I'm getting a new car in the next week or so, I have been doing a lot of research and test drives in the past few days and have narrowed my search down to two cars. Like the title says, I'm looking at a 2008 scion tC and a slightly used nissan altima coupe 2.5 (2000 miles on it). I have managed to get both vehicles down to virtually the same price but I am having trouble deciding between the two.

In my mind they are both great cars, but the altima is the base model and doesnt come with a lot of options, while the tC comes standard with a few more bells and whistles. I really don't know which to get so I thought I'd pick your brains and see what some of you might choose.

THANKS! [wave]

I have a 2000 Altima with 140K miles on it and it runs great. I have done a lot of maintainence, but it's still solid and averages 25mpg.

The scion... eh. it's ok.

I like the altima personally, but a few bells and whistles do go a long way... power windows, a nice stereo, etc. If you take passengers frequently then I would go with the 4-door altima.

agree, ive ridden in a couple tc's and they are ok, but altimas feel a bit nicer.

I have a 2000 Altima with 140K miles on it and it runs great. I have done a lot of maintainence, but it's still solid and averages 25mpg.

The scion... eh. it's ok.

I like the altima personally, but a few bells and whistles do go a long way... power windows, a nice stereo, etc. If you take passengers frequently then I would go with the 4-door altima.

Both have power windows and good stereos...the only options that the tC has that the altima coupe doesnt have are a sunroof, alloy wheels, and stereo controls on the steering wheel (i know I'm weird, but that's a big plus for me haha). Everything else is pretty similar. My family has owned a 4-door altima a few years ago and we were very satisfied with it. Although I'd be getting the 2-door, I just feel like for the same price, it's a lot of car for the money. I still love the tC though....ugh this is hard!

and if anyone is interested: http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149728

I say go with the Scion TC

Nissan is the Ford of Japanese autos IMO. They suck gas compared to others, have reliable power that lasts through the life of the engine, and are tanks in accidents. I've seen Nissans I'd approve of riding in or driving after a light accident- whereas I've never seen any other Japanese vehicle that can survive a hit. Case in point- 94 Nissan Sentra vs 89 Ford Taurus in a head on collision. The Sentra had already been hit once in the front and repaired with one compromised crumple zone, it got an offset collision with a Taurus going downhill at about 10, we were going about 10 or better- the guy I was riding with in the Sentra hit the gas instead of the brake. The Sentra still drove, but the Taurus was DOA- nearly caught on fire due to the passenger air bag, a problem common to those cars. Luckily for the Mexican driving it- I knew about that problem and shut off the ignition. The guy who drove the Sentra ended up driving it for a few more months, maybe longer.

Scion TC, its more sporty

nissan they have been around longer and have a good idea what they r doing plus they dont die they just run forever

nissan they have been around longer and have a good idea what they r doing plus they dont die they just run forever

ah, true on the surface. but the scion truly is just a rebadged toyota.

though i really like the looks of the altima coupes. and the tc is everywhere. for me, with two cars being dead even, that'd win me over. the altima is still the new thing, lol.

ah, true on the surface. but the scion truly is just a rebadged toyota.

though i really like the looks of the altima coupes. and the tc is everywhere. for me, with two cars being dead even, that'd win me over. the altima is still the new thing, lol.


didnt know that and toy's last for ever and ever

but i also get to buy a nissan under invoice cause of some deal where i work

In this case, I would have to say the Scion tC. Now if you were getting the Altima coupe with the 3.5 V6...it would be a much different story. That's the best Altima since the SE-R and 93-97 Altimas.

The altima looks much better, plus I see way too many chicks on campus driving similar silver TC's -_-

i would say go with the Altima. if you can get them for about the same price, then you'll be getting a much nicer car in the Altima compared to the tC.

ALTIMA! x2 on the chicks driving silver and baby blue tc's with their giant ass sunglasses covering their whole face, thinking they're pretty. sorry--went off on a tangent there.
Nissan delivers. go with the altima!

ALTIMA! x2 on the chicks driving silver and baby blue tc's with their giant ass sunglasses covering their whole face, thinking they're pretty. sorry--went off on a tangent there.
Nissan delivers. go with the altima!

