Purchasing soon. Rx8 or TC?
10-01-2008 | 01:55 PM
#101
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 0
From: Islandia, NY but QB by Nature
OK I just saw this thread and feel I should chime in...I don't know if you purchased yet but I hope this is insightful to you.
1st go to my car domain....
Now. I have owned both. Now they are two totally differant animals in two seperate playing fields.
TC
PRO: good gas mileage, fun sporty cars to drive. Great bang for the buck. Easily modified. Almost as many parts on the market as a Civic. Sleek looking. Can be made to be f'ing fast. Mine kept up w/stock 8's even w/all the suspension work I did. Large TC community
CONS: will never be a sports car no matter how much you dump into - which you will dump allot of $ into it. Interior is OK. The plastic interior is a lil cheap looking, the seats are huge but comfortable - definately not race insipered seats. The new age "CIVIC" all ricers own one young kids, girls and Gay men. The community plain SUCKS, very unhelpful and many arent insightful at all.
RX8
PROS: One of the best sports cars you can drive. Great for 1st time M/T driver - the gearing and clutch is easy to learn. Great craftsmanship both in the interior and exterior. System is really good for a stock system. Large community of insightful people who know what they are talking about and are willing to help as long as you "SEARCH" first.
CONS: Terrible gas mileage. COnstant oil consumption. Not the most power stock but quick nonetheless. Parts are expensive unless you find phenominal deals or 2nd hand parts. Insurance will probably be high.
Pound for pound I do not miss my TC. Enjoyed it while I had it but I would never go back. The TC no matter how much $ you dump into it will NEVER BE A SPORTS CAR just a sporty car that can be fun to drive at best. Only thing I do miss is the gas milage which is deffinately better than the 8 but dont get it twisted - it isnt that MUCH better especially if you modify the TC...but 89 vs premium fills up are significant cost differances. Although I loved it (2006 TC ) because it was my 1st official brand new car that I owned but the RX8 is far better in so many aspects. The RX8 is not for someone who ISNT going to be all hands on. The RX8 is very finicay and very attention needy. Lets be honest the RX8 is expensive to own even if you buy a used one.
What you need to do is make a list to help you decide a PROS vs CONS, then make a list of what is important to you i.e. Reliability, Cost of maintenance, price of car, insurance quotes, if you plan to modify then the price differances for parts on the TC & the RX8, space, conviance and comfort, amenities. All of these factors should be put on the platform to review and weed out what is and what isnt important to you.
Like someone said if you are going to go the Toyota route be smart and do yourself a favor get the Toyots Corolla. Better gas mileage and sporty looking if you get the S. I used to own a 2003 Corolla S (when I was married) but it was never under my name and in the divorce I lost it. Again it can be modified just like the corolla but once again it will never be a SPORTS CAR. The TC will put you in the sport compact category vs the Corolla which will put you in the sedan/small compact category vs the RX8 which will put you in the Sports car category all are factors for insurance purposes. My parents bought a 2007 Corolla because they wanted reliability and great gas mileage so they are happy then again they are retired.
Hope this helps. Like I said go to my cardomain check out the pix and lists for the cars Ive owned....if you need some mroe insight for the RX8 here is a huge platform. If you need some insight on the TC i can give it to you as well as the Corolla.
Ive owned a 1989 Jeep Cherokee, 1993 Ford Explorer XLT, 2003 Toyota Corolla S, then ended up in a 1990 Acura Integra GS, then the 2006 Scion TC and finally the car that has brought me so much joy to drive and agony to fill up on gas my 2008 RX8 GT but even though she is high maintenance I love her more than anything else I have driven.
1st go to my car domain....
Now. I have owned both. Now they are two totally differant animals in two seperate playing fields.
TC
PRO: good gas mileage, fun sporty cars to drive. Great bang for the buck. Easily modified. Almost as many parts on the market as a Civic. Sleek looking. Can be made to be f'ing fast. Mine kept up w/stock 8's even w/all the suspension work I did. Large TC community
CONS: will never be a sports car no matter how much you dump into - which you will dump allot of $ into it. Interior is OK. The plastic interior is a lil cheap looking, the seats are huge but comfortable - definately not race insipered seats. The new age "CIVIC" all ricers own one young kids, girls and Gay men. The community plain SUCKS, very unhelpful and many arent insightful at all.
