$500 Deposit = First on List

[dsgerbc]

Originally Posted by Subaruwrxfan

I wouldn't be so hopeful. Japan is already sold out, and honestly I think they're probably more focused on building JDM cars than they are USDM cars...

I think the general premise is that Japanese car companies value their export markets slightly higher than domestic market. In particular with this car - who knows.

[Mango22]

Originally Posted by Subaruwrxfan

I wouldn't be so hopeful. Japan is already sold out, and honestly I think they're probably more focused on building JDM cars than they are USDM cars...just look at how much marketing they're doing over there vs. over here. They're telling the Japanese guys that if they didn't pre-order yet, they won't get their cars till August already. And this is February. I'm just happy they're not delaying the launch by 6 months here considering the demand in Japan.

If they do end up delaying the launch in the USDM they will lose a substantial amount of comitted buyers that would resent Toyota/Scion's choice to marginalize the US fan base. I for one would be one of them and I assume there would be many others feeling the same. I am amazed how little Scion has promoted the current showing/pre-launch in the USDM. No wonder they can't get this brand off the ground...Past Product
being the other issue...
I am a Toyota buying guy, (I currently have 2 Highlanders), but I will certainly go to Subaru for this purchase. I also find Scion's Dumbing down version (compared to the JDM version) to be a let down. Damn you Scion for missing an opportunity to really establish this brand stateside. Boneheads!
I'll get off my soap box now...

[tachi1247]

Originally Posted by Subaruwrxfan

I wouldn't be so hopeful. Japan is already sold out, and honestly I think they're probably more focused on building JDM cars than they are USDM cars...just look at how much marketing they're doing over there vs. over here. They're telling the Japanese guys that if they didn't pre-order yet, they won't get their cars till August already. And this is February. I'm just happy they're not delaying the launch by 6 months here considering the demand in Japan.

I'm sure that like almost every other sports car produced out there, the US market will be the largest market in terms of vehicle sales. If a car fails in the US market it is essentially doomed.

[Mango22]

Originally Posted by tachi1247

I'm sure that like almost every other sports car produced out there, the US market will be the largest market in terms of vehicle sales. If a car fails in the US market it is essentially doomed.

^ what he said...

[tachi1247]

Originally Posted by Mango22

If they do end up delaying the launch in the USDM they will lose a substantial amount of comitted buyers that would resent Toyota/Scion's choice to marginalize the US fan base. I for one would be one of them and I assume there would be many others feeling the same. I am amazed how little Scion has promoted the current showing/pre-launch in the USDM. No wonder they can't get this brand off the ground...Past Product
being the other issue...
I am a Toyota buying guy, (I currently have 2 Highlanders), but I will certainly go to Subaru for this purchase. I also find Scion's Dumbing down version (compared to the JDM version) to be a let down. Damn you Scion for missing an opportunity to really establish this brand stateside. Boneheads!
I'll get off my soap box now...

There isn't much need to promote the car right now. There aren't going to be enough of them on launch to fulfill the demand. Give it 6 or 8 months and then you will start seeing ads. Nothing irritates people more than seeing something advertised on TV and walking into a dealership and finding out you can't get one for 6 months.

Also, if they delay the US launch for Toyota you can be it will be delayed for Subaru too so you won't have any other choices. Subaru is making all of these cars regardless of which market they are for or what badge ends up on the front end. Toyota supplied the development cash and did the styling, subaru did the chasis and has the available plant capacity to build it.

[Zaku]

Originally Posted by Mango22

If they do end up delaying the launch in the USDM they will lose a substantial amount of comitted buyers that would resent Toyota/Scion's choice to marginalize the US fan base. I for one would be one of them and I assume there would be many others feeling the same. I am amazed how little Scion has promoted the current showing/pre-launch in the USDM. No wonder they can't get this brand off the ground...Past Product
being the other issue...
I am a Toyota buying guy, (I currently have 2 Highlanders), but I will certainly go to Subaru for this purchase. I also find Scion's Dumbing down version (compared to the JDM version) to be a let down. Damn you Scion for missing an opportunity to really establish this brand stateside. Boneheads!
I'll get off my soap box now...

hmmm you have some good points, but to bring the fully loaded 86 here would interfere with the Sports Market that Subaru had established. Remember Toyota went to Subaru to make a sports car, meaning that people had forgotten and associated Toyota with Refrigerators cars. Scion needed something that will appeal to the mass and they needed it quick it also needed to be affordable and matches with their bussiness model. Now Imagine if they brought over a fully loaded 86 or even gave it options and different trims. The outcome is going to be bad because they could make more of that money as Toyota, they would be hurting Subaru, and having multiple trim level is agianst the Scion Model. Which in turns wouldn't help SCION,because if you offer it as a Toyota you're killing your own creation Scion.

