Just laid down a deposit and...
 

I pre-ordered my FR-S today, from Pauly Scion in Crystal Lake, IL and according to the dealers they are expecting some more info about the FR-S in a few days. I also learned they are expecting the car a little bit before June, maybe in May or even April. I'm second in line for the car aside for one of the first 86 winners who decided to pick the car up from here. This will be my first NEW car, I'm so excited :D

Hopefully we will find out more information in a few days. Just not knowing is driving me crazy!

All you guys per-ordering, are only giving the car companies to price it higher because you guys are showing a demand.

-_______-


think if no one would be pre-ordering it, Toyota/Subaru would have doubt and price it lower than expected.


Thanks >:O

It doesn't work that way though. They still make sure to maximize the profit. Fortunately for some people, Scion use pure pricing, so there is no mark up or anything.

Only a few dealers are doing pre-orders. Most are just managing lists.

All Pure Pricing means is that if they advertise a price, then that what anybody that wants the car will pay. No haggling or mark up from there. If they want to add a mark up, they will.


Source: http://secure.scion.com/faq/#faq=faq-pure-price

A quick google search of your local Scion dealers will show you which one to go see. The one that has a high advertised price is the one you avoid. I guarantee you will be able to find a dealer that sells for MSRP.

The whole "if you pre-order, they will raise the price" thing is a fallacy as well. Using that logic, I could say that if people are posting on a website about a car that isn't even out yet, you are showing interest, so Scion and Subaru will raise the price. Truth is that 90% of the population will find out about this car when they start seeing them on the street. Some people on nasioc, supposed car enthusiasts, are still asking if this car is AWD, FFS!

It seems really odd to me that people are actually putting down a deposit and pre-ordering a car they have not driven, and don't even know what the purchase price is going to be.

I know that the reviews have been positive and I'm optimistic that I'm probably going to get one of these cars, but I'm still going to try everything else that is currently available. After you test drive a FRS/BRZ, you should hop around to the other dealers to try a Mazda MX-5 retractable hard top, RX8, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe's with the new engines, a WRX, ect. Your selling yourself short if you don't try the other cars that you can buy with your money.

I am going to be dropping a deposit on one in a few weeks after I look at it at the chicago auto show this weekend if al is good.

The way i was told from the dealer was that you put $500 down as a deposit. when the car comes in you go to the dealer look it over test drive it, and if you want it you buy it. if you dont, you get your $500 back. so it seems silly NOT to do it IMO anyway...

The pre-order/deposit is fully refundable if I don't want the car so I'm not 100% committed to buying it.

I'd be selling myself short if I didn't get a car I absolutely love. The MX-5 seems like the stereotypical female driver car and I don't really want a convertible. The RX-8 has a gas guzzling rotary engine that isn't good after 100,000 miles not to mention the ugly styling as of late. As for the Genesis Coupe, it's way too big, the car is too ugly after the facelift, and Hyundai to me doesn't strike me as a reliable brand after my moms 2009 Santa FE recently broke down which is more times than my used 97 Maxima has broken down.

The FR-S on the other hand has beautiful styling, small dimenstions, and promises to be affordable. This car, by the looks of it, has what I want. Granted, I could look for otner cars, but the only ones available in my budget would be used cars that I'd like and I don't want another used car.

It isn't odd one bit, this happens all the time with cars. Look at Ferrari, their entry level car's production run will be bespoke for years without any data. Any car that generates buzz will be pre-ordered. And why not pre-order? There is no contractual obligation from the individual to follow thru with the purchase and they get their refundable deposit back (or in many cases, it's a check that's never cashed and voided/terminated at the end). Actually, this car is relatively under the radar, in my opinion, it isn't getting the public marketing (might change today?) that cars like the 350Z, WRX/STI, Mustang/Cobra, etc. got.

The Miata and WRX are in a different categories, the RX8 isn't being produced anymore but the Hyundai GC is worth taking a look at. It's a nice package - it just felt a little off, for me, plus a very hard interior - would drive me nuts.

I don't get these pre-orders, you guys don't even know how much it will cost.

if the cost is too much you can back out and get your deposit back

Everybody wants to have the first one. They're just putting their name on a waiting list so they'll get first-dibs to place an order when the cars are visible to dealers' order systems. Yes it's strange. It's putting down a deposit not on a product but on a chance to order a product. That distant sound you hear is the buzz.

This is no Ferrari. Those guys buy the car no-matter-what and sell them for a profit a year later.

So far my dealership has not talked about money. Probably because they can't take my order yet and don't want to give me the wrong expectation. We will cross that bridge when it comes.

Pure Pricing by design allows dealers to set whatever price they want. It's right there in black and white in the Pure Pricing policy.

Right. Let's not confuse Pure Pricing for "no mark-up." Pure Pricing just eliminates the negotiating process (which some folks, like myself, prefer to avoid). It's still a money-maker for the dealer...

In my opinion the only vehicle here that is remotely comparable in your list to the FR-S is the MX-5. The RX8 is a rotary and heavier (no! I am not saying there is any thing wrong with an RX-8, just not comparable), the Hyundai is a barge at 1,530 kg for the 3.8 Manual. WRX? If you are considering a WRX you have totally missed the point of the FR-S.

I am quite content to purchase this car based on the reviews I have read. The car does not have to be perfect for me to enjoy driving it.

Regards,

It seems that I caused a bit of a stir and people had fun dissecting the short list that I threw out there, but those people are missing the point entirely. I wasn't trying to list specific cars that I thought were better than the FRS, I was just throwing out a few sporty cars that are priced around the estimated FRS price.

