Whelp, looks like this year is finally the year I'll be buying a car

"CB" (jrcb) 01/18/2018 at 21:04 • Filed to: None

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Which also means that the inevitable reveal post in October or November will lead to nothing but vitriol. I’d dig a tC, but other people may not.

S65 > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:06

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What do you like about the tC?

CB > S65 01/18/2018 at 21:08

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The hatchback is nice, it’s a Toyota underneath so it should run forever, and I think it’d be a great first car. Plus, I need to get better at driving stick, and I feel like this would be a good car to get experience on.

S65 > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:11

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Oh, i forgot those were hatchbacks lol

interstate366, now In The Industry > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:11

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“Muh drive wheels” -most of Oppo

“Why not a TSX” -me

Bourbon&JellyBeans > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:12

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The tC is a tough sell when you consider the FR-S. Same basic concept, but RWD with more power and better looks.

CB > interstate366, now In The Industry 01/18/2018 at 21:13

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Drove my second RWD vehicle (an ‘05 Ranger) today. General thoughts: I can see why most of the general public doesn’t give a shit about whether something is RWD or FWD.

And I had my eye on a TSX, but my wallet disagreed. Maybe this year!

wafflesnfalafel > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:13

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I’ve always liked the TC, both the orig and that 2nd gen. It’s basically a Celica.

CB > Bourbon&JellyBeans 01/18/2018 at 21:14

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Twenty more horsepower, several grand more, and the fact that as a first car, I don’t care if it’s FWD or RWD.

AestheticsInMotion > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:16

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To be fair, a truck isn’t a good representation of the virtues of rwd. Saying this as the owner of 2 rwd Rangers

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:16

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All that horsepower out there. Please don’t miss out.

jkm7680 > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:18

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The tC is a pretty solid car. Not that great gas mileage though, especially considering its just a 4cyl.

CB > AestheticsInMotion 01/18/2018 at 21:18

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Fair enough. In any case, the RWD v. FWD debate gets a solid “meh” from me.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:18

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Why not a Juke? You experienced the pep of a Juke, at “legal” speeds.

CB > John Norris (AngryDrifter) 01/18/2018 at 21:18

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It’ll be a first car. There’ll be plenty more after it, guaranteed.

Bourbon&JellyBeans > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:19

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A quick look on cargurus.com is showing me that 2014 and up tCs are going for roughly $10,000 at the lowest and FR-S’s are going for $13,000, $12,000 if you looks at ones over 60,000 miles. tC’s definitely get cheaper when you look at older ones.I actually like it tC’s. I remember a yellow one with a black roof and wheels that I saw on campus all the time in college.

CB > jkm7680 01/18/2018 at 21:20

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That’s a fair point. Granted, it’s a 2.5 litre that was also used in the RAV4, so crummy fuel economy is not entirely unexpected.

CB > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 01/18/2018 at 21:21

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Not my style.

interstate366, now In The Industry > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:22

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Yeah, outside of actual racing, drive wheels don’t matter as much as certain people around these parts want you to think. And you have cars like the Civic Type R that are blurring the lines even on the track.

Down here 1st gen TSXs are getting quite affordable, and 2nd gens are starting to creep below $10k. Not sure what prices are like up there.

Bourbon&JellyBeans > AestheticsInMotion 01/18/2018 at 21:23

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Exactly. The right car with RWD is heaven. I drive a Mustang and the fiancee drives a Pontiac G6 GTP coupe (which had a respectable 240hp). It’s night and day. Pushing through a corner is better than pulling through one any day of the week. It all depends on the use though. If you live in an urban area, it really doesn’t make a difference.

AestheticsInMotion > interstate366, now In The Industry 01/18/2018 at 21:26

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I always love going to the local Porsche or bmw club autox and seeing an experienced old guy in a Miata destroy everyone. I’m reaaaaally hoping I’ll see a type R pulling the same stunts at some point soon.

PS9 > Bourbon&JellyBeans 01/18/2018 at 21:27

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Humans can fit in the back of a tC. Thats more important than RWD purity to a first time car person

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:28

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The TC would be a solid first car! :)

Go for it...don’t worry about people liking your choice or not...you do you! :P

AestheticsInMotion > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:28

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They’re both good. Tons of great cars in both camps. I’d kill for a stock 90's civic hatch. The fun to cost to utility ratio is just phenomenal

Bourbon&JellyBeans > PS9 01/18/2018 at 21:28

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Dawg, I though this was Oppo not “PracticalFirstCar.com.” Also, I am drunk so go easy. Also, you’d be surprised how little use back seats get when you don’t have kids (assuming OP doesn’t have kids).

interstate366, now In The Industry > AestheticsInMotion 01/18/2018 at 21:30

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I’m thinking about bringing over a Prelude Type S in 2022. Imagine the torque vectoring system of the ST twins with the handling characteristics of a 90s Honda. The Type SH we got here was a watered-down version of it.

AestheticsInMotion > interstate366, now In The Industry 01/18/2018 at 21:33

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Yes please. Or... Integra type-r? Or is the price difference pretty substantial?

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:37

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You going for new or used? New, Get a Mini. Used? Get a Mini. Albeit one that has a good service history

CB > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner 01/18/2018 at 21:38

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Not my style, and in my opinion, there are better ways to spend the money.

