- “This isn’t a step backward for Scion; it’s a leap forward for Toyota. Scion has allowed us to fast track ideas that would have been challenging to test through the Toyota network,” said Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota Motor North America. “We could not have achieved the success we have had without the incredible support of Scion’s customers, dealers and team members, so supporting them throughout this transition process will be one of our top priorities.”
I actually believe that bit of corporate spin. This doesn't feel like a Pontiac or Oldsmobile type killing. But maybe that's because I like Scion but don't like Pontiac or Oldsmobile. I am surprised by the death of the tC, though. I thought it was a solid, lower cost sportier car.“This isn’t a step backward for Scion; it’s a leap forward for Toyota."
Yeah, I think because Toyota is just going to rebadge the cars under their native marque, it doesn't feel like as dramatic of a change. The tC had a pretty good run though. Just a bit over a decade. The Scion iM is replacing it. Now that Scion is getting blended back into Toyota, I wonder if they'll keep the iM badge or if they'll give it'll be named after the Corolla, which it's based on, or something completely different so as not to confuse people. Maybe Corolla Hatch?
Corolla hatch? I'll have to add the iM or whatever it becomes to my list of "maybe this is what I'll buy next." I don't think the iM looks nearly as cool as the tC, but maybe they figure the iM can capture the budget hatch people and the FR-S the two door coupe people. There's a reason I'm looking at things like the iM: the practicality of my Civic coupe is getting lower as I get older, though it had a good run. It's time I get something with four doors. But the guy that parks next to me brought home a Camaro last week. I'm not even a fan of the Camaro and I'm still really jealous.
Actually, after looking it up on Wikipedia, it appears I am mistaken. It's based of the Toyota Auris, which shares the same platform as the Corolla. Still though, it's probably a car worth looking into. If I were to give some unsolicited advice, I'd say when you're car shopping, kind of play the field. I test drove over 20 cars before settling on the FR-S. I tried everything from Kia Fortes to Buick Regals to Ford Mustangs to Subaru Outbacks. They all have their pluses and minuses and trying out a lot of cars really gives you a better understanding for what you will and won't appreciate. Also, it's perfectly healthy to be envious of the Camaro. It's pretty sweet.
I loved my xA. I had that little stinker for 11 years, not a single issue with it. I bought it with under 50 miles on it, totaled it out with almost 150K. If the new car fit my telescope, I'd have got another one. I almost bought an xB, but I liked the old one and not the new one as much. If the Subaru did not hit every metric i was looking for in a car, I'd have bought a Rav4 or something similar. Scion was supposed to be the cheap car that kids in school bought to get them into the Toyota dealerships. In my dealership, I would guess the median age of a Scion owner to be mid 40's and lots of old people driving xB's offsetting the younger people driving the tC's.
The story car guys tell is that Scion started out marketing to the youth really well, until the recession hit. All of the sudden, young people didn't have the money or the jobs, so Scion just kind of became a budget brand with a somewhat youthful feel. The tC and xB selling to the older crowd makes perfect sense though, even if Scion stayed as a youth oriented budget brand. I think the average age of new car buyers is currently floating somewhere in the 50s. That means the average buying age of all car brands is skewed upward. Even then though, the tC is a very practical coup and the xB is not only practical, but a car that is very easy to get in and out of. It's extremely accessible, which is something a lot of older car buyers look for.Scion was supposed to be the cheap car that kids in school bought to get them into the Toyota dealerships. In my dealership, I would guess the median age of a Scion owner to be mid 40's and lots of old people driving xB's offsetting the younger people driving the tC's.
Not to mention that car is MASSIVE inside. The xB feels bigger inside than a Ford Explorer. And that makes perfect sense. I paid roughly 11K for my Scion xA. The other cars in that price range sucked. As in Suuuuuuucked. The small Chevy felt like it had 50K miles in it, tops. The focus back then was a piece of garbage with a crappy transmission and tiny interior. When money is tight and you need transportation, yea go cheapish but get quality. Thanks for that insight I did not even make that connection.xB is not only practical, but a car that is very easy to get in and out of. It's extremely accessible, which is something a lot of older car buyers look for.
The story car guys tell is that Scion started out marketing to the youth really well, until the recession hit. All of the sudden, young people didn't have the money or the jobs, so Scion just kind of became a budget brand with a somewhat youthful feel.
Honestly, I kind of hope this boosts the FR-S sales a little bit. It's a legitimately good car, but some people want to poo-poo on it just for the badge. It's kind of dumb if you ask me. Everywhere else in the world it's badged as a Toyota. It's the exact same car. Then again, Americans are weird, where badging really seems to matter. No one would buy a luxury Toyota or Nissan. A Lexus or Infiniti though? It'll sell.
Yeah. A lot of this is hearsay on my part, but I've read on various forums and discussion boards that there's a few reasons behind that. I think I read somewhere that part of the deal is that even though the GT86, FR-S, and BRZ are all produced at the same Subaru plant, Toyota literally has 3 times the number of cars produced for them. I've also heard it's because there are more Toyota dealers in the states than Subaru dealers and that when the BRZ first came out, the Subaru dealerships didn't really push the cars all that well and salesmen themselves weren't all that enthusiastic about selling them. I don't know how accurate that all is, but I keep hearing it all over and over, so it might be pretty plausible. Toyota though, when this car first came out, wanted everyone buying an FR-S to get the star treatment. They wanted people to feel special for getting these cars. I found out I could have gotten a ton of cool, free stuff, from posters to keychains to stickers to hats. All I had to do was ask. Sadly, I didn't ask. Oh well. At least I have a nice car.
