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Scion to Roll Out Complimentary Rental Program

New Car and Driver article states that Toyota will be testing a program that lets Scion owners borrow a Tacoma, Sienna, Camry, and Prius, for ten days a year, free of charge.

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Sure Scions are cute, quirky, and in the case of the FR-S, sporty, but nobody inks a deal on a car from Toyota’s youth brand with heavy hauling in mind. So it’s entirely logical that, according to a recent report in Automotive News, the maker is hatching a plan to help owners handle the load when it becomes too large for their small Scion to bear.

Called the Scion Swap program, the plan is an exclusive promotion offered to customers purchasing or leasing a new Scion vehicle through participating dealers between January 1, 2014 and June 30, 2014. Presently limited to three markets—Miami, Houston, and Phoenix—Scion Swap will be rolled out in more of the nation’s 1000 Scion dealers if it proves to be successful.

Basically, Scion Swap gives owners of Scion vehicles no-charge, limited rentals of a larger Toyota when the need for more passenger or cargo capacity arises. Currently, rentals include the Camry, Sienna, Tacoma, and Prius (though additional models may be available at some dealers), so whether you need to haul the whole gang to catch grandma’s Jai alai match or simply don‘t wish to taint your xB’s interior with garden mulch or drywall dust, the plan has the right vehicle for you. Reservations are channeled through the Scion Swap website. But before you start planning that 14-day peyote-fueled Burning Man excursion, know that there are some restrictions: The loans are limited to ten days per calendar year, and Scion owners will be responsible for fuel and any damages. Additionally, some dealers may have mileage restrictions.

In the same AN report, Doug Murtha, Scion Vice President, noted that the program is currently undergoing “a systems check with dedicated software to enable the process,” adding that the software is “working really well.” Murtha also stated that the automaker will examine consumer take rates and market interest: “It’s still really small scale. How it shakes out, we still don’t know.”

The way we see it, both brands stand to benefit from the deal: Scion gets a sales tool that it can spin as a value-added customer benefit, and Toyota gets a little extra exposure to a clientele that may have otherwise sidestepped the brand when the time comes to move up from their Scion. It’s hard to believe that the effort will be enough to revive Scion’s sales numbers, but simply knowing that the free loan of larger vehicle is available when needed might help a few hesitant Scion FR-S shoppers sign on the dotted line.

Maybe this will help sell more examples the FR-S?

Program sounds expensive. I guess they'll need a bigger fleet of rental cars.

If the Mustang can be a fleet car, the FRS could be too. Get those sales up!

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Originally Posted by JohnJuan (Post 1712920)

Maybe this will help sell more examples the FR-S?

How?

If size issues (family, cargo, etc.) are a big enough factor for me to not buy a car like the FR-S, I can't imagine a 10 day offer would change my mind. But I do get the idea, and think it's kind of interesting. I don't think it would exist to boost Scion sales, but more to create longer term Scion/Toyota loyalty, as people 'graduate' from a Scion for various reasons, they will have had better access to Toyota. I do question the program's feasibility though, but you never know

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Originally Posted by badrad (Post 1713763)

I don't think it would exist to boost Scion sales, but more to create longer term Scion/Toyota loyalty, as people 'graduate' from a Scion for various reasons, they will have had better access to Toyota.

That's exactly what this is about. These are test drives in disguise.

With the FR-S, Scion could just continue to hold "Scion Drive" events to put people behind the wheel. I went to the one in 2012 even after I got my car, it was fun to throw the FRS around cones. Basically showed off what better tires did for the car.

They must not be marketing it too well. I live in Phoenix and this is the first I've heard if it. @nelsmar could've used this service a few weeks ago to fetch his engine. @jeffsides heard of this one?

Sent from a secret volcano base using trained sharks

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Originally Posted by kavanagh (Post 1718216)

Yes. It's a scion program that allows you to use a rental car for whatever you need it for. You are allowed a few days. It's set up for someone that may need once or twice a year to need to haul more people or while traveling. I can put all the literature together while I'm at work tomorrow.

Sent from ARIZONA86 HQ

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Originally Posted by rice_classic (Post 1713198)

If the Mustang can be a fleet car, the FRS could be too. Get those sales up!

Toyota controls how many units the put into fleet. It's a much smaller percentage than domestic. You don't want to put these into fleet. All it does is destroy the resell value. It floods the market with specific vehicles and kills the value. This is why Toyota controls how many the put into fleet.

Sent from ARIZONA86 HQ

I think it may help people rationalize their FR-S purchase if they know they can have access to something more practical. Even though 10 days and having to know 14 days in advanced would be a pain.

I don't think many FR-S owners will be wowed by the performance of the Toyota rental options.

Decent

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Hmm I am moving soon (July), it might be nice to have a Tacoma for a few days for stuff that is not going in the uHaul truck. I'll have to ask my dealer next time I go in...

Figures I can't do it because I bought in October 2013.. I REALLY want to try out a new tacoma so bad...