Test Drove a Scion tC, Hadn't been in 1 before Options

[blu94gt]

So as I've recently gotten a new full time job, etc etc, I'm in the market for a new car. Well not necessarily NEW, but either a brand new car like a tC or WRX or something or keep the Celi as a DD and get a toy like an MR2 or an older Corvette.

Well the test driving started today, I drove a tC. It wasn't with all the options I like, and it had an automatic, but overall I didn't like the car. I could definitely tell that the frame was taller than the Celica and it was pretty mushy in the corners. The steering was too sensitive at high speeds and in cornering I had a hard time feeling where the car was going. Power was good, not fast by any means but would outrun my car lol. All the luxuries are nice: panoramic sunroof and glass roofing, stereo, hatchback, wheels, looks, etc, but in the department of driveability I give it a thumbs down.

Maybe it would be better with the TRD suspension, I don't know.

And for upcoming reviews I'm looking at a 93 Corvette this week and probably going to swing by the Subaru dealership tomorrow to see what they have in stock.

Any other cars out there that I could look at? Like I said if I get something like a 'Vette or an MR2 it will be a garage queen and I'll put some of the leftover money into the Celica. I'd like to keep it something Toyota, or at least foreign, but after driving my neighbor's 94 Corvette I'll make an exception for them lol (and there's like 15 in the area for sale, all under 80k miles, under $15,000)

[Scott]

you could try a civic Si or rx-8

[lagos]

id look into the wrx out of all of those choices if i were you

[97sccelica]

the corvettes would be cool

but at 80k miles, they are kinda old and their reliability will be questionable depending on how they were treated.

as for a wrx, are you looking at a getting a used one since u mention under $15k for the vette's and a TC is about $14k while a new WRX is $25k

02 and 03's will be around $15k for one that doesnt have too much milage. just remember, people like me own WRX's and nearly every owner with a modded wrx puts the car back to stock then trades it in when they want to get rid of it.

so be extra careful when buying a used WRX

This post has been edited by 97sccelica: Jan 8, 2006 - 4:22 PM

[blu94gt]

the corvettes would be cool

but at 80k miles, they are kinda old and their reliability will be questionable depending on how they were treated.

as for a wrx, are you looking at a getting a used one since u mention under $15k for the vette's and a TC is about $14k while a new WRX is $25k

02 and 03's will be around $15k for one that doesnt have too much milage. just remember, people like me own WRX's and nearly every owner with a modded wrx puts the car back to stock then trades it in when they want to get rid of it.

so be extra careful when buying a used WRX

I'm not too worried about reliability on a Corvette, that would be the purpose of it being garaged and me keeping the Celi. Plus I'm going to school for auto-tech and a car of my own to work on would be fun

As for price ranges, what I was thinking was:
1. Sell the Celica and buy a new car in the $20-25k range, something fun but driveable every day like a tC or WRX or Evo

or

2. Keep the Celica, buy a used car in the $10-15k range (and could be cheaper, I can get wholesale cars through my job) and use the extra money to put into the Celica and the car I buy, bet it a used Corvette, WRX, etc.

Yeah, I know a lot of guys who do that to WRX's, which was why if I get one I think I would just go all out and get a new one.

[blu94gt]

well I was going to go look at Evo's and WRX's today but the weather is pretty crappy. I start work tomorrow though, I'm pumped!

Car buying is delayed until summer though, decided to just save a bit of money until then

[lagos]

try to think about what you want out of a new car.....cause there is a world of difference between cars like evos and cars like the TC. keep in mind too that and evo or sti cost about 650$ per month!

they wont let u test drive an sti without a credit check 1st....at least thats what they told me when i went

This post has been edited by lagos: Jan 9, 2006 - 4:06 PM

[creamed_corn]

I'd seriously stay away from C4 vettes, at about 70,000 miles they literally start to fall apart and EVERYTHING goes wrong with them, which is why they're so damn cheap. I've seen dozens of them for sale around $7000 to $9000 with 60-70k on the odometer and they drive like crap, the steering rack tends to stick, the manifold cracks, the interior is just... god... I've never seen a car with a more shabby interior, loose and torn crap everywhere. If you want one that bad, look for one with VERY low mileage if you want to get your money out of it. They have some of the most ugly stock rims I've ever sene as well. They make the MK3 supra sawblades look like Gianelle's.

