Richmond Toyota

Check out our New Scion TC Inventory!!!

Introduction

A leading car review firm put the Scion TC and the Mitsubishi Eclipse GS in a head-to-head The sub-compact car bracket is the modern experiment; as manufacturers turn their collective attention to generation X and Y, searching for an edge over their market rivals. Two of the sportier sub-compact model varieties are found in the 2008 Scion TC and Mitsubishi Eclipse.
Scion is Toyota's marketing effort for Generation Y. Mitsubishi has seen previous import tuner notoriety with the 3000 GT and Lancer Evolution, and only hopes to progress in this fashion with the Eclipse. Sifting through the pros and cons of these two coupes won't be easy, but at the end of our six ideals, which one will emerge as the decisive victor?

Vehicle Performance

The Scion TC or Touring Coupe borrows its structural underpinning from the Avensis (offered by Toyota's European division) and is available exclusively in front-wheel drive. The quad-wheel independent suspension is characterized by double wishbone in the rear, and supported by high-resistant MacPherson struts up front. This Scion two-door finds its muscle in the Camry's 2AZ-FE, a 2.4-liter, 16-valve, DOHC with Intelligent Variable Valve Timing. The smaller powerplant produces 161 horsepower @ 5,700 rpm, with 163 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm, that's not so bad for its class. There is a forced-induction upgrade courtesy of a TRD supercharger that bumps the output to 200 ponies, should you want to upgrade and spend the extra dough. However, the base TC sees the brunt of its power in the low end revs and the car remains well controlled by the rack-and-pinion steering. Drag-strip test runs clock a stock TC's 0-60 mph time at 7.8 seconds, and it runs the quarter mile in 15.7 seconds. These results were recorded with a five-speed manual transmission, but an optional four-speed automatic is also available.

Exterior design

The Scion brand gains much of its allure by promoting itself as a customization specialist, one of the few of its kind. The TC matches its punchy kinetics with a "blank canvas" aesthetic, designed to let the mind wander and provoke the imagination of vehicular modification. The accessories available can all be applied by the dealer upon ordering, and include the bumpers, side skirt and rear spoiler. Beyond all the paneling, the TC receives a fresh grille and taillights, along with an arched roof that stretches from the windshield to the bottom of the back glass. The 17-inch wheels have this coupe resting 55 inches off the ground. Returning from last year's model is the tinted glass panoramic roof, which makes the TC's interior seem that much bigger.

Interior Aesthetics

As the TC is a coupe, rear-occupant room is limited, especially if the driver breaks the 6'0" mark.  The pilot and front passenger's bucket seats are bolstered and firm, and will keep you firmly planted through the chicanes. The grade of the fabric used is moderate on the whole, but is still impressive for the sticker price. Most will find the four map pockets and bag hooks useful, as opposed to frivolous. Amber backlighting presents a soft glow for the HUD, complete with a trip meter and cruise-control setting, along with 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space, which is made available once the rear hatch is popped.

Entertainment System

The entertainment bundle in the 2008 Scion TC serves up plenty of sonorous fortitude - enough, in fact, to appease even the most selective of listeners. Pioneer supplies the AM/FM unit with its single-disc CD player. To boot, there's a remote mini-jack MP3 port and available XM satellite radio capability. The system also boasts the ability to download and upload skins to the TC's LCD faceplate, as well as images, four-second video clips, and eight-second movies ripped from the Pioneer website. The six factory speakers are as crisp as any in this price range, but can be ameliorated with an optional configuration featuring an amplifier. Beyond all this, there is currently no standard navigation system available for the Scion TC.

Value

The all new Scion TC injects originality in its styling cues with a two-door package that is sure to make Scion's cash cow a hit amongst the generation-Y consumers. It exceeds in the sub-compact class and climbs a few more rungs with a sticker price of just $15,300. Isn't that dysfunctional cousin always the most interesting family member once you work up the nerve to finally go and talk to them?

Overall Driving

Although there really is no comparison between the Scion TC and the class-standard MINI Cooper, and the TC is cited as possessing a below-average top-end speed, we believe this can all be pardoned given the exceptional acceleration and throttle response. Cog swapping is as smooth as a marble and even with the manual transmission trim is still excusable of novice errors, making it optimal for the drivers who are just starting out - couple that with an EPA of 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, along with Toyota's dependability, and this Scion is solid.

Summary

The wallet-friendly fuel consumption and abundant personalization options make the 2008 Scion TC a real contender, and maybe not such an outcast after all. True, we've had a bit of trouble warming up the strangling, but after taking a closer look at this coupe we're more than willing to spend more time behind the TC's wheel really getting to know it."The TC isn't a real sporty coupe like the old Toyota Celica was, but it does offer a lot of style for relatively little money and comes with standard anti-lock brakes, power windows, and driver's knee airbag." says Car and Driver about the Scion TC. "If you don't want your car to feel old in a couple of years, Mitsubishi's futuristically retro, sporty-sounding Eclipse will keep both of you feeling young." says Road and Track about the Eclipse.

The sub-compact bracket is among the busiest in the industry and with so many compelling options at your disposal it's also the one that causes the most ambivalence. Mitsubishi has always been a staple of performance vehicles, but dug itself into a hole in regards to performance and its relativity to price. Less expensive and just as sporty if not more, the Scion TC is the victor!