much.
Engin- I drive a wimpy corolla so when I got behind the wheel, i felt a lot of power! I'm far from an expert but i though the shifts were pretty close together. Really moved when I punched it, but its also really easy to do some wheel spin, even in 3rd. Very easily to learn on, I should know. TRD exhaust sounded great! Deep but not too loud, very sporty. Liked cruising with the windows down to hear it.
Handling- Car companies have to let their cars have some body roll. So when the tC felt like it had less body roll then an IS i was very happy. (IS300's lean like crazy around tight turns) I took this car on PV Dr. East. (picture posted on another thread) It handeled pretty good. better than my corolla. Didnt get to take it too fast, but around a few turns the tires did squeek some. The 17's really help and grip the road quite nicely. Suspension was pretty tight, pretty smooth over bumps, a little rough on a few but nothing like the celica where you feel everything. Very responcive steering. When lowered may handle even better. The strut bar offered will probably help too.
I enjoyed driving this car a lot. I'm so glad I ordered mine. It was very fun. Can't wait till mine arrives! (it's taking a little boat ride as we speak) =o)[/b]
I asked my dad to bring home a camry for me to practice stick on for the weekend. (works for toyota corp) I figured he'd forget and pospone it for next weekend. So when I pull up from being out for the night, I was shocked to see a white tC sitting in my drive way. It had lots of options on it...side airbags, illumination, exhaust, OBX shift ****, sub, XM, 6CD, lip spoiler, cargo net and mats. Enough to bring the car up to 20K. I drive an 03 corolla so my review is based off that.
Exterior- SO nice in person. The lip spoiler was a nice touch to it. Made it easier to close the hatch. The sunroof looked great but open and close. My drive way has a tendency to make your car scrape when pulling out but I managed to get out without scraping...may have problems if lowered.
Interior- Very clean and expencive looking. Very roomy. (although Im quite short) The dash isnt a hard plastic and is actually kind of soft. The steering wheel was comfortable to grab. Guages did its full sweep, (thats the picture where it looking like im redlining and going 140) Found some more little things that made it great. On the **** to make the air hot or cold, there is a little light on the edge and as you turn it, it changes color. when on cold, its blue, then turns orange as you turn and then red when on hot. Seats were very firm and held me in when going around turns. Back was roomy for legs but very short on head room, even when reclined. (but its a coupe, so I expected that) The glass roof was very nice, but the covers were kinda cheep, but i didnt car much since its an inexpencive car. =o) Auto up and down windows were very nice, and my dad tested out the pintch protection. It works so it you have little kids or a dog, they'll be okay. Didn't like the sub. Too much base and was quite annoying so i didnt really listen to the radio much.
Engin- I drive a wimpy corolla so when I got behind the wheel, i felt a lot of power! I'm far from an expert but i though the shifts were pretty close together. Really moved when I punched it, but its also really easy to do some wheel spin, even in 3rd. Very easily to learn on, I should know. TRD exhaust sounded great! Deep but not too loud, very sporty. Liked cruising with the windows down to hear it.
Handling- Car companies have to let their cars have some body roll. So when the tC felt like it had less body roll then an IS i was very happy. (IS300's lean like crazy around tight turns) I took this car on PV Dr. East. (picture posted on another thread) It handeled pretty good. better than my corolla. Didnt get to take it too fast, but around a few turns the tires did squeek some. The 17's really help and grip the road quite nicely. Suspension was pretty tight, pretty smooth over bumps, a little rough on a few but nothing like the celica where you feel everything. Very responcive steering. When lowered may handle even better. The strut bar offered will probably help too.
I enjoyed driving this car a lot. I'm so glad I ordered mine. It was very fun. Can't wait till mine arrives! (it's taking a little boat ride as we speak) =o)[/b]
The outside -- in photos I thought were okay - but in person, there are little details that make me go "nice..."
The inside -- I thought immediately felt very expensive. Very very nice. Again, I didn't get to sit in it too long, but I did try out the seating adjustment. I'm not that tall, so it's fine for me. In fact what struck me was how much it felt like a coupe. From the outside it looks like a sedan -but with 2 doors :D Inside, I thought this might be what a Celica feels like -- I'm sold that it's a coupe after all!
Seat adjust -- okay, it seemed to me the height adjust is only the front part of the seat under your knees. Since it's a coupe (and not my xA), the seat should be reclined back. I test this by adjusting the seat forward for my left foot to be able to clutch effectively (pretending there's a clutch - it was an auto) - and comparing arm positioning to the steering wheel. I want my wrists to be just about at wheel level when my shoulders are pressing against the seat.
It took me a while to do this - this was practically all I did. I adjusted the seat height (knee height) in relation to the back recline, the steering wheel tilt, and the seat slide position forward until I got it! It definitely fits me! The seats are quite soft, and grippy also -- I'm guessing good for those lateral forces when cornering.
What I like about the review above is the comparison to the IS, which I test drove one from a friend who had one - and I know the feeling... (of which thereof she speaks) Also, I would want to drive the tC on twisty roads as mentioned above -- that's what I like to do now on the xA.
Yes... I am won over I think. Not sure I'm a candidate to be getting one any time soon... but I definitely like the car.
My advice - don't forget that it's a coupe - so although there may be legroom in back, don't expect to live there like in an xB.
Member
SL Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 93
From: CT
I finally got in one today.
Looks great in person. Badges look somewhat cheap, but that can be changed with a bit of paint. Rims look nice. Trunk space is more than I thought it would be after everybody said it was tiny, but just as big as I imagined it originally. Everything expected in terms of looks. Smooth car.
