I love it!

I went to edmunds.com and compared the camry le, the solara, and the accord dx and the tC looks to be very, very similar. It's just shorter in length overall and about $4k cheaper!

I was set on getting an xB until I checked out this side of the forum. The xB seems to be a lot of car for the money w/nice seats, body kit, tint, mp3 player, good mpg, unique look...but the tC is much more car for just a little more money, bigger motor=much more torque, longer wheelbase, heavier weight, and better suspension=smoother ride. I'm thinking, maybe it's time for me to grow up and get a more normal car like this.

there are so many cars based off of the camry, some disguised as Lexuses(Lexi?). Why not a hatchback? I need a car for commuting and this car seems like it would be much better on the freeway then the xB. As much as I love the box, this would be a much better buy after analyzing the data.

But I noticed a pic of a tC in another post looked like it was shipped here recently. So does that mean the tC was built in Japan like its little brothers? That would be a good thing since I notice that the cars built overseas tend to be put together just a little better than the Toyota's built here. I noticed that with Honda's as well.

keep the topics coming...i'm just absorbing everything until i get mine in June.

 

Wow, you were set on getting an xB, but now want a 2 door coupe? Are you shopping for just a good deal?

 

Priorities are changing every day!

Within the last 6 months I proposed to my girlfriend, got hired on at work permanently(w/a nice raise), went back to school part-time, moved 40 miles away from work w/ my new finace, bought a 20 year old corolla gts(which i decided i don't wanna commute with anymore), and found out my tax refund is enough to put down on a new car.

And even though I have studied(for my personal enjoyment) the new car market, I'm now actually in a position to get a new car for the first time in my life. Well, barely I should say. But I know what's out there and I previously narrowed it down to just 2 cars:

the '04 Civic Si. and the '05 Scion xB.

Si's have not been too popular from what I've read, and I've been told I could possible find a white(choice color) Si for under invoice now that they've officially terminated MY'04 production along with the Insight. I love the the Civic! Great Quality and Eurohatch looks. But it dissapoints me greatly that Honda decided to not bring the Civic Type-R here, because I woulda got one of those...whatever the price.

Then the xB, which I was surprised to find sells for under $14k and comes with more standard features than a base Accord! I love the quirky looks, the amount of interior space, and the gas mileage. But after driving many 1.5/1.6 liter cars, I've grown to appreciate the available torque of the "big block" 2.4/2.5's that are going into cars these days and still getting great gas mileage. I test drove an xB a few times already...but not on the freeway. And I already have a good idea of what my commute will be like cruising at around 4k RPM because I do it in my Corolla everyday. xB is great around town, but probably not ideal for the long haul.

I figure, if I could get a 2.4 liter 4-cyl. camry/accord w/ a hatchback and 30mpg hwy, for about 16/17k that would be ideal! The Honda Element comes close, and I've been a fan of that car/truck thing, but it's just a little more utility than I want in a commuter, and the mileage ain't all that.

But after reading about this new tC, I think I found a winner! It fits the bill along and it's still a great value! I'm sure I could get those other cars for close to invoice now that they've been out awhile...but it will be so much more fun to buy a brand new car right when it comes out! My fiance did the same thing last year when she got her Acura TSX(a VERY nice "big block" 2.4 :D ).

But I still have yet to drive the car...so we'll see. But from all the research I've done so far, I think I will be a new Scion tC owner in July or so!

 

yes its japanese built (yay!)

 

i'm in the same boat...

i bought my xB in early August of last year. The xB is truly an entertainment box on wheels. There are endless modifications that can be done... but as you have mentioned, I am heading toward a car with great looks, value, and more power. The TC base engine 2.4L camry engine is a wonderful engine. My gf drives 2003 camry...and it hauls ___ , u'd be surprised. But imagine that engine in a lighter and smaller coupe with a manual tranny...u got urself a speedster. Although the S/C due in September would be nice...for the money...u can't complain the base engine and its performance. And of course all the standard feature...

TC may not appeal to all...but it will definitely become a popular car. They say that TC has been released to compete against Civics, Jetta and so forth... but i think it's even better than the RSX. Can't wait to get one...

TC is 100% made in Japan.

