Scion After a Year and Change

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JohnBM01

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JMarine25
GTPlanet, do you remember a topic I made called "How Do You Appeal to the Youth Market?" One such company which specialized in the field of customization and personalization. Scion is the branch of Toyota that deals with the realm of affordable cars with lots of money to personalize to your liking. So far, three trendy models have been released. The Xa is a trendy hatchback that kind of looks more like a cross between a small SUV and a Toyota Matrix with Toyota Tundra-style taillights. The Xb is a love-it-or-hate-it box on wheels that surely resembles an SUV or a very boxy minivan. The tC is classified as a hatchback, but it has a very alluring and very exceptional look for those not into the Xa and Xb. So after maybe a year or two, what do you make of Scion's progress in the American market? I won't share my views until later, but I'll share my thoughts on the cars themselves in the meanwhile.

My most favorite is the Scion tC. From the Houston Auto Show, I loved just being in the car. Everything looks pretty profressional, trendy, and even quite handsome. While the company banks on the ability to customize their autos, the Scion is more like one of those machines that you don't want to customize. Haven't seen a good mod for it yet. My least favorite comes down to the Xa and the Xb. Actually, my least favorite is the Xa and here's why. The style is completely off, the Toyota Tundra-style taillights REALLY don't flow with the car, and overall, just an eyesore.

GTPlanet, I have a good idea of what the majority of replies will be about Scion, but reply now about how Scion has done in America, what you think about them, and so on.

I'll close this introduction with some stats for you. According to Scion's website (http://www.scion.com), July sales in 2004 report that the Scion Xa sold 2,681 units, the Scion Xb sold 5,815 units, and the Scion tC sold 6,297 units (-source, http://www.scion.com/about/about_press_nationwidesales.html).
 
Lets see at first I thought there is no way Scion will be good and that Toyota will end up losing money. But then after a few months or so Scion debutaded (SP?) its TC and I rember saying to my self "WOW! This thing is gonna selll like hell!" I asked a few friends around on their opinion about it ( Non car people so they were the perfect people to ask ) And they really liked it. They said the interior was well and liked how it was all roomy and such and then my friends and I just didnt like the fact it was a 2 door! :( Now sure its a pretty nice car but if they have a sedan version of the car then IMO it will kick the Toyota Corolla S and the Nissan Sentra SE-R's butt! Also with a few minor hp and tourqe upgrades of course! :D Anyways overall I think Scion is doing well in the US and I hope they bring a sedan version of its TC! :D
 
tC is nice looking but the RSX has it squarely covered, and sport compact enthusiasts who aren't afraid of domestics are served well by the SRT-4.

As for the other Scions, the xA and xB, I don't see the appeal of a 110 hp refrigerator with wheels, even if it has Toyota reliability and is very cheap. The Suzuki Reno is a far more fetching piece.

Nice techo on the ads, however.
 
skip0110
tC is nice looking but the RSX has it squarely covered, and sport compact enthusiasts who aren't afraid of domestics are served well by the SRT-4.

As for the other Scions, the xA and xB, I don't see the appeal of a 110 hp refrigerator with wheels, even if it has Toyota reliability and is very cheap. The Suzuki Reno is a far more fetching piece.

Nice techo on the ads, however.
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Skip man how are you gonna compare a RSX and a TC? The price of an RSX is like about 6 grand more? Base RSX is around 23 grand and base TC is like 16 or 17 grand right? No way you can compare these two. You can however compare the TC to the SRT 4 and we all know that the SRT 4 is better than the TC. :D
 
The strength is in the affordability and that you can't go wrong with them because they have Toyota reliability... There isn't any comparision to make and that's what makes them strong cars. This maybe debate able but then go to their showrooms and see how well they are selling.
 
I personally still have the same view on them, I dislike everything about the company.

The xA is ugly and little. It looks to squished or something, I'm just not a fan of it. If I wanted a small car I would buy the Aveo which is cheaper.

The xB is terriable, how can a box sell? I would take an Aztek over it. Errr...I can't believe I said that.

