Christmas Present to Myself

[javacontour]

After over 11 years without a new car for myself, I started looking right after Christmas.

Basically, the divorce killed the dreams of a 3er BMW, Lexus IS or Infinity G35, so off looking at the Mazda 3i Touring, Honda Civic LX and finally for giggles, the Scion tC.

Yesterday, I drove home an 06 Scion tC in Flint Mica with the side air bags.

For $17,400 it's a hard car to beat with the Toyota 2AZ-FE engine and a five speed. So many standard features it was hard to pass up.

Probably 2nd would have been the Mazda 3i Touring with two option packages.

I really felt I got more car for the money and besides, it's a practical midlife crisis mobile. Toyota Camry drivetrain with boy racer styling.

Of course, being 40, I passed up all the boy racer toys.

Next dillema, do I take the three oil changes that Scion gives away with the car. (Says so right in the maintenance schedule) or just try to talk the service writer into him giving me the three oil filters and DIY

Oilbabe and I can have some fun changing the oil.

T

 

[Bill in Utah]

Nice ride!

I agree the TC is a excellent car. If I did not need 4 doors and little bit better MPG, I'd be in one.

quote:

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or just try to talk the service writer into him giving me the three oil filters and DIY

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Duh,

I wished I thought of that when I got the offer for free oil changes on my then new Corolla..

I could have scored on some free OEM filters..

I'd go for that. I'm not a fan of anyone doing something on my outfits when I could be doing it..

Even if for free!

Take care, Bill

 

[JHZR2]

I really liked the mazda protege and protege 5. If I wanted a small car along those lines these days, Id get a 5-speed tC for sure... the mazda 3, etc., even the civic SI or RSX dont do anything for me.

The scion with a toyota 2.4 and 5sp manual would be nice!

Congratulations and good luck!

JMH

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Sweet.

 

[simple_gifts]

Nice! Any chance you will be adding the supercharger?

 

[javacontour]

Doubt I'll get the supercharger. Bad memories. Spending all the $$$ on the SVT Contour (suspension, tires, turbo, yes turbo) probably contributed to my divorce. So I'm trying NOT to be too obsessed with cars at this point in my life.

T

 

[Johnny]

Well, if they won't give you the free filters, take your car to them the first 3 times and give them your oil. Either way your paying for the oil, right. Nice car. I'm going through a mid-mid-life situation at 60. No divorce here, been there, done that years ago. Just retirement. I will be buying myself something this spring and I can assure you it won't be practical, at least according to my wife.

 

[vairox]

Mazda 3 is sweet, is the touring the 5 door hunchback, i mean hatchback retard?

 

[javacontour]

Touring is just a level of options. You cannot get the 3i with the 2.0L engine in the 5 door.