Scion USA vs Scion Canada

[Frost]

Hey guys, been lurking on the forums for a while now trying to see what the first year production FRS/BRZ cars look like and whilst reading up on people's experiences with Scion dealerships, it sounds like a good chunk of Scion dealerships are downright shady when it comes to their Service department. I understand that this is NOT a good place to sample data like that but I am just surprised at the complaints.

Here in Canada, Scion is mated with Toyota dealerships so we don't have standalone Scion dealerships like you do in the US. So the same guy that our family has been buying Toyotas from (4 Corollas in 7 years!) will also be the same guy selling us a FRS (if I pull the trigger) - same applies for the dealership mechanics and parts department. The reason for this is that our Lexus dealerships were always mated with Toyota dealerships but when Toyota Canada finally hit the critical mass for Lexus customer base, they split Lexus off on their own and pushed in the Scion dealerships in their spot.

Is the Scion "experience" in the US that much different than in Canada? In Canada, it is essentially buying a Toyota with a funny looking badge. It isn't really that special.

MODS: The reason I posted this here under general Scion thread is because I would like more input from the US based Scion customers than in Canada.

[Mr.Jay]

Originally Posted by Frost

Hey guys, been lurking on the forums for a while now trying to see what the first year production FRS/BRZ cars look like and whilst reading up on people's experiences with Scion dealerships, it sounds like a good chunk of Scion dealerships are downright shady when it comes to their Service department. I understand that this is NOT a good place to sample data like that but I am just surprised at the complaints.

Here in Canada, Scion is mated with Toyota dealerships so we don't have standalone Scion dealerships like you do in the US. So the same guy that our family has been buying Toyotas from (4 Corollas in 7 years!) will also be the same guy selling us a FRS (if I pull the trigger) - same applies for the dealership mechanics and parts department. The reason for this is that our Lexus dealerships were always mated with Toyota dealerships but when Toyota Canada finally hit the critical mass for Lexus customer base, they split Lexus off on their own and pushed in the Scion dealerships in their spot.

Is the Scion "experience" in the US that much different than in Canada? In Canada, it is essentially buying a Toyota with a funny looking badge. It isn't really that special.

MODS: The reason I posted this here under general Scion thread is because I would like more input from the US based Scion customers than in Canada.

for sure

they got 2 years free service as well as events hosted by Scion

we got.... nothing

[iketeru]

I went to the same dealer for our Corolla and FR-S. the Scion setup was just in a corner of the dealership, worked with the same exact sales person for both cars. so it was pretty much the same experience for me!

[blackraven1425]

I don't know about elsewhere in the US, but I've never seen a standalone Scion dealer. They're all bundled with a Toyota dealership.

[Ponwh]

First off, I would like to say that not every dealership is a standalone Scion dealership in the USA. The one I go to closest to me is the same as the ones you go to; where scion is mixed in with toyota. Aside from that, I highly doubt standalone scion dealerships is that much different from mixed ones.

[ahquit]

I believe another difference is that there is no "pure pricing" in Canada Scion dealerships. In other words you can get below MSRP in Canada, but I understand there's no negotiation of MSRP in the US.

[calis5nest]

Havent seen a standalone Scion dealership around here, same people that do the service for the toyota do it for the scion as well at least to the ones I've been to

[whaap]

The dealership I bought my FR-S from was a Toyota-Scion dealership. The dealership that services my car here at home is also a Toyota-Scion dealership. I wasn't aware there were stand alone Scion dealerships but honestly before the FR-S I never cared to look.

[Burrcold]

A stand alone Scion dealership would be a pretty sad sight. 5 models sitting in the showroom...all looking the same. Well I guess that's where Scion shines though, is that they would have multiples of the same models, but with various dealer added options on each.

[civicdrivr]

Ive never seen a stand alone Scion dealer here either. Its always a Toyota/Scion dealer.

[Shagaliscious]

I bought my FR-S from a Toyota/Scion dealership. I've also never seen just a Scion dealership. It's always Toyota/Scion.

[Sevs753]

There are no standalone Scion dealers. They're always a part of a Toyota dealer.

Source: Worked on a project at work for Toyota involving all the dealers.

Edit: Something to consider. The car's that Scion sells aren't very expensive and they're not a high volume brand so they can't afford to be a standalone dealer like other low volume brands can.

[wbradley]

Considering Scion just takes a little corner of the Toyota dealer I bought from, it's hard to imagine them stand alone. It would look too small, losing the advantage of the affiliation with Toyota. Doubtful there are any Scion only showrooms.

It seems to be a franchise that was available for the bigger Toyota dealers in a given region.

[Dake]

Yep, no standalone Scion dealerships that I'm aware of. The service department are all the same guys working on the cars. The only difference on that end is you can't use Toyota service coupons for your Scion.

As for the individual sales people, there are some who haven't earned the "right" to sell from both lots, I have seen that. Likewise the used guys can't sell new cars, but some of the new car guys can sell off the used lot.