BOYCOTT Scion's FIRST 86 Sign-Up List

[coyote]

Put my entry in.

Fingers crossed.

[switchlanez]

^Doesn't it start January 12, 12pm?

Originally Posted by tranzformer

Cash is great. But with auto loans so low you might be better of getting a loan and using your savings to invest/pay off the loan over time.

Back in September I had a loan check ready for the full amount of my current car. Shopped around for short term investments and found its dividends could not offset the auto loan interest rates. Not even break even. I paid off the entire loan amount within a week.

[Capt Canuck]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

Guys, Toyota executes business on a per quarter basis (at least when I used to work for Toyota in '06). Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4. A rough forecast for the *next* quarter is announced to execs around the start of the current quarter. A solid forecast reaches the whole company (internally) towards the end of the current quarter. Let's use our predicament as an example.

Right now we're at Q1 start (Jan-Mar). Jack Hollis and co. recently saw the Q2 (Spring launch) rough forecast and decided,

"These numbers don't look so hot compared to Japan. We can't announce the price like they did yet. How can we nudge up the demand? Ah yes: the First 86 ploy."

First 86 is timed perfectly so business analysts can get their numbers in by the due date (March, Q1 end). Q2 prices can't be based on Q4 2011. Demand garnered during Q1 will *heavily* factor into the Q2 price. Granted, there might be very little change between Q4 and Q1, but Q1 is what matters (bottom line) for Q2 predictions. Simple logic.

This is the business model I've been exposed to in all companies I've worked for in the corporate world. If someone can refute this system with fact, please do.

So your speculation requires rebuttal with fact?
You are implying and speculating that Q2 forecasts were seen last week and that directly led to the first 86 marketing exercise announced today?

Typically a marketing campaign conceived over a weekend is in response to something like a surprise M&A or some other unforeseen event that a company feels compelled to respond to, not just some humming and hawing over internal forecasts. This first86 - as I opined earlier looks like nothing more than a simple, low-cost, marketing initiative that I am sure is all part of Toyota's grand master plan for getting folks interested in the car.

Just an IMHO, but it's sure as valid/worthless as your IMHO :-)

[switchlanez]

^I don't care to see my speculation refuted. First 86 and other alternative plans were probably brainstormed ahead of time but once the Q2 rough forecast came in they might have decided First 86 to be most optimal. The fact business decisions like these are made on a quarter system and First 86 falling in line for Q2 forecasts is what I want to see refuted.

[switchlanez]

QFT from another thread:

Originally Posted by Spaceywilly

They want to build maximum hype and get people emotionally committed to buying it. Once a person is emotionally committed to buying something they are willing to spend more for it than they would if they were just presented with a bunch of facts. It's also why the focus has been on the concepts and race cars and not the actual production car and specs. Once they put a price on it it becomes a logical and not emotional decision, and car sales is all about getting someone to buy something based on emotion instead of logic. They want the price to be last thing you think about.

Hence "First 86" is announced before price is announced. People psychologically commit to buying it before they know its price! I like how in these past months Toyota has leaked facts about what we can expect to see on the production version. Compare that to what info Scion has given us on the actual product we will drive home. Which marketing strategy cares more for its following enthusiasts? Which marketing strategy do we have the power to discourage and what action we can take to do so?

[cossey]

I suspect the pricing strategy has more to do with the Dollar vs Yen. Over the last 5 years the Dollar has gone from buying Y120 to Y76. That is enough to turn a $21k car into a $33k.

Toyota/Scion are leaving at as late as possible to gauge demand and to see for any more currency changes to try at set a price where it will sell the target amount but still bring a profit. The First 86 program helps with this.

[switchlanez]

^Good point. The yen is hurting and Scion might use First 86 to justify shipping more supply here to meet (hopefully increased) demand and drive price down? Ahhh I dunno I got a D in macroeconomics.

But if US demand goes up this quarter and supply is already locked from Japan's end, we'll be royally screwed on price. (Which hasn't been set!)

[Stigmaru]

Buy from Subaru and skip all this bs

[MRZ415]

Sounds like a scary idea...
If I sign up .. I select .. I would need HID and touch screen (( ADD ONs))
while its standard on the BRZ ... the biggest ???? will be initial price..

and what kinda free swag ??? free Scion Racing hat ?
If its a full TRD body kit for the first 86 then i'll bite.

[Levi]

Though decisions. Not knowing the price I did not make any deposite or pre-order. I even do not yet know if I want the Toyota or the Suabru, it will depend on performance parts and bodykits and then if they are the same it will be the price, and I'll take the cheapest one.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

QFT from another thread:


Hence "First 86" is announced before price is announced. People psychologically commit to buying it before they know its price! I like how in these past months Toyota has leaked facts about what we can expect to see on the production version. Compare that to what info Scion has given us on the actual product we will drive home. Which marketing strategy cares more for its following enthusiasts? Which marketing strategy do we have the power to discourage and what action we can take to do so?

Not really. There is no commitment here. You end up not liking the car, it's price, it's options, etc you simply cancel your request.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by MRZ415

Sounds like a scary idea...
If I sign up .. I select .. I would need HID and touch screen (( ADD ONs))
while its standard on the BRZ ... the biggest ???? will be initial price..

and what kinda free swag ??? free Scion Racing hat ?
If its a full TRD body kit for the first 86 then i'll bite.

What exactly is scary about it?

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Levi

Though decisions. Not knowing the price I did not make any deposite or pre-order. I even do not yet know if I want the Toyota or the Suabru, it will depend on performance parts and bodykits and then if they are the same it will be the price, and I'll take the cheapest one.

Is Toyota Europe doing the first 86 also? If not it's not really a decision for you to make at all

[Quentin]

Originally Posted by cassidy0998

I agree.

This was a dumb idea. They should've just given 86 of them away.

I'm not signing up to win a car that I don't know the price of.

FR-S invoice cost: ~$20,000
No. of FR-Ss given away per your suggestion: 86
Total value given away by Scion: $1,720,000

You really think that Scion should have given away $1.7M of product?

I think most of you are being entirely too dramatic. They have an 8 hr period where you can sign up to take early delivery and get some special treatment with your purchase. There is a whole list of FAQs that cover every question that has been brought up on this thread. No one is forcing you to sign up and you'd be kind of an idiot to sign up if you aren't ready to buy when it comes out.