As the guy who started the "Official tC test drive thread" I thought I would let you guys know what happended with me and why. So let me start by saying I test drove the TC 3 times. Each time I concentrated heavily on the car and it's little nuances thinking "Can I live with this car everyday?".... I was so in love with the way it looked I was afraid I was not thinking clearly and would make an impulse decision. I really wanted to make sure I wasn't blinded by fanboy-ism. So when it was all said and done......
I bought an 04 nissan spec v. Don't get me wrong I really wanted to buy the TC. I really wanted to join this cool community and be a part of the whole scion thing. I just couldn't live with the soft suspension, the horrible headroom, and the overall lack of low end torque. I got a fabulous deal on my spec and it just had way more ***** (aka low end torque) and fun factor than the TC. However I would be lying if I didn't say I was a little jealous at the TC's looks. Darn that is one sexy car!!!! So please don't take this as I hate the TC. I plan on still popping in and lurking from time to time. Hopefully in a couple of years after the aftermarket suspension companies have worked their magic on the TC and the SC is out and I can see dyno #s I might just trade the spec for a TC. Anyways thanks for the fun and I will be around....

 

15 views and no replies?? I see I didn't buy a TC so...

 

i wanted a tc.... now i'm off to get something else :?
the tc isnt for everyone

 

What are you considering???

 

i want a wrx now... always wanted one.. never had the money to get one.. or the U.S. never had one... now i have the chance... so i'mma get one...

 

Definately a cool car but if you can afford a WRX why even consider a TC. I mean the the car is sweet but if you can afford a car in the price range of a wrx there are so many other cars that are way cooler...

 

i'm coming off a WRX lease. the tC has more featuresand is a better built car. sure, the awd was nice in the snow, and the acceleration was cool, but it has no top end power. save your money for an STi.

things the tC has, but the WRX doesn't:

comfortable seats
passenger side auto down window
both windwos auto-up
good gas mileage
nice interior
soild feel
build quality (my WRX used to sound like a trash can lid when i shut the door)
actual thick sheet metal (when it rained, my WRX roof sounded like tin, and also the side doors got dented from the littlest tap)
smooth clutch that actually wants to go into gear (wrx clutch SUCKED, i can't emphasize that enough)

i could go on and on, but i don't want to tuin your dream

 

How much did you pay for the Spec V? They have a $2,000 rebate on them now, so you can get a loaded one for the same price as a tC. A stripped model goes for below $15,000. My next car will probably come down to a new Spec V or used Maxima. I don't know if the tC is really worth $17,000, when for that price you would could be looking at a Mazda 6s or 2002 Maxima with low miles.

 

Congrats on the new car!! I had been a nissan owner for 8 years.

I also seriously considered the Spec V. Nissan had some unbelieveable rebates in June on the car which made the price very reasonable fully loaded. I was very close to pulling the trigger on that car.

I had read the user reviews on the Spec V and on average they were not very good. Overall all new car owners were extreamly happy but after the first 7000 miles people were complaining about the car shaking it self apart and that Nissan was not taking care of them. Nissan has not been the same company since Renault took them over.

I realize I may be taking a bigger chance going with a first year run car but it is a toyota and I have never seen an unhappy toyota owner...

Good Luck.. Let us know how the car holds up...

 

I agree the tC is not for everyone. It is far better looking up close that i had imagined. Even my 55 year old father loved it. However i have now had two disaapointing experiences with my local Scion dealer. I am not giving up on the tC , the dealership problem is annoying at the most, The things that matter, build quality etc. are all solid. I was amazed at how solid the doors sounded when closing. Also it is a small car, I am a big guy and had no problem what so ever getting the seat and steering wheel in a perfect comfortable driving position. That being said its not the only car i am looking at so i can understand your decision. I am still about a month away from buying and who knows maybe it will be a tC....

 

no low end torque?
thats the first i've heard anybody complaining about that......

i'd complain about 4th gear pull more than low end torque

just to let you know whp torque to the wheel wise vspec sentra and tc are pretty much dead even since the spec v is in the 145-150 range.

but the tc isn't for everyone thats why their is more than one car manufacturer and a crap load of models

 

It's cool. More tCs for us

But really, I was looking into the Spec V too. Back in January, it was an initial choice along with the Civic Si.

I test drove the Spec V, Mazda 3s Hatch, Civic Si, and Corolla XRS, and the StC. I then narrowed it down to either the 3s or the tC.

My final choice was the tC. Like someone posted earlier, 'bang for the buck'.

Also, it's a car that's new and no one's ever seen before.

Now comes the wait, though

 

The 2002 models had some issues, almost all of which were resolved half-way through the first model year. 2003s only have a couple of issues, and 2004s have none. A recall fixed the pre-cat burning itself up, and that's what led to the increased oil consumption. The QR25DE is used in the Altima, and that model haven't had the number of issues. One might think it's because of all the ricers driving Spec Vs vs those who drive Altimas. And honestly, who's going to be more likely to notice things like increased oil consuption? A typical Corolla driver who takes their car to Jiffy Lube for oil changes, or a Spec V driver who changes their own oil and measures the amount coming out. The car type and market definiely impacts the "incident" rate.

Really, Toyota has had some problems just like every other brand. I recall a widespread sludge problem for which Toyota never offered a permanent solution. They will fix the problem, but no recall was ever issued (to keep their number of recalls down, perhaps?).

 

Check the torque curves. The Spec V is making a lot of torque down low, ar 1,500 RPMs. The engine quicker to rev and it's in a car that weighs 200 lbs. less. You've also got an extra gear meaning closer ratios which allow the engine to stay in its powerband.

I've driven cars which have a similar amount of power to the Spec V (3s, RalliArt) and they don't feel anywhere near as fast. The tC matches the specs of the 3s and RalliArt almost exactly.

 

And yet all four cars (Mazda 3s, Ralliart Lancer, Spec V and tC) are within .2 sec 0-60 and .2 sec 1/4 mile. So that extra torque and lower weight seem to do nothing for the Spec V.

 

I was looking at the Spec V earlier this year. The price was less than $15,000 for a brand new one. The main thing that turned me off was the styling. I think the altima looks great but not a fan of the sentra styling.

 

Naw with a good driver a stock spec can turn a very low 15 in the 1/4. There have even been some reports of 14.9 to 15 flat. ( not sure if I buy that.... The TC is 15.7. I mean I have driven them both and I now own a spec, I think the TC is a great car but it isn't fast or quick.

 

After the rbate I paid 14,733 with a nissan security bronze 100,00 mi warranty thrown in and free oil changes for life. I also got the embroidered floor mats for free on the deal....

 

How do you know this I have yet to see a dyno of a TC...Anyweays my decision was based off of a "butt dyno"

 

I'm not a big fan of nissan, I bought an '02 sentra, and for the money the specv just has a cheap feel to it. Granted for the money its one of the fastest and best handling cars your going to get, but i think thats about all it has going for. I'm not sure about the new ones but the first two years had a ton of quality issues, plus the resale value just isnt anywhere near as good as honda or toyota. The other thing I've ran into is every nissan dealer I've dealt with was a bunch of _______s, i suppose i just haven't had very good luck, but I think i've given up on them.

? - Does Scion have road side assistance or loaner cars for warantee work, or does it just depend on the dealer?