Haha that pretty much sums up why I dont like TC's [?|]

ive only seen one tc in saskatchewan. it was from cali. so i would go with that just cuz there is none around here.

reach for the sci,,,,(snicker snicker im so clever),,,lol

i say altima. Better looking car even if it is not as optioned

Thanks everyone! I really do love the altima cause I rarely see them on the road....and I see a tC everytime I blink. That may end up being be the deal breaker for me...I don't want to look just like every other girl in a tC, and the altima I'm looking at is blue (which I never ever see), and it's already tinted! I just hope I can sell my car fast enough, before the altima gets sold cause I don't know when I'd find another deal like this.

nissan they have been around longer and have a good idea what they r doing plus they dont die they just run forever

Toyota's been around longer than Nissan.

I'd take a new tC over a used Altima. Plus, while the Altima coupe may look better and be a bit more upscale, I'd say the tC is a better quality car (although Toyota's been slipping lately, they're still tops quality-wise over everyone but Honda).

But it's really up to you, of course.

[QUOTE=aja123fo;1972672]Thanks everyone! I really do love the altima cause I rarely see them on the road....and I see a tC everytime I blink. QUOTE]

Right - that might be the deal maker for you. However, if you're thinking INVESTMENT, go tC (Scion resale value is impressively high for its class).

get the altima my mom has an 02 2.5 and i love driving it nice comfy ride and shes never had problems and has like 95k on it
tc's i think are for girls

Altima Ftw
+ 4 ON THE TC being a girls car...
My girlfriend wants one bad and she only likes girly cars.. Except the Beetle (THANK GOD)

I'd do with a 2008 Fusion, beels and whistles standard and kinda sporty looking with just wheels and tint.

tc's i think are for girls

Haha good thing I am one! [;)]

^^You would Look hotter in an Altima then... Trust me! ;)!

^^^ haha thanks

I got a TC for my wife and it was just OK. The interior was cheap especially the seats and theres big blind spots because of the pillars. There's not much room for anything either in the trunk/hatch. We got rid of it after a year. Power was blah for me. Go with the Altima.

IMO i think you should go with the TC my best friend has one and it is one the coolest cars in its price range. the sunroof is panoramic, stock 17' rims, enough horse stock to have fun with, closing double din radio to hide a nice radio if you want after market, reclining rear seats.... first time i had ever seen that and they are way hotter than any altima (my opinion) oh and if you do get one make sure to get a manual [woot]

ps the seats may be cheap but my buddys is an 05 and they still feel new

Both have power windows and good stereos...the only options that the tC has that the altima coupe doesnt have are a sunroof, alloy wheels, and stereo controls on the steering wheel (i know I'm weird, but that's a big plus for me haha). Everything else is pretty similar. My family has owned a 4-door altima a few years ago and we were very satisfied with it. Although I'd be getting the 2-door, I just feel like for the same price, it's a lot of car for the money. I still love the tC though....ugh this is hard!


I dont know why you said its hard since you already showed you love tC.. remember the old catchprase: "if you love it, try to let it go and see if it comes back to you, then it is meant to be. if it doesnt come back, then it isnt meant to be".


So, my point here is.. try to buy one of the two.. and see if you love it (or miss other car). If you kept loving it, forget about the other. if you miss the other car, go for that car.

actually resale and trade value of toyotas are marginally above scale for most used vehicles..
except pick up trucks here in alabama,,,resell values are almost rediculous here on pickups

i would personally take the Altima... Nissans are great cars.. there are TOOO MANY TC's on the road.. there is nothing unique about driving one of those.. i do agree that it is definately a chick car.. no doubt about it.. you can look at the altima as a baby 350z... that what i do anyway...

Haha good thing I am one! [;)]

i didn't even look to see who posted it and assumed i wasn't a girl, i still think u should get the altima way nicer and smoother ride

On a more sensible note. Have you checked into insurance for the both of them? My opinion is, if you can't decide between the two and you can get them for the same price buy the one that'll have cheaper insurance.

Are you stuck on new? Buying a quality used car means you can

(A)- Get something *much* nicer than either.

and

(B)- Let the first owner(s) take the massive depreciation.

One of my friends just picked up something similar to this, and it's an awesome vehicle. Handles like mad, has gobs of power, and it's classy.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=227130015&dealer_id=40346140&car_year=2003&model=330CI&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&make=BMW&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=12000&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=75007&advanced=y&end_year=2008&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=16000&cardist=1116

225hp and a 0-60 of 5.9 never hurt anyone ;) Mod-friendly to boot.

+1 For the Nissan Altima Coupe...very hot cars, and like someone said theres already a billion TC's on the road. You'd look hot in both of course, but def more so in the altima coupe. [;)] Good luck, and remeber to check out the insurance on both.

