We picked up our new black cherry Scion tC project car last week at nearby Puyallup Scion. The car rolled off the boat from Japan with a whopping two miles on the odometer, along with that great new car smell.
The Scion comes packed with standard features, from cruise control to chrome exhaust tips. We passed on all the cool dealer options, which include anything from a ground effects kit to a supercharger. We'll be handling the mods ourselves over the next few months--with your help.
Cruising back up I-5 to Seattle, the 161 hp 2.4 liter inline four felt nice and peppy. The five speed manual is darn slick, and the steering razor sharp. And not a whole lot of the dreaded torque steer, either. The tC rolls 215/45ZR17 Bridgestones mounted on some great-looking 17" wheels (though once we get started on the mods, the wheels and tires will be the first thing to go). The four-wheel antilock disc brakes feel rock solid, and the fully independent suspension is nice and firm. In other word, it's a blast to drive, and we'll be giving it quite a workout before we bring it to SEMA in November.
It feels much bigger on the inside than in looks from the outside. The front seats are supportive and comfy, and the adjustable rear seats are surprisingly roomy. And that hatch is huge! Put down the back seats and you could probably move a good-sized appliance with this car. You can even fold down the front seats to create what Toyota calls "social space." Ergonomics are first rate. The 160-watt Pioneer stereo is hidden behind a cool-looking silver panel. And the sunroof/moonroof combo is pretty amazing in a car priced like this.
All in all it's a rock solid 2900 pound package, with great styling and a level of fit and finish that is hard to believe for the price. And don't forget the five star crash rating and great gas mileage. So we're gonna pimp this baby out, and you get to tell us what to do. Twice a month you'll get to vote on what mods you want next.
First up will be tires and wheels, followed by suspension, brakes, electronics, an interior makeover, exhaust, engine mods, and of course a body kit and paint. We can't wait to see how it turns out! So check back with us in two weeks to vote on the tire/wheel combo. In the meantime, be sure to check out our Scion tC store, and how over 1,200 CarDomain members have modded their tCs!