RX8
PROS: One of the best sports cars you can drive. Great for 1st time M/T driver - the gearing and clutch is easy to learn. Great craftsmanship both in the interior and exterior. System is really good for a stock system. Large community of insightful people who know what they are talking about and are willing to help as long as you "SEARCH" first.
CONS: Terrible gas mileage. COnstant oil consumption. Not the most power stock but quick nonetheless. Parts are expensive unless you find phenominal deals or 2nd hand parts. Insurance will probably be high.
Pound for pound I do not miss my TC. Enjoyed it while I had it but I would never go back. The TC no matter how much $ you dump into it will NEVER BE A SPORTS CAR just a sporty car that can be fun to drive at best. Only thing I do miss is the gas milage which is deffinately better than the 8 but dont get it twisted - it isnt that MUCH better especially if you modify the TC...but 89 vs premium fills up are significant cost differances. Although I loved it (2006 TC ) because it was my 1st official brand new car that I owned but the RX8 is far better in so many aspects. The RX8 is not for someone who ISNT going to be all hands on. The RX8 is very finicay and very attention needy. Lets be honest the RX8 is expensive to own even if you buy a used one.
What you need to do is make a list to help you decide a PROS vs CONS, then make a list of what is important to you i.e. Reliability, Cost of maintenance, price of car, insurance quotes, if you plan to modify then the price differances for parts on the TC & the RX8, space, conviance and comfort, amenities. All of these factors should be put on the platform to review and weed out what is and what isnt important to you.
Like someone said if you are going to go the Toyota route be smart and do yourself a favor get the Toyots Corolla. Better gas mileage and sporty looking if you get the S. I used to own a 2003 Corolla S (when I was married) but it was never under my name and in the divorce I lost it. Again it can be modified just like the corolla but once again it will never be a SPORTS CAR. The TC will put you in the sport compact category vs the Corolla which will put you in the sedan/small compact category vs the RX8 which will put you in the Sports car category all are factors for insurance purposes. My parents bought a 2007 Corolla because they wanted reliability and great gas mileage so they are happy then again they are retired.
Hope this helps. Like I said go to my cardomain check out the pix and lists for the cars Ive owned....if you need some mroe insight for the RX8 here is a huge platform. If you need some insight on the TC i can give it to you as well as the Corolla.
Ive owned a 1989 Jeep Cherokee, 1993 Ford Explorer XLT, 2003 Toyota Corolla S, then ended up in a 1990 Acura Integra GS, then the 2006 Scion TC and finally the car that has brought me so much joy to drive and agony to fill up on gas my 2008 RX8 GT but even though she is high maintenance I love her more than anything else I have driven.
10-01-2008 | 01:56 PM
#102
Hardly as stock system if you have added woofers....
Which proves my point of even further ...
No Highs... no Lows... must be Bose.
The stock system has nothing about 15 kHz (which probably doesn't matter to most people since the majority of men over 25 can't hear above 16kHz anyway and women over 25 don't hear much above 17kHz) and has nothing under 60hz for bass.
But then most people don't know that there is supposed to be sound down to 25-30Hz in a car on a proper sound system. Ideally the stock system should have reasonable reproduction of sound from 30Hz to 20,000Hz... our systems have a range of around 65Hz to 15,000Hz.
A good human ear can hear from 20Hz to 20,000Hz.
Yes, the stock system is fine for mid range with female vocals or talk radio, but is just sad when you look at the $5 (cost to make) paper cone rear speakers and pathetic cast polypropylene dome tweeters. So Mazda cheaped out with the Bose Amps and the cheap speakers. The car can sound 50% better just replacing the stock speakers with something that cost more than $5 to make. But if your ears are already shot, then stick with the stock stuff because you will think that the car will sound pretty good.
And FYI, I professionally designed car audio systems back in the 80's and 90's, including dozens and dozens of award winning sound systems and even OEM systems for GM.
Which proves my point of even further ...
No Highs... no Lows... must be Bose.
The stock system has nothing about 15 kHz (which probably doesn't matter to most people since the majority of men over 25 can't hear above 16kHz anyway and women over 25 don't hear much above 17kHz) and has nothing under 60hz for bass.
But then most people don't know that there is supposed to be sound down to 25-30Hz in a car on a proper sound system. Ideally the stock system should have reasonable reproduction of sound from 30Hz to 20,000Hz... our systems have a range of around 65Hz to 15,000Hz.