Subaru's biggest mistake was not producing the BR-Z in AWD. Not sure if they didn't want to cannibalize WRX sales or what, but the idea of Subaru producing an AWD 2-seater that wasn't fuggly was phenomenal. And then they came out with their first 2wd in like 10 years and everyone was all whaaaa...? and that was that for the BR-Z.
Yeah. I think there was legitimate concern on Subaru's part about the BRZ cutting into WRX sales. I think by not using forced induction or AWD, they could keep the car distinct enough to avoid that. I've never had the chance to drive a WRX/STI, but I can imagine that it handles quite differently. I have no interest in modding my car, but a lot of people say the FA20 in the BRZ/86 takes really well to forced induction, both Turbo and Super. I also hear that a decent header swap and a reflash is all you really need to really open the engine up and get that extra squeak of power everyone complains the car is lacking.
"Shitty." The word you're looking for is "shitty." I mean sure - the FT86 in RWD trim coming in at an S2000 price is a great pocket rocket for Toyota. But somebody needed to make a pocket rocket out of that thing. A supercharged, AWD BRZ would have been an amazing rig; who cares if it would have come in $10k more expensive? You wanna talk "halo car", that's where you start.I think by not using forced induction or AWD, they could keep the car distinct enough to avoid that.
Eh. I'm kind of partial to the argument that this kind of car is supposed to hearken back to cars like 240zs, 240sxs, and compete with cars like Miatas. It's a well balanced, easy to drive car. While I do agree it could use a tad more juice (more torque than juice actually, 160 lb/ft is kind of weak, even when you ignore that crazy torque dip), it's actually pretty great as it stands power wise. When I finally pulled the trigger on this car, I was down to three options that I was considering seriously. The Miata, the Mustang GT, and this. I decided against the Miata due to it being a convertible. While the Mustang and the FR-S aren't super practical, the Miata offers almost no compatibility at all. The reason I didn't go with the Mustang GT though? The Mustang GT was a bit too powerful. I get on that throttle and before I know it, I was already hitting the speed limit. Being so torquey too, I don't think it would handle winters too well either. The FR-S in comparison, handles great and is lively enough to have fun with, but at the same time you can hammer on the throttle a bit without fear of going out of control.
Sure - it's supposed to be a fun little rig. But as we all know, the whole point of fun little rigs is to make them terrifying. And granted - the miata has never been terrifying in any sort of factory trim. But then, the miata has always been a miata. Chick car, midlife crisis mobile, whatever you want to call it... it has never really been a track monster. I drive a bone-stock '95 stealth. Last night in the rain I totally broke it loose on the freeway just by stepping on it. To me, the stealth in stock trim isn't near to the level of fun I find appropriate and I've chewed up an S2000 or two and a few BMWs in that thing. But then, I grew up wrenching. I put a 350HP, 380 lb-ft 400 smallblock in a TR-7. Power should be used in moderation but power should be available for use. Test-drove a CTS coupe the other day. Meh. Didn't quite get there. But hey - AWD. So... do I plan on $22k or so for the AWD beastie for practicality purposes? Or $30k or so for the CTS-V? Can't really build any enthusiasm for either.
I feel you on that. Since the mid '90s HP numbers have been on an exciting climb and it's a lot of fun to watch. The Mustang/Camaro rivalry is a great example of corporate tit for tat. I think for me personally though, always wanting country driving over interstate driving, never wanting to track my car and unwilling to risk breaking the law, power comes secondary to handling. That said, I can't help but get excited when I see some of the monsters people bring in to cruise ins and car shows. Can't really build any enthusiasm for either. Shoot. If you're in no hurry, fool around with test drives of all sorts of cars. Why drop a brick of cash on something that you're just going to come to regret owning?I drive a bone-stock '95 stealth. Last night in the rain I totally broke it loose on the freeway just by stepping on it. To me, the stealth in stock trim isn't near to the level of fun I find appropriate and I've chewed up an S2000 or two and a few BMWs in that thing. But then, I grew up wrenching. I put a 350HP, 380 lb-ft 400 smallblock in a TR-7. Power should be used in moderation but power should be available for use.
Test-drove a CTS coupe the other day. Meh. Didn't quite get there. But hey - AWD. So... do I plan on $22k or so for the AWD beastie for practicality purposes? Or $30k or so for the CTS-V?
I feel a little bit defeated, but I decided to get a '16 Malibu next month. I can get one for next to nothing, but after years of driving power or performance engines, it's going to be a big change. Maybe I'll get blacked out windows so that no one can see me.
Yes, at least I still have some dignity. Foot would be down before I'd drive any Buick, but especially that buick. Also, I can't help feeling like a spoiled brat. Who complains about a brand new, fully loaded car? That I only have to drive for two years. Kinda silly, for sure.
I'm actually debating leasing. There's nothing of interest out there right now and I just don't give a fuck. Thing is, I barely drive up here and down in LA I expect to get most everywhere by motorcycle or bicycle. I'd probably hang on to the old girl other than the fact that the airbag warning came on last week and it has a nasty habit to dump two cups of water in the trunk when you open the hatch. And it dumps it, I discovered, in a watertight trough full of the jack and jumper cables. This was never a problem in LA... up here, it's bringing the funk.