Comments on: Honda To Take On Scion With New Brand http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/ The Truth About Cars is dedicated to providing candid, unbiased automobile reviews and the latest in auto industry news. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:39:15 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Jason http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-357782 Jason Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:15:54 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-357782 Scion is dumb, just sell those cars as Toyotas, since they've been "mainstreamed-up" anywayz. Better yet, start importing real JDM-only cars and keep the Toyota badges on them! If Toyota/Honda want young buyers, then build attractive sporty cars that are no-frills, but have the style and engine/suspension engineering youths expect. Build cars to aspire to. For Toyota, start with a new "AE-86", Celica, MR2, and/or Supra (No Lexus please). The AE-86 and Celica coupes would be attainable for youngsters, while the Supra would be a car to aspire to when they grow up big and all! Scion is dumb, just sell those cars as Toyotas, since they’ve been “mainstreamed-up” anywayz.

Better yet, start importing real JDM-only cars and keep the Toyota badges on them!

If Toyota/Honda want young buyers, then build attractive sporty cars that are no-frills, but have the style and engine/suspension engineering youths expect. Build cars to aspire to.

For Toyota, start with a new “AE-86″, Celica, MR2, and/or Supra (No Lexus please). The AE-86 and Celica coupes would be attainable for youngsters, while the Supra would be a car to aspire to when they grow up big and all!

]]> By: casper00 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-357552 casper00 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:40:43 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-357552 "crakers" you're right on the money...... “crakers” you’re right on the money……

]]> By: marc http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-355752 marc Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:48:45 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-355752 Most of the responses here demonstrate what is wrong with the newsmedia and blogoshpere today. You hear something repeated enough times and you think it is true. Like the rumor that Scion sells only to little old ladies in Florida, when in fact it has the lowest average age in the industry. Now the newest misinformation that keeps being repeated is that Scion is tanking because they had a few down months. Of course, every other brand is selling remarkably well right now, huh. The xB sales have been up by double digits for the past 5 months. The xD is now selling at the same rate as the old xA. Only the aging tC is down, and even that is only by 20-30%, common for aging sporty coupes. Scion had a down year last year because 2 of its 3 models were replaced, leading to months of inventory depletion. Those days are over. The new Scions are everywhere. The recent lowered sales had more to do with Toyota's odd strategy of doing two model changeovers simultaneously. Toyota would be wise not to schedule model changeovers so closely in the future. They need to leave some product on the lots. Most of the responses here demonstrate what is wrong with the newsmedia and blogoshpere today. You hear something repeated enough times and you think it is true. Like the rumor that Scion sells only to little old ladies in Florida, when in fact it has the lowest average age in the industry. Now the newest misinformation that keeps being repeated is that Scion is tanking because they had a few down months. Of course, every other brand is selling remarkably well right now, huh. The xB sales have been up by double digits for the past 5 months. The xD is now selling at the same rate as the old xA. Only the aging tC is down, and even that is only by 20-30%, common for aging sporty coupes. Scion had a down year last year because 2 of its 3 models were replaced, leading to months of inventory depletion. Those days are over. The new Scions are everywhere. The recent lowered sales had more to do with Toyota’s odd strategy of doing two model changeovers simultaneously. Toyota would be wise not to schedule model changeovers so closely in the future. They need to leave some product on the lots.

]]> By: TriShield http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-355712 TriShield Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:44:17 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-355712 Scion lost it's way as soon as Toyota decided to stop importing their funky, quirky, very Japanese JDM vehicles to the US for it. That's what set the brand apart and it was instantly lost when Toyota Americanized and supersized the xB. The other Scion products simply aren't that good or exciting. Toyota needs to get back to what they started out doing or simply cull the brand. I don't really think either company needs a "youth" brand to sell to high school and college students, they need to produce cars that are attractive to them which is the key. Scion lost it’s way as soon as Toyota decided to stop importing their funky, quirky, very Japanese JDM vehicles to the US for it.

That’s what set the brand apart and it was instantly lost when Toyota Americanized and supersized the xB. The other Scion products simply aren’t that good or exciting.

Toyota needs to get back to what they started out doing or simply cull the brand. I don’t really think either company needs a “youth” brand to sell to high school and college students, they need to produce cars that are attractive to them which is the key.

]]> By: solo84 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-355582 solo84 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:29:03 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-355582 Interesting idea, stupid name. And I agree, Acura needs help more than Honda needs an entry brand. Hopefully they can do both at the same time. Interesting idea, stupid name. And I agree, Acura needs help more than Honda needs an entry brand. Hopefully they can do both at the same time.

