WTF is a Scion???

[38Chevy454]

I noticed a new car in the parking lot at work, called a "Scion". Ugly as hell and quite small. Total POS excuse for a car. So I looked up on the net and found this statement:
"Scion, the new car marque from Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., was created to suit the demands of an emerging culture of new car buyers known as Gen Y."

here is the web site I found for it:
http://www.scion.com/about/about.html

I still have a hard time to figure out what the hell this thing is. Is it a real car company? Or just some techno geek car model from Toyota? WTF is it????? Any of you have a better explanation of it?

[modernbeat]

It's the opposite of a Lexus.

This is a company that sells cars to folks that view cars as appliances rather than a lifestyle accessory, or like us, as a lifestyle. Other manufactures just introduce their appliance cars alongside their "normal" models and their sporty models. It seems that Toyota feels that they need to compartmentalize their lines so that the buyers don't have to rub shoulders, or see the other offerings, at a full line dealership.

[Jive-Bomber]

Toyota wanted to create a smaller, entry level market vehicle for the under 30 market. Scion gave them the ability to create a new identity for the "hip hop generation youngsters"
There are two styles of Scion, and IMO, the box looking van is cooler than the fastback thing. They are only sold in Calif. this year, nation wide in 04'
What is cool about them is that Scion encourages owners to modify/ personalize the vehicles as much as desired- They even sell mod kits I believe. Better than buying a Volvo wagon, right?

jay

[jeffro]

I saw one of these the other day at the state fair. Total carp. But they have a GREAT marketing plan. The little kid with their sun visors turned to the side were going APE SHIT over these things. Be prepaired to see these all over the place. And most with neon lights under them. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[haring]

I saw a Toyota promo "magalog" magazine in which the back 16 or so pages were a brochure for the Scion XB -- the boxy one.

There were glowing endorsements from teenagers and 20-somethings. Ikid you not that one of the kids said something to the effect of, "I look at it and it just screams 'HOT ROD'!"

I fear that 99% of 20-somethings wouldn't know a hot rod if one were to run them over. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Elrod]

I saw these at the state fair yesterday as well. Yup! about 100 16 year olds with pants down around their knees all going nuts over them. These will be the cars to avoid on the highway, because everyone of them will have drivers that got there license a few HOURS earlier.

[D Picasso]

Scion is defined as the heir to a fortune or royalty; in essence, a rich kid. gee, my favorite segment of society....wealthy jagoffs.

[hankcash]

We saw them at the state fair yesterday ALSO.
Were we all there yesterday? We should have had a HAMB meeting.... They don't come out until Feb. They are marketing them to the "techno" market. I thouhgt that the grey box with wheels was kinda cool in a mini H2, cooper SUV, Tonka driving the 16 year old babysitter home at 10:30 on a school night kind of way...
HC

[Fat Hack]

A scion can also be one born into a prophetic position...such as "the Last Scion" in the movie "Dogma". A predicted person of importance.

How THAT relates to a junk Toyota, I have NO idea!!

[Paul]

http://sales.starcitygames.com/cardscans/MAGLGS/MAGLGS209.jpg

[DrJ]

It's the only new car made today that is NOT ripping off the beautiful lines of a Classic Rambler Stationwagon.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I looked at one at the Toyota dealer near my house.
It had an option list that was more money than the base price!
That blob of plastic on the back of the roof they call a spoiler was $350 alone.
But at least it doesn't look like what a PT Cruiser is trying to look like.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Church]

I think they look like ass. I see those box ones rolling around here on 20's all day long. I don't get the Honda Element either. Maybe it is because I have never had the need to literally hose out my car. I have friends who dig them both. Not my cup of tea, but it ooks like people like them and I expect to see tons more in no time flat.

[Rocky]

Scion: "A small petrified droplet of semen indigenous to back seats of aged automobiles, usually 1955 Chevrolets."
Rocky's unabridged................
Can also be a 2/3rds sized alcoholic drink, served in seaports. IE.......
"Hey barkeep! Pour me a scion-a-rye whiskey!"

[burger]

scion

\Sci"on\, n.

1. (a) A shoot or sprout of a plant; a sucker. (b) A piece of a slender branch or twig cut for grafting.

2. Hence, a descendant; an heir; as, a scion of a royal stock.




Ed

PS. It wouldn't be so bad looking if it looked like, well.. something else.

PPS. How could a car manufacturer make something so distinctive looking and in the same breath claim that it's aimed toward a market that views thier car as an appliance?

