took a 6 speed tC out for a test drive - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

***mistamatrix*** · 09-30-2010, 08:38 PM

I love it.

white one in the showroom

***HATEnFATE*** · 10-01-2010, 08:41 AM

What did you think of the 6 speed? I Know you love it,(because I saw that you said that) but what are your thoughts.

Did you like the clutch feel, engagement, throw, gearing?

I haven't driven the Manual trans yet. I'm really excited to see for myself but until then, i don't have anything to do off of.

***arabianobsession*** · 10-01-2010, 11:29 AM

Wow you guys have yours in showrooms already? We won't be getting any here in southern Wisconsin until the end of October/early November. I'm anxious to drive the new 6 speed!!!!!

toyotaholic · 10-01-2010, 12:37 PM

how's the headroom? always thought it'd be less with the roof flattened

***HATEnFATE*** · 10-01-2010, 03:14 PM

The headroom is plentiful. I'm 6.5 and I had more then enough room. I found it very comfortable.

***mistamatrix*** · 10-02-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HATEnFATE

What did you think of the 6 speed? I Know you love it,(because I saw that you said that) but what are your thoughts.

Did you like the clutch feel, engagement, throw, gearing?

I haven't driven the Manual trans yet. I'm really excited to see for myself but until then, i don't have anything to do off of.

The clutch feel and engagement is average I suppose. The shifter throws could be a lot shorter but again it's pretty average for stock. It is very smooth shifting though I have to say. But then again, any shifter would feel smooth after driving a 6 speed Matrix for 8 years! lol. Gearing is about average as well. Wouldn't say they were short nor are they tall.

I'm sure a quick fix of a new clutch and short shifter would upgrade this if you felt it needed improvement. For me, I'd be able to live with it. (for a while...)

***arabianobsession*** · 10-09-2010, 10:24 AM

Just got back from taking our lone 2011 tC out for a drive....unfortunately it's just the slap stick but I like the way it drives already a lot more than the outgoing version. You really sit down and get hugged in the car, which is nice. The only thing I didn't like was that it hangs a bit too long between 2nd and 3rd gear; you could live with it but with the louder exhaust than previously I think it would get old quick. The manual would solve that problem.

***BLUEMEANIE*** · 10-11-2010, 07:39 AM

I have yet to drive one but my guess is that it won't be all that exciting. The six speed and engine aren't short and high revving like the xrs variants of the Corolla or Matrix. Tho I am eager to spin one around the block.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toyotaholic

how's the headroom? always thought it'd be less with the roof flattened

I don't think the entire roof was flattened. I think they just extended the section over the rear seats to provide more head room for rear occupants. The hatch looks much shorter than the hatch on my first gen.

The roof line was one of the things I liked least about the change.

10gxiong · 10-12-2010, 01:22 AM

I know this may be a dumb question, but would you take the 2nd gen over the 1st gen?

***arabianobsession*** · 10-12-2010, 09:15 AM

I know I would, simply because the manual trans in the 1st gen definitely wasn't what it was cracked up to be. As for the styling, however, I'm not really sure. I mean, it's alright, but the way it drives takes precedence.

***BLUEMEANIE*** · 10-12-2010, 09:59 AM

10gxiong -
I would not, I like the first gen styling much better.
Performance wise they're probably so similar on the butt dyno I'd have to compare them on paper.

arabianobsession -
I'm not sure what you consider "not cracked up" to be but the 5spd in the 1st gen tC is short as it should be. Its a great street gearing and keeps the car peppy around town and on the hwy. Everyone always whines about holding higher cruising speeds in 5th. Up to 75mph its fine. Over 80 and its a bit high in the revs but nothing out of the ordinary for a short 5. Very similar to my 1990 Celica GT. I've held 85mph on a supercharged 2azfe all the way from St.Louis, MO to Toronto, Canada and back and it was fine. Gas mileage wasn't the best but it was tolerable I maybe needed a tank more than the Gen 3 (turbo'ed 5sfe) and Gen 4 (NA 5sfe) Camrys I was making the run with.

***arabianobsession*** · 10-12-2010, 10:04 AM

I just don't care for the feel of the transmission at all....I admit I'm bad at explaining lol. The 6 speed is just better overall I feel. (and not just because you get an extra gear! hehe)

***BLUEMEANIE*** · 10-12-2010, 11:33 AM

It really all depends on the ratio of each gear and how its paired with the motor. In this case the six speed makes up for a low revving economy motor and lack of low end torque. It makes the car feel peppy, like its got some power on tap even when cruising.

Nowa days 6spd trannys are more of a marketing ploy. Toyota wants the car to be sporty around town and they're actively marketing the tC to urban youth in the tuner scene.
As for the 5 ... Most people in their target market probably don't spend too much time on open, uncongested hwys with 70mph speed limits.

I'd be interested in getting the gen2 on the hwy at 80-90mph and see if the final ratio is similar.

10gxiong · 10-12-2010, 09:47 PM

I personally don't like the exterior design of the 2nd gen. its like an xB coupe with part of its top chopped off. With 5speed v.s. 6speed, it doesn't really matter to me because I don't need a car with a manual transmission. On top of that the power numbers of the 2nd gen don't really seem like an impressive improvement over the 1st gen.

Jason.MZW20 · 10-13-2010, 04:27 AM

Camry EB62:

1 3.538
2 2.047
3 1.375
4 0.975
5 0.744
6 0.659

Diff: 4.058

tC EB6x (could be EB60, 61 or 63):

1 3.538
2 2.047
3 1.375
4 1.025
5 0.875
6 0.733

Diff: 4.058

It's definitely a closer ratio box than the Camry's 6 speed.