Liftback cargo space

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck) 12/07/2016 at 00:07 • Filed to: he definitely has no friends

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What do the tC, 318ti, and Astra have in common? If you answered, “cars with incredibly cheap plastic throughout,” you are correct — BUT they’re also “modern” hatchbacks that I think about owning in my weaker moments. And since I have no money, now is the PERFECT time to waste minutes of my life posting about cars I can’t/won’t buy!

Cargo capacity was not a deal-breaker on my former Celica. Had other things “clicked” with it, it wouldn’t be up for discussion. But it’s awesomely large liftback that was also completely useless just added salt in the wounds. That being said, I’m still drawn to liftbacks. I don’t have friends — I don’t need 4 doors. I consider my Tercel wagon living beyond my needs.

The 318ti is still a mild obsession of mine, but I tried to think about moderately-comparable vehicles I would entertain the idea of driving. Yes, the 318ti is a RWD bimmer and the rest are FWD whatevers, but they are all liftbacks (hatchbacks?) powered by 4-bangers. So I decided to look up some cargo specs (with the rear seats upright):

2nd gen tC: Not awful, but the “swoopy” liftback robs a lot of potential vertical clearance. But still: 14.7 cubic feet overall.

Image from 318ti.org

318ti: shallower, but appears to be taller... Maybe? Motortrend says it’s capacity is 15.1 cubic feet (nice!) but another site said 13.9 so... ?

1st gen tC: It’s even smaller than the 2nd gen, at 12.8 cubic feet.

This is actually a 5-door, leave me alone.

Astra Coupe XR: apparently just 12.2 cubic feet. Sure looks that way.

What I do like about the 2nd gen tC is 180 horsepower mated to a 6-speed manual, making it three times more powerful than my favorite car - the Tercel. A car that I described as being “fun.” It would also be over 50% more powerful than the fastest car I’ve owned: ... a, uh, 31-year old Celica.

What I like about the 318ti is pretty much everything, other than the obvious reliability hoo-hah, the fact that too many examples were not well cared for, and the price premium commanded by manual versions. Obviously a 2-year old tC will run $11-$13k, but you’re getting a 2-year Toyota instead of 20-year old E36... They’re really difficult (and idiotic) to cross-shop in a vacuum. And yet, here I am.

As for the Astra, eh. My interest in it faded some time ago. It’s hard to justify buying one over a superior Matrix/Vibe, which I already own...

There will come a day when I stop buying Toyotas made pre-1896. I am just trying to prepare myself. You laugh now, but you’ll see. You’ll ALL see!

Nauraushaun > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 00:13

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318 = RWD = WIN

Tristan > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 00:17

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I had a very not-cared-for 318ti for a very brief moment. It was pretty alright.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 00:20

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Move to Europe, buy a Škoda Superb. They’re gorgeous and practical!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Tristan 12/07/2016 at 00:23

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Why so brief?

Hellcat Everything > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 00:30

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As much as I say I can’t wait to get rid of the TC for ‘something sporty’, I will fully admit that I fell in love with a Release Series 10.0 I saw for sale while getting a transmission service. I’m literally in the “target market” for this car and I fell for the under powered re-skinned Camry because I thought it looked perfect.

Good thing I don’t have any money otherwise I would have bought it in a heartbeat, and I would have been mad at my self for buying another slow car.

InFierority Complex > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 00:32

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Mazda6 Liftback

22 ft³ with the seats up apparently

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Hellcat Everything 12/07/2016 at 00:37

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Ohhh you own a tC then? Other than being a slow camry coupe, how do you like it?

Milky > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 00:38

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Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Milky 12/07/2016 at 00:39

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Nice Crossfire

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 00:41

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(Is this the part where I’m corrected for confusing a C coupe with a CLK?)

Nothing > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 00:45

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Classic Saab 900. Gobs of space back there, and when the seats are folded, it’s 6 feet of flat space back there.

InFierority Complex > Nothing 12/07/2016 at 00:48

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You can always add a toppola

Milky > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 00:59

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Close, confusing a C coupe with the S LK. But AFIK the C class sport coupe was a bit garbage. More of a joke comment.

The Crossfire is down 2 seats and only has 6.5 cu ft of storage, so I didn’t even bother with posting it .... Yes I had to look that up.

Hellcat Everything > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 01:00

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Well, like I said earlier, the thing is slow, like I can floor it, rev to nearly 4k in every shift, and I’m impeding traffic slow. Probably a good thing.

I still have fun driving it because its a manual, and as James May has put it, you can drive a slow car at the limit and you won’t die or break any traffic laws, I like it :).

The hatch is a big convenience, I’ve managed to fit a small fish tank in the back of the thing thanks to that and the fold flat seats. Its a 09 btw.

The thing is dead reliable, I got the car at 55k miles and it was obvious the previous owner was lax about the service intervals, it was full of sludge, I had the dealer clean that up before I took it. I’m at 85k right now and I have had no issues what so ever, according to the service record it came with, the only things its been to the shop for was oil, and one new set of tires at 60k. It still shifts very smooth.