A good human ear can hear from 20Hz to 20,000Hz.
Yes, the stock system is fine for mid range with female vocals or talk radio, but is just sad when you look at the $5 (cost to make) paper cone rear speakers and pathetic cast polypropylene dome tweeters. So Mazda cheaped out with the Bose Amps and the cheap speakers. The car can sound 50% better just replacing the stock speakers with something that cost more than $5 to make. But if your ears are already shot, then stick with the stock stuff because you will think that the car will sound pretty good.
And FYI, I professionally designed car audio systems back in the 80's and 90's, including dozens and dozens of award winning sound systems and even OEM systems for GM.
10-01-2008 | 02:04 PM
#103
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 0
From: Islandia, NY but QB by Nature
If you aren't "in love" with it you will regret it and not have so much fun it trust me hence why I traded it in for my RX8 and I am so in love withmy RX8 i would make babies with her if I could...lol.
Seriously like someone else suggested go see, smell touch sit in each of them and drive the TC and drie the RX8 and do everythig I suggested in my previous post and you will know which to buy....and in the end you will be happy....be smart and dont be irrational...decide what is important to you and that is your answer then make the decision and commit to it. Enough said.
10-01-2008 | 02:20 PM
#104
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 0
From: Islandia, NY but QB by Nature
Here a lil something to help you decide...
My Cardomain page http://www.cardomain.com/ride/228610
2006 Scion TC Flint Mica
LIST OF ACCESSORIES & PARTS
ADR Rydox 18 X 7.5" Black w/polished lip wheels
AlphaWerks Header
Aluminum TC Door Sills
Black Scion Front Grill & Rear emblems
Carbon Fiber Dash
Carbon Fiber Eye Brows
Carbon Fiber Lip Spoiler
Carbon Fiber steering wheel emblem stickers
Carbon Fiber TC B-pillar door panel
DC Carbon Strut Bar
Engine Cover Painted Orange
Falken ZE-512 ZIEX ZR 18/40/225 tires
Fuse Box Cover Painted Orange
Hotchkis Front Sway Bar
Injen Cold Ait Intake (Black)
iPod Connection Upgrade
Midpipe (custom: OEM CAT + 2 Resonators + 2.5" piping)
OBX Classic Leather shift ****
OBX Pedals
OEM Scion Fog Lights
Radiator Cooling Plate Painted Orange
Rear Trunk Mat & Privacy Deck Wrapped in Orange Leather Vinyl
Rotors (cross drilled/dimples & slotted)
Smoked 3rd Brake Light
Smoked Side Mirror Turn Signals
Steal Braided Brake Lines -- SOON
Stubby TT Antenna
Tein S-Tech lowering springs
TRD Exhaust
TRD License Plate Screws
TRD Neck Rest Pads
TRD Sway Bar
TRD Valve stem caps
TYC Tail Lights
ZPI Down "S" Pipe
-VS-
2008 Mazda RX8 GT Brilliant Black
LIST OF ACCESSORIES
ENGINE
1. Optima Red Top Battery
2. Racing Beat Oil Cooler Screens
3. Racing Beat Oil Sandwich Plate & Sender
4. Rotary Cut Out Intake Cover (custom)
5. Rotary Extreme Intake RAM w/ HKS Sunset Orange Filter
EXTERIOR
1. Altec Show-n-Go Retractable Front License Plate Holder
2. Big ***** Side Mirror Puddle Lights
3. Burnout KD Auto lip kit (JDM)
4. Burnout Rear License Plate Frame (custom)
5. Burnout Trunk Badge (JDM)
6. Burnout Windshield Banner (JDM)
7. Euro Rear Rotary Fog Light (custom)
8. Intake Bumper Air Duct – Functional: RAM to CAI (custom)
9. Greddy Exhaust Tips
10. LED’s
11. Mazda Clear Corners (JDM)
12. RX-8 B-Pillars
13. Xtreme X8 Eye Lids
INTERIOR
1. Autometer Gauges – Oil Pressure, Water Temperature & Oil Temperature
2. Lotek Gauge Pod
3. LED’s
4. Mazda Premium Red/Black Floor Mats
