This just in: SCION to launch Nationwide in 2005

[Lomeinhu]

As reported by Wards Auto...sorry, no article b/c I don't have a subscription to them, but that's the title of the article.

Well, that's 3 years for them to get in gear. There's still hope, still hope...

Y'think there'd ever be a Scion Supra? (shudder) Haha...j/k

[MarkyMark]

dumb question, but scion being a new auto manufacturer?

[jotan82]

that sux

[Kit99bar]

lol so toyota in america will be separated into

Scion, Toyota, and Lexus

[Lomeinhu]

No, Scion's will just be marketed through current Toyota dealers. Different badge, different cars, same buildings. Which basically translates to even more salespersons who are clueless about the increase in cars. Remember when they didn't know anything about the Celica and the MR2 when they first came out? Now they have to deal with even more cars...it'd be easier if we picked and chose our cars with the options, have the dealer call us when it comes in, and we just go and sign the papers. Maybe test drive the car by ourselves as if we're renting the cars. No salespeople, no hassle. Have fixed prices for Scion vehicles a la Saturn.

[MarkyMark]

cool...what's their logo?

[loudceli]

I'm sorry but I haven't been very informed, what is "Scion"???

[XYRCNCP]

www.scion.com

[Lomeinhu]

Hmm...the Scion website says that it'll be launched June fo 2003. Gosh...I hope not.

[loudceli]

Thanx XYRCNCP!

[MarcMichaud]

I'm sorry But i think Toyota is just doing stupider and stupider things. Toyota should concentrate on its sports cars a little more. I'm tired of 140 hp

[CelicaDetective]

It's going to happen. I think it is a good and bad thing. The con could be the new label. Why are they separating it from "Toyota"? Maybe they don't want to associate this NEW line of cars with Toyota directly because of the sporty nature and dare I say CHEAPNESS of the car. So there you have LEXUS for the upper class, TOYOTA for the middle class, and SCION ... well, for the KIDDIES :o !!!

The pros - maybe they will put more focus into performance for the Celica. Maybe it will be what we really want.... recaro seats and all sorts of stuff like Japan options.

This is all spectulation, but the possibilities are there

M

[ringthree]

Originally posted by lomeinhu
it'd be easier if we picked and chose our cars with the options, have the dealer call us when it comes in, and we just go and sign the papers. Maybe test drive the car by ourselves as if we're renting the cars.

You can do that now, through internet places. Put in an order and the dealership calls you. Tell them the options you want. They order the car then call you when it's in. Then go check it out and they hand you the keys and you test drive without the dealer. Go in and sign the papers. It worked for me.

[Lomeinhu]

ringthree,

Haha...really? Where have I been? I wish I did that...:D

[msilvia]

I have a hunch that Scion's gonna be such a patronizing pitch at teenagers that it'll go down in flames or something. "Kids" aren't stupid, for one thing, and I don't think anyone who just got a license and is feeling more adult and mature than ever before is gonna want something marketed for kids.

Anytime a car company is named after it's target demographic, as Scion is, you know the wrong people are probably in charge.

I could be wrong of course; it's too early to tell. But that truck concept sure looks like garbage.

[LoCore]

Originally posted by lomeinhu
Hmm...the Scion website says that it'll be launched June fo 2003. Gosh...I hope not.

I think the 2003 date was for California only. Sounds like the 2005 date is for the rest of the US.

[Lomeinhu]

Good, maybe it'll do badly in 2003 in Cali, and then they'll get rid of the whole thing and realize that they already got the cars that the young demographic wants: Matrix, MR2 and Celica!!! Y'know, now that Toyota is going even younger than what the Celica's targetted age group, it makes you wonder exactly how old was Toyota expecting the Celica owners to be? 30? 40? Which is another funny thing; I see a lot more younger drivers than older drivers in Celicas, and that's not just at school--it's the same thing everywhere I go. I wonder how they got the 38 average age....you think they go by the age of the person who buys the car instead of the age of the driver? If that's the case, then the high average age would undoubtedly be b/c parents are buying the cars for their kids.

[HilfigerCelica]

I think that's the case with the avg age of owners being 38. My car is under my dad's name for insurance purposes since he's 46, that's bringing the avg age up.

[Lomeinhu]

From Motor Trend:

"The first Scion models will be transplants from the Japanese market, with U.S. specific vehicles to follow in the future. Benefits of this strategy are a ready portfolio of quirky vehicles to import, limited development cost, and no long-term commitment to vehicle lines. In fact, Toyota insiders suggest that the Scion models may be more anecdotal, than serial."

If this is what it sounds like, then Toyota's approach is very different from traditional car sales. It seems like each model that gets put out in the showroom may only have a few years on the market before it gets replaced by completely new car. i.e. as if the Celica comes out in 2000, gets retired in 2005, while the CCX comes out in 2005 until 2010, etc. This is good in that the cars will always be fresh and provides Toyota with the flexibility to change with the market (instead of having 10 different SUVs to suit every taste). However, unless the cars share a LOT of components, I don't think it's efficient or even AFFORDABLE to have many different models out on the road requiring services, fixes, etc.