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:38

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135i

interstate366, now In The Industry > AestheticsInMotion 01/18/2018 at 21:42

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Very much so. ITR coupes are about twice as much as the Prelude. ITR sedans (yes, they’re a thing!) are a little cheaper but still a big difference. Due to its engine size and width the Prelude is more expensive to own in Japan, so there has never been as much demand for them. A good Type S runs about half the price of an ITR or EK9 in the same condition.

http://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/HONDA/PRELUDE/700040241230171003001/index.html

There’s also the theft factor of the ITR that the Prelude doesn’t have.

CB > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner 01/18/2018 at 21:42

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That sounds irresponsible but like it would be a lot of fun.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:47

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Not a bad choice. I would get one personally because I don’t want to go bad to an NA 4 cylinder unless it’s an old school Honda. Something very small and under 2400lbs.

However it’s still a cool little car. Maybe also check out a Veloster. Hyundai’s 5 year/60 thousand mile bumper to bumper warrently is a good deal. And non turbo Velosters aren’t too expensive.

Spanfeller is a twat > CB 01/18/2018 at 21:56

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Why not a golf? Gti or otherwise?

CB > Spanfeller is a twat 01/18/2018 at 21:57

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Meh. GTI would be cool, but a little pricey.

AestheticsInMotion > interstate366, now In The Industry 01/18/2018 at 22:02

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Yikes. At that point I think I’d just k-swap something more unassuming.

pip bip - choose Corrour > CB 01/18/2018 at 22:02

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Pontiac G8

CB > pip bip - choose Corrour 01/18/2018 at 22:03

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Finally, someone with a good opinion.

CB > Bourbon&JellyBeans 01/18/2018 at 22:07

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I don’t have kids. But I’m a practical man who has fun shitting on the Oppo hivemind whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Khalbali > CB 01/18/2018 at 22:09

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Always been a fan of the second gen especially with the sunroof.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > CB 01/18/2018 at 22:11

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Mileage isn’t as good as it probably could have been, but other than that I think the TC is a pretty solid little coupe. Back seat is marginally more usable than other coupes I’ve tried to sit in.

gmctavish needs more space > CB 01/18/2018 at 22:12

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One time I jump started a tC.

That is the extent of my experience with the tC.

promoted by the color red > CB 01/18/2018 at 22:15

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How about a Scion tC Gran Coupe?

CB > promoted by the color red 01/18/2018 at 22:19

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This is the kind of content I come here for.

interstate366, now In The Industry > AestheticsInMotion 01/18/2018 at 22:29

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I may end up just buying another DD and putting a supercharger in my TSX. Or I may even go full supervillain and buy a Coyote Mustang. But importing something from Japan is a bucket list thing for me.

PS9 > Bourbon&JellyBeans 01/18/2018 at 22:30

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This is oppo, but oppo isn’t real life. We need opponauts to make good practical desicions about car ownership so they can keep coming back here. Its not gonna do us all any good if we’re unemployed because the W12 salvage title phaeton we brought can only take us to work and back reliably 20% of the time.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > CB 01/18/2018 at 22:33

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A tC, at least I know what it is. Lots of options in that range don’t get set on one particular vehicle. I went to buy a Honda Civic and bought a Mazda 3. No regrets.

CB > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/18/2018 at 22:35

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I could get a first-gen Mazdaspeed 3 for the price, so I know about keeping my options open.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > CB 01/18/2018 at 22:43

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I don’t know your $$ range but Fiesta ST’s are fairly affordable

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Bourbon&JellyBeans 01/18/2018 at 22:45

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Canadian? Or American price

CB > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 01/18/2018 at 22:48

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I don’t know my range yet, either, but a Focus ST would be a bit more my speed, I think.

Spanfeller is a twat > CB 01/18/2018 at 22:49

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I always thought the cr-z was quite interesting. It’s my guilty pleasure car. One of my neighbors has one in blue and its really nice

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > CB 01/18/2018 at 22:51

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First thing is to not worry about what folks think about your car choice. Get what makes you happy. Simple as that. Then drive the wheels off it.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > CB 01/18/2018 at 23:09

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Great choice for a first car. Reasonably quick but not too fast, manual available, reasonably small, reasonably light, somewhat practical, affordable, and loooks decent.

I wouldn’t completely turn your back on RWD, I thought it was overblown myself but I will say, I tend to have more fun driving a RWD car. Someone suggested 135i below as half a joke, but I’d actually say the BMW 128i cars have proven to be pretty reliable(no turbo and they Tended to be less well optioned) and they aren’t all that expensive(you can get a car with under 100k miles for under $8,000 I think). Also, their frumpy looks make them a little divisive.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > promoted by the color red 01/18/2018 at 23:18

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Actually, the Scion tC is on the New MC platform.

Therefore, this is actually a Scion tC GranCoupe.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > CB 01/18/2018 at 23:22

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I love the second gen tC! I would have bought one had I not found Sportly-cross.

DO EEEEEEEEET!!!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > CB 01/18/2018 at 23:26

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Screw fuel economy. You can still eek out 30 if you really try, plus 2.5 Camry motor ain’t gonna you down.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > CB 01/18/2018 at 23:28

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Pontiac Vibe? If you need something reliable and unimpressive. Too bad my wife hates 2-doors and liftbacks:(

CB > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/18/2018 at 23:29

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A Vibe or Matrix would be swell. Good choice.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > CB 01/18/2018 at 23:45

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Had ours for a little over two years and 40k miles now... replaced some light bulbs and a fan and that’s it. Oh, and oil.

Steve in Manhattan > CB 01/19/2018 at 00:03

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I always wondered why the tC didn’t sell more ... a bit blocky, but I like it when they introduced it at Javits so many years back. You could do a lot worse than Toyota reliability.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 01/19/2018 at 00:33

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I prefer the Touring.