hello

Your Lex looks pimp'n clean, not too over the top. I could ride around in that.

So what is it that you are expecting out of a tC? More to the point, what is it that you want your tC for? The way I see it, you have 5 options out there to choose from in a used tC, besides the color.
1. Manual trans - This is what you want if you are performance oriented or will be.
2. Auto trans - This is what you want if you do alot of heavy traffic in a commute. MPG is nearly identical between the trans.
3. Spec - Spec's were released for those who plan on replacing most parts and looking for less weight for a custom or race vehicle. Check the specifications as this is not for most people, ie no movable sunroof or cruise control.
4. Release Series - For those looking for built in coolness. Equipment list varies by version; ie RS1.0, RS2.0, etc.
5. Wrecked - Many people have found wrecked tC's and bought them. tC's are rather easy to repair most accident damage as the body is very resilient. It is also very affordable with many used OEM parts on the market from people upgrading. Most accidents are damage to the fender, front bumper, and the wheel/suspension on the front left or right. It seems these new tC drivers think the car is mightier than the curb.

I think your too late as the craigs list post has been removed. Never got the chance to check it out but I would not have any problem buying a used and/or wrecked tC with 26K miles on it, even if, it was beat like a dead horse. Scions are every bit a true Yota brand as every fiber of their being is pure blooded Japan. That means they are not bastardized by us lazy Americanos.:deadhorse:

Good observation there Holmes. We'll make a detective out of you yet.opcorn:

Well sir, glad to see someone on here older than me. I am 41 and drink motor oil for breakfast too, although, the Navy Flight Surgeon switched me to full synthetic years ago. I can appreciate your experience. Smart to do your research but I have to clear the air on a few things in the case of the venerable tC.
1. Scions are 100% Japanese inside and out. Not so the case with the Toyota brand as the Camry, and Solara are American made with the Matrix being produced in Canada. The majority of the components may be Japanese, but the assemblers are not. Even my beloved 2007 Tundra has quality defects from being made in San Antonio, Texas. That is hard for a pure bred Texan, such as myself, to say. I am 100% American which makes me 120% Texan. Let's face it, American workers, for the most part have poor work ethics and minimal skills. We are known as innovators and producers, not craftsmen. The Government and Corporations have alot to do with this by sending manufacturing and jobs overseas.
2. Matrix only housed a 2.4L 2AZ-FE from 2009 onward in the S and XRS trims.
3. The only defect that I am aware of in the 2AZ-FE motor was a small batch of blocks that had spun main a main journal bearing due to an improper sized main bearing. This was quickly resolved.
4. Water pumps are not a source of problem for this motor and are rather easy to replace necessitating only removal of the serpentine belt and pulley. As with any water pump, they can fail. This is not indicative of a problem with a motor. If so, that would make every short block Chevy out there defective.

5. As far as head bolt stretch, all OEM head bolts stretch. That is why you have to measure them when rebuilding a motor. Most iron block/aluminum head motors are designed for the head bolts to stretch to prevent warpage such as in the case of the Ford 3.8L V6 from the 80's-90's. This meant that those bolts were single use only. With new aluminum alloys and the entire motor being aluminum, this is not the case anymore. So far, I have not heard of an issue with blown head gaskets on the 2AZ-FE. There have been some blown gaskets but those were from overboosting with a turbocharger.

Unfortunately, you were absolutely correct with the "Stealership" moniker for Toyota. Ever since the high oil prices started choking off new car sales, Toyota has followed suit with GM in providing poor after sales value. This was not the case for Scion owners until a little over a year ago. Scion was actually a separate dealership in the parent Toyota dealership. This afforded some ambiguity on how the after sales experience played out. Sad, this too has gone to the wayside.

Now, the tC might not compare to your LS-400, but it is a far step above that Camry. You get what you pay for, but with the tC you get so much more. I have every faith and confidence in this car. I even bought one for me Son when he turned 19 cause I am deployed away from him and wanted a safe and reliable car for him.

What ever you decide to do, I know that you will make a smart and informed decision. Best of luck in your car hunt.

I was making a comparative with your 1993 Camry. Beyond the quality and price, the tC has alot of features that put it a cut above. Open the glove box and you will notice that it opens slowly due to it's dampner. The pull handles above the doors retract slowly, instead of, slapping closed. Both windows have auto up/down (My '07 Camry/'07 Tundra only have auto down on the driver's side). The base stereo system is better than the "premium" systems in most cars. Reclining back seats (Camry doesn't). Standard front seat "memory" feature (I have seen no other car with this save for premium electric seats). Standard 17" Alloy Wheels (Camry and most other cars don't). Standard 4 wheel ABS/EBFD disc brakes (Most cars in the class don't). Fugly school bus yellow spare donut (come on, this thing is hideous!). Full instrumentation (Most cars still have the need for dummy lights). TPWS (Standard now on most Toyotas). Highly intuitive 9 airbag SRS (Now standard on most Toyotas though # of bags differs). Full glass roof is stronger than an all metal equivalent (The tC was the first in this class). Color changing stereo display (now standard. first in class). IPOD connectivity (now standard, first in this class). Keyless entry standard (few in this class offer as standard). Just about every major part of the car is serialized with the car's VIN # for theft recovery. Advanced Toyota ECM (Known as the best in keeping the motor safe). Solarguard UV protection windshield (Now standard on most Toyotas). Power side mirrors, dual power ports, cruise control, and rear defroster (Few, if any, in this class had these features when the tC came on the scene in 2005). The list goes on but I think you can see my point.

I understand full well about what I am talking about as I own a 2007 V6 Camry SE and a 2007 Tundra 5.7L. I put the quality of my 2005 Scion tC above these 2 American made Toyotas. The tC is not for everyone and I do not think less of anyone that would choose another car over this one. These are just a few of the reasons why I love this car and substantiate my point of view.

BTW.. I have also owned 4 Mercury's and a '66 Stang so FoMoCo is still in my blood. I am a Fox Body man.