Quote:
Originally Posted by extrashaky
Unless you think the BRZ is sold by Scion, then no, it wasn't.
What I know is that whenever this subject comes up, an apologist for Scion's borderline-ethical marketing gimmick will post this same straw man and pretend it makes any difference at all. It doesn't.
MSRP has a place in the discussion because it is higher for the BRZ, leading people (including the OP) to believe that the BRZ is more expensive. But the out-the-door price of the BRZ is usually lower than the FR-S because BRZ salesmen have the ability to negotiate price. It doesn't really matter if a Scion dealer advertises a price of $1000 below MSRP when the BRZ dealer can negotiate another $500 below that. The Scion dealer is stuck with whatever you see online or on the sticker, whereas the BRZ dealer is not stuck with either.
One of the reasons for the difference in average prices is that Pure Price makes price collusion among competing Toyota dealers easier. The Scion dealers are all advertising their prices, so they know what the other guys are charging and can set their own prices accordingly. It's a borderline anti-competitive policy. I suspect that if someone were to challenge it, the FTC would bring down the hammer.
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Your first statement is just silly trying to take literalism to the extreme and out of context to support a bad argument. If you thought we were comparing MSRP BRZ prices with below MSRP FRS prices, you wouldn't be dumping all over Pure Price, but nevermind.
Well I hope you aren't suggesting I'm a Scion apologist for Pure Price? If I was, I would have paid pure price which I didn't. I also wouldn't have talked about all the ways around it. People have gotten $1500 and more off than you suggested so that's moot for that and other reasons.
What I can say I know also, is everytime the subject comes up a Subaru apologist for the ugly moustache comes on and says just buy a Subaru because you can 'negotiate'. How's that sound from the other side of the argument? Sounds just as bad to me. For one, I have never heard anyone take the side of a Pure Price apologist except maybe a 75 year old retiree looking for an xA or xB who doesn't have the time or energy to negotiate. So your idea of an PP apologist to me is a unicorn. Pretty much everyone hates it. I'm sure a lot of people bought BRZs because of it.
Your last point also works the other way. If PP is anti competitive, then the cars will sit on the lot and dealers will be forced to drop prices regardless due to inventory issues. All that does is hurts Scions sales figures which is obviously has. Dealers are still subject to other market pressure and sales goals that determine sticker price. All of which have nothing to do with Pure Price anyway.
Ultimately, the point is you can get the car you want by learning how to be a good shopper and not having other people tell you what to buy. For someone so into competition and choices, I'd think you'd support that idea instead of pretending you only have one competitive choice. A BRZ.