]]> By: dancote http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-355052 dancote Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:33:22 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-355052 Hondas have a lot of things going for them. <strong>Cachet</strong> isn't one of them. Hondas have a lot of things going for them. Cachet isn’t one of them.

]]> By: dougw http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-354862 dougw Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:03:29 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-354862 Is it me or are most of the "B" class cars starting to look alike...especially the rear quarter and the window rake of the back end. How about naming this look the "B/butt" look? I can cite the Yaris, upcoming Fiesta, this concept and a few others that are nearly identical from the c pillar rearward. Is it me or are most of the “B” class cars starting to look alike…especially the rear quarter and the window rake of the back end. How about naming this look the “B/butt” look? I can cite the Yaris, upcoming Fiesta, this concept and a few others that are nearly identical from the c pillar rearward.

]]> By: lprocter1982 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-354852 lprocter1982 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:02:11 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-354852 Honda needs a better name. There's no way in hell they'll sell many cars with 'Li Nian' on the trunk lid. Maybe they should call them, I don't know, Magnum... I hear that name's not taken... anymore... Just think, if they did that, and they made police interceptors, people could end up driving a Magnum PI. Honda needs a better name. There’s no way in hell they’ll sell many cars with ‘Li Nian’ on the trunk lid. Maybe they should call them, I don’t know, Magnum… I hear that name’s not taken… anymore… Just think, if they did that, and they made police interceptors, people could end up driving a Magnum PI.

]]> By: thetopdog http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-354702 thetopdog Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:35:08 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-354702 I've never understood how Scion intended to appeal to young guys with souped up Echos. I don't know one young guy that has ever aspired to own a Toyota Echo There are basically 3 types of cars young guys want (excluding supercars, super-luxury cars, etc.): 1) Relatively cheap RWD coupes with big power, eg. Mustangs, Camaros, or (more likely for a Japanese brand) 350Z-type cars 2) Light, tossable, FWD coupes with high-revving engines eg. Integra Type R and Celica GTS 3) AWD Turbo sedans and coupes-Evo, STi, the old Eclipse Turbo etc. All of the above should be extrovertedly-styled, or at least come with the option of installing aggressive looking wheels and/or bodykits. The ability to modify the cars appearance and performance should be a top priority. Insurance/price/mileage considerations could be met by offering lower-powered versions of the above (eg. Car #1 with an I4 instead of a V6 could be the return of the 240SX as opposed to the next 350Z). It really shouldn't be that hard to offer cars that appeal to young guys, it doesn't seem that complicated to me I’ve never understood how Scion intended to appeal to young guys with souped up Echos. I don’t know one young guy that has ever aspired to own a Toyota Echo

There are basically 3 types of cars young guys want (excluding supercars, super-luxury cars, etc.):

1) Relatively cheap RWD coupes with big power, eg. Mustangs, Camaros, or (more likely for a Japanese brand) 350Z-type cars
2) Light, tossable, FWD coupes with high-revving engines eg. Integra Type R and Celica GTS
3) AWD Turbo sedans and coupes-Evo, STi, the old Eclipse Turbo etc.

All of the above should be extrovertedly-styled, or at least come with the option of installing aggressive looking wheels and/or bodykits. The ability to modify the cars appearance and performance should be a top priority. Insurance/price/mileage considerations could be met by offering lower-powered versions of the above (eg. Car #1 with an I4 instead of a V6 could be the return of the 240SX as opposed to the next 350Z).

It really shouldn’t be that hard to offer cars that appeal to young guys, it doesn’t seem that complicated to me

]]> By: gamper http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-354662 gamper Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:27:16 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-354662 Seeing as the Scion brand is tanking in the US, Honda might want to rethink such a strategy. One could agrue that Scion is tanking due to its masters at Toyota attempting to make Scion a brand with wider appeal and straying from its original mission. Or you could argue that the trendy and fickle youth market is simply too fast of a moving target for an automaker to compete on youth sales alone. Both are probably true. Unless the new Tc really wows everyone (doubtful), I suspect that Scion is headed for obscurity. Seeing as the Scion brand is tanking in the US, Honda might want to rethink such a strategy. One could agrue that Scion is tanking due to its masters at Toyota attempting to make Scion a brand with wider appeal and straying from its original mission. Or you could argue that the trendy and fickle youth market is simply too fast of a moving target for an automaker to compete on youth sales alone. Both are probably true. Unless the new Tc really wows everyone (doubtful), I suspect that Scion is headed for obscurity.

