Thinking about buying a Scion tC

**sizemic1** · 03-29-2006, 08:06 AM

At 14.5 MPG, I've pretty much come to the conclusion that my Jeep doesn't make for a very good commuter car

So I need a second car. Initially I was thinking of a new Honda Civic, but the tC seemed like a better deal from the features/price standpoint. Just looking for something fairly basic with a manual, power windows, and Sirius radio

Any comments?

**DarkFury** · 03-29-2006, 08:38 AM

WTH is up with your avatar...

SupaMan got a perm or what?

Oh... and if you get Scion... are you gonna "personalize it"?

**sizemic1** · 03-29-2006, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by DarkFury

WTH is up with your avatar...

SupaMan got a perm or what?

Oh... and if you get Scion... are you gonna "personalize it"?

Nah..not gonna personalize it. I don't need that junk. Just something seemingly reliable and affordable with decent mileage.

As for my avatar.. http://forums.gotapex.com/showthread.php?t=98139

**InfiniteNothing** · 03-29-2006, 09:08 AM

I hate civics on a superficial level. They are a pretty good compact car for the money though. I recommend it over the scion unless you're allergic like me.

**ShawnLee** · 03-29-2006, 11:40 AM

My friend has a tC and it's fairly comfortable. I dislike scions in general, but after riding in hers, it's actually a pretty good car. Since you get that, and Toyota reliability and reputation, I'd say it's a good deal.

**Bires** · 03-29-2006, 04:57 PM

Just curious, how is the tC a better deal? Isn't the Civic EX $18k loaded?

Are you totally sold on a *new* car? If not, look for a seventh generation civic 01-05. Mine gets 36-7mpg and many 04's can be had for under $12k.

**mcs328** · 03-29-2006, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Bires

Just curious, how is the tC a better deal? Isn't the Civic EX $18k loaded?

Are you totally sold on a *new* car? If not, look for a seventh generation civic 01-05. Mine gets 376mpg and many 04's can be had for under $12k.

damn that's some good mpg!!! Can I trade my 99 civic for yours? I get about 30 mpg but no where close to yours.

**sizemic1** · 03-29-2006, 06:54 PM

Well the tC is about $1.5-2k cheaper than a comparably equipped Honda. I think it's much better looking than the 8th Gen civic too. I might consider an 04 or 05 civic. I can live with that styling.

**mcs328** · 03-29-2006, 07:31 PM

The key differences I see are these:

Civic - Significantly better mpg IMO. Remote Trunk Release. Side Curtain Airbags.

Scion - Better HP and torque, engine immobilizer, airbags for you knees (that's what it says). Seat position memory.

**Bires** · 03-29-2006, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by mcs328

damn that's some good mpg!!! Can I trade my 99 civic for yours? I get about 30 mpg but no where close to yours.

Oops...fixed!

**Ladogaboy** · 04-02-2006, 04:43 PM

I'm not sure about the comparably equiped part, but when I was pricing out cars, The Civics were still cheaper. I could have gotten a Civic Si for about $1,000 more than what I would have paid for the tC. My opinion is, if you are looking for economy, go with the Civic. If you are looking for performance, you shouldn't be considering a Toyota at all.

Another car you may want to consider is a Mitsubishi Lancer. They are comparably priced, have a better warranty, and as far as estimated mileage, they get 28/35 mpg. The Ralliart model gets 23/29, but its power output is 162 horses, which is just a hair more than the tC. Just throwing you another option.

**ramazank2** · 04-02-2006, 05:26 PM

If you want a cheap yet good on gas car, check out the Toyota Yaris.
Liftback
$10,950 MSRP
Sedan
$11,825 MSRP
S Sedan
$13,325 MSRP

Mileage Estimates (mpg city/highway)
Manual 34/40
Automatic 34/39

**redcolours** · 04-02-2006, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by ramazank2

If you want a cheap yet good on gas car, check out the Toyota Yaris.
Liftback
$10,950 MSRP
Sedan
$11,825 MSRP
S Sedan
$13,325 MSRP

Mileage Estimates (mpg city/highway)
Manual 34/40
Automatic 34/39

thank you! that was the car i saw that i thought was so far beyond fugly, i kinda liked it.

Plus the gas mileage drew me to it. i just could not remember what the name was. i dont know how well it rides tho.... still have to look into that.

**ramazank2** · 04-02-2006, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by redcolours

thank you! that was the car i saw that i thought was so far beyond fugly, i kinda liked it.

Plus the gas mileage drew me to it. i just could not remember what the name was. i dont know how well it rides tho.... still have to look into that.

It comes standard without a radio!!!

**ArkiStan** · 04-03-2006, 09:16 PM

Just curious. If you buy a whole new car to save gas (but keep the old car), how many years would it take for you to break even in terms of transportation costs? That is of course considering the additional insurance, taxes, gas savings and all.

**sizemic1** · 04-04-2006, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by ArkiStan

Just curious. If you buy a whole new car to save gas (but keep the old car), how many years would it take for you to break even in terms of transportation costs? That is of course considering the additional insurance, taxes, gas savings and all.

Well I'm spending close to $400/month on gas for the jeep @ 14MPG. Since most of my driving is freeway, I would expect to at least double that with something more economical. So the $200 savings/month in gas would partially offset the insurance and payment. It would initially cost me more money to buy a second car than a just drive the Jeep, but the second car would be paid off in a couple of years. At that point I would have 2 relatively new cars paid in full and in the end, probably saving $150/month.

The other reason for the second car is because my Jeep will soon become my pleasure vehicle and not my daily driver, making it even less economical to drive. Plus, I don't want to put a ton of miles on it. It's already got close to 20k in less than a year. I need something I can drive the wheels off of for years to come. I'm now thinking about a new Civic Sedan. MUCH better looking than the coupe IMO.

**Daedalus** · 04-04-2006, 11:38 AM

WOW! You're driving, what, 2000 miles/month? Damn. Ah, Temecula. WAY out there. I bought a car 2 weeks ago from a guy out there. I drove a friend out there and he drove it back for me. Took us about 5 hours R/T from LAX. How much time do you spend commuting each day?

**sizemic1** · 04-04-2006, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Daedalus

WOW! You're driving, what, 2000 miles/month? Damn. Ah, Temecula. WAY out there. I bought a car 2 weeks ago from a guy out there. I drove a friend out there and he drove it back for me. Took us about 5 hours R/T from LAX. How much time do you spend commuting each day?

My commuting time isn't too bad. I drive 60 miles/day and it's only about a 30min commute.

**johnnymk** · 04-04-2006, 01:03 PM

Why do you want a manual trans? The gas mileage is not much different than an automatic, they are a pain in traffic, clutches are not that cheap, and are harder to sell.

**sizemic1** · 04-04-2006, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by johnnymk

Why do you want a manual trans? The gas mileage is not much different than an automatic, they are a pain in traffic, clutches are not that cheap, and are harder to sell.

Because with those low HP engines, it's all about gearing. I don't have any experience with Honda's automatic transmissions, but i'm guessing the up/down shift points aren't all that great when mated to a 4 cylinder. A manual is $800 cheaper, I have NO traffic in my commute, and I don't plan on selling it. I will drive it until the wheels fall off.