The interior trim falls a short however, very dull design, the plastic is cheap, but it doesn’t feel like it will break in my hands cheap at least, and even with my set set all the way back you can fit a small adult in the back, just don’t hit any bumps.

Over all I still like the car, it does the job I need it to do and I don’t have to worry about it stranding me, but there are better cars that you can get in that class. The car definitely suffers from Toyotaitis, its good, but not great.

gmctavish needs more space > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 01:14

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I think this has been said before, but the 318ti is just all of the poor interior quality of the E36, with none of the good handling.

Alternately, all of the 80s handling of the E30, without the good looks of the E30. It does have a hatch though, and it’s cheaper than an E30 Touring. Clearly the solution is import an E36 Touring instead. Or get an IS300 SportCross.

Tristan > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 01:19

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Roommate owed me $900 for a very long time, so when he said he was going to sell the somewhat ratty BMW I said sign the title over and we’ll call it good. I cleaned it up nice, pieced the interior back together and planned to keep it, but a good friend really wanted it, so I sold it to him and got my $900.

He only had it for a couple of months. He got tired of keeping a neglected old BMW on the road real quick.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Hellcat Everything 12/07/2016 at 01:22

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Thanks for the testimony!

I think I’m living on borrowed time from the eventual ultimatum from my wife (she begrudgingly tolerates my revolving door of beaters — but sometimes the truth comes out) so I’m thinking of vehicles I could “live with.” I agree with your conclusion — the tC would probably be a lot like the ‘14 base Taco I drive for work: punch in, punch out. Nothing more, nothing less.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Milky 12/07/2016 at 01:24

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I’m glad you posted that in jest then, because I am not a fan that particular model, but didn’t want to rudely reply with: “Hell no.” :)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Tristan 12/07/2016 at 01:25

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Sounds like you dodged a bullet there — and got your money back, ultimately! — at the expense of your other friend lol

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > InFierority Complex 12/07/2016 at 01:27

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I would probably hold out for a wagon if I went that route

Tristan > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 01:31

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Nah, he was later the best man at my wedding. He and I go back and forth convincing each other to buy awful project cars. Unfortunately, he now lives in Iowa and I live in the PNW. :/

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > gmctavish needs more space 12/07/2016 at 01:33

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Sportcrosses are so rare - except in California and Florida. I would almost have to buy one sight-unseen. Which is just crazy for me, especially on a model I’ve never sat in, much less driven.

Baskingshark > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 01:36

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Our first gen Scion TC, between the wife and I we have put about 175k miles on it since buying it new. I have often used it as a pickup with one memorable time picking up a bunch of 3x5 planks of HardyBoard and thin-set when I was remodeling the master bath.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Tristan 12/07/2016 at 01:37

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Speaking of which, enjoy the mayhem caused by small amounts of black ice tomorrow!

gmctavish needs more space > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 01:41

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Yeah that would be rather bold. I think I’ve only ever seen one SportCross, I usually forget they exist. Same with the TSX wagon

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Baskingshark 12/07/2016 at 01:46

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Looks good to me!

duurtlang > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 04:14

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For a future purchase, look at the front page, which now features an article about the new Opel Insignia that’ll be rebadged as the Buick Regal. Why is this relevant? Because it’s a liftback, not a sedan.

bhtooefr > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 07:33

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Do note that US-market cargo space specs for hatchbacks and wagons are horrifically unreliable.

Baskingshark > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 10:46

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Thank you! It’s soon to be for sale.

This example is a single owner, numbers matching, rust free California car for it’s whole life; it’s been left wonderfully factory stock OEM parts throughout. Bidding opens this February and is projected to go for between $2,000 to $4,500 at auction.

jasmits > gmctavish needs more space 12/07/2016 at 11:27

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Have you ever driven a 318ti? It might surprise you. I won’t argue with the interior build quality, it’s garbage, and I’m the first to admit that from some angles it has a look only a mother could love but no one who’s driven an 318ti would ever say it has poor handling.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 11:29

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2 door liftback! Good for no friends and cargo space.

jasmits > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 11:40

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318ti’s cargo space has never given me any grief. Guitar and camping gear for two fits just fine without the need to even fold the seats down. A friend and I even fit two mountain bikes back there once (the friend in question drives a Ford Explorer but I insisted on driving because the roads on the way to the trail are fun. He thinks I’m crazy. He’s probably right).

gmctavish needs more space > jasmits 12/07/2016 at 13:37

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Oh I’m not saving it has poor handling, just not as good as a regular E36. Other E36s have multilink rear suspension, ti’s have E30 rear suspension. Not bad, but not as good as the normal E36

Tristan > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 14:49

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Thank God for a 5:15 am commute start!

Svend > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 19:55

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Liftbacks are great.

625 litre capacity 22.07 cubic-ft with parcel shelf on and rear seats up.

1,760 litre capacity 62.15 cubic-ft with parcel shelf removed and reat seats down.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Svend 12/07/2016 at 19:56

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Beautiful, and forbidden in the states.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Baskingshark 12/07/2016 at 19:58

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One of a kind!

Svend > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/07/2016 at 19:59

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Thanks. Ye’, still really impressed with her. Still turns heads and anyone that gets in loves the space and comfor of her.