TRD Lends a Hand
Speaking of cornering, this is arguably what the iM does best. While steering feel won’t win any awards, the electrically driven rack does direct the front tires with precision. We spent a fair bit of time driving an iM that Scion fitted with the accessory TRD lowering springs, TRD anti-roll bars, and TRD air filter, and decided that all should be mandatory equipment for anyone with a pulse, as these parts reduce the car’s body motions and sharpen its response, thus making the most of the strut front/control-arm rear suspension’s capabilities.
Perhaps this car’s greatest attribute is its value, which, at the price of $19,255 for the manual and $19,995 for the automatic, will make good on Scion’s promise of a sub-$20K MSRP when it arrives in Scion dealerships (along with the Mazda 2–based iA) this fall. Adding the navigation kit for an estimated $900 and the TRD bits, we still estimate that an iM with the manual would cost less than $23,000, or roughly the starting price of a four-door VW Golf. We only wish it were a bit more interesting to look at and to drive, because if Scion is going to survive, it needs a following. And at first blush, the iM doesn’t seem good enough to build one.