So from a bigger picture, they made a good business decision to not compete with Subaru, and make the FRS a mix of G and GT trim of the Japanese Market. This way Toyota doesn't lose Scion and Subaru can square the market on the upper levels. FHI and Toyota just pretty much won on that, because even if you complain or whine or say anything about how dumb down the FRS is there's always going to be people that don't need that extra stuff that will buy the car anyways.

And it's not like I'm taking sides but I've seen first hand what thier parts factories look like in the flooded areas of Thailand, and in their own country. They lack the parts to mass produce so much, I don't think they'll delay the launch but I can't imagine they'll be pumping them out left and right. Also don't forget they're alot of band wagon jumpers but when the time comes to it, alot of people can not afford, or will not buy it after the test drive. many many reasons. Even just waiting some people might get sick of the wait and get something else, or something is annouched etc etc.

Look at a bigger picture

/Gets off the stage

[Enemies]

Also, since Toyota owns part of Subaru it wouldn't really make too much sense to release the same options on the FR-S that the BRZ is going to have.

[Subaruwrxfan]

Originally Posted by tachi1247

I'm sure that like almost every other sports car produced out there, the US market will be the largest market in terms of vehicle sales. If a car fails in the US market it is essentially doomed.

I would disagree. There were many successful niche cars that the U.S. never got, like all of the Skylines and GT-Rs up until the recent one. Subaru of America has a history of screwing people. Don't you see how often people are complaining that we don't get the spec c or S202/S203/S204 versions of the STI? We don't get half the cool options that Japan gets, like Recaros for example. If anybody is getting the short end of this stick, it will be the U.S. You can bet on that. They already are uncertain that the car will sell well here after the initial burst of enthusiasts. Everyone in America wants high horsepower stuff, look on any other forum and everybody is already saying the car doesn't have enough power. If Japan doesn't think we'll appreciate it, why make us the first priority?

Originally Posted by tachi1247

There isn't much need to promote the car right now. There aren't going to be enough of them on launch to fulfill the demand. Give it 6 or 8 months and then you will start seeing ads. Nothing irritates people more than seeing something advertised on TV and walking into a dealership and finding out you can't get one for 6 months.

Also, if they delay the US launch for Toyota you can be it will be delayed for Subaru too so you won't have any other choices. Subaru is making all of these cars regardless of which market they are for or what badge ends up on the front end. Toyota supplied the development cash and did the styling, subaru did the chasis and has the available plant capacity to build it.

Why are they promoting it so heavily in Japan then? It's to build hype. Almost every dealership in Japan has a BRZ sitting in it for people to check out. Pop stars are already featuring it in music videos, and there's already multiple commercials out for the car over there.

Obviously since both cars are being built in the same place, it's not just Subaru that will forget about us, Toyota will certainly do the same.

[tachi1247]

the skyline was a unique animal. your talking about an entire car. that is a big cost to bring it to the US for a small number of sales. we have the current version now once they decided they needed a halo car. the other cars are all specialty versions that wouldn't sell well here and probably wouldn't pass emission tests. plus nobody is going to pay $ 75k for a subaru in this country. just like people wouldn't pay $ 70k for a vw.

[BradBot]

I was very close to putting down a $500 check, which I was told they would cash, but after finding tons of stories online about people losing deposits I'm skeptical. If I put down $500 and then the car ends up costing more than I'm willing to pay I don't want to have to hassle to get my money back.

Also, like someone else already said, I feel like putting down a deposit reduces your ability to bargain.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by BradBot

I was very close to putting down a $500 check, which I was told they would cash, but after finding tons of stories online about people losing deposits I'm skeptical. If I put down $500 and then the car ends up costing more than I'm willing to pay I don't want to have to hassle to get my money back.

Also, like someone else already said, I feel like putting down a deposit reduces your ability to bargain.

A brand new car with high demand and limited supply already reduces your ability to bargain so bargain before putting the money down and make sure you get a statement in writing that the deposit is refundable.

[BradBot]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

A brand new car with high demand and limited supply already reduces your ability to bargain so bargain before putting the money down and make sure you get a statement in writing that the deposit is refundable.

Do you think emails between myself and the internet sales manager qualify as a statement in writing? Probably not.

[Longhorn248]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

A brand new car with high demand and limited supply already reduces your ability to bargain so bargain before putting the money down and make sure you get a statement in writing that the deposit is refundable.

We're already at a disadvantage because the dealers know we obviously want the car. I don't think putting down the deposit puts you in any worse shape than simply making inquiring calls or sending e-mails. IMO the best thing to do is try and get in with multiple dealers (not necessarily put down multiple deposits) so you at least have some fall back options.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by BradBot

Do you think emails between myself and the internet sales manager qualify as a statement in writing? Probably not.

I'm not a lawyer so I can't answer that with any confidence.

I'd guess something typed out stating the facts and that it was refundable and signed by the sales manager (not a sales man) and you would be though.

Also check your state laws, in various states it's illegal to have a non-refundable deposit.