Monogram Series FR-S Orders

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by subiestyle

So I called up a dealer and he said all scion cars need to be sold at msrp. Not above or below.

Is this right?

No.

But, I can readily believe that even Scion dealership personnel fail to correctly understand the Scion policies.

I know they have to sell it at whatever sticker price is on the car,

"Sticker price" is customarily interpreted to mean the manufacturer's price sticker, i.e. MSRP.

Dealers of all makes regularly put "stickers" on their cars that "adjust" the price -- upwards, of course.

The Scion policy requires dealers to clearly mark their cars with their selling price, whatever that may be today. (Tomorrow could/will be different.) Scion requires dealers to "stick" to their "sticker price," on that day. Hence the "no negotiating necessary" claim.

They tell us that this is good for us.

But, I LIKE negotiating lower prices, and I am willing and prepared to take as much time as is needed to negotiate a satisfactory price.

The way to circumvent this dilemma is to bring a trade to the table. You can negotiate that all day long, even to well over it's real world market value, in which case you have effectively negotiated a discount on the new car. Right?

However, in the case of the limited production (I think?) Monogram Series, I would be surprised if anyone negotiates a good deal. It might even be difficult to find a dealer willing to part with one for "just" msrp.

When I bought my twin shortly after the first ones shipped to America, I found only one dealer willing to sell one to me for msrp. All the others had additional dealer markup (ADM) attached, often a lot.

In time, if the Monogram Series languishes on dealer lots, unsold, the price will naturally come down.

As a rule, "Early Adopters" will pay a premium for the privilege.

but I didn't know the sticker price had to be msrp.

Your implicit assumption is correct -- the selling price does NOT have to be msrp. A Scion dealer is free to post whatever price she likes, including a price well under msrp, under invoice, even! Early sales in California last year saw dealers adding $5000 and up ADM. It's capitalism, it's America, and it's a free country. She is only required to stand by that price for that day. Tomorrow is a new day. If buyers stay away in the droves at her price for today, well then she may decide to offer her product at a more agreeable price tomorrow. You never know your luck, right?

The Scion pricing policy is frequently misunderstood.

I hope this has been helpful and informative to you and to others.

[funwheeldrive]

Originally Posted by subiestyle

have you guys been able to activate and deactivate the alarm system?

i've tried several times and followed the instructions, but i can't get it activate or deactivate.

I activated mine today. No issues.

[MonoRaven]

Originally Posted by Porsche

However, in the case of the limited production (I think?) Monogram Series, I would be surprised if anyone negotiates a good deal. It might even be difficult to find a dealer willing to part with one for "just" msrp.

When I picked up mine the sticker matched what was advertised on scion.com, $27,400 + $895 destination fee. The dealer was not willing to deal and told me that price wasn't MSRP until I showed it to him on the website, then he agreed. I brought a trade and they weren't going to deal on it either. They low balled me pretty bad but after going back and forth for an hour I got them up to something agreeable. I still wanted more for the trade and know I could have got it if I had sold it myself but the time it would have taken me to try and sell it wasn't worth it, time is money right? I think they knew that car wouldn't sit on the lot very long so they didn't have to make me a great deal to get rid of it. All in all I'm OK with the deal I got, I think it was fair or I wouldn't have agreed to it.

[subiestyle]

Originally Posted by Porsche

No.

But, I can readily believe that even Scion dealership personnel fail to correctly understand the Scion policies.

"Sticker price" is customarily interpreted to mean the manufacturer's price sticker, i.e. MSRP.

Dealers of all makes regularly put "stickers" on their cars that "adjust" the price -- upwards, of course.

The Scion policy requires dealers to clearly mark their cars with their selling price, whatever that may be today. (Tomorrow could/will be different.) Scion requires dealers to "stick" to their "sticker price," on that day. Hence the "no negotiating necessary" claim.

They tell us that this is good for us.

But, I LIKE negotiating lower prices, and I am willing and prepared to take as much time as is needed to negotiate a satisfactory price.

The way to circumvent this dilemma is to bring a trade to the table. You can negotiate that all day long, even to well over it's real world market value, in which case you have effectively negotiated a discount on the new car. Right?

However, in the case of the limited production (I think?) Monogram Series, I would be surprised if anyone negotiates a good deal. It might even be difficult to find a dealer willing to part with one for "just" msrp.

When I bought my twin shortly after the first ones shipped to America, I found only one dealer willing to sell one to me for msrp. All the others had additional dealer markup (ADM) attached, often a lot.

In time, if the Monogram Series languishes on dealer lots, unsold, the price will naturally come down.

As a rule, "Early Adopters" will pay a premium for the privilege.

Your implicit assumption is correct -- the selling price does NOT have to be msrp. A Scion dealer is free to post whatever price she likes, including a price well under msrp, under invoice, even! Early sales in California last year saw dealers adding $5000 and up ADM. It's capitalism, it's America, and it's a free country. She is only required to stand by that price for that day. Tomorrow is a new day. If buyers stay away in the droves at her price for today, well then she may decide to offer her product at a more agreeable price tomorrow. You never know your luck, right?

The Scion pricing policy is frequently misunderstood.

I hope this has been helpful and informative to you and to others.

Strange. All the monogram cars I saw were MSRP. The "dealer markups" are from the actual options that come with the car.

