The 2011 tC, fully pimped out, does an uncomfortable price overlap with a 2011 Ford Mustang V-6 that will smack it down with sub-six-second acceleration runs all day long.
Tucked under the $20,000 limit, the tC outdoes any other front-drive coupe for the money, with juiced-up power and grip that's just aching for some kind of forced-induction abduction.
The Honda Civic Coupe and Ford Focus Coupe are both lame-duck models, as we wait for replacements to arrive (in the Focus' case, as an early 2012).
The Kia Forte Koup comes close to rivaling the tC, but its driving experience isn't quite as finely honed; its interior is also, as in the Scion, somewhat cramped.
Another alternative is the rear-wheel-drive Hyundai Genesis Coupe, which delivers performance that approaches that of the Mustang along with some serious aftermarket potential.
With the tC, we'd still want to spend a fairly lavish amount on the aftermarket pieces.
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 2011 Scion tCBrowse Used Listings |  2011 Ford FocusBrowse Used Listings |  2011 Ford MustangBrowse Used Listings |  2011 Honda CivicBrowse Used Listings |  2011 Kia ForteBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | ||||
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The 2011 Scion tC is not a tremendous value any more, but it finally has some character to call its own. |
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The 2011 Ford Mustang lives up to all those juvenile, tire-smoking pony-car expectations; at the same time, it’s an unexpectedly capable, sophisticated coupe. |
The 2011 Honda Civic is still a standout for its perky driving feel and responsiveness, but in most other respects it's no longer so impressive. |
The 2011 Kia Forte exemplifies the new direction of Kia, with a simple, elegant style, unexpected levels of refinement, and lots of value for the money. |
| MSRP From | ||||
| $18,275 | $16,640 | $22,145 | $15,605 | $14,995 |
| Gas Mileage | ||||
| 23 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 25 MPG City / 35 MPG Hwy | 15 MPG City / 29 MPG Hwy | 21 MPG City / 43 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | ||||
| Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Gas V6 | Gas I4 | Gas I4 |
| EPA Class | ||||
| Large | Compact | Compact | Compact | Compact Cars |
| Style Name | ||||
| 2-Door HB Manual (GS) | 4-Door Sedan S | 2-Door Coupe V6 | 2-Door Manual DX | 4-Door Sedan Manual LX |
| Drivetrain | ||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | ||||
| 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | ||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | ||||
| 3 Door Hatchback | 4 Door Sedan | 2 Door Coupe | 2 Door Coupe | 4 Door Sedan |
| Transmission | ||||
| Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | Manual | Manual | Manual |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
| 2011 Scion tC vs. 2011 Ford Focus | 2011 Scion tC vs. 2011 Ford Mustang | 2011 Scion tC vs. 2011 Honda Civic | 2011 Scion tC vs. 2011 Kia Forte | |