I dont know why you said its hard since you already showed you love tC..

I love both of them...and I have since I saw them each for the first time.

On a more sensible note. Have you checked into insurance for the both of them? My opinion is, if you can't decide between the two and you can get them for the same price buy the one that'll have cheaper insurance.

Good thinking...I hadn't thought about that!

Are you stuck on new?

The altima is used with a little over 2000 miles on it. I'd really only get a new tC because after just about a week of shopping around, I've found that the used 07s and 08s go for pretty much the same price as a new one.

+1 For the Nissan Altima Coupe...very hot cars, and like someone said theres already a billion TC's on the road. You'd look hot in both of course, but def more so in the altima coupe. [;)] Good luck, and remeber to check out the insurance on both.

Thanks Keith! [:)]

brother has an 05 Tc, and my parents just bought an 08 Altima 2.5s (sedan though)...both are good cars....i was really impressed on how the Altima's 4 cylinder gets up and goes...parents got the CVT tranny in it and it's like driving a golf car, it just goes dont really feel the shift at all......i've driven both numerous of times and i would say the Altima b/c you dont see as many Altima coupes as you do Tc's...i see Tc's everywhere

this should have been a poll... nissan, no, toyota, no, nissan.

hell, I don't know anymore.

just in case i didn't get my point across... not sure what happened there!

So, you think we should have started a poll? I still don't get it yet? [;)]

no, my browser froze. you can delete the duplicates if you like.... oh yeah, you already did.

Nothing beats Toyotas reliability! Scion is a heavy underpowered car but there are tons of after market parts for it! It has the sluggish 2.4L camry/xb/rav-4/new corolla and matrix xrs engine but it is a good engine! Plus the tc will probably change in 2009.... so if you could just wait a little bit more and get the new one or get the 2008 with a sick rebate!

Yeah, Scion is a toyota engine, which is really reliable.

On the back of the new Modified magazine is a Scion TC thats pushing 735 whp on a streetable engine. Its definitely really big in the modding community as Scion itself has mods you can use under warranty. You should take a test drive with each of them sometime though.

You should take a test drive with each of them sometime though.

I did that this week. I like both of them. I think I'm leaning more towards the altima just because for every one altima, I see 25 tCs haha

get a honda.


but between the altima and the TC....id say keep the focus.

get the altima coupe! i would get one

I'm gonna say the Altima Coupe. Always liked the look of Nissan. Never been a huge fan on Scion, but then again I've never driven or ridden in one but ultimately its what makes you happy and how much you can afford.

2 dr new civics look hott too... Im trying to get my gf to get a red one...

Scion TC, more options to add later.

Used Certified 330Ci with the 6spd ftw :)

neither, find something better

^^I'm open to suggestions in the same price range....

You should have made a poll out of this...then again get a TC

if your getting an altima coupe... might as well get a 350z!

i drove a pontiac solstice today at work that we took in on trade, the non-turbo one, it has a 2.4L RWD, i think around 176hp... it was pretty nice and made a huge impression on me...

i like them... but the soft top would have to go for a hard top.

Niether[smackbum] ... support the AMERICAN economy.

UPDATE:

Bought the nissan today!

Will post pictures when it's not raining.

if you get a TC dont become an [:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)] TC driver like the rest of them seem to be

^^ UPDATE:

Bought the nissan today!

Will post pictures when it's not raining.

[read] [;)]

where's cassa when you need her? Doesn't she drive an altima? She can/could give you first hand advice. I say go tc though, mainly cuz I personally (note personally) think the altima looks fugly.

^^

[read] [;)]

doh, didn't notice...why'd you go ugly? just kiddin', enjoy.

haha....well I dont think it's ugly! I'm not a big fan of the sedans, but I've loved the coupe since the first day I saw it

Get MAZDA 6. Forget about scion and altima. The new Altima suck. I bought my Mazda in the same day as my friend (brand new). His car has been in shop for the past year every month, the 2.3 l 168hp engine it's very heavy, no perfomance at all. There is vibration between 25-30mph, they told him that this is normal for nissan since they have one shift. He bought the SL model for $22000 i bought my 6 S for $16.900 and upgrade it myself. If you can afford the 3.0l V6 that would be the bomb. Just test drive it. I have a lot of friends driving Mazda 6 and i'm telling you this car DOESN'T break and it's the best sedan out there for the price. i have 15.000 on main with oil change, also mazda 6 doesn't have recalls. check Nissan Altima:)))

About Scion.....cool car, but for teens!

