cars.com editor refuses to buy FR-S because of scion badge

[continuecrushing]

I put a crown on my head once, to get more respect as a King.



Nobody knew that I was actually the Jester.

[MeehowsBRZ]

Originally Posted by 86868686

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...i-want-to.html

This probably has been mentioned before. Obviously Subaru has more heritage and maturity to its name. But I almost agree with him. I'm in my thirties now and I to almost feel embarrassed about driving a Scion. Even though I still love my car and the BRZ front end is ugly IMHO, I feel I would get a lot more respect simply by bearing the Plieades cluster. Oh well, I'm not going to trade in for a BRZ simply because of the name. BRZ owners be grateful you dont have this problem. I dont know where I'm going with this post. They should have made it a Toyota (in north america) I guess!?

Well I'm going to have to tell you to grow up and act your age. Because the whole "embarrassed by the brand" stuff is high school kid levels of stupid.

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by stugray

This is about more than just the badge.
When you buy this car you are buying into a multi-year commitment via the warranty.

Reputation counts for more than just the machinery.

In the US who would you trust more for a piece of machinery: John Deere, Caterpillar or Kubota?

90% of the people in the US just answered "John Deere or Caterpillar".
Why? Quality? No - it's brand name.

Komatsu!

[Dadhawk]

Here's why it doesn't bother me...

Toyota and to a lesser extent Subaru are no more "prestigious" a badge than Scion.

85% of the general population when you say "I drive a Toyota" they think Camry/Corolla/truck. If you say Subaru, they think Outback.
Sure, "car guys and gals" might think MR2/Supra or WRX, but that's about it.
In the end its a car from a well-respected company with a decent reputation. If it was the exact same car and it had a GM/Ford/Chrysler badge on it, I would have bought it.

I'm going to guess that the ones of you that really care about the badge wouldn't have given it a second look if it was NOT a Toyota/Subaru car.

All that's OK, we all buy cars for different reasons, but badging has never been a big deciding factor for me. Heck, right now I own a Ford, a Chevy, a Honda and a Scion. I'm just all over the map.

[suaveflooder]

I actually don't mind it. I love the "WOW! THAT CAR LOOKS AWESOME! WHAT IS IT?!" I love their reaction when I tell them it's a scion. "REALLY? THAT is a Scion?!" Best was that reaction from a cop that just pulled me over for my tint. He still gave me the ticket, but metioned over and over again how good the car looked and that he was shocked it was a scion

[ZionsWrath]

How can you take that guy seriously?

First he says he got a racing exhaust from TRD

Then he says he would go to bestbuy to upgrade his system

I couldn't even read the rest lol

[Code:Red]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Here's why it doesn't bother me...

Toyota and to a lesser extent Subaru are no more "prestigious" a badge than Scion.

85% of the general population when you say "I drive a Toyota" they think Camry/Corolla/truck. If you say Subaru, they think Outback.
Sure, "car guys and gals" might think MR2/Supra or WRX, but that's about it.
In the end its a car from a well-respected company with a decent reputation. If it was the exact same car and it had a GM/Ford/Chrysler badge on it, I would have bought it.

I'm going to guess that the ones of you that really care about the badge wouldn't have given it a second look if it was NOT a Toyota/Subaru car.

All that's OK, we all buy cars for different reasons, but badging has never been a big deciding factor for me. Heck, right now I own a Ford, a Chevy, a Honda and a Scion. I'm just all over the map.

Yeah, I didn't buy because of the badge either. At the time, I was deciding on "that different car"...something else other than what's out there...something unlike any car I've driven. Enter the FR-S/BRZ. I just happen to go Scion's way since I tried them first. It was a rolling stone after that. After 1 1/2 yrs and almost 12,000 mi, I love/still love my car.

[Acree]

Originally Posted by jvincent

Wut?

It's true what they say, you can't fix stupid.

EDIT: I'm 48 and have no problems driving a Scion.

Really? You're 48 and that's the best word you come up with to describe his post?

