I work for the Toyota Technical Center. I will be evaluating certain aspects of the next generation tC and would like some input from tC owners. A tC is not my daily driver so I would like to reflect what some tC owners and tuners feel in my responses. I WILL NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS, HOW IT LOOKS OR HOW IT DRIVES! You will just have to trust in me that I will convey your general response. The specifics of the evaluation have been made known to me but I am not clear on what I can divulge. Basically I want your feedback on driver ergonomics. "I do carpool with a tC owner sometimes to work and I dislike the circle part of the door handle as it digs into my leg under high g forces." "When I'm in the perfect position for the steering wheel, the pedals feel a little too close." That's the kind of stuff I'm looking for.

A little about me so you don't get dissapointed that I've been selected:
-Current SCCA member Arizona Region, 2004 Salina region Solo II STS Champion
-Current NASA member Arizona Region, HPDE level 2
-Pit crew for Wheels America Racing 2007 25 Hours of Thunderhill Endurance Race
-Pit crew for Arizona Region SCCA spec Miata entry
-Pit crew for DMC Racing Bomber division oval dirt track
-Just getting started in shifter kart racing
-Daily grind involves absorber, spring, swaybar tuning and dynamic evaluation
-Have turbo'd an 07' tC, helped build a 500+ whp STI, built a couple 240's, tuned an E-manage Ultimate equipped tC

I will post this on the three tC forums I find with the highest member count. So if you know people on other forums tell them to register on one of the big ones. I will be checking this daily.


This is your opportunity to have an impact on the next tC!!!


Thanks guys,

Kelly Banks
Toyota Technical Center Arizona
Technician Vehicle Performance Development

 

1. More supportive seats
2. The suspension needs improvement, I shouldn't have to dump a grand into the tc just so it handles like a stock si (for example).
3. Power, we need more power!

 

I'd want RWD but coming from Scion's perspective, I know already that it would be too expensive to realistically be put into production and be sold under the Scion brand at under 20k

::sigh:::

 

A damn 6 speed please cause Im tired of running at 3000+ rpms on the interstate

 

6 speed tranny
tighter suspension
more power stock or 6 cylinder option.......

 

^lets be a little realistic now. Theres not ever going to a 6 cylinder option for a toyota econo car under 20k

-More supportive seats.
-Less sqeeks and rattles
-A 6 speed would be nice for the highway

 

1) More power (i know there's a TRD supercharger, but i was hoping for more NA power from a 2.4 L especially for a car weighing almost 3000 lbs)
2) Improved stock suspension
3) possibly a 6 speed manual transmission
4) pedals feel a little too close
5) option for no glass roof (i know it's a nice feature, but this would make the car a little cheaper, reduce weight and lower center of gravity which are more important to some)

that's all for now...

 

RWD (I'd pay the extra $)
6spd
6cyl

 

6 SPEED PLEASE!!!!
better suspension
less rattles
more power

 

Power isnt such a big deal to me. Yes, it would be nice to have more, but it is decent for an inexpensive 4 banger. I think the thing I would like to see most is a short block that is a little friendlier to mods. The idea of these cars is something that responds well to mods, but it still affordable in the target market.

I would stay close to the stock suspension. Any softer and it wont handle as well. Any stiffer and ride quality wont be great. Offering a front and rear TRD sway set that is stiffer than the rear only option would be a nice touch, if it can compete with hotchkis pricewise. I would still offer the rear trd sway option as well.

Make the LSD stock.

Give either a roots style SC with a more linear response. If not, just offer a turbo. The current SC is not as optimal as it could be IMO.



I am going to say, NEVER put any form of traction control or stability control on it. At least not without a disable switch. But if the regulations I have heard about are true, you wont have a choice in the matter. I dread the day of all cars having this like the plague. Say bye bye to true drivers cars!Autox cars will be hard to come by for sure!

A telescoping wheel if the interior geometry stays the same. I like the interior and seating arrangements, but it always feels like the wheel is a tad too far away, or that the seat is too close to the pedals.

A spec package that actually provides value. Removing more money worth of parts than you are giving back in price is just ridiculous IMO. The current spec package pricing is insane. People can buy the standard tC, sell off the parts they replace, and have a better deal in the end.

Keep the gear ratios the same, unless power is greatly enhanced. Being higher in the rpm band makes the car much more responsive at highway speeds. Being able to easilly pass in 5th is a great thing.

Offer a badgeless trim option :D

 

Multi color Factory Dash LED's - so we don't have so many warranty issues with this common mod.
6 speed
Electronic stability control.
more features on the odometer - like MPG, average speed, miles left on gas- you know all the features that should be there nowadays. The chevy coblat has a more than ours.

And how about auto pilot for those long boring trips.

 

Well Said Engifineer, well said

 

I agree with what most people are saying. It needs either another gear (6-speed) or a revamped 5th gear so I'm not crusing down the highway at 3200+ RPM.

Keep the full glass roof, everyone who steps in my car loves that.

And x2 for a more potent supercharger option. If there is going to be a $3,000 forced induction upgrade, making it a little more worth-while would be more appealing.

Good luck!

 

plus.... 5 speed for the automatic guys...

 

Factory LSD
6 Speed
Toyota Backed Turbo (So everything stays under warranty)

and this will never happen but...
RWD! RWD! RWD!

 

6 speed MT x1100000000000010101010

 

-move the carbon filter somewhere else so that aftermarket intakes have a better chance of being CARB legal.

-A less scratch prone interior (lets face it that whole rice paper look thing scratches a little bit tooo easy imo)

-move away from the amber interior lights. just like djpeaty said, its a very common mod, but if have to be kept single color at least white.

-less rattles

-real HID safe projectors with a clean cutoff

-offer a performance trim with more hp so that only those in search of hard performance will get it, and those who want the base get the base, i know it sorta goes against the scion concept of a single trim, but itll allow for alot more competive comparisons at stock for stock (i.e. no more stock tC vs RSX-type S comparisons)

-make the release series special. RS1 and RS2 were cool, but i think the rs3 and rs4 couldve had a more "out there" color that makes their color easily noticeable amongst the other tCs

-a digital speedo like the new xBs, i know its a little thing, but i think its cool

-while everyone wants 6sp manuals, ill be really happy with a 5sp auto for the same reasons that they want 6sp. i also believe this might help fuel eco. since you wouldnt have to keep such a rev while cruising.

-more grip on the stock tires (its a long shot)

-better suspension that wont cause body panels to dent

 

Some "creature comforts" such as:
- telescoping steering wheel
- electronic side mirrors that tilt down when in reverse
- adjustable height seatbelts

As for power/suspension:
- stiffer stock shocks/springs
- better rear stability
- more power would be nice (i.e. 6 cyl)

 

BLUETOOTH!!

 

-6 speed!
-More forgiving clutch pedal engagement and disengagement!(can be to tricky somtimes to get a smooth transaction)
-More comfortible, supportive driver and passenger seats!
-The pedals are to close together!
-Standard LSD!