5. Mazda Trunk Tray
6. MAZDASPEED Shift **** (JDM)
7. Pettit RX-8 Rotor Shaped Radio ****
8. Zeta Arm Rest Pad
9. Zeta Console Knee Rest Pad
SOUND SYSTEM -- none has been installed yet
1. Fiberglass Enclosure (custom)
2. Kicker Comp 10” Subs (2)
3. Kicker Speaker Grills
4. Rockford Fosgate Amp Wiring Kit
5. Rockford Fosgate Capacitor
SUSPENSION
1. Carbing Rear Lower Frame Tie Bar (JDM)
2. Espelir ESG Lowering Springs (JDM)
3. Stern ST-1 FACE-III BEAST Hyper Black 18 X 8.5 ET 40
w/ 2.5" Lip
4. Tanabe Sustec Front & Rear Sway Bar
My Cardomain page http://www.cardomain.com/ride/228610
2006 Scion TC Flint Mica
LIST OF ACCESSORIES & PARTS
ADR Rydox 18 X 7.5" Black w/polished lip wheels
AlphaWerks Header
Aluminum TC Door Sills
Black Scion Front Grill & Rear emblems
Carbon Fiber Dash
Carbon Fiber Eye Brows
Carbon Fiber Lip Spoiler
Carbon Fiber steering wheel emblem stickers
Carbon Fiber TC B-pillar door panel
DC Carbon Strut Bar
Engine Cover Painted Orange
Falken ZE-512 ZIEX ZR 18/40/225 tires
Fuse Box Cover Painted Orange
Hotchkis Front Sway Bar
Injen Cold Ait Intake (Black)
iPod Connection Upgrade
Midpipe (custom: OEM CAT + 2 Resonators + 2.5" piping)
OBX Classic Leather shift ****
OBX Pedals
OEM Scion Fog Lights
Radiator Cooling Plate Painted Orange
Rear Trunk Mat & Privacy Deck Wrapped in Orange Leather Vinyl
Rotors (cross drilled/dimples & slotted)
Smoked 3rd Brake Light
Smoked Side Mirror Turn Signals
Steal Braided Brake Lines -- SOON
Stubby TT Antenna
Tein S-Tech lowering springs
TRD Exhaust
TRD License Plate Screws
TRD Neck Rest Pads
TRD Sway Bar
TRD Valve stem caps
TYC Tail Lights
ZPI Down "S" Pipe
-VS-
2008 Mazda RX8 GT Brilliant Black
LIST OF ACCESSORIES
ENGINE
1. Optima Red Top Battery
2. Racing Beat Oil Cooler Screens
3. Racing Beat Oil Sandwich Plate & Sender
4. Rotary Cut Out Intake Cover (custom)
5. Rotary Extreme Intake RAM w/ HKS Sunset Orange Filter
EXTERIOR
1. Altec Show-n-Go Retractable Front License Plate Holder
2. Big ***** Side Mirror Puddle Lights
3. Burnout KD Auto lip kit (JDM)
4. Burnout Rear License Plate Frame (custom)
5. Burnout Trunk Badge (JDM)
6. Burnout Windshield Banner (JDM)
7. Euro Rear Rotary Fog Light (custom)
8. Intake Bumper Air Duct – Functional: RAM to CAI (custom)
9. Greddy Exhaust Tips
10. LED’s
11. Mazda Clear Corners (JDM)
12. RX-8 B-Pillars
13. Xtreme X8 Eye Lids
INTERIOR
1. Autometer Gauges – Oil Pressure, Water Temperature & Oil Temperature
2. Lotek Gauge Pod
3. LED’s
4. Mazda Premium Red/Black Floor Mats
5. Mazda Trunk Tray
6. MAZDASPEED Shift **** (JDM)
7. Pettit RX-8 Rotor Shaped Radio ****
8. Zeta Arm Rest Pad
9. Zeta Console Knee Rest Pad
SOUND SYSTEM -- none has been installed yet
1. Fiberglass Enclosure (custom)
2. Kicker Comp 10” Subs (2)
3. Kicker Speaker Grills
4. Rockford Fosgate Amp Wiring Kit
5. Rockford Fosgate Capacitor
SUSPENSION
1. Carbing Rear Lower Frame Tie Bar (JDM)
2. Espelir ESG Lowering Springs (JDM)
3. Stern ST-1 FACE-III BEAST Hyper Black 18 X 8.5 ET 40
w/ 2.5" Lip
4. Tanabe Sustec Front & Rear Sway Bar
10-01-2008 | 04:51 PM
#106
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 0
From: Islandia, NY but QB by Nature
/\ I agree with you...no matter how much you spend in terms of "looks" a TC would never come remotely close to looking as sexy as a RX8. In terms of "handling" no matter how much you spend on the TC it will never come remotely close to handling like a stock or even modified RX8. In terms of "fun" the TC isn't remotely close to being as much fun as the RX8.
