Toyota-Scion will not discontinue making the FRS

[FiReStorm2013]

Reading these message board for since 2013 when I bought my FRS, I've seen an increasing amount of comments about the FRS being discontinued. I did some research and this is what I came up with.

In April of 2014, 1,445 FRS cars were sold.
In April of 2015, 1,089 FRS cars were sold.

1. With a decrease of 28-29%, I was getting nervous. Then as I looked at 159 cars, I learned most had a negative percentage. The cars that had a positive percentage were rare, including Toyota Camry and Corolla, Nissan Sentra, Hyundai Elantra, Chrysler 200 and Subaru Outback as the only cars within the top 15 most sold cars. That leaves 9 cars cars in the top 15 most selling car list seeing a down trend.

2. Now, it doesn't make sense to compare Toyota Camry (#1 ranked car in sale) to an FRS. One car is suited more for families and often used as a company car, where as the other is suited for 21-mid 30's guys (Yes, I know girls drive and own the car, but all FRS commercials and posters show a male exiting the drivers seat). For those in their 20-30s, its difficult to find a job in a difficult market, regarding all fields, these folks have less money, as a result of a poor job or no job. Hey, oatmeal beats no meal. Not to mention insurance is crazy high, I just got my bill as a 26 yo male. OUCH!

So where am I going with this?

Scion FRS ranks 89 with 1,089 cars sold in April 2015

There are 159 cars on the list, meaning there's 70 cars selling less per month. Thinking to myself, "These are new models and will discontinued." I was wrong. Many are established models, for example the Nissan Z, BMW 2 and 7 series, Jaguar F-Type (2x the price, less than half the sales, great looking car btw), Audi TT, Mazda 2, Acuras TSX, Dodge Avenger and Mazda Miata to name a few.

When the company set out to develop and manufacture the FRS, their intentions were a little different than it was when they created the Camry. The FRS is a model they'll want in their lineup because it's one of those cars that is fun and most people want. Unfortunately, it's not practical for a lot of people, including those ready to start a family or need a lot of cargo or need a car better suited for tremendous amounts of snow fall, like upstate NY.

I strongly believe its' sales could drop as low as 200-250 per month and they'll still be manufacturing them. Hopefully that doesn't happen, but they could always go to the model of selling the FRS every other year rather than every year. Once they start uping the HP and torque, adding an AWD version, than there becomes the possibility of them discontinuing it because the price to make it becomes much more expensive and the few people its marketed towards may not even be able to afford it after these things we want have been installed into it.

I want to hear your thoughts.

[Tromatic]

Originally Posted by FiReStorm2013

Once they start uping the HP and torque, adding an AWD version, than there becomes the possibility of them discontinuing it because the price to make it becomes much more expensive and the few people its marketed towards may not even be able to afford it after these things we want have been installed into it.

My thoughts: LOL. I didn't know we wanted an AWD. If they built the car "we" wanted, it would be a fat, ugly, slower, overpriced and over weight soul-less factory-riced POS.

[Bergen23]

How many times will people keep mentioning more power/awd/turbo/etc. and still need to be reminded that it would cannibalize sales of a car Subaru makes...

[Draco-REX]

I'd love to see how people expect this car to miraculously fit an AWD system. Have they even LOOKED at the car and where everything is placed?

Here, a visual aid:


The front axles would have to share the same space as the #3 and #4 cylinders. The only way to make an AWD system fit would require raising the engine and transmission. That would mean raising the hood and transmission tunnel.

So let's say they do that... Now the seating position has to be higher in order to see over the hood and have the shifter/center console in a comfortable position. Now we need a taller roof line. Gotta raise the trunk line now to keep the car from looking silly. And with making the whole car taller, we need to make it longer or again, it won't be visually appealing and sales will be lost.

OMG, we just made a WRX.

So how is this magical AWD 86 supposed to be built?

[zooki]

They could move the whole engine/transmission unit back a foot or so, maybe they could fit the diff in front of the motor... Just a thought.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Draco-REX

I'd love to see how people expect this car to miraculously fit an AWD system. Have they even LOOKED at the car and where everything is placed?

Here, a visual aid:


The front axles would have to share the same space as the #3 and #4 cylinders. The only way to make an AWD system fit would require raising the engine and transmission. That would mean raising the hood and transmission tunnel.

So let's say they do that... Now the seating position has to be higher in order to see over the hood and have the shifter/center console in a comfortable position. Now we need a taller roof line. Gotta raise the trunk line now to keep the car from looking silly. And with making the whole car taller, we need to make it longer or again, it won't be visually appealing and sales will be lost.

OMG, we just made a WRX.

So how is this magical AWD 86 supposed to be built?

It can be done and keep it low:

Doesn't matter as they won't anyway since like has been already said, WRX.

[strat61caster]

sti version to boost sales confirmed

source: motoring.au

[stevesnj]

I think the 86 is part of a scenario. Have an entry level affordable sports car marketed to under 35 yo and when they introduce a step up model for example a super car. Market it to the professional 40 and up who may have better financial stability and can afford a Toyota super car (yes just thinking out loud). So get an 86 and when they are grown out of the 86 move up. Just a thought. My point is that the 86 is not going away.

[Braces]

I can't see Toyota abandoning the 86 project. This car will fit the lower market and the FT1 will fill in the middle market. Think Celica - Supra.

[airjonny]

I hope it doesn't go away. I hope Toyota/Subaru improves ALL aspects of the car instead of spitting out half-assed limited editions.

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by Braces

I can't see Toyota abandoning the 86 project. This car will fit the lower market and the FT1 will fill in the middle market. Think Celica - Supra.

Sorta what I said :P

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by airjonny

I hope it doesn't go away. I hope Toyota/Subaru improves ALL aspects of the car instead of spitting out half-assed limited editions.

How about an FR-S S haha

[airjonny]

Originally Posted by stevesnj

How about an FR-S S haha

"Scion FRS-RS TRD-S Edition. Look we plastidipped the rims! And added a body kit and some heavy ass rims! What's that? Want more power? Fuck you! This car is solely about the driving experience! But hey take a look at these speakers we put in this shit!"

[FRSupra]

Can't believe I wasted a view point on this thread. Oh shit...