Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests New Car

Well... I have actually driven a Scion Tc. It was OK, but overall, I think the Mazda3 is a better choice for a small sporty car. With normal dealing, the 3 is similarly priced, if not less expensive, compared to the Tc.

The 2.4 litre engine from the Camry is nicely torquey, with low end pull. However, it runs out of breath in the higher rpms. Handling is also stable and secure without being nimble and fun. It's really a rather stolid little car in sporty clothing.

Room... well... don't be tall. I am 6'2" and I did not fit in the car. If the seat could have been moved lower, headroom could have been just adequate. Leg room was clearly inadequate to the pedals. The rear seat can fit two average size adults without too much discomfort. The interior is plain though well constructed. A $17,000 car needs to have something in the form of Ambience, though.

Build quality was less than I would have expected in a Toyota product. There was a rattle in the dask and a VERY annoying squeak somewhere I could not determine.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the Tc is in fact, a hatchback. However, think room like the RSX. The cargo area is shallow and narrow and the folding rear seat doesn't add much due to the hatch beginning further back due to the gimmicky sun port over the rear seat. Not a cargo hauler.

Keep in mind that Scion has a one-price philosophy where the car sells for list price. That makes the car relatively expensive to other cars in its class. They also have quite possibly the most annoying brochure I have ever encountered. It's almost ashamed to be informative about the cars, but rather is a lifestyle magazine.

Overall, I think the car has sporty looks that promise more than the driving experience can deliver, and limit the utility of the vehicle. There are better choices.

Besides, every time I see the name I think of that Maserati built LeBaron Convertible...

Ill just stick with my type of cars, these obviously arnt made for someone like me

Not the same car, but it is a Scion...

out of curiousity, how many new cars with ~160 HP, CD player, and 17" wheels are available for less than $17?

Scion TC really nice car compared to the 108hp xb xa. Big change for 160 hp. Kinda look like the acura rsx. I would get it if I was you. If you do let us know how it rides. Havent yet seen any out here in california but I'm sure in a few months they are going to be everywhere. Good Luck with buying your new car

Quite a few of them running around here in Houston; 4-5 dealers too. Looks good for the money. No rear disc brakes available. CU said they are a little underpowered unless you get the MTX and a little "buzzy." One model is just like the Toyota Matrix, but one version of them comes with 4 wheel discs. I prefer the Mazda 3. I liked it a lot better that the Toyota and the Scion. It just costs a little more, but may be worth it unless car payments are a big problem.

For an "all new design", especially for an "all new company branch", I find it curiously odd that the taillamps on the Scion tC almost exactly mimic those on the back of the Saturn Ion.





In actuality, I just learned that the tC is a rebadged Toyota sold in Japan, so it may not be entirely new to the world, just the North American market.

They look alike to me. Now that I look in really hard detail, such as you did yourself, I can see differences, but it's almost like the Ion lamps are flipped around for the tC. And check out where the clear lens for the reverse lights are: They're in the same place.

Nothing else on the tC looks anything like the Ion though, I'll give you that there. I wasn't comparing the two cars as a whole.