The new tC is a volve rip off. Thats all I'm going to say.
 
pimp racer
Skip man how are you gonna compare a RSX and a TC? The price of an RSX is like about 6 grand more? Base RSX is around 23 grand and base TC is like 16 or 17 grand right? No way you can compare these two.
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The base RSX is $20,175. By the time you add the options to the Scion to match the RSX (allow wheels $1565, side airbags $650, and security system $469), the Scion is a very comparable $18,684. The extra thousand gets you a real sport-tuned suspension and a performance engine, not a transplanted base Camry engine.
 
skip0110
The base RSX is $20,175. By the time you add the options to the Scion to match the RSX (allow wheels $1565, side airbags $650, and security system $469), the Scion is a very comparable $18,684. The extra thousand gets you a real sport-tuned suspension and a performance engine, not a transplanted base Camry engine.
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Oh yeah thats right Skip! My bad man I was thinking of the RSX-type S which starts at 23 grand! :lol: Sorry not my day today! :( Tired as hell.
 
I find it funny that people buy a stylistic knock-off of the box the car was shipped in, but I guess it is true of what they say: "Ugly sells." :crazy:

By the way, that avatar is hilarious, VipFREAK.
 
I'm starting to see some tCs around the area I drive... It looks fairly stylish but still seems a bit reserved (Maybe its the been there done that styling)... It doesn't bring emotions like some cars do... And the back logo throws a lot of style off (the 'tC' logo looks big and ugly) Not a bad looking car.. But not the best looking car either....
But then... cars in that price range are usually just standard cars I guess... And putting that into account... It looks good for its price... (Beats the hell out of my car for sure...)
 
When I first saw it at the NYIAS, I though it was pretty freakin' sweat. I never saw on on the road until a couple of months after the show. I believe that it was the xb that I saw. After seeing it, I knew that I liked it. I really like the xa and the xb, just because of the fact that it's different and cool looking. I really don't care for the tc, becaue its just a changed and redone celiac.
 
How can anyone like the xB? It's a box, how can that be styling at all? I'm surprised it's lasted a year, but give it time its a fad car. It will die out slowly just like the Pt Cruiser.
 
skip0110
The base RSX is $20,175. By the time you add the options to the Scion to match the RSX (allow wheels $1565, side airbags $650, and security system $469), the Scion is a very comparable $18,684. The extra thousand gets you a real sport-tuned suspension and a performance engine, not a transplanted base Camry engine.
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Alloy wheels are tC standard. I disagree too - the Mini S is the better car of the three. The base RSX and tC are really not that good comparatively. RSX-S is nice, though.
 
I like the Scion lines for many reasons. Mostly because it's a new look at the minivan and will hold a slew of snowboards and buddy's, but also can be quite attractive. *note: Pioneer xB showcar and any FABULOUS show car*
 
Doug, do you know when the xB is going to be in sale in Canada?

I'm eagerly awaiting it's arrival here, I'm trying to persuade my Uncle into getting one, but I need the launch date. :irked:
 
sUn
Doug, do you know when the xB is going to be in sale in Canada?
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I didn't know it wasn't yet out up there - given Canada's penchant for small cars you'd think it'd be on sale there by now.
 
We got the Echo hatchback instead.

Underneath, the xA, xB and Echo hatchback are all the same thing anyway. They share the same chassis, engine, transmissions... In fact, the only things they don't share are exterior and interior panels.

As it is Toyota has no plans whatsoever to bring Scion to Canada.
 
I'm not sure of the fascination of the xA and xB, except that I call them "The Doorstop" and "The Box", respectively. But for Toyota, it's finally making a hit out of their Echo, which has been a faily miserable failure in terms of sales in the U.S. If people are stuck buying an econo-car, it ought not to look ugly and mis-shapen, and appear as if it was assembled in Dushanbe.

