Scion celebrates its 10th year anniversary by releasing special editions
Simplicity has always been my motto, when it comes to buying new cars. The Scion tC I recently test drove is just about as simple, as one can expect in a new car today. Scion engineers have made this an auto enthusiast’s car without all the little gimmicks many of the 2014 cars have; but giving it all the items an enthusiast wants.
The test car I was given was the limited addition 10 tC, and my specific model was number 36 from a total of 3,500 cars. This vehicle, along with other special edition models, was manufactured to celebrate the 10th year anniversary of Scion. The special editions are branded SC10N, with the number 10 stylized into the logo to represent the company’s 10-year anniversary.
For the 2014 model year, the tC gets a slightly revised front including a new hood and some changes like LED lighting, front and rear, as well as 18-inch wheels. Since my test car was an anniversary model, it had a few extra items like a special shift knob, different mats, silver seatbelts and illuminated Scion badges. Now these badges were really quite attractive, as they nicely lit up the front badges in a neon blue glow, something I generally do not like, but in this case, the badges just seemed to be right.
To make the tC a sporty model, the car is based on the front-wheel-drive Camry platform but just a bit shorter and lighter. What this means is that items that would be otherwise lighter for a car of this size are overbuilt with the heavier Camry running gear. This being a lighter car with a heavy-duty suspension and bigger four-wheel-disc brakes handling is second to none in this class of car. I found the standard 18-inch wheels and 225/45R18 tires really made the difference at speed and cornering, in addition they look great.
The engine for the tC is the 2.4 double overhead cam four cylinder with 179 hp and 172 lbs of torque giving the car good acceleration due to its variable valve timing and light 1387 kg (3,058 lb). My car was equipped with a six speed manual transmission, which was smooth and easy-to-use. My only little quibble was that the shifter had a long throw, thus slowing the acceleration down on fast takeoffs. Those not inclined to shift gears can get a nice 6-speed automatic, which is almost as much fun as the manual stick.
Moreover, inside comfort is excellent and all controls are simple-to-use and well-placed for ease of use. What was a big surprise to me was the room in the rear. Even though this car is a two-door coupe, it has comfortable rear seats with ample legroom, something many cars in this category just don’t have. By nature of its design, the allowed room for seating cargo room is adequate, but who buys a sporty car for cargo space anyway? The panoramic sunroof was also a great feature, it did not affect headroom and I kept it open as often as weather permitted.
If I was in the market for a sporty car, the tC would be on the top of my list. It is a basic sporty car for the enthusiast with all the necessary drivers’ aids, but without distracting accessories. Base price on the tC Scion about $21,500 and for the 10 tC I tested was $23,330 a real bargain for us car enthusiasts.
By Glen Konorowski
