Is the tC still relevant?
 

Is there really room for two sporty coupes in the Scion lineup? Aside from having a larger rear seat/trunk and a more forgiving ride, I see no other point on having the tC in the Scion lineup. Anyone else think Scion should eliminate the tC and slot the FR-S at the $19,305 price point the tC currently occupies?

For us it might not be but for the general consumer, yes, the tC is very relevant. It has more space/comfort yet looks sleek combining fine points of every car in next year's Scion line-up. It's like in-between the Camry and Corolla (it was originally based on the Avensis) so the value is still awesome.

(Edit: Shouldn't this be in the Other Cars forum?)

Don't forget that a lot of people don't care if it's fwd or rwd. And some even prefer fwd because it's supposedly safer/easier to drive.

^It IS safer/easier to drive. I've seen experimental data and statistics showing FWD is objectively safer than RWD in rain/snow.

You are forgetting the price tag and cup holders are the most important factors in choosing a car for most people. And not necessarily in that order.

Good to know there is data to back up the common assumption. By saying 'supposedly' I didn't mean that I didn't agree with the claim, just that I wasn't sure there's actual proof.

I agree with you,but if you are equipped with winter tyres(and a good brain qt) could reduce statistic....;)

Space/comfort along with sleekness can be found in both the xB and the xD. The tC seems like a waste of resources for Scion as a whole, it is the definition of "designed by committee."




Appropriate tires and prudent driving seem safer to me. Besides, Scion still has the xB, xD and iQ in the lineup all driven by the front wheels.

OK, give a bunch of "average" motorists a front wheel drive and rear wheel drive car. And also let them drive one with all seasons and one with snow tires on each. Which do you think they will have more control over and find easier to drive.

Saying use good tires and to being smart is a bad argument when the average motorist runs stock (all seasons) and doesn't know or care about proper driving technique and handling.

tC was *never* relevant.

Statistics, schmatistics. You'd have to account for *selection bias* to root out whether fwd is *really* safer.

The people who buy rear wheel drive cars like Mustangs, Corvettes, Camaros, etc. etc. etc. are not a representative sample of the car-driving population at large. I bet they'd smash into things a lot more than the average driver even if they were forced to drive tC's...

BMW would say other wise.

:word:

I'm inclined to agree. If one has the proper weight balance to the rear wheels to provide tire grip then engine placement is irrelevant. I'd argue it's safer to have a rwd car for that reason. Also, fwd cars provide catastrophic under steer and annoying torque steer.