I test drove the Scion tC but the dealership didn't have a manual, so I had to drive the atomatic. I'm torn between the Scion and the Mazda3. I've heard good and bad things about both, but the pickup in the automatic Scion was nowhere near the pickup in the Mazda3. I know that the manual will have more get up and go, but at this point, the two are dead even. Scion was my first choice and I guess I just need a little back up to support that.

 

this is a scion board... you will get plenty of back up to buy a tC.... even with mine in the rough shape its lemonady butts in.. I would still say tC is a killer car.... did you test an 05 or an 06?

 

sometimes i wish i had gotten the mazda 3 wagon cuz evreybody has a Civic Si and a tC

 

I test drove an '05 in both cars, but the Mazda was the i version and I'd get the s version in that and the manual in the Scion.

 

The Mazda3 and the tC are both good choices, but I will say this: the tC's interior is nicer than the 3's. Sure the 3's is nice, but I like the design of the tC more. And the sunroof is sweet in the tC (ignoring the lame sunroof shades). Also, the 06 tC's have iPod support, which is awesome if you're into mp3 players and don't mind waiting for the 06's. On the 3 side, you have 4 doors and some different performance options (V6?), which I'm not that aware of. But hey, you came to a tC forum! The 3 does look sweet, but overall, I'd go with Toyota over Mazda.

 

Obviously, I'm leaning towards the tC, hence the reason I came here. The 3 is more generic and I wanted something not everyone had. So thanks everyone, I think you've helped me make up my mind, sorry if anyone felt like this was a crap question.

 

Not a crap question, but it's been asked several times. The biggest complaint I have about the Mazda is the dash. IF you were wanting to do aftermarket radios, the Mazda 3 dash is impossible to do this cleanly, since the radio is molded into an oval in the dash.

Also, the 3 makes you pick option packages. Want a sunroof? You've gotta buy the NAV too.

I've not driven an auto tC, but most people seemed to think the auto was a bit better than some of the other autos out there. However, the manual does have a shorter final gear and is pretty quick.

 

I am comparing automatic Scion tc vs. Mazda 3 S

Both have 160 hp, but tc at 6000 rpm and mazda at 6500 rpm

tc has low end torque and mazda high end torque (this actually means you can go farther faster)

tc has 163 ft/lbs and mazda only 150 ft/lbs

tc has the new vvt-i engine which can learn your driving habits, and the mazda only the DHOC engine.

tc has top speed of 127, mazda only 118

zero to 60 on tc is 7.4, and 8.0 for the mazda

17" by 7" alloy for tc, only 16.5 by 6.5 alloy for mazda

Scion tc has a longer wheel base by about 2.4"

In area code 29407, scion sells for 17000, and mazda MSRP is 18,075 but sells for about 17240.

So you are paying about 240 dollars more for a mazda, and you still DO NOT get the following:

1) A rear sunroof
2) CD player tha reads MP3
3) 17" x 7" wheels
4) ABS
5) Driver side knee air bags

If you want your CD player in the mazda to read MP3's, you have to pay $325 extra (and you cannot hookup your ipod at all, don't think about that, scion will allow you to do that for 260).

If you want a sunroof, you have to get a package that puts a sunroof and 6 cd player for $890, and this 6 cd player still will not read mp3's. On the tc however, if you pay 881 in the South East region, you will get a 6cd player that reads mp3's and get xm antenna and 1 year xm radio.

Miles Per gallon: tc: 23 city/30 hwy. mazda: 24 city/29 hwy.

Note: If you go to edmunds.com forums, you will notice that mazda forums are filled with people complaining that they avg. like 17 to 20 mpg with combined hwy and city, and it is true that sometimes the advertised mpg numbers are wrong.

Maz cargo capacity in tc: 60 feet cubed, in mazda: 11 ft cubed.
Max luggage capacity: 12.8 ft cubed, in mazda: 11 ft cubed.

Front wipers on tc are variable intermittent, on the mazda only intermittent.
tc has 2 one touch window opening mechanisms, the mazda only one
tc has an external temp. reader, mazda has NONE.
tc has 3 headrests in the back, the mazda has only two.
Standard sound is pioneer in the tc (specially designed for the tc as far as sound waves bouncing around in the car), but in the mazda it is some factory sound. (both have 160 waat 6 speaker and 2 tweets by the way)

Crash tests
------------
front driver on tc: EXCELLENT, side front on tc: GOOD, side rear on tc: GOOD.
front driver on mazda: GOOD, side front on mazda: AVG., side rear on mazda: AVG.

You also get a first aid kit with scion that includes rope, gloves, battery cables, batteries, flashlight, swabs, alcohol, bandages, emergency blankets etc.

The tc also has aluminum brushed gauges.

JD power ranked the tc as the TOP sports car, above mustang and acura RSX (BTW: both of which the tc is faster than as stock).

FINALLY: toyota has a better record of resale value, that a fact, and mazda does not, and that's also a fact.

Top major quirck in the tc: shattering front moonroof deflector (being investigated by goverment and investigation should close in 2.5 months aprox.)

Top major quirck in the mazda: very weak AC, even after TSB is performed on it.