Speaking of the MR2 turbo, did anyone else notice the new RAV4 is just as fast as one? Car and Driver got one from 0-60mph in 6.3 seconds and a quarter mile in the high 14's. Toyota is doing something right.

[97sccelica]

Speaking of the MR2 turbo, did anyone else notice the new RAV4 is just as fast as one? Car and Driver got one from 0-60mph in 6.3 seconds and a quarter mile in the high 14's. Toyota is doing something right.

are u serious?

they filmed a commercial for the new rav4 down my street.

it had two muscle cars 71-72 chevelle and a super bee, not sure on the year, they were doing burn outs. thats the only part of the filming i saw tho

[Kwanza26]

I personally liked the scion tC. I thought it drove every bit as good, if not a bit better than a stock 6gc celica.

[blu94gt]

I personally liked the scion tC. I thought it drove every bit as good, if not a bit better than a stock 6gc celica.

did you drive one with the TRD suspension, or stock? I pulled onto the interstate on this long curved ramp that usually the Celica does easy at about 85 and the tC felt like it was going to roll over barely doing 70. Not to mention my Celica is in dire need of some suspension work lol. Eh I guess it's just what cars the driver is personally in tune with, but through the over-powered power steering and just weird feel of it and the car being really tall I felt like the car was unpredictable in corners.

Maybe I should look at one wiht the TRD stuff on it

[Digndoug]

I'd seriously stay away from C4 vettes, at about 70,000 miles they literally start to fall apart and EVERYTHING goes wrong with them, which is why they're so damn cheap. I've seen dozens of them for sale around $7000 to $9000 with 60-70k on the odometer and they drive like crap, the steering rack tends to stick, the manifold cracks, the interior is just... god... I've never seen a car with a more shabby interior, loose and torn crap everywhere. If you want one that bad, look for one with VERY low mileage if you want to get your money out of it. They have some of the most ugly stock rims I've ever sene as well. They make the MK3 supra sawblades look like Gianelle's.

Speaking of the MR2 turbo, did anyone else notice the new RAV4 is just as fast as one? Car and Driver got one from 0-60mph in 6.3 seconds and a quarter mile in the high 14's. Toyota is doing something right.

Not to change the subject, but the vette is a nice car. GM's best car. My pops had one that he treated like **** and had 220k on it, ran perfect never had a problem,until my bro totaled it. Have you owned one? Have you worked on one? Unless you have personal experiance dont throw **** out the window about somthing you dont know.

The Vette would be a very nice idea, BUT keep in mind it would be a 13 y/o car, expect to mantain it and work on it. ALL OLD CARS NEED WORK no matter what.

Id say if your still young and need somthing to last, look at a newer maxima or altima, 3.5 v6.. or even a bmw 328i..

[Kwanza26]

I personally liked the scion tC. I thought it drove every bit as good, if not a bit better than a stock 6gc celica.

did you drive one with the TRD suspension, or stock? I pulled onto the interstate on this long curved ramp that usually the Celica does easy at about 85 and the tC felt like it was going to roll over barely doing 70. Not to mention my Celica is in dire need of some suspension work lol. Eh I guess it's just what cars the driver is personally in tune with, but through the over-powered power steering and just weird feel of it and the car being really tall I felt like the car was unpredictable in corners.

Maybe I should look at one wiht the TRD stuff on it

Nope... stock vs stock. The size of the stock wheels alone should have the Scion tC outhandle the Celica pretty easily. My cousin has a buddy with a tC that's thinking about getting the supercharger so if that goes through... I'll provide better details (we'd install it and then test it). I drove his car on a few occasions in race type situations (there's a big open lot in town where we test cars) and IMO, the stock tC and lowered tC can handle as well as the Celica. You do feel its heft in tight corners, but its excellent torque band more than makes up for it. If you want a great handling car... get an MR2 Spyder... or a Miata. I fell in love with Miatas and might pick one up soon...