Not emotion, preference, stigma, etc? But stupid...? Lol... pot. kettle.


To the OP, I'm right there with you. And that's why I bought a BRZ. Scion is a teenage brand. If they had badged it a Toyota and offered the top level trim, I would have bought that over a Subaru.

[Davey]

Originally Posted by Acree

Really? You're 48 and that's the best word you come up with to describe his post?

Not emotion, preference, stigma, etc? But stupid...? Lol... pot. kettle.


To the OP, I'm right there with you. And that's why I bought a BRZ. Scion is a teenage brand. If they had badged it a Toyota and offered the top level trim, I would have bought that over a Subaru.

Nah, he's right. Really, sometimes the simplest solution is the best.

"Does this make me jaded? Narcissistic? I don't know." he asks, and my answer is "No, it makes you an idiot who cares too much what other people think."

If you really like the FR-S better, and bought a BRZ because "OMG THE BRAAAAAAND" you are nothing but a spineless sheep, and it's not as if Subaru really says much as far as prestige anyway.

I bought the BRZ for the headlights. True story. Oh also I like the front end better.

[AVodka14]

Originally Posted by Roadcone

I have toyota badges on mine...

Toyota is dumb to even have the scion brand here. the GT86 name would be reinstated some sort of respect into the toyota name that has been gone since the 90s...

Yeah. I really have no idea why Toyota could not have made this car the same way they do in Europe/Japan. Offer different options/models (GT/GTS). It's that simple. Toyota screwed the pooch on this one. The tC, xB, and xA are legitimately a Scion. How in the fuck can you rationalize the FRS being a tribute to the AE86? I know they are reaching out to the younger population. Give me a break...we're talking an extra 3-4k similar to a limited BRZ/GTS 86 if you want all the goodies.

I have no qualms with Scion but I am indeed swapping badges to Toyota. Scion does not represent the heritage of the AE86. Scion means 'heir' so I don't see where this fits. If they make a Scion Supra then I will be damned.

I like my FRS for all the right reasons otherwise I would have bough the BRZ if I cared about prestige/status. The whole Scion branding for this car just baffles me.

[suaveflooder]

Originally Posted by AVodka14

Yeah. I really have no idea why Toyota could not have made this car the same way they do in Europe/Japan. Offer different options/models (GT/GTS). It's that simple. Toyota screwed the pooch on this one. The tC, xB, and xA are legitimately a Scion. How in the fuck can you rationalize the FRS being a tribute to the AE86? I know they are reaching out to the younger population. Give me a break...we're talking an extra 3-4k similar to a limited BRZ/GTS 86 if you want all the goodies.

I have no qualms with Scion but I am indeed swapping badges to Toyota. Scion does not represent the heritage of the AE86. Scion means 'heir' so I don't see where this fits. If they make a Scion Supra then I will be damned.

I like my FRS for all the right reasons otherwise I would have bough the BRZ if I cared about prestige/status. The whole Scion branding for this car just baffles me.

I've always heard from the beginning that the FRS was Scion's "Swan Song." Based on Scion's sales, I wouldn't think that idea is too far fetched. With the popularity of the twins, I wouldn't doubt that if Scion goes, we will have a "Toyota FRS"

[calmtigers]

Honestly, the only thing I dislike is the fact they dropped "GT86" just sounds cooler than FRS..

Other than that I could care less, you'd be surprised how many older people buy Scion xB and love the shit out of them.

[mothespaceman]

I'm pretty inclined to agree that the Scion badge / name can be a bit of a turn off. Being psuedo knowledgable about cars, I KNOW that they are Toyotas and I respect that brand very very much... but seeing so many teenie boppers, swag hat kids etc... driving Scions makes me not want to be associated as such.

Its completely superficial, but sometimes those things can certainly play into your perception. I think that this car is fantastic, and that it should have been sold as a Toyota in North America.

[thill]

Would Toyota have sold more FR-S's if it did not have the "Scion" badge and no haggle policy?

My opinion is that sales would be better if it was a Toyota and sold the same way every other Toyota was sold...