Hot in the Lot
Ms. Tsaparakis's Scion tC
NEIRAD enilno edition
I know what you’re thinking, “a teacher with a cool car? No way!” If you were one of those people, you’d be completely wrong. Hot in the Lot this month in her 2006 Scion tC is our very own Neurology, Marine Science, and Biology teacher, Athena Tsaparkis.
Ms. Tsap’s 2006 tC is a sporty looking car from every angle. The nautical blue pearl color makes the car stand out during the day and look great at night. The 17” wheels also help to illustrate the sportiness of the whip.
When looking at the car from the rear one of the first things one notices is the full glass roof. “I love the panoramic moon roof… It’s sweet,” Ms. Tsaparkis said. She also mentioned she loves the lines of the coupe; however she feels almost like she’s growing out of it despite Scion aiming their model line more toward the younger crowd. The coupe, two-door, aspect of the car really isn’t practical for someone who uses it to go to the grocery store, or carries a lot of passengers like Ms. Tsap often does.
Ms. Tsap also enjoys the interior of her tC. “I love the iPod compatibility. It’s really straightforward.” Ms Tsap also explained how the front seats are totally comfortable, however she claims the headroom in the back is somewhat of an issue. Honestly though, what coupe doesn’t have limited space in the back seats?
The 2006 Scion tC comes standard with a 2.4L inline four-cylinder engine that pumps out 160hp and 163 ft-lbs of torque. Although only moving from 0-60 in 7.5 seconds from the factory, there are many aftermarket modifications that can help this coupe reach its full potential. “I’ve seen the performance parts at Scion of Westport but I would never install them. Although, I did consider a spoiler as an option when I first picked it out,” Ms. Tsaparkis said.
The biggest drawback is not actually the car itself, but the service, she explained, “I used to take my car there when it was under warranty for routine maintenance. One time, I went in for an oil change and ended up finding a chicken wing under the hood of my car one month after!”
After this experience at Toyota Scion of Westport and New Country Toyota and Scion, she changes her own oil. “I know that the oil has been changed correctly because I did it by myself,” Ms. Tsap said.
As a fellow DIY advocate, I definitely agree with the personal satisfaction of doing maintenance on your own car. Not only is there the fulfillment of knowing the job was done right, but also the good feeling that you’re able to wrench on your own car.
Although Ms. Tsap doesn’t have any future plans for modifications for her car, the Scion is sure to be looking fresh in stock mode.