There are plus points for the mazda, but they are very few and I don't think they even matter such as:

Mazda comes standard with foglights and mats. it has telescopic tilt steering (tc only tilt), slightly more head and shoulder room in the mazda (but very little leg room in the rear).

Whatever, I can list even more advantages for the TC but this is enough.

 

the tC definitely feels fast, at least as fast as the mazda3. from everything I've heard the manual tC is quite a bit faster than the auto.

here's my earlier post:

probably a lot of people on this board looked at both, and most probably chose the tC otherwise they'd be posting on a mazda board. looked at both and really liked both (the 5-door 3). In the end it came to price, the tC was thousands cheaper for a similarly equipped mazda3. plus the salesman was a douche.

pros of the tC:
price
features
torque
better radio
easier to change radio
looks (subjective)
better buying experience
no mazda3's under 19k on the lot
did I mention price yet?

pros of the 3:
interior/cargo room (5 door)
handling
higher revving engine
looks (crap, ok so I like them both)


In the end, if the mazda salesman had said "ok, I'll match the tC in features and price", it would've been a VERY HARD decision. But when his first comment implied that I couldn't afford one, and his second comment stated that they were not willing to deal, and his third comment showed he was completely ignorant of the scion line

him: so what other cars are you looking at?
me: oh, mainly the tC
him: oh, I think you'll find that this drives VERY different from that.
me: really? how so?
him: well this has 160hp...
me: um, so does the tC, and the tC has 165tq.
him: uhhhh. here are the keys. have fun.

did handle *very* well, and moved quickly when it was over 3.5k rpm, but below that it felt sluggish. in the end we opted for the tC due to price, features and ease of sale. hope this helps.

 

By the way, I compared mazda 3 s AUTOMATIC!!!! Not manual. I think the manual in the mazda 3 S is better than the tC, only because there were many complaints about the shifting in early 2005 tc's. tC interior IS more comfortable, no doubt.

 

Wow, ok, that cemented it. I thought I had done the research, but apparently not enough. Again sorry if any one felt I had wasted their time, but I was quite torn. Next time I post it'll be as a Scion owner!

 

YESSS, similarily equiped mazda will cost *AT LEAST* 1500 dollars more. Once you had extras to both cars, the mazda's price just continues to sky rocket further from the tc's price.

 

Except for the 06 mats (which are only at the dealership), make sure to get most of the extras at a place like www.trdsparks.com to save some money. The dealers always overcharge, so if you want something with an easy installation like door sills, don't get those at the dealer. :-)

 

06 mats? Is there a difference in mats between 05 and 06?

 

Yes, the 06 mats are like the ones in the RS1 -- they have a vinyl pad under the pedals so that it doesn't wear down.

 

The only thing that would sway me over to a Maz3 would be the fact it has projectors. PLus the option of a Factory HID kit. Sorry scion, you need to get with the game here. ^ ^

 

can we stop posting Scion tC or ________ on a scion forum!!!

What kind of answers do you expect?

 

Any comparison pics?

 

TC Rules lol

 

I came from driving a Mazda 3 S, Auto and no other options. Now, a tC auto no other options also. Although I must say that the tC is a very wonderful car (kk I LOVE THE HECK OUT OF IT!! ), to me, sometimes I miss the Mazda3. It has a hell of a turning radius, or just handling overall. It is definitely quieter inside the Mazda3, the tC's interior is still a bit cheap. It looks nice, but the quality isn't there. It also seems that the Mazda has more pick-up and go. I usually reved to around 3.2k-3.5k RPM and it willingly goes there. In this car, the tC, It really tries to shift early on. Yes people complain about the radio being hard to change, BUT there is kits out there already that makes it look natural, and I've seen many pictures of it. Also, if you would like, check out Mazda3forums.com . The whole community there is much better and organize. You can find anything in an instant unlike SL, which is confusing to navigate. Having the tC mixed with xA and xB on the website is confusing, and the links on this site, to me, feels unorganized. OH one more thing, the Mazda3, Maybe it's a rumor, but they are coming out with a 5 speed automatic, along with shiftronic, will be very fun! And now they have outside temp also.


BUT the reason I got my tC is because, the looks, and the main thing - KNOWING I GOT A RELIABLE, CAMRY ENGINE - gives me peace at mind ^_^


BTW Anyone has something like this posted??

http://www.sounddomain.com/ride/495957

I've been trying to find an install like that and noone has done it. That is the guide that the entire Mazda3 community used, and thats how I installed my own system, following that.


Edit: One more thing, to compare the two Mazda3 - tC Since I got auto and nothing on both

Mazda3 tC
Price: 17,000 17,315

Mazda3 (Has that tC doesn't) - Fog lights - Bigger glove compartment - bigger holder slots on doors - 2 more doors - auto with shiftronic - Nicer looking steeringwheel with radio control AND cruise on IT - a nice lookig built in radio/cd player - Way nicer looking gauges! -

tC (Has that the 3 doesn't) - Glass Roof/Sunroof - Wiper control - mp3 standard - better built engine - 17 inch wheels - LED 3rd brake light - back moon roof - Auto windows - Temp reader -

Thats all I can think up.. from comparing both of my car and x-car