The Quickest Cars of 2007: Less Than $20,000 -tC 5th place
08-26-2007, 04:57 PM
#1
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The Quickest Cars of 2007: Less Than $20,000 -tC 5th place
Base Price: $15,580
0-to-60-mph time: 7.4 sec
Quarter-mile time: 15.7 sec @ 88 mph
We initially feared that Toyota’s youth-brand Scion tC might feel and drive like a Tercel with a fresh application of mascara. Instead, it’s an endearing and assertive little hatch based on Toyota’s European Avensis, and its 2.4-liter four—willfully delinquent to its 6200-rpm redline—delivers a respectable and dependable 161 horses.
There’s plenty here to admire: a slick five-speed manual borrowed from the Camry. Handsome and intuitive dash controls. Seats that fold flat, rear and front. And a top-floor list of standard equipment, all for a bargain-basement price.
But if the tC isn’t an all-star, it’s because its chassis is an underachiever—too much body roll, too many suspension movements that don’t get damped the first time and sometimes not the second. Combine that with 3016 pounds of heft, and the muscular-looking tC circles the skidpad at only 0.81 g, despite its aggressive 17-inch Bridgestones. Scion? Sigh on. The trade-off is a pliable ride, but since when did America’s cutting-edge youth value softness?
Except on the west coast, the tC remains a relative rarity, which is cool. But its true potential will be realized only after its struts and springs have spent a couple months in TRD boot camp. Until then, tC maybe stands for “Too Calm.”
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 3-door coupe
BASE PRICE: $15,580
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection
Displacement: 144 cu in, 2362cc
Power (SAE net): 161 bhp @ 5700 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 162 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 106.3 in
Length: 174.0 in
Width: 69.1 in
Height: 55.7 in
Curb weight: 3016 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 7.4 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 20.9 sec
Zero to 110 mph: 28.4 sec
Street start, 5–60 mph: 8.0 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.7 sec @ 88 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 127 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 179 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.81 g
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 23/30 mpg
http://www.caranddriver.com/features...-scion-tc.html
0-to-60-mph time: 7.4 sec
Quarter-mile time: 15.7 sec @ 88 mph
We initially feared that Toyota’s youth-brand Scion tC might feel and drive like a Tercel with a fresh application of mascara. Instead, it’s an endearing and assertive little hatch based on Toyota’s European Avensis, and its 2.4-liter four—willfully delinquent to its 6200-rpm redline—delivers a respectable and dependable 161 horses.
There’s plenty here to admire: a slick five-speed manual borrowed from the Camry. Handsome and intuitive dash controls. Seats that fold flat, rear and front. And a top-floor list of standard equipment, all for a bargain-basement price.
But if the tC isn’t an all-star, it’s because its chassis is an underachiever—too much body roll, too many suspension movements that don’t get damped the first time and sometimes not the second. Combine that with 3016 pounds of heft, and the muscular-looking tC circles the skidpad at only 0.81 g, despite its aggressive 17-inch Bridgestones. Scion? Sigh on. The trade-off is a pliable ride, but since when did America’s cutting-edge youth value softness?
Except on the west coast, the tC remains a relative rarity, which is cool. But its true potential will be realized only after its struts and springs have spent a couple months in TRD boot camp. Until then, tC maybe stands for “Too Calm.”
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 3-door coupe
BASE PRICE: $15,580
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection
Displacement: 144 cu in, 2362cc
Power (SAE net): 161 bhp @ 5700 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 162 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 106.3 in
Length: 174.0 in
Width: 69.1 in
Height: 55.7 in
Curb weight: 3016 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 7.4 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 20.9 sec
Zero to 110 mph: 28.4 sec
Street start, 5–60 mph: 8.0 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.7 sec @ 88 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 127 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 179 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.81 g
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 23/30 mpg
http://www.caranddriver.com/features...-scion-tc.html
08-26-2007, 05:10 PM
#2
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 34
What bothers me about articles reviewing or comparing the tC (or any Scion for that matter) is that they fail to equip them. I've seen a number of comparison articles in which a tC was compared to a Mini Cooper S or Civic Si, or some other upper level model, and is then bashed for not being powerful enough. Perhaps the idea that there are accessories that could be included goes against their understanding of how to buy a car. Perhaps they just look and go, there are no options packages, therefore they're comparing the top of the line. If they had simply added the TRD suspension accessories, they might have actually had less to complain about, and it would have still been the price range for the comparo.
08-26-2007, 07:16 PM
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Most of the time they want to test cars they call the company and the company sends them a car. They dont always get to choose options especially with the tC where everything is a option.
I do think the s/c and TRD suspension tC would be a better match for the Si though. Is it just me or did the car get even heavier? I could have sworn my 05 was just over 2900 lbs? It was already overweight.
I do think the s/c and TRD suspension tC would be a better match for the Si though. Is it just me or did the car get even heavier? I could have sworn my 05 was just over 2900 lbs? It was already overweight.
08-26-2007, 07:59 PM
#9
Originally Posted by trentonm
they compared it to a cobalt ss? which is a sports model... that one just blows my mind over any other car they chose,
08-26-2007, 08:23 PM
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Originally Posted by TheQuietThings
Originally Posted by trentonm
they compared it to a cobalt ss? which is a sports model... that one just blows my mind over any other car they chose,
08-26-2007, 10:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Zebman
Man... it's Car and Driver. They hate japanese products.
08-27-2007, 03:16 AM
#19
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Originally Posted by jrussell98003
Originally Posted by Zebman
Man... it's Car and Driver. They hate japanese products.
According to the article btw, they used a Civic LX for the comparison, not the SI. Also, the Mustang that won the comparison is the base model, not the GT. So I think they were all in the same playing field. No aftermarket parts. If you read the Mustang's review, C & D complain about the base Mustang's suspension compared to the GT's. I'm not a fan of the Mustang or anything, just pointing out the extra info.
08-27-2007, 07:55 PM
#20
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Originally Posted by trentonm
even if it wasnt the s\c cobalt, its still the performance model. Not top of the line, but not base line like they tested the tc...
Originally Posted by caranddriver
Except on the west coast, the tC remains a relative rarity, which is cool. But its true potential will be realized only after its struts and springs have spent a couple months in TRD boot camp.