Auto Car | 2011 Scion tC test drive | Scion introduced the tC coupe (which, technically, is actually a hatchback) into their lineup in 2005; for 2011, the Scion tC is essentially all new. I've never been a huge fan of the tC, but the new model brings a series of changes that just happen to address what I consider to be the old car's shortcomings. Is this the tC that will win me over? Read on. Price range $18,995 - $19,995 plus options, EPA fuel economy estimates 23 MPG city, 31 MPG highway.
If you poke around this web site a bit, you'll notice that I've never actually reviewed the Scion tC myself. Instead, I've farmed out my tC test drives to freelancers -- Bob Bowden in 2005, Jason Fogelson in 2006, and nobody else since.
This isn't because I never drove the tC; it's because I simply didn't like it. I thought it was a misfit in the Scion brand -- a handsome car, yes, but about as exciting to drive as a Toyota Camry. (Scion is a division of Toyota.) And yet the tC went on to become Scion's best-selling model, so I figured the problem must be me. After all, Scion is a youth-market brand, and I'm just too old. Bob and Jason weren't crazy about the tC either, but they're even older than I am.
Scion has introduced a new tC for 2011, and while I'm even older now than I was in 2005 (who isn't?), I like this new tC better than the old one. Of course, that's not saying much -- fact is, I like it, period.
At first glance, the new tC looks a lot like the old tC, but look more carefully and you'll see lots of differences in the details. The new tC was designed to look like a helmet with a visor, which explains the blacked-out windshield pillars. I can't imagine why anyone would design a car to look like a piece of protective headgear intended to prevent injury in vehicle crashes, but I do like the tC's new look, especially the funky (and vaguely Mustang-like) taillights.
Like the old tC, the new tC is available in a single trim level. A no-haggle price of $18,995 ($19,995 with automatic transmission) gets you a tC with power windows, mirrors and locks, air conditioning, butt-kicking stereo (link goes to photo), and a long list of standard safety equipment, including electronic stability control and knee airbags for both driver and front passenger. As with other Scion models, the new tC is available with a plethora of dealer-installed accessories, everything from big-brake kits to fancy shift knobs to stick-on carbon-fiber trim -- all designed to allow Scion owners to customize their cars and Scion dealers to maximize their profits. (about.com)
At first glance, the new tC looks a lot like the old tC, but look more carefully and you'll see lots of differences in the details. The new tC was designed to look like a helmet with a visor, which explains the blacked-out windshield pillars. I can't imagine why anyone would design a car to look like a piece of protective headgear intended to prevent injury in vehicle crashes, but I do like the tC's new look, especially the funky (and vaguely Mustang-like) taillights.
Like the old tC, the new tC is available in a single trim level. A no-haggle price of $18,995 ($19,995 with automatic transmission) gets you a tC with power windows, mirrors and locks, air conditioning, butt-kicking stereo (link goes to photo), and a long list of standard safety equipment, including electronic stability control and knee airbags for both driver and front passenger. As with other Scion models, the new tC is available with a plethora of dealer-installed accessories, everything from big-brake kits to fancy shift knobs to stick-on carbon-fiber trim -- all designed to allow Scion owners to customize their cars and Scion dealers to maximize their profits. (about.com)
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