[DRD57]

My 16 year old niece said it looked like the illegitimate love child of a Honda Element and a Mini Cooper

[gowjobs]

I hate to admit it here, but there's a part of me that really wants one of these. It's the same part that likes ProRally, Playstation 2 and Anime movies. The car is really worthless from the standpoint of being an American-style performance car, but with a little work, I could see it being plenty of fun to whip around city streets at 40-50 miles per and still haul all the boxes of parts home from the swap.

Dave

[DrJ]

[ QUOTE ]
I hate to admit it here, but there's a part of me that really wants one of these. It's the same part that likes ProRally, Playstation 2 and Anime movies. The car is really worthless from the standpoint of being an American-style performance car, but with a little work, I could see it being plenty of fun to whip around city streets at 40-50 miles per and still haul all the boxes of parts home from the swap.

Dave

[/ QUOTE ]

It represents pretty much exactly what a 36hp VW represented in the era of the 409" Chevy.
It's the anti-muscle-car.

[daign]

I know tons of people that like them. They pull a high 16 in the quarter mile with an air intake. Tons of companies are now making bolt on performance mods. Before you know it, they will be in the 12s.

Its a new generation of kids "hotrodding" cars out there, toyota recognized it and is marketing it as such. If this post turns into a bitchfest about them, why not just start a post slamming ricer's and bla bla bla.

Pretty useless to bitch about if you ask me . I think its neat kids have an affordable way of getting into car customization and modification. I don't see them being marketed as the new millenium Hot Rod for adult traditional rodders, so what do you care?

-Dane

[Fat Hack]

Metros rule! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[McGrath]

This was in the FAQ for the Scion page....

"Scion" means descendant of, and shows Scion's clear heritage and connection to Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
The pronunciation is "cy-on"; like "Sci" in Science with "on" at the end; "sigh" with "on".

The word scion derives from Old French cion, of Germanic origin.

[Brootal]

Where's Carps when you need him!?!?!

[Paul]

ok so I start looking for scion

and sci and sci-fi and hi-fi and..

I come across this??

http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/archive/perl/405_printreview.htm

what isn't out there???

Paul

[purple]

<font color="purple"> They've been here in Redneck for months. There is even one with bigger rims and super low pros and grafix. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I saw them first at the dealer. Cheap, but a stereo adds almost $3K. The one without the stereo just had a hole with no block off plate. (I was there with a friend looking at Toyotas, his wife's daily got creamed and he was looking to replace it. 1300cc's of power. Oh, and the box thing has no space behind the back seat 'cept for maybe the backpack of the schoolkid driving it. </font>

[rickyracer1962]

i heard theres a top secret version featuring E&amp;J headlights. could be just a rumor though... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[wingnutz]

Sorry..., But reading their sales crap sounds as though they are the answer for all the no tallent Cross Dressers in the World! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

(Whats this "WE" thing...? Do they have a mouse in their pocket?) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

All this Jibberish tells me that it's so F#!?/kin Stupid they have to talk you into it! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Sorry for the rant...,

[Rooster]

Hahahahahahaha, Scion! Isn't that a little onion? Or is that something else?

Hey, know WHAT? It was Bound to happen. I see I could get a Brand new Ford ZX2 for almost $10K, what's that Scion goin for? I don't see much of anything that goes for anything reasonably close to it's actually lowly worth as a vehicle these days and if Toyota has again tapped that market of Value in it's quality without shitty add-on's a person would as soon choose themselves, like a system, then guys like Me are in more trouble than our leadership would have us believe. I mean really, what happened to performance reasonable to weight from a factory and not having to pay for alla the extras? Does EVERY car Have To come with A/C, PW, PL, PS, CD,???? Really now, I could do without Tons of that shit too!!!! MAybe I need a looksee....

[Paul]

why is it that every "low priced" car's styling sucks?

today

Paul

[ramrod]

Generation why?

[burtrido]

I remember reading a little while ago in "Time" or some other Mag that all the big Corporations didn't know how they could market their stuff to this generation Y, because they are such a fussy bunch of little shits. Looks to me like it's figured out now.The uglier the better. How long before we see Britany Spears and some other member of the pepsi generation driving around in one of these in dp90, flames and a VonDutch cap in their film clips.

[Machinos]

It's an entire marque of automobile sold almost entirely on advertising and image. Guh.

I'd CONSIDER an xA, simply because of the extremely low price and that it's a Toyota so it's probably reliable as hell... but there is absolutely no way I'd pay money for an xB. It's an atrocity of automotive design. If I wanted a big, slow vehicle with lots of headroom and the aerodynamics of a phone booth I'd probably just buy a Model T sedan. If you get in a fender bender in a T, it doesn't cost $1000 to fix either...

