2005 Scion tC

In an effort to boost market share, Toyota stole a page from GM's Saturn play book and created the Scion brand. Aimed at the young-and-hip crowd, Scion cars were simple, stripped down and affordable.

Powered by bulletproof Toyota engines, Scion's came in trend-setting shapes and were meant to be customized. Hence the bare-bones trim. Scion/Toyota dealers had a huge list of options that they could sell to the customer. And since they were making a killing on these add-ons, they made a big deal of it. Stereos, rims, body kits, suspension kits and even custom paint were offered. So needless to say, there are a lot of modified Scions out there.

One of the most popular Scions was the tC mid sized coupe. About the size and specs of an Accord coupe, the tC offers similar performance and room, for much less money.

Powered by Toyota's 2.4L 4-cyl, the Scion tC is no barnstormer to be sure. Acceleration has a lazy feel, but the manual transmission does liven things up a bit. A supercharger as offered as one of those dealer-installed options, and they claimed a 40hp increase over the stock 160hp. However, these are basically aftermarket modifications and should be thoroughly examined by a qualified mechanic before you purchase a supercharged tC. A stock car is always best because you have no way of knowing how well modifications were installed.

On the road, the Scion tC feels a bit heavy, but that's a good thing. The weight helps give the tC a decent, smooth ride. Curves are handled well and overall, the tC is a decent driving car, even if it is a bit underpowered. However, avoid those huge rims unless you like the feeling of driving over train tracks...constantly.

On the inside, the Scion tC has a hip but comfortable interior. And since this is a Toyota, the controls are placed logically and have a Lexus-quality feel. On the downside, some of the trim bits feel cheap and not Lexus-like. But remember, the tC costs thousands less than a Solara or Accord, even though it's just as good.

All in all, the Scion tC is a smart choice if you're looking for a personal coupe, or a starting point for your next Fast-and-Furious custom.