Let's be honest - the RX8 is a BIG BOYS machine while the TC is a nice young persons starting out vehicle.
Big Boy Machine = Big Boy Money
young man toy = Easy on the pocket (perfect for people with short money/starting out)
Pros -vs- Cons...boils down to what you really want and what you can afford.
Let's be honest - the RX8 is a BIG BOYS machine while the TC is a nice young persons starting out vehicle.
Big Boy Machine = Big Boy Money
young man toy = Easy on the pocket (perfect for people with short money/starting out)
Pros -vs- Cons...boils down to what you really want and what you can afford.
10-03-2008 | 04:02 PM
#119
Recovering Piston driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Glendale Heights, IL
When my Trans Am got crashed I went to test drive a few cars, that included a tC as the 'sensible' choice, it looked good enough so i'm not pissed off getting in it every day, it should be reliable and get good gas mileage (or maybe not judging by above posts), but I really didn't like it that much.. what I really wanted was a GTO or an RX-8, both of those cars easily blow the tC out of the water, I didn't test drive a G35 because I couldn't find any in the required price range 
but it was on the list hehe..
but it was on the list hehe..
10-03-2008 | 06:12 PM
#120
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 0
From: Islandia, NY but QB by Nature
a TC fully modded is quick dont sleep on them but they have no brunt force - basically nothing up top. torque deff kicks in low and deff has an edge on the rx8 but ultimately the rx8 will crush the tc.
a tc fully modified w/ itake, header, down pipe, mid pipe, exhaust, & sc will put out 250ish HP - 30% drive train loss = 175 WHP. When i dynoed on a mustang dyno i got 150 WHP. I didnt have a sc.
ultimatelyy the TC will never be a sports car car just a fun sporty car to drive - thats it. TC - sport compact RX8 = sports car ENOUGH SAID!!!!!
make a decision and stick to it stop sitting on the fence. decide what it is you want and go for it....
a tc fully modified w/ itake, header, down pipe, mid pipe, exhaust, & sc will put out 250ish HP - 30% drive train loss = 175 WHP. When i dynoed on a mustang dyno i got 150 WHP. I didnt have a sc.
ultimatelyy the TC will never be a sports car car just a fun sporty car to drive - thats it. TC - sport compact RX8 = sports car ENOUGH SAID!!!!!
make a decision and stick to it stop sitting on the fence. decide what it is you want and go for it....
10-03-2008 | 06:51 PM
#122
White is purdy...
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 656
Likes: 0
From: Jersey Shore
Get a used miata for 1500 bucks and a used suv for 5000. Then for 6500 bucks you have a practical car for getting groceries/driving people (the suv) and a cheap, fun sports car for when you want to have fun.
Or do what I did: get an RX-8 for the looks, the drive, and the love, get a miata so you can beat the **** out of it and still have a crapload of fun, and keep your old POS beater for when you have to drive a bunch of people or get a load of sod for your lawn...
And don't buy a new car. The 8 = a $30k car, you can get a used one with 15k miles for $15k. Or you can get a scion, an $18k car for $18k that has 0 miles. Your choice, but the depreciation on the 8 helps you if you're buying it used.
Or do what I did: get an RX-8 for the looks, the drive, and the love, get a miata so you can beat the **** out of it and still have a crapload of fun, and keep your old POS beater for when you have to drive a bunch of people or get a load of sod for your lawn...
And don't buy a new car. The 8 = a $30k car, you can get a used one with 15k miles for $15k. Or you can get a scion, an $18k car for $18k that has 0 miles. Your choice, but the depreciation on the 8 helps you if you're buying it used.
10-03-2008 | 08:14 PM
#124
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 0
From: Islandia, NY but QB by Nature
could also get a used mr2, used mx5/miata, used s2k, theres lots he could do but he made his decision on what cars he wanted to look at now at this point its turning into a bash the OP or trying to give him useful insight ont the decisions...but the OP ultimately needs to speak up and decide. other than that this thread is a comparison and what couldve shouldve thread...