[redmeat]

<font color="red"> 60's style it scares me you have Majic cards!!!!.....I only know what they are from my nephew


R E D M E A T </font>

[Kinky6]

"It's an entire marque of automobile sold almost entirely on advertising and image."


Sounds like an Edsel!



Later, Kinky6 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[ShortBus]

How many clowns come out?

[SamIyam]

I kind of like them...
I wouldn't buy one, but it's refreshing to see something like it on the road... but I'm sure that will fade when we start seeing billions of them on the road. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I also think it's cool that Toyota and Honda recognize the performance market... the kids with the pants around their lower hips and the Hondas with big tail pipes are the 50's greasers of the new milennium... gee, I wonder if there will be a group of kids dressing up like them 50 years from now like the rockabilly and greaser guys do now with the pomps, engineer boots, cuffed jeans and primered four door 60's cars... I find it ironic how guys on this board bad mouth these kids when they drive the 50's or 60's equivelant of a Honda with a big tail pipe themselves...
Sam.

[The_Monster]

i like this 'full' description of what the xB car is:

"The xB is all about attitude. The question is, how much can you handle? Cruise with your friends and chill."

Thats it folks! Guess you dont need to say much about it

[DrJ]

In it's own era of style(?) it's not any uglier than a VW Microbus was in the 50s-60s.
Inside, where the OWNER is viewing it most of the time, it looks quite neat. Instrument panel is really cool, in a new car way.
(I still think most of the "old car" dashes were lacking in style development, except for the '57 Olds and the Corvettes and '58- T birds. They were cool)

[Carps]

[ QUOTE ]
.... Total POS excuse for a car.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ugly yes, but in a cute kinda way just like an Edsel was in 1959. POS, no way, it's probably better built and more reliable than most other cars in the US market.

[ QUOTE ]
I still have a hard time to figure out what the hell this thing is. Is it a real car company? Or just some techno geek car model from Toyota? WTF is it????? Any of you have a better explanation of it?

[/ QUOTE ]

Scion is a division of Toyota just like Lincoln - Mercury, Volvo, Jaguar etc. are divisions of Ford Motor Company and Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Vauxhaul, Opel, Holden, Daewoo, SAAB etc are divisions of General Motors Corporation.

It's been developed to tap into a generation of new car buyers who see tha car as a fashion accessory which strangely whilst they are different to us, makes them a lot more like us than any other segement of the new car buying population.

You may not like them, but guess what, Toyota don't care, coz they are not aimed at you anyhow. And the target market love them so much that they are selling like hotcakes and creating for Toypta a whole new generation of loyal owners who as they mature will buy other Toyota products more suited to their current or evolving lifestyle.

the interesting thing here and what's making it a huge success, is that it's simply another case of the japanese successfully adopting an originally American idea that America seems to have forgotten.

[Carps]

[ QUOTE ]
I saw one of these the other day at the state fair. Total carp.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm flattered that you think I had something to do with this, but I didn't. We do have a few examples of these cars here and I can assure you they are well built solid and imensly enjoyable to drive around town.

[ QUOTE ]
But they have a GREAT marketing plan. The little kid with their sun visors turned to the side were going APE SHIT over these things. Be prepaired to see these all over the place. And most with neon lights under them. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

The model line-up is far greater than what you've so far seen in the US. These things could take over the world!

[Carps]

[ QUOTE ]
It's the only new car made today that is NOT ripping off the beautiful lines of a Classic Rambler Stationwagon.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

They are not desgned by the 'regular car design groups' they are designed by the same kids they are aimed at. Yeah, what a weird concept, define the market then have members of that defined market actualy design a product to fit their desires.

[ QUOTE ]
I looked at one at the Toyota dealer near my house.
It had an option list that was more money than the base price!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's coz the defined market all want to be different but all need to conform to the rules that define their difference allowing a degree of separation from one to another to make them individuals within their group. Sound familliar?

[ QUOTE ]
That blob of plastic on the back of the roof they call a spoiler was $350 alone.

[/ QUOTE ]

They don't care because they have plenty of money. What's important to them is that there's a wide choice of shapes and styles for that $350 hunk of plastic so they can have one that's similar but not exactly the same as their buddies. Still sound familliar?

