I like it. The tc that is. Seems like a relative bargain actually. Looks good, lots of power and economical. I think it does compete with something like the Honda Civic Si. I don't know what the complainers are complaining about. I recently owned a Mazda 3 with lots of goodies on it. I thought that was a bargain too. But, this vehicle seems more aggressive and sturdy, like a Toyota should be. The 180 HP is enticing. You don't have to be a twenty year old to appreciate something like this. I'd say it has the appeal of a baby Lexus, styling wise, that is.
Drove the tC before I got the Si. They seem similar on paper but they're actually VERY different vehicles for VERY different drivers. The tC looks sporty, but it's not. I'd actually say that in terms of driving experience, it's the spiritual successor to the Solara, not the Celica. Now, some people want a pleasant, soft, isolating experience from their coupe. But it's not what you expect from a sport compact. So long as you go into it wanting a budget-priced grand touring machine, not a sport compact, you'll like it.
The Civic Si, on the other hand, is about one thing and one thing alone: driving. It's got a sharp, precise, yet raw mechanical nature that puts you in intimate connection with the chassis, the engine, and everything that makes it dance. And dance it does. But it's a razor blade on four wheels all the time, not a sleek-looking cruiser. When you try to cruise in it, road and mechanical noise overwhelms you, you feel every pebble underneath you, and the torqueless engine bogs down because you're not keeping it on the boil. Make sure you want the car equivalent of an A6M Zero before you get one.