If you have $28k to spend on a sports car you owe it to yourself to test drive every sports car in that price range. I feel like there is a 90% chance that I am going to end up getting a FRS or BRZ this spring, but I'm sure as hell going to drive everything else before I give any dealership my money. Who knows, maybe I'll surprise myself end end up getting an MX-5 or something instead? Life has a way of surprising you like that. Committing to a FRS or BRZ before you even get behind the wheel of one is just being a fanboy. I'm sorry, but you have to be pretty stupid to buy a car simply because of automaker hype and positive magazine reviews. Get out there and test drive this thing first, people!

It sounds like the small down-payment that most are putting on this car is refundable, and people are planning on checking everything out before actually buying the car. I don't see much harm in it if there is no real commitment, so I'm relieved to hear that. :w00t:

So if these cars aren't better why would someone consider them?

So you just called me stupid did you?
In my opinion (did you read that? "MY" not yours, mine) everything I have read about this car ticks all the boxes for me. There is NO other car, at this price point, that meets MY requirements.

Also, keep in mind the demand will be extremely high for these cars. Rumor has it, each dealership is only going to get 1-2 BRZs a month. I've been shopping for a new car since last spring; test driving, researching yadaydaydaa but I put a deposit down to insure the BRZ is an option. If you want a BRZ, that 90% chance you referred to is more like 10% without a spot in the line.

I'm sure as hell you're not going to get to drive a BRZ/FR-S this spring. Cause everything dealers get will go to people who put down a deposit, and I'm almost certain they won't let anyone else test-drive those.

Dsgerbc, fancy meeting you here :D bikerbob951.

If you are 90% sure you are getting a BRZ/FRS then you should go put down a deposit ASAP. There are only going to be a limited number of these things, so for 5-6 months after launch you will not be able to buy one without a long wait. If you want to get it in the spring, you'll need to be on the preorder list. I don't see the downside because you can still test drive it and if you decide you don't want it you get your $500 back. If you don't get on a list soon I don't think you'll be able to get near one until fall at least.

Oh, hai! lol.

I'm not sure how Scion's pure pricing works, but I doubt dealerships would set it above the MSRP price. There are at least 3 Toyota/Scion Dealerships 25mile radius of my house.

Rant on....

:mad0260:Why are people still comparing the MX-5 to the FR-S? The MX-5 is a 2 seat smallest roadster! Nothing like the FR-S. Actually there is nothing like the FR-S but the BRZ. And why would anybody buy the current MX-5 when a brand new design is coming in 2013? Same thing with the WRX. New hopefully better design next year. Sure they can screw them up, but I doubt it. They will have more power and lighter weight....maybe..

The RX8 has been discontinued, nobody wants that car anymore. Mazda just needs to fix the rotary problems and come out with a twin turbo RX7 or get into the game and come out with a FR-S competitor. I always forget than Mazda knows how to make a real sports car. Just make a coupe off of the new upcoming MX-5 chassis.

People only looking at the Genesis coupe because of the similar pricing...but damn that car is big compared to the FRS\BRZ. It's almost camaro size! Hyundai will fix this in the next generation of the Genny Coupe.

Rant off...

Glad y'all laying down some deposits...

My dealer has said we will all get to drive the test mule - the dealer will only have it for a few days so scheduling will be a pain but whatever. I will be able to drive it before a factory order goes in. And if it doesn't fit me, then I get the deposit back. No brainer.

Because it has a similar ethos behind it's design.

Sure the mx5 has two less seats, but it's similar sized, 2l n/a rwd sports car... Apart from the lack of seats and the retractable roof, it's got alot of similarities ;)
They are definitely comparable cars.

Oh and RX8 ws a good car.. The renesis motor was quite reliable if looked after correctly, made reaosnable power for an n/a, the car drove well and handle VERY well.
Ever driven a GT with the recaros and bilsteins?? Definitely a sports car ;)

My US Subaru dealer said there's going to be a test-mule around in May, but did not promise test-drives when asked. Usually these test-mules are for dealer staff training purposes, driven by a regional Subaru rep and do not carry the insurance necessary to allow for customer test-drives.

I like Subaru and Toyota.

My main concern was size. I'm 6'3"

I just sat inside the BRZ at the DC auto show and today I am going to put down a deposit on an FR-S.

It's perfect.

You just made my day. I'm 6'-3" 220lb and I've been concerned about fit with the FR-S. So, my question is:

How was the legroom for the driver? With the seat all the way back and down, how was the reach to the pedals? what about distance from your knees to the steering wheel?

Also, headroom... is there enough for a helmet? :burnrubber:

The Miata is a 157.2 inches long and the FR-S is 166.9 inches long...big difference. There is much more room in the FR-S than any miata.
The wheel base is 101.2 inches on the FR-S vs 91.7 on the miata. BIG difference. The FR-S weights anywhere from 200 to 300 pounds more than a Miata.

The only thing similar is that both are RWD and both have a 2.0 liter N/A 4 cylinder engine. But even the engines are vastly different....the FR-S having a flat 4 with 200 HP vs the miata's inline 4 with 167HP.

Interior room/seats
 

Me too!! I hated my 135i, helmet was about on headliner...my Subaru's have been good, but seats are way wide/non supportive. I hope these hold you tight and not sliding in seat doing an Autocross.

Good to hear!!

Let us know!!

Just talked with the dealer and he was under the impression that the stripped down version would be coming to the states. But as with all rumors YMMV.

Yes physically, they aren't similar. However, they were both designed around one thing: bringing joy back to driving. They are lightweight, similarly priced, and nimble sports cars. Incredibly similar in execution.