Good luck

Get MAZDA 6. Forget about scion and altima. The new Altima suck. I bought my Mazda in the same day as my friend (brand new). His car has been in shop for the past year every month, the 2.3 l 168hp engine it's very heavy, no perfomance at all. There is vibration between 25-30mph, they told him that this is normal for nissan since they have one shift. He bought the SL model for $22000 i bought my 6 S for $16.900 and upgrade it myself. If you can afford the 3.0l V6 that would be the bomb. Just test drive it. I have a lot of friends driving Mazda 6 and i'm telling you this car DOESN'T break and it's the best sedan out there for the price. i have 15.000 on main with oil change, also mazda 6 doesn't have recalls. check Nissan Altima:)))

About Scion.....cool car, but for teens!

Good luck

As you can see, she already bought the altima coupe. And actually, nissan was second under honda in reliabilty last year. Plus your post is very confusing...your saying get an mazda 6, but then say that the one your friend has is crap and is in the shop all the time?

I was looking at getting a tC, now i'm only like 5'6" and it felt like it had no room at all for me

one of the ladies i work with has an altima and its roomy


go with the altima

As you can see, she already bought the altima coupe. And actually, nissan was second under honda in reliabilty last year. Plus your post is very confusing...your saying get an mazda 6, but then say that the one your friend has is crap and is in the shop all the time?

I apologize...for the confusing mistake. He bought Altima. I did not see she bought the altima. I have red magazines and the drive test 30000 miles between Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Chevy Malibu and Nissan the first place it's taken from Toyota, 2nd Honda, 3rd Chevy and Nissan was last. I know they voted Nissan for best appearance car for 2008 but as far reliability....maybe, i haven't heard.

Niether[smackbum] ... support the AMERICAN economy.

things have changed buddy! imports>"north" american cars

nissan NICE!

^ thanks!

I'm actually kinda mad...i havent taken delivery of the car yet....when they were detailing the car for me, something happened and the car won't turn off now. You press the ignition button to turn it off, it turns off for 2 seconds and then turns itself back on...only way to turn the car off is to disconnect the battery. I'm waiting to hear the diagnosis...then I need to decide if I want my money back :(

^ thanks!

I'm actually kinda mad...i havent taken delivery of the car yet....when they were detailing the car for me, something happened and the car won't turn off now. You press the ignition button to turn it off, it turns off for 2 seconds and then turns itself back on...only way to turn the car off is to disconnect the battery. I'm waiting to hear the diagnosis...then I need to decide if I want my money back :(

Like i just said already in this post....it seems that there is always something wrong with the new Nissan Altima. My friend complains all the time.
BTW My friend who has Altima bought the other day Nissan Versa for his girlfriend. I drove it and guess what....and this car is brand new:
1. Car pulls to the right.
2. They sold the car without antifreeze (is bellow minimum)
3. If you drive with 35mph and you hit the brakes to 15mph the steering wheel vibrates...a lot!

What do you think of Mazda 6? Actually if you are interesting in Mazda6 wait till september for the new MAZDA 6.
Here is some info: http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2009-Mazda6-Preview

every place is just talking about it and some has spy photos except the series what the factory gave out but in Europe
they are already tested it... the US is waaaaaaaaay behind ....
http://automotor.hu/kepgaleria.php?galeria_id=4532

nissans are great cars allie.

i sold them for a while. wished i could take one home. i want an altima coupe with the v6 but you will happy no matter which one you get. lol

i just prefer nissans and there motors are some of the best in the biz.

o god reading owns me but nice buy!

now you know why you were getting a brand new car for a used price..

actually it is a used car. it has 2,000 miles on it. But it looks like I'm getting my down payment back tomorrow. It has taken them a week and they still have no idea what is wrong with the car. Looks like I'm getting a tC afterall.

probally the car they let everyone test drive and beat up on LOL....

2000 miles thats brand new haha......

u should get something older and more established.

Honda is pretty much giving the FIT away...I seen a commercial with like 1.9% financing on approved

credit......i know you malibu people got good credit.

JUST READ SOMEMORE LOL... BOOO TC. haha

some pics of the new car! 1st thing to go are those nasty wheel covers....

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/allieberry7/get-attachment-2aspx-1.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/allieberry7/get-attachmentaspx.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/allieberry7/get-attachment-1aspx.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/allieberry7/get-attachment-3aspx-1.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/allieberry7/get-attachment-4aspx-1.jpg

Sexy!!!!

thanks!

looks good!!