]]> By: thoots http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-354522 thoots Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:10:27 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-354522 I really don't see anything in the AutoWeek article that would imply that Honda intends to bring this brand into the US -- it appears to be mainly a China-only entity, with maybe some entry into the European market someday. The initial vehicle is "smaller than the current Fit" -- and thus certainly isn't anything we'll ever see over here. The Chinese market is, of course, hugely different from any other. The very fact that Honda has had to partner up with Guangzhou Automobile Group (with a 50/50 investment proportion for a period of 30 years), shows how China has been able to keep most foreign makers out of its market, unless they've been willing to pony up some significant Chinese ownership, usually in the form of this kind of partnership. Bottom line, it's very hard to believe that much of what's going on in China, at least brand-wise, will translate to what we might eventually see in the US. Of course, not that I don't expect that we'll see plenty of "Made in China" here in the coming years! I really don’t see anything in the AutoWeek article that would imply that Honda intends to bring this brand into the US — it appears to be mainly a China-only entity, with maybe some entry into the European market someday. The initial vehicle is “smaller than the current Fit” — and thus certainly isn’t anything we’ll ever see over here.

The Chinese market is, of course, hugely different from any other. The very fact that Honda has had to partner up with Guangzhou Automobile Group (with a 50/50 investment proportion for a period of 30 years), shows how China has been able to keep most foreign makers out of its market, unless they’ve been willing to pony up some significant Chinese ownership, usually in the form of this kind of partnership.

Bottom line, it’s very hard to believe that much of what’s going on in China, at least brand-wise, will translate to what we might eventually see in the US. Of course, not that I don’t expect that we’ll see plenty of “Made in China” here in the coming years!

]]> By: Steven Lang http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-354502 Steven Lang Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:07:04 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-354502 What's the old saying about another 'Hole in the head'. The Honda name already has a lot of positive cache across the board. Even more so than Toyota with the younger crowd. There's no good reason to do this. What’s the old saying about another ‘Hole in the head’.

The Honda name already has a lot of positive cache across the board. Even more so than Toyota with the younger crowd.

There’s no good reason to do this.

]]> By: Orian http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-354482 Orian Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:56:45 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-354482 Just sell the thing as a Honda in the US and they will be fine. No sense wasting money on another brand like Toyota did. Toyota could have put the Scion models in their line up with the same funky letter naming conventions and been just fine. Just sell the thing as a Honda in the US and they will be fine. No sense wasting money on another brand like Toyota did.

Toyota could have put the Scion models in their line up with the same funky letter naming conventions and been just fine.

]]> By: ash78 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-354442 ash78 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:44:52 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-354442 Li Nian, me, when sales not strong I'll be your strength, I'll help you carry on Sounds like a bad idea for the US, IMO. The Fit and Civic sell well and cover every price range from entry-level through mid-20s. They are very established and in line with Honda's brand perception, so I don't see how this would be beneficial (especially given Scion's mixed results) Li Nian, me, when sales not strong
I’ll be your strength, I’ll help you carry on

Sounds like a bad idea for the US, IMO. The Fit and Civic sell well and cover every price range from entry-level through mid-20s. They are very established and in line with Honda’s brand perception, so I don’t see how this would be beneficial (especially given Scion’s mixed results)

]]> By: crackers http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-354432 crackers Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:40:03 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-354432 How about fixing the Acura brand before creating any new brands. How about fixing the Acura brand before creating any new brands.

]]> By: Blunozer http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-354402 Blunozer Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:29:47 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-354402 This might actually work. Honda already has plenty of cache with the younger crowd, whereas Toyota lost its way when they cancelled the Supra, Celica, and MR2. The Fit is proving to be an excellent platform. I can just imagine how good it would be if Honda decided to make it more "fun". This might actually work.

Honda already has plenty of cache with the younger crowd, whereas Toyota lost its way when they cancelled the Supra, Celica, and MR2.

The Fit is proving to be an excellent platform. I can just imagine how good it would be if Honda decided to make it more “fun”.

]]> By: NICKNICK http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-354382 NICKNICK Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:16:31 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-to-take-on-scion-with-new-brand/#comment-354382 so i might be able to buy a cheap something that'll last 300,000 miles for maybe $10,000? sign me up. it's like buying a new beater. as with scion, though, i'm not a kid. maybe cheap practicality just appeals to oldsters while the kids are blowing money on mustangs. i dunno. so i might be able to buy a cheap something that’ll last 300,000 miles for maybe $10,000?

sign me up. it’s like buying a new beater. as with scion, though, i’m not a kid. maybe cheap practicality just appeals to oldsters while the kids are blowing money on mustangs. i dunno.

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