Worried about the demographic that will buy the frs?

[RearDrive]

Not sure if this has been posted or not, but is anyone else worried that a young demographic that will give this car a bad name (lots of drifting crashes and terrible modifications) and give the rest of us who are buying this car for the pure drivability a bad rep? Ie "oh look there's another one of those rice drifter fr-s cars again.." idk if that's just me being overly protective of this car or not.

[mines13]

If we are going to be fair, the same could be said about any performance oriented car. I do not think we should look at this one any differently. Just my opinion.

[nataku]

And to be unfair, why aren't you already concerned about image since it's a Scion? Us edumacated folks around here know that Scion is a good brand, but a lot of people still think Scion is a joke. I think the FR-S will be a very surprising car to most people who will see it and think "Wait, that's a Scion?" In fact I look forward to that almost as much as driving the car.

[Subie]

If you're worried so much go by a BRZ. The BRZ will have a more mature demographic due to its price alone.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by mines13

If we are going to be fair, the same could be said about any performance oriented car. I do not think we should look at this one any differently. Just my opinion.

Yes, most performance cars under $40k have this same stigma attached to them: STI/Evo, WRX, 350z/370z, MS3, GTI, S2000, Civic Si, RSX, Cobalt SS, etc. The only way to avoid this is to buy a more expensive car kids can't afford (Elise, Cayman/Boxster, Corvette, M3, S4) or buy a car that kids think is "oh noes the gheys!" and wouldn't touch with a 5-ft pole like the Miata.

[civicdrivr]

I drive a fancy Honda. Im used to stereotypes.

[RearDrive]

I don't see anything wrong with the brand scion. They just haven't made a true performance oriented car until now. And it's not a deal breaker I was just wondering if anyone shared the same feelings towards that. I actually was looking at the brz because I like the front of the car more but in Canada subarus are always marked up a lot higher then msrp so it makes more sense to go for the fr-s unless I can get a brz for close to the same price of an fr-s.

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Originally Posted by mines13

If we are going to be fair, the same could be said about any performance oriented car. I do not think we should look at this one any differently. Just my opinion.

Not exactly. Performance-oriented cars are priced at various points on the spectrum, with the FR-S still being very affordable and likely within the reach of anyone a part of the "young demographic" who already has the budget to buy a new car. Cars like the Evo, STI, 370Z, etc. are still within access, but at ~$35,000 and up, it's not accessible to nearly as many drivers in that "young demographic," assuming you're talking about teens and/or young adults not yet in the workforce and not just everyone under 30 (or at least 25).

[RearDrive]

Yea exactly, like me for instance I am a younger guy and this car is at the tip of my budget. The car is aimed at a younger demographic especially at its price point (hence why they branded it as a scion and not a Toyota here). I just hate seeing big fart can exhaust tips and ricey spoilers etc. that a lot of younger people put on their cars. But we'll see. If I can get a brz at msrp with a cash discount that's the car I'll go for. I believe it will hold its value better as well considering the limited numbers being imported into North America (and subarus in general hold their value well).

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Originally Posted by RearDrive

Yea exactly, like me for instance I am a younger guy and this car is at the tip of my budget.

And for that same reason (not directing this at you), it's why the BRZ will still attract a slightly different demographic despite still being within the same price range. Sure, at that price difference, it accounts to your monthly payment changing by $25-30, which anyone can afford, but when looking at the numbers up front, the younger buyers will likely opt to save the money for the variant that is still 95% the same car but a bit more affordable.

[ichitaka05]

I have not single problem young kids buying this car and crashing it! Hell, it give me more OEM parts to pick up for cheap from!

So young stupid kid that wanna become next Ken and try to street drift and crashes into the tree, fence, pole or all the above, go for it! Just don't blame your dumbness on the car.

[fistpoint]

Originally Posted by RearDrive

The car is aimed at a younger demographic especially at its price point (hence why they branded it as a scion and not a Toyota here).

The car is branded a Scion for the sole purpose of attempting to rejuvenate the weak sales Scion has, nothing more. Had Scion been successful all along I bet it would have been a Toyota.

[RearDrive]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

I have not single problem young kids buying this car and crashing it! Hell, it give me more OEM parts to pick up for cheap from!

So young stupid kid that wanna become next Ken and try to street drift and crashes into the tree, fence, pole or all the above, go for it! Just don't blame your dumbness on the car.

Wouldn't that make insurance go through the roof for everyone else if the young guys crash this car repeatedly? That wouldn't bother you?

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Originally Posted by RearDrive

Wouldn't that make insurance go through the roof for everyone else if the young guys crash this car repeatedly? That wouldn't bother you?

Bingo. The insurance rates for my own Evo being high is NOT because of me.

[MF_DEUCE]

this has been discussed before.

[civicdrivr]

I can only hope that the "low" hp figure will keep the idiots away.

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Only some of them. There are still a lot of idiot teenage drivers snatching up Civic Si's, even when they had "only" 197 hp.

[kanundrum]

Kind of an expensive car for your average 22 year olds or less.

I think the techy type who likes weekend autocrossing and your occasional track day will be the ideal demographic for this car.

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by RearDrive

Wouldn't that make insurance go through the roof for everyone else if the young guys crash this car repeatedly? That wouldn't bother you?

Prob, yes... But I'm insuring a sport car. If anyone bitch about insurance been high, maybe brand new sports car isn't the option

[civicdrivr]

Originally Posted by DeeezNuuuts83

Only some of them. There are still a lot of idiot teenage drivers snatching up Civic Si's, even when they had "only" 197 hp.

Yea but the FRS doesnt have VTEC

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Prob, yes... But I'm insuring a sport car. If anyone bitch about insurance been high, maybe brand new sports car isn't the option

That's not the point. The insurance due to it being a sports car is only part of the story... the statistics based on violations and accidents of drivers behind the wheel of such a car play a bigger role. For example, an M3, with a full 130 hp more than my Evo, is less expensive to insure, despite being more powerful and also quicker accelerating, not to mention sportier and far more expensive. Why? Because too many people have been ticketed or been involved in physical damage claims in my car. That is what caused the rates to be even higher.

[civicdrivr]

Insurance companies look less at the type of car it is and more at the amount of claims for that particular model. My father used to be in underwriting and explained it to me.

They dont care if youve been driving 30 years without a single ticket or claim, its what everyone else does in that car that raises your rates.