[ToddMS]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ennudMsXE&feature=youtu.be&a

This guy claims the iM is superior to the Corolla. I would love for Scion to have that designation for the iM.

 

[S-Factor]

Which Corolla is he comparing the iM to?

 

[Briggs]

Isn't that just saying that the Auris is better than the Corolla? I just don't think it's that big a deal. They are both made by the same brand and the Corolla is a fine vehicle.

 