[wlfpck]

I think it boils down to the "enthusiasts associated with the brand".

The scion tC (gen 1) was out for a while before the FR-S came out. You could probably use "The world of tCs" as a good example of the failure of American education.

I think that most people that do have a problem with the scion badge on the FR-S is because they don't want to be associated with the scion tC people.

In all honesty, out of all the various "enthusiast cars", I think the scion tC is by far the worst. There are of course a few good apples, but the majority of them are ignorant and think that a tC with an intake can take on a full bolt on civic SI. There are regular threads of street racing where they "killed" a car that is way faster.

Take a look at the GTR forums or even forums such as golfmk6, Nasioc, etc.

For the most part, people use correct, legible English. Then take a look at all the scion forums. It's a absolute crap shoot where some posts, you question if the thread starter has the IQ of cheese.

I'm not saying everyone needs to have an expensive car. People can carry themselves in a way that is respectable. Not have a car filled with trash, shoddily fit parts, etc. is part of it. How a person behaves at a car meet goes along with this too.

Not saying that the other forums don't have the same type of people... but... it is very predominant with the Scion tC. As a result, to the people who are not as into cars, the Scion badge can be stereotyped. They might not know the difference between the Fr-s and the tC but they will always be able to pick up on the "Scion" part.

Sure it's unfair to judge a FR-S owner simply by the fact that he has a "Scion" badge (read: I do not judge FR-S owners), but the fact is that there is a stereotype to the Scion brand. Just like a stereotype with the Audi and BMW brand.

Negative stereotypes are very easy to form.

Maybe the car journalist is from an area with a lot of scion tC owners and really didn't want to be associated. Who knows.