Well yesterday my dad and i went looking for a new car for me since my truck (99 Ranger) started acting up this past thursday. I searched through many types of cars and even ones i didn't have on my list. My first stop was at toyota dealership. I pulled in and the first thing i see is a scion tc. It was nice and by the looks of the 18" (maybe even 19"s they looked huge), lip kit, dark windows i knew it was gonna be a steep tag on it ($20,xxx). It was nice but when i saw that automatic shifter i was like :bye:. Most of there vehicles were automatic which i personally hate. They had two other scions that were about 17,xxx but also automatic. Overall i liked the tc but i needed to test drive to see if i really liked it (it was sunday and they were closed).
Well then my next stop was at to a honda dealership. I pulled in and i told my self "yes you do love hondas but you know the new ones look like crap so keep on moving" but i decided eh what the hell. I got off walked around and pretty much was disappointed. Other than the $33,000 S2000 i saw i was pretty much disappointed with the rest of honda's vehicles. All the new civics, accords, elements just look like crap and i can't see myself driving one.
Next we had out to an Acura dealership. I was like "yeah you know these are way out of your price range but it won't hurt to look." Got there and i was like in aww when i saw the tsx's and tl's. Even though they are out of my price range i still like them. Then i walked twards the rsx and rsx-s and i was like bleh wtf happened to the 05? I just thought exterior wise they looked like crap. I much rather have and 04 over an 05 (exterior wise). Not only that but for 24,400 i much rather have a wrx or something close to that nature.
Next, stop was a hyundai and mazda dealerships that were right across the street so we walked over. Took a quick glance at the tiburons. Nice little cars but for the same price as a tc i would rather get the tc, just seems toyotas would be more reliable. Then right next to the hyundai dealership was the Mazda one. I walked over and took a look at the mazda 3 5-door hatchback. I actually like them and they around $17,100 range. Just looking at it and the price i might give the 3 another look.
Later i went to another honda dealership because i still wanted to find an 02-05 civic si hatch. Well i see one and i pull over. Get off and pretty much run over to see it. I was when i see it. It was a brand new silver 05. Never really had much love for this generation si but lately i've seen so many and a friend of mine has one that i wouldn't mind having one. After staring at it for awhile i searched for the sticker price. I was pretty much kinda disappointed with $20,xxx. I thought i could get one for the price of a tc but i guess since these are the last ones left they probably won't budge.
Well overall it was a great 5 hours of searching. My final thought on all the cars i saw was that i really starting to lean twards more at the scion tc. The price is pretty awesome for what you get. Also maybe the 3 since it's neck to neck in the price range but until i test drive them i won't know for sure what will happen.
I love hondas to death but the new ones just plain suck ass! 92-00 were the best hondas ever made and unfortunately my dad has persuaded me not to get such an old car even though that's what was on my list first. I found this 94 integra gsr sedan locally for $4900 and i told my dad i was going to buy it but he said just get a new car so you won't have to worry about realiability. I was pretty mad because i told him that even if its old those things will run forever but to him it was one ear and out the other. Mainly the reason he doesn't want me to own such an old car is because emissions are becomming such a pain in the ass here in the DFW area that he's worried i would have to dump alot of money in the car in order for it to pass. Well thanks for listening hope i don't get too much crap from you guys.

 

I stopped reading after the Scion part .. cliffnotes pls.

 

You are the first person I have ever heard say that the old RSX's look better than the 05 RSX's :ugh:

Good luck in your search.

 

No paragraph returns make baby jesus cry.

 

I made it down to the WRX part and saw something about a Civic Si. I can say for sure that the Si would be a better car than the TC overall, and that if you can afford any of those you may be best off with the Scubaru because of the AWD and 230 HP or whatever it is they're claiming these days.

 

I guess i liked the 04 rsx better than the 05 because for some reason the little bubble lights to me gave it some more curves than the 05. The headlights and on the 05 remind me too much of the civic headlights of the 01-03 models. Oh btw yeah my price range is under $20,000 so yeah the subby and rsx aren't gonna work unless they are used. Hopefully today i can go test drive the tc and civic si so i can compare them

 

I think the Mazda 3s is more fun to drive than the Scion tC. And they don't speak "16 year old girl" as much.

 

i like my 3.

 

I like my friend's tC. We lowered it not too long ago and it looks great. He has the Sand Black Pearl or whatever it's called with the 17's that he might get powdercoated gunmetal. He also plans to supercharge it soon and do all sorts of cool stuff. I've driven it. It revs quickly and will go, but it does seem "slightly" sluggish considering it's weight. But if I didn't have my Integra, I'd probably go for a tC.

 

too long