Scion’s new coupe an extra-special car

We live in an extra-special world: When you want something special, it usually costs extra.

Want onion rings instead of french fries with that bacon cheeseburger? No problem, says the waitress. That will be an extra $1.79.

Of course this refrigerator is available in several colors, including titanium and platinum, says the salesman. And those colors only cost an extra $150.

Yes, you can get tile instead of vinyl on the foyer floor of your new home, says the builder. And it’s only $1,000 extra. Did I mention we’d also be happy to upgrade all the carpeting and padding for $3,000.

And cars? Forget it. If you’ve ever shopped for a new one, there’s a good chance you’ve left the showroom wondering if you get anything other than an engine and four wheels for the advertised price.

That’s why it’s so refreshing to test a vehicle such as the Scion tC. With a starting price of $17,000, the Scion isn’t incredibly inexpensive. But it’s definitely affordable, even in these tough economic times.

And considering all it has going for it — and all the extras included in its base price — the tC quite simply ranks as a bargain.

You don’t have to be young or thrifty to appreciate a vehicle like the tC. Like reggae or gospel music, it’s not for everyone, but the tC will be music to the ears of fans of small, sporty coupes.

One of the first things they’re likely to notice is how much the Scion tC delivers for the money. It begins with a stylish exterior accented by alloy wheels, chrome-tipped exhaust, clear taillights and headlamps with projector beams — all standard.

The tC’s interior is equally impressive. It features brushed aluminum accents, a “waterfall” center console stack, and a panoramic moonroof with a separate fixed glass panel over the passenger compartment

The tC cabin also has the feel, fit and finish you might expect of a car that claims Lexus as its cousin — but generally not one that costs $17,000.

When they see the tC’s equipment list, that price may look like a typo to consumers who have grown accustomed to paying extra for almost everything. The list includes everything mentioned plus antilock disc brakes, Z-rated tires, a 160-watt stereo with 35-watt subwoofer, iPod interface, remote keyless entry, A/C, cruise control, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, outside temperature gauge, and power windows and door mirrors.

Even a cargo cover, driver knee airbag and door mirror-mounted auxiliary turn signals are included in the base price.

So is a 161 horsepower engine that gives the tC a lot more grunt than most inexpensive cars. The engine, which delivers 20 city and 27 highway miles per gallon when coupled with a five-speed manual, is as responsive as a well-trained guard dog. It delivers punch off the line and good highway passing and hill-climbing power.

Although the engine had an inherently high fun quotient, a noisy muffler and touchy clutch made it difficult to enjoy. The TRD Sport muffler was a $525 option, and I can’t believe anyone over 18 would pay to be annoyed by its constant growl.

I also find it hard to believe that the tC comes from the factory with such a difficult to modulate clutch. I’ve never tested any Toyota product as challenging to launch smoothly. Since the test car had around 13,000 miles on it and was ready to be retired from service, I suspect the clutch was abused by other auto writers — many of whom I would sooner let perform brain surgery on me than drive my own manual-equipped car.

A five-speed automatic is one of the few “extras” many buyers will feel compelled to add to a standard Scion tC, and its $800 price is fair. With it or without, given the way it performs and all of its standard features, the Scion tC’s price is more than fair. It’s extra special.

Scott Wasser is a freelance auto writer who has been reporting on cars and motorcycles since 1988. E-mail him at carguysw@aol.com.

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