Sayounara Scion

OldGray320i wrote:

NickD wrote:

Appleseed wrote: That foreseeable future is rocky, at best. There is no talk of a second generation.

Agreed, It's highest sales numbers were 18,327 in 2013 and every year since has been a steady decline, with 2015 sales barely breaking out of the 4-digit mark. And I don't think that the BRZ has broken out of the 4 digit mark and has been on a steady decline. The problem with these cars is that everyone who wanted one, immediately went out and got one. And the owners aren't the kind of people who are going to trade it in on a new one every other year, like Cadillac owners. They're going to hold onto it and modify it and make it their own. So then sales falls to average non-enthusiast people. But most of them aren't going to put up with the RWD in the winter, the back seat that is worthless, the high-strung buzzy driveline, sporty suspension or the fact that it requires non-ethanol fuel (Or the high pressure fuel pump calls it quits).

Call me dumb, but how much marketing of these things is there? I don't watch a lot of TV, but I've seen plenty of Toyota and Subaru commercials, none of them with the frisbee twins. That's not a failure of the car, they're nice to drive - though I think the ultra linear powerband undermines the car's image - if you get in to a sports car*, it should not behave like the Camry one just drove. If the aftermarket has removed it and improved it, I'm sure Toyota could do the same. Those are easy fixes, and they are good cars - just poor strategy. * A true sports car has a convertible top...

I'm not sure how much marketing was really needed. Seems like everyone who wanted one already knew about it before it came out.

Marketing helps create demand, though, or "Madison Ave." wouldn't exist. They don't quite have the brand/marque recognition like a Miata that's been around for 25 years...

I just wonder how much more they might sell if I saw them advertised by the Toyota lady, or coach what's his name on the Sunday Night Football adverts.

How often have you seen these two things together (Scion, I get it, but...):

OldGray320i wrote: Marketing helps create demand, though, or "Madison Ave." wouldn't exist. They don't quite have the brand/marque recognition like a Miata that's been around for 25 years... I just wonder how much more they might sell if I saw them advertised by the Toyota lady, or coach what's his name on the Sunday Night Football adverts. How often have you seen these two things together (Scion, I get it, but...):

Seeing anything advertised by that woman makes me less likely to buy it. She irritates the E36 M3 out of me. Seriously, can she please just go away?

In reply to OldGray320i:

If the FRS had been branded a Toyota here in the states you probably would have seen more ads, but I can't recall ever seeing a Scion commercial. For anything.

Jerry wrote: Still miss my Toaster some days.

Hey, it's those wheels I ran over!

(I still feel awful about that. It is through self-deprecating humor that I try to cope.)

I think the first gen Xb and Tc were pretty ground breaking but then the second gen Xb got a little pudgey and things were downhill from there. The FRS looks like an awesome car and the Ia looks like a fun little driver but I think its too little too late.

You mean you forgot the Make everything Epic commercials? Oh wait, that made me want one less.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQoY0jC2uyo

bmw88rider wrote: You mean you forgot the Make everything Epic commercials? Oh wait, that made me want one less. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQoY0jC2uyo

I can honestly say that I've never seen that commercial before now. I don't watch a lot of tv though.

This commercial is better, but there might have been just these two commercials about the FR-S.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svX7IcKxCXw

I also agree about the sentiment that people that wanted it bought it the first year, and the non-enthusiasts don't want a lightweight RWD sports car. Personally, I will buy a used one in a couple of years.

Mr_Clutch42 wrote: This commercial is better, but there might have been just these two commercials about the FR-S. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svX7IcKxCXw I also agree about the sentiment that people that wanted it bought it the first year, and the non-enthusiasts don't want a lightweight RWD sports car. Personally, I will buy a used one in a couple of years.

There were much better commercials when it was first launched:

Commercial#1

Commercial#2

I already had mine before the first commercial aired...

Trackmouse wrote: If a manufacturer made a 15k rwd chassis, they would blow the DOORS of the sales department.

15K RWD chassis here. I mean, I guess they sell a lot of them?