The tC is another ball of wax. I drove one the other day, and the best comparison I have is...Acura : Integra :: Toyota/Scion/Lexus : tC...The quality of workmanship is top-notch, and nothing feels to light to the touch, or as if it's going to fall apart in our hands. The car feels vault-solid, and the steering is typical Toyota; smooth, good road feel (but not exceptional), and never feels artificial or vague. The handling is not quite as taut as I'd like, but it's quite nice for a $18k car.

Considering I get a discount on Toyota products by working for Lexus, it may indeed be my next car. I want to test drive a few others first.
 
pupik
I'm not sure of the fascination of the xA and xB, except that I call them "The Doorstop" and "The Box", respectively. But for Toyota, it's finally making a hit out of their Echo, which has been a faily miserable failure in terms of sales in the U.S. If people are stuck buying an econo-car, it ought not to look ugly and mis-shapen, and appear as if it was assembled in Dushanbe.

The tC is another ball of wax. I drove one the other day, and the best comparison I have is...Acura : Integra :: Toyota/Scion/Lexus : tC...The quality of workmanship is top-notch, and nothing feels to light to the touch, or as if it's going to fall apart in our hands. The car feels vault-solid, and the steering is typical Toyota; smooth, good road feel (but not exceptional), and never feels artificial or vague. The handling is not quite as taut as I'd like, but it's quite nice for a $18k car.

Considering I get a discount on Toyota products by working for Lexus, it may indeed be my next car. I want to test drive a few others first.
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Actually I liked some parts of the Echo... The front was nice like a Vitz (same car right? :dopey: ) and That interior was pretty damn nice, so many pockets! :eek: it was "refreshing to see something different than they normal crap like in every other car.
 
The thing about Scion's models is that none of them are sole Scion models. The xA is the Japanese ist, the xB is the Japanese bB, and the tC is a combination of the European market's Avensis and the Japanese market's Caldina. Here in Europe the xA is sold as the Yaris, and is one of the best-selling vehicles.

What has made Scion such a big name in a short time are their advertising and marketing techniques, such as their sales tool called Pure Price, innovative internet ads and a wide selection of aftermarket accesories. Also, they have targeted directly to the Generation X consumers. The other point awarded to Scion is that the first two cars they offered (the xA and xB) were completely unheard (and unseen) in the US market.

Now, what I don't like AT ALL is that the Scion tC is meant to be a replacement for the Celica and MR2, both which will be retired from North America at the end of 2005, check it out here. However, the tC will be offered (I'm not sure if it's already out) with a TRD supercharger, increasing its power to about 200hp.

Oddly enough, and as ugly as I think the Scions are, they have built quite a plethora of fans, among who have brought up many pages such as http://www.scionlife.com/ and http://www.scionfans.com/ I really think the Scion brand will have its strongest moment in about 5 to 7 years from now, since right now they're just building up their market. Plus, they've marketed their brand with the 25-year plan Japanese corporations are famous for, as opposed to the 3-5 year plans Americans corps usually do.
 
Diego440
Now, what I don't like AT ALL is that the Scion tC is meant to be a replacement for the Celica and MR2, both which will be retired from North America at the end of 2005, check it out here. However, the tC will be offered (I'm not sure if it's already out) with a TRD supercharger, increasing its power to about 200hp.
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I hadn't heard it was to replace the MR-S, I thought the MR-S was just being discontinued.
Bad for Canada, anyway. I don't think we got the MR-S to begin with, but now no Celica either?
They seem to be dragging their feet on that supercharger as well. (Or so I've heard)
 
They are killing the Celica?! But why? That is Toyota Heritage.:irked: Anyway, back to the main topic, I like the tC. It's sporty car looks for econocar prices, a true bargain. 👍
 
Jetboys427
They are killing the Celica?! But why? That is Toyota Heritage.:irked:
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It's probably because it's not profitable anymore.

Anyway, back to the main topic, I like the tC. It's sporty car looks for econocar prices, a true bargain. 👍
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The tC's are cool. As long as they have the supercharger.
 
