Quote:
Originally Posted by Chupacabra
I believe though when they designed the FR-S for Scion, the intent was to keep it super grass-roots and not offer a premium trim in an effort to capture the new college graduate. The BRZ and the 86/ GT 86 globally will be priced for a more mature demographic and I would even say that the trim levels will be quite varied depending on the market where the car is being sold.
I'm hoping I make sense...if not I will be open to (positive and mature) feedback
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I believe this is their idea from the start and reasoning behind the USDM getting the low spec as a Scion model and higher spec as a BRZ. I don't remember reading anywhere, (correct me if I am wrong), that Toyota saying that the GT-86 will never reach North America. It's possible, they may "test the waters" with the FR-S & BRZ and if all goes well, introduce the GT-86 in the US in 2014 or 2015. The main reason for Scion is to get a younger demographic into the "Toyota family". Other than Buick, Toyota has the oldest demographic of any manufacturer.
As for old people buying Scions, at least in my area, it rarely happens with the tC, but does happen often with the xD and especially the xB. My dealership just had a customer today that was in their 60's and were in a wheel chair. The xB worked perfectly for them as far as size and space for their wheel chair & I believe Toyota even offers consumers $1,000 of mobility assistance for customer that buy them to have them modified for wheel chairs, hand controls, etc.
I've worked at a Toyota dealership since 03/02 and we had Scion since 10/05. My experience is that the younger college kids want and buy the tC. They then crash them and drive insurance rates through the roof. 95% of the tC's I have sold over the years have been to Toyota's target demographic. On the contrary, 75-80% of the xB's have been to elderly people.
As for the FR-S, the way I see things playing out are a lot of people from many demographics are going to come in to see this car, but many will not purchase because of the RWD. (I live in northeastern PA) The fact of it being RWD I think is going to scare away many of the chicks and older people looking to buy the car because it is "cute", but it may not chase away the younger kids that think it looks cool. Those young kids with limited driving experience, especially with a RWD car will then crash many of these cars because they loose control. It will drive insurance rates up for everyone that buys this car. I think many parents won't let their kids buy this car because it's RWD. It's amazing how many people are anti-RWD in my area. My dealership also has Hyundai at the same location and I see many people shy away from the GC and somewhat the sdn for that very reason. All of the Genesis' that I have sold, each ones has another vehicle for winter use whether it's a 4wd/AWD or FWD.
Some of my post may be
but I wanted to give you an idea of how things are in my area, but will be completely different in SoCal, the southeast, south west, etc.
I plan on buying an FR-S when it comes out and even being an employee, I'll be paying the price as all of you. It's nice to know that someone didn't get a "better deal" than you just because I work there etc. The only thing I can get better deals on are accessories as long as I don't include them into the financing and have them on a service RO (repair order) and pay for them separately. If I can't install the accessory myself, I will have a Toyota Master Tech that I am friends with, install it at his house for me for $20/hour.
Tip: Make friends with dealer mechanic that you
trust. Find one that has been at the dealership for a long time. Some of the shorter term ones, will have the greater chance of being "shady". Many of them that I work with do "side work" for much less. Out of 14-15 techs at my dealership, there are probably 3-4 that I trust to do side work for me. I try to DIY all I can, but some stuff is over my head or I just don't have the time/tools/equipment/patience to do it.
:happy0180: Let us all be thankful that Toyota/Subaru/Scion have even given a car like this to enjoy no matter what "flavor" is your choice.
:paddl e:
Yeah, I'm excited to own one of these.
Ruskymx