Upon close inspection, the only things that immediately irked me throughout the car were the feel of the stereo door, the glovebox, and the sunroof shade (of course), along with the fact that the hatch didn't sound as good when closing compared to the doors (which sound damn nice). I noticed the support material under the trunk is styrofoam. Seatbelt is (much) too far back. Volume controls on the stereo do, indeed, suck. Minor things.
Comfort. Though the "cockpit" is very different than my Camry (more knee room, straighter wheel position), it is very nice once gotten used to (very quickly). Nice steering wheel - small, indeed, but really nice. Seats are comfortable, front and rear. Headrests tilt, at least in front. Driver's seat goes every which way. Seatbelt is too far back, as mentioned, due to the long doors, but oh well. Nice gauge layout. Can't see the hood from the driver's seat. Didn't notice any headroom issues (though I am only 5' 8.5"). Overall pretty damn good.
On to the drive. Acceleration was very good (although the auto had weird shift points at times - won't matter), as was braking and overall handling. Brake pedal feel was very firm and responsive, and lane changes were quick and decisive (blinker stalk is in a great position, too). Not much body roll around curves, but a bit more pitch (I think) than expected. Easy fix. Ride comfort was very nice. A bit more wind noise than I expected, but I was doing 80 MPH very comfortably. Overtaking was effortless, as it should be.
Overall, a very nice car, not to mention for $17,000. A few tweaks and it will be even more pleasing.
Looks great in person. Badges look somewhat cheap, but that can be changed with a bit of paint. Rims look nice. Trunk space is more than I thought it would be after everybody said it was tiny, but just as big as I imagined it originally. Everything expected in terms of looks. Smooth car.
Upon close inspection, the only things that immediately irked me throughout the car were the feel of the stereo door, the glovebox, and the sunroof shade (of course), along with the fact that the hatch didn't sound as good when closing compared to the doors (which sound damn nice). I noticed the support material under the trunk is styrofoam. Seatbelt is (much) too far back. Volume controls on the stereo do, indeed, suck. Minor things.
Comfort. Though the "cockpit" is very different than my Camry (more knee room, straighter wheel position), it is very nice once gotten used to (very quickly). Nice steering wheel - small, indeed, but really nice. Seats are comfortable, front and rear. Headrests tilt, at least in front. Driver's seat goes every which way. Seatbelt is too far back, as mentioned, due to the long doors, but oh well. Nice gauge layout. Can't see the hood from the driver's seat. Didn't notice any headroom issues (though I am only 5' 8.5"). Overall pretty damn good.
On to the drive. Acceleration was very good (although the auto had weird shift points at times - won't matter), as was braking and overall handling. Brake pedal feel was very firm and responsive, and lane changes were quick and decisive (blinker stalk is in a great position, too). Not much body roll around curves, but a bit more pitch (I think) than expected. Easy fix. Ride comfort was very nice. A bit more wind noise than I expected, but I was doing 80 MPH very comfortably. Overtaking was effortless, as it should be.
Overall, a very nice car, not to mention for $17,000. A few tweaks and it will be even more pleasing.
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 218
From: Orlando
well..... i actually drove the tC today at another dealership. wasnt a long test drive at all and i didnt take the car beyond 3.5k rpm.
even in automatic form... the car seemed eager to get moving. the torque is noticable from the start compared to the 01-04 civic lx auto. at about 45-50 mph with the sunroof open i didnt notice any whistles or any other strange sounds.
brakes worked well... no complaints here.
i took some pics... ill edit this post with pics in a bit.
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...=208750#208750
********fixed the link again
even in automatic form... the car seemed eager to get moving. the torque is noticable from the start compared to the 01-04 civic lx auto. at about 45-50 mph with the sunroof open i didnt notice any whistles or any other strange sounds.
brakes worked well... no complaints here.
i took some pics... ill edit this post with pics in a bit.
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...=208750#208750
********fixed the link again
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 258
From: Jacksonville Beach, FL
Well i just drove a silver tC with the auto tranny(the only tC on the lot). The dealer was really nice..even though i told them i just started a new job and wouldnt be able to purchase one for a few months they were still really helpful. I just took the car on some backroads behind the dealership. I was impressed with the room inside the car...im 6'6 205lbs so im not small by any means and leg room is usually an issue but i had enough in the tC. I was only able to take the car up to 40-45MPH but it seemed quick. Fit and finish seemed very nice(but im only 20 and havent driven too many cars)
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 11
From: Arlington, TX
:twisted:
was just wondering why do you think the tC rates so poor?
It might be because it's running on stock components but.....
Like my 97 Camry inline4 (stock) engine, all i had to upgrade
so far is the cateback, coilovers, allround struts/shocks, tires,
and intake.......
with just that little bit, i get mad handling.......not to forget,
i scare the living **** out of friends riding along going 90-105
on some mean curves without breaking pedal to the ground in
most cases.........
So.......so much for giving a test drive "rating", not that i'm trying to
be rude......but no one goes stock even if they only have intake and
some tires to go on.
:twisted:
was just wondering why do you think the tC rates so poor?
It might be because it's running on stock components but.....
Like my 97 Camry inline4 (stock) engine, all i had to upgrade
so far is the cateback, coilovers, allround struts/shocks, tires,
and intake.......
with just that little bit, i get mad handling.......not to forget,
i scare the living **** out of friends riding along going 90-105
on some mean curves without breaking pedal to the ground in
most cases.........
So.......so much for giving a test drive "rating", not that i'm trying to
be rude......but no one goes stock even if they only have intake and
some tires to go on.
:twisted:
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ShadowMage
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Jul 25, 2004 06:02 PM