Diego440
Now, what I don't like AT ALL is that the Scion tC is meant to be a replacement for the Celica and MR2, both which will be retired from North America at the end of 2005, check it out here. However, the tC will be offered (I'm not sure if it's already out) with a TRD supercharger, increasing its power to about 200hp.
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The supercharger's been out a few months. Why don't you like it replacing the Celica and MR2? Scion will appeal to a younger market, while the Celica and MR2 seem to appeal to no market. I like the idea.

I hadn't heard it was to replace the MR-S, I thought the MR-S was just being discontinued.
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It is - in theory, the tC will replace it and the Celica, just as the Buick Lacrosse replaced both the Buick Regal and the Buick Century.

They are killing the Celica?! But why?
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The thing doesn't sell, and it's overpriced. Actually, it doesn't sell because it's overpriced. Still - point is, it doesn't sell.
 
M5Power
The supercharger's been out a few months. Why don't you like it replacing the Celica and MR2? Scion will appeal to a younger market, while the Celica and MR2 seem to appeal to no market. I like the idea.
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I'm sure Camaro fans dind't like it when GM killed the Camaro.

Anyway, I used to own a Celica and was pretty attached to the nameplate. Plus, when I lived in Venezuela some friends and I put together a '75 Celica, and that was fun too.

And you're right M5Power, the Celica's sales have dropped drastically. In numbers, from 52,406 units in 2000, to just 14,856 in 2003. As of November, 2004, just 8,216 Celicas had been sold for calendar-year 2004.

Moreover, since there aren't any tCs here, and it is unknown if they will form the basis for the Celica overseas, or if the next Celica will be based on a different platform, the future of Toyota's compact sportscar in Europe is very questionable. Especially with VW, Peugeot, Citroën and other Euro carmakers bringing up sporty versions.
 
Diego440
I'm sure Camaro fans dind't like it when GM killed the Camaro.
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Perhaps, but it's the same deal - when push came to shove, the people who were pissed off by the Camaro's lack of sales were either already owners or people who owned one at some point and weren't buying anymore. Those pissed off people never translated into (many) sales, and Chevrolet made the right call to cancel the thing rather than pouring money into trying to redesign another generation of Camaro/Firebird.
 
I've heard of the grill of the Scion tC looking more like the Skyline R34's grill. But the tC looking like... a Volvo? Hey. I was at the Houston Auto Show. I got a Volvo booklet. Let me do some comparisons.

Okay, now. I can probably see the Scion tC looking MORE LIKE a combination of the Volvo S40 and the S60R. You want differences? The Scion tC looks more curvy and more aerodynamic. Both Volvos look more like mid-late 1990s BMWs aerodynamically. I don't know what kind of drag coefficient the tC has, but it looks like is should have a better coefficient than the S60R. My only criticism is that people say the tC is a hatchback. I see this as Scion described the tC:

"...the 2005 Scion tC takes the classic definition of sports coupe and reinvents it completely. Consider the sleek exterior styling of a coupe, but with the hidden convenience of a hatchback."

But Car and Driver Magazine says it's a hatchback altogether. When I was at the Houston Auto Show last weekend, I fell in love with it. I mean, me personally. While I don't have a license, I can imagine riding up and down Houston in it. The focal point for Scion is personalization, but I have yet to see this car have a great custom job. One in Issue #5 of Scion Magazine had an okay one, then one that was ugly altogether. And one more note before I go. A modder called "The Joker" modified the Scion Xb to this sort of lowrider with lowrider graphics and lowrider tires. I didn't like this modification.

Next question, if Scion gave the Scion tC a modified version of the Toyota Supra's engine, would this special tC sell more or less than the base model?
 
Heard of Limited Release Scions? The xA RS 1.0 and xB RS 1.0 will be sold in limited numbers. This xA has Absolutely Red paint, a small hatchback-type rear wing, and will be a run of 1,550 cars. This xB will have Hot Lava paint (reddish-orange color), a hatchback-type spoiler, sport grill, and more. It's told to have a run of 2,100 models.
 

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