Hey Guys I am a new tC owner just got it last week its a 2011 with a 6 speed manual. I had a few questions. First Is there any place website or other that offers aftermarket parts that are certified by scion/toyota? Second I got the car with 100 miles on it and I was wondering how long the break in period should be as well as what are the optimal shift points for the car and best gas milage? (the owners manual only gives top shift points) Finally I really want to put in a short throw shifter just to tighten up the shifts a bit will doing this void my warenty (I am only leasing the car but I really like it so far and might want to keep it) Thanks for the help.

 

The only Scion/Toyota certified aftermarket parts are TRD parts...

www.trdsparks.com is a good place to get them...quick shifter too.

If you have to ask about shift points, a manual car may not be the right one for you...

 

Ok no need to get snippy... I have had manuals before in the mustang owners manual it gives the best possible shift points for the best gas milage etc so I was just wondering if anyone had that information for the tC.

 

2tCornot2tC isn't being snippy, for better or worse, he's just blunt.

Anyway, there's nothing official on the best shift points for gas mileage, but there is another thread dedicated to mpg on the tC2. https://www.scionlife.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=199351


I'd also check before you install even TRD parts on your leased scion. I've never done a lease, but I'd certainly ask before doing anything.

Good luck and let us know what you find out. I'm sure you aren't the only one leasing a tC who wants to mod.

 

Almost forgot...

Welcome to the family!

 

Geniune TRD parts on leased cars are residualized, so they are worth something to toyota, but thats at time of lease purchase. Installing them after the fact is not a good idea. Make sure what ever you add, you can remove before trading in. Then just sell off the parts on a little forum called.... oh I dont know.... scionlife.com :D

 

Thanks for the info but consider me stupid. So when you say residualized you mean? This is my first lease so you might have to talk in really small words. Thanks

 

I've never done a lease on a car, so why did you do a lease? I was always under the impression that companies do car leases because leases included car maintenance. That gives a hard number to write off for tax purposes. The cost of operating the car is then indisputable. Now that Scion includes maintenance for the first 5 years...it doesn't make any sense to lease a Scion to me...I'm assuming that you are not incorporated and did not buy the car for a company.

As for the shift points...I've always shifted according to the speed I was going...the faster I was going, the closed to the red (line) I shifted...I don't have the patience for economical driving. If I had the time to go slow, I would ride a bicycle and get some exercise along the way. I can't see why anybody would buy a car and then not use it to its potential. I'd rather drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. I guess I should put that into my signature.

Well now you know a little about me, I hope you don't take any ribbing I dish out seriously and just dish it right back.

Welcome to ScionLife...pleased to meet you...

 

Many reasons why, but one such reason is because the payment is lower for the consumer as they are only paying for the depreciation and not the total value.

So, also take that into account. If your car is $20,000 and Scion says it has a 50% residual value, then it would be worth $10,000 at the end of your term, say in 4 years. At that point, you have the option of buying it out for $10,000 or giving it back to Scion. If you give it back, Scion will auction the vehicle or sell it to a local dealer. If the people behind the scenes did their job right, the car will be worth more than 50% at the end of your 4 year term and they will be able to turn the car over for a profit (again).

In short, its good for the customer because they don't feel stuck with the car forever and the payment is lower. But, at the end you don't own anything. It's just like extended renting.

 

Buying is cheaper (and provides the customer more flexibility), but leasing adds convenience (you don't have to get sell or trade the car when you're ready for something new) and reduces risk to the customer (to use 1st's example, if the car ends up only being worth $7K at the end of the term, customer doesn't pay the extra)

If you're someone like me, who has put over 12K miles on the car in under 5 months, leasing doesn't work so well...

 

1stOne is completely right. I thought just like you did till about three weeks ago when my car situation went to crap. I had a 2002 camaro that a shop worked on and screwed it up when i got the car back the engine was tapping hard core well the shop tried to fix it but needless to say they didnt so I had to do something and my father sugested a lease because it would come with a warenty I would not have to worry about paying any repair bills any time soon and I could afford a pretty nice car for really cheap car payements. Well I went to looking and found the scion. They gave me 3000 for the camaro so my payments are 125.oo a month for a brand new car you cant beet that with a stick. Now in three years when my lease is up I can either buy the car for 13000 or just walk away I am really liking the car so far so who knows I may keep it but what 1stOne said i am just renting it unless I decide to keep it.

 

So then...in your example...if the car is only worth $8,000 at the end of the lease, you would owe the dealer $2,000?

 

No, that's where the reduced risk comes in. The lease is a contract both parties must honor. Since he leased the car for 3 yrs with the option to buy for $13K at the end, he either pays the $13K or returns the car. If the car is worth $15K at the end of 3 yrs and he buys his car, he will pay $13K for a $15K car. If, on the other hand, the car is only worth $10K, it makes more sense for him to simply return the car and buy an equivalent used one somewhere else for the reduced price.

 

Mightyp has got it!!

 

There is a limit on the miles you can put on the car in that time, isn't there???

It sounds like most of you here leased your tCs...am I the only bone-head that bought his car and doesn't get it?

 

Welcome!

I'm buying mine

 

Oh, no... I bought my tC.

While there are advantages to leasing there are also many disadvantages. Miles, as you mentioned, is one of them. You can only drive a certain number of miles per year. Also, you are limited on the modifications you can do. I don't know the details of the contract, but I'd guess you would be penalized somehow if you take the car back with mods.