[Xerious]

Just picked up a 2014 Monogram FR-S in Asphalt today... Love the HID, LED running lights, upgraded interior, wife loves the heated seats and dual climate..

[subiestyle]

anyone know what this clear "sticker" on the side of the door?

it looks like the scion applique. it feels too thick to be the new car wrapping.

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by subiestyle

Strange. All the monogram cars I saw were MSRP. The "dealer markups" are from the actual options that come with the car.

Originally Posted by subiestyle

So I can get the white monogram for $1,600 over the white BRZ Limited.

The monogram has the installed fog lights which add ~$500 over the cost of the car.

Is this "monogram" series worth it to you? Just curious why you think it is or isn't worth it.

I assume you're implying the cars are equivalent, since the BRZ has fog lights included on the Limited model.

How did the white FR-S Monogram come to cost $1600 over the white BRZ Limited if both are selling at MSRP?

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by subiestyle

anyone know what this clear "sticker" on the side of the door?

it looks like the scion applique. it feels too thick to be the new car wrapping.

My understanding is that it is a kick guard to protect the paint along that edge that is vulnerable to being struck by shoes.

I've had that on many new cars.

Some people have noted that it begins to yellow with age. Whether that's noticeable probably depends on the color of the car. My car's over 1.5 years old, silver, and I haven't noticed any yellowing, yet.

But, I no longer notice that plastic either, just as I no longer notice the front grill shape, which I originally did not like as much as the FR-S. They both look good, and I no longer notice it.

Is this your first new car?

[subiestyle]

Originally Posted by Porsche

I assume you're implying the cars are equivalent, since the BRZ has fog lights included on the Limited model.

How did the white FR-S Monogram come to cost $1600 over the white BRZ Limited if both are selling at MSRP?

No, the Scion was the car that had to be sold at MSRP. I had a true price quote on the BRZ Limited for $27,400. The FRS was 29,040 for the same specs (includes the fog lights)

So basically $1600 more for the same car. But I liked the FRS headlights, front-end, spoiler, extra year of maint. (subaru has first 1-2 oil change for free, I believe)

[subiestyle]

Originally Posted by Porsche

My understanding is that it is a kick guard to protect the paint along that edge that is vulnerable to being struck by shoes.

I've had that on many new cars.

Some people have noted that it begins to yellow with age. Whether that's noticeable probably depends on the color of the car. My car's over 1.5 years old, silver, and I haven't noticed any yellowing, yet.

But, I no longer notice that plastic either, just as I no longer notice the front grill shape, which I originally did not like as much as the FR-S. They both look good, and I no longer notice it.

Is this your first new car?

Yeah, my first new car. And my first MT car too. I had a roommate that owned a MT car, and we had tandem parking so I had plenty of practice.

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by subiestyle

No, the Scion was the car that had to be sold at MSRP. I had a true price quote on the BRZ Limited for $27,400. The FRS was 29,040 for the same specs (includes the fog lights)

So basically $1600 more for the same car. But I liked the FRS headlights, front-end, spoiler, extra year of maint. (subaru has first 1-2 oil change for free, I believe)

What year was the BRZ, a 2013?

And dealers in San Francisco are NOT adding markups to this limited edition (only 2000 to be built) Monogram?

If so ... what a difference a year makes!


Oh, and the Monogram does not HAVE to be sold at MSRP. Each dealer is free to set whatever price she thinks the market will bear. But, I'm surprised to see that the Monogram is being sold at "only" msrp, especially if they're all initially pre-sold. And especially in SF, California!

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by subiestyle

Yeah, my first new car. And my first MT car too. I had a roommate that owned a MT car, and we had tandem parking so I had plenty of practice.

Well, congratulations on your first new car!

[Rakshaa]

Originally Posted by Jegan_V

Sadly nothing on my end. I'll be car-less in on Tuesday as my car should be sold by then, so at this rate the sooner the better...

Mine's in Vancouver now at port. Same ETA of March 16.

[subiestyle]

Originally Posted by Porsche

What year was the BRZ, a 2013?

And dealers in San Francisco are NOT adding markups to this limited edition (only 2000 to be built) Monogram?

If so ... what a difference a year makes!


Oh, and the Monogram does not HAVE to be sold at MSRP. Each dealer is free to set whatever price she thinks the market will bear. But, I'm surprised to see that the Monogram is being sold at "only" msrp, especially if they're all initially pre-sold. And especially in SF, California!

The BRZ quote was for 2014 models. The dealer never put the price down in writing. The quote was from trueprice. I called the dealer up and asked about the car and asked them if they would honor the quote. The person said yes, but said they had no white ones in stock. It was going to be at least 4 more weeks (most likely longer).

Maybe they lied and would've switched the price on me once I came in and they had the car.

But from my perspective, I was leaning towards the monogram and was only really considering the BRZ for the cost savings. So that is why I made the decision with the $1600 difference. If I choose the monogram even with the best case scenario of $1600 price over the BRZ, then the monogram it is.

Every dealer in the bay area I called that had the monogram (not many) were selling at MSRP. They each had different prices, but the breakdown of that price were from silly options (sticker on the bumper, plastic on the front, etc.). You had to take the time to get that info out of them because most of them were clueless. One dealer would say it has no options when in fact it had the sticker, etc.

SF toyota had a red monogram manual at msrp. Melody toyota had a silver auto monogram at msrp. Give them a quick phone call and ask about the price. These were on the lot 2 weeks ago still unsold.