 

yeah. i think the tC is better than the RSX. the tC has more standard features than the RSX for its price.

 

gunner1
the idea that toyotas built outside japan are of lesser quality is not true. all of the same business practices are applied state side. the camry that everyone loves so much is built in kentucky

 

At the price they set for it....it will sell very well competing with many cars.

Also I was thinking, the coolest thing about the set pricing for new Scions is that...there's no markup. So the first couple of months a brand new car is sold, will probably be the best time to take advantage of set pricing.

Heh, I'm sure dealers love customers like me that can sell cars to themselves.

 

customers like u are the best. not only did you sell yourself but you are are spreading the good word to others. thanks man!!!!

 

Yup, just make sure the MSRP price is similar to Scion.com.

Yeah, the SI insurance is ridiculous. Hopefully the tC insurance is not as high.

 

Yeah I agree with gunner, and im on about the same page as him. My brother has an xB and it is slightly hooked up and a blast to drive. I was thinking about getting one too and was almost sold, until I saw the tC.

I want a tC. I haven't reserved one yet, because I want to sit in and drive one before I put any money down. But as soon as I try it out, if I like it, im taking it. At first I thought that I would want to wait for the supercharger, but forget that, I just want the car, NOW!

Right now I drive a 4dr '94 accord ex and I almost never have more than one other person, so doors don't matter to me. I dont know the torque off hand, but I am certain it is no more than 120lb/ft. and just for comparison on size, my accord vs tc:
wheelbase: 107" 106.3"
length: 184" 174"
width: 70" 69.1"
height 55" 55.7"
hp: 145hp 160hp
engine 2.2L SOHC 2.4L DOHC
gvw: 2900lbs 2900lbs

It would appear that I am trading up to a better 2 door version of my current car, which is essentially what I want. I would much rather have a manual, I am currently in an automatic, and driving can be boring. The listed specs for my accord aren't official, and they are most likely off, since it says my max speed on the accord is 112, which I KNOW is wrong, since I was doing 125 last night.

Judging by specs, and pictures, this car is what I want, but like I said, I have to feel it first.

 

the TC base engine 2.4L torque is actually 163 lbs/ft not 120. TC will be a powerful car...especially with some minor tuning like intake and exhaust.

imagine what the 200HP producing supercharger will do.

here's some spec of the base engine TC.

Engine Double overhead cam (DOHC) 16-valve VVT-i 4-cylinder
Displacement 2.4 liters
Bore x stroke 88.5mm X 96mm
Compression ratio 9.6:1
Valvetrain Double overhead cam (DOHC) 16-valve with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-I)
Induction system Multi-port EFI
Ignition system Electronic with Direct Ignition (TDI)
Horsepower 160
Torque 163
Transmission
5-speed manual overdrive Standard
4-speed electronically controlled transmission (ECT) Available
Brakes Power-assisted ventilated front/rear disc with Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)

 

i think he was talking about his honda that had 120ft/lb torque

 

yeah. he was talking about his accord.

 

Well from what I noticed and others have agreed with me, I noticed Japanese made Honda's have interiors that align better and feel more solid than American made Honda's.

So the tC is about as big as a '94 Accord without the overhangs? That's a good size. I should have looked out for it at the IAS show here in LA the other week. I probably saw it and mistakened it for a Tiburon, tho. Haha!

 

I compared the dimensions with a Hyundai Tiburon because I thought both cars looked similar, and I found out that...

They have about the same length and width! So the tC is Tiburon sized! Except with a 6 inch longer wheelbase and 3.5 inches taller. So that means....roomier.

But it takes up about that much parking space and has a similar look, but it's bigger. That's good. I always like seeing fixed up Tibby's on the road, I just wouldn't wanna own one. I like Toyota's.

 

^^^ the tC size seems like its the right size for me. hehe thats good.

 

An inch wider and taller and 2 inches longer than the RSX. Another hatchback to compare with.

But again...plenty more in the wheelbase which should mean the tC is a good deal roomier.

We'll see.

 

Just noticed that the tC has no rear wiper, at least from the official pics. most of the hatchback i've seen have rear wipers. the rear window is probably angled that it doesn't need the weight

 

yeah. i notice that too.