[ QUOTE ]
But at least it doesn't look like what a PT Cruiser is trying to look like.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly, because the concept is not one of copying or going back in time but a fresh totally new look at the automobile as a fshion accessory and lifestyle statement for the generation of today. We are these kids parents and just as we didn't want to drive what our parents did or dress like them, they don't want to dress like us or be seen driving what we do.

[Carps]

[ QUOTE ]
It wouldn't be so bad looking if it looked like, well.. something else.

[/ QUOTE ]

But then it wouldn't be so unique. Besides Daimler Benz (or is that Chysler Benz?) already did that with the PT Cruiser.[b]

[ QUOTE ]

How could a car manufacturer make something so distinctive looking and in the same breath claim that it's aimed toward a market that views thier car as an appliance?


[/ QUOTE ]

[b]Easy! Compare the styling of your refrigerator to the xB model (that's the square boxy one) and you'll understand in a heartbeat. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Carps]

[ QUOTE ]
I hate to admit it here, but there's a part of me that really wants one of these. It's the same part that likes ProRally, Playstation 2 and Anime movies. The car is really worthless from the standpoint of being an American-style performance car, but with a little work, I could see it being plenty of fun to whip around city streets at 40-50 miles per and still haul all the boxes of parts home from the swap.

Dave

[/ QUOTE ]

You seem to understand the concept perfectly. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Carps]

[ QUOTE ]
Where's Carps when you need him!?!?!

[/ QUOTE ]

Busier than a one armed Bahgdad bricklayer! Out there sellin bazillions of weird little cars faster than Hoover and Frigidaire can move their household appliances. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Carps]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry..., But reading their sales crap sounds as though they are the answer for all the no tallent Cross Dressers in the World! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

'Sales Crap' or Sales brochure, marketing blurb, yet another US invention carried on by others. Don't blame the Scion or Toyota people for that, you guys invented it, they just improved on it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[ QUOTE ]
All this Jibberish tells me that it's so F#!?/kin Stupid they have to talk you into it! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I have some similar and equally stupid gems from early Ford and Chevrolet brochures. I guess the brochure proves the Scion marketers really have a good handle on who thay are selling to. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Carps]

[ QUOTE ]
why is it that every "low priced" car's styling sucks?

[/ QUOTE ]

What you think sucks, there's probably another ten people out there who think it's cool.

Edsel's styling sucked in 1959, today those same cars are regarded as classics and are now highly valued and expensive to buy collectibles.

Fact is, one man's noise is another's music.

[Carps]

[ QUOTE ]
Generation why?

[/ QUOTE ]

Coz sixteen years ago you just couldn't leave your dick in your pants! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Carps]

[ QUOTE ]
It's an entire marque of automobile sold almost entirely on advertising and image. Guh.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just like a Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Honda, Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, Rambler, Studebaker, Packard, Deusenberg, Riley, Morris, BMW, Mercedes Benz....... etc. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[Carps]

[ QUOTE ]
I kind of like them...
I wouldn't buy one, but it's refreshing to see something like it on the road... but I'm sure that will fade when we start seeing billions of them on the road. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I also think it's cool that Toyota and Honda recognize the performance market... the kids with the pants around their lower hips and the Hondas with big tail pipes are the 50's greasers of the new milennium... gee, I wonder if there will be a group of kids dressing up like them 50 years from now like the rockabilly and greaser guys do now with the pomps, engineer boots, cuffed jeans and primered four door 60's cars... I find it ironic how guys on this board bad mouth these kids when they drive the 50's or 60's equivelant of a Honda with a big tail pipe themselves...
Sam.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sam, you and me just gotta siddown and share a cold drink or three when next i'm in the USofA! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Carps]

[ QUOTE ]
i like this 'full' description of what the xB car is:

"The xB is all about attitude. The question is, how much can you handle? Cruise with your friends and chill."

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like the descriptions as regularly posted right here on the H.A.M.B. to describe our hot rods, kustoms and lifestyle. Guess that means they must be kool?

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[McGrath]

Carps, I was wondering how long it would take you to show up on this post. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Toyota's Knight in shining armor...

[Carps]

[ QUOTE ]
Carps, I was wondering how long it would take you to show up on this post. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I figured you'd all be dissapointed if I didn't front up. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[ QUOTE ]
Toyota's Knight in shining armor...

[/ QUOTE ]

Dunno if that's how I'm viewed at home after this little incedent at our Prius launch during the week. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

To be honest I was quite surprised by the level of mature and intelligent discussion on the topic of Scion, when I opened the thread I was thinking, "Here we go again." So what happened while I was away?