In the December issue of R&T, the review best enthusiast cars under $30k. The review a "tc TRD" which looks like a supercharged tc with the aero kit. They like it but rank it low compared to the toher cars, which are all much more expensive. They do praise the quality and low price. From the photos, it may not have had suspension work done, which is a shame because that's where they criticize it the most.
On the performance data page, you can compare a stock tc to the supercharged, I was very disappointed. For several thousands more, you only get half a second 0-60 and 1/4 mile. Way not worth it . They should have not used a SC, put money into the TRD suspenion and blown the competition away with the vaule factor.
Cool to see our car being rated next to 350Z, WRX, and Evo's.

 

yeah that is cool but it seems like (from your description) they used our car to point out the defects the other cars don't have. I'm going to need to read this issue now.

 

They review each car separately, so they aren't really using it as a whipping boy. They just point out some things they did not like. I always take reviews with a grain of salt, as these guys are used to driving M5's and F40's. The do the same when they criticize my Yamaha FZ6

 

All reviews are in some way biased in those magazines.. and even more with consumer reports (I have seen statisticians destroy the reliability of the CR data). But as long as you take it with a grain of salt they are good usually.

Shame they didnt do suspension (or at least it sounds like they did not). Suspension is by far the best mod on this car short of a turbo. Springs, a thicker rear sway and some good tires are the ONLY set of mods under $1000 that make a really noticeable difference on the tC, and it is a very nice difference. But cool to see it fell into the category and did ok.

 

 

Road & Track as well as Car & Driver are a little biased. I would rather take the word on a review done by Import Tuner or Modified Mag over them. Actual tuners doing real reviews and pushing our cars to the limit.

 

R&T and C&D are different mags.... cater to different ppl. The only time C&D features a modified/tuned car is when they find something crazy, like a twin turbo Vette. Personally, I havent bought IT for years!
Anyhow, every SC tC that is being tested usually has the same thing: 18" wheels, TRD strut bar, OEM lip kit, fog lights and OBX ****.

 

 

"18" wheels, TRD strut bar, OEM lip kit, fog lights and OBX ****."

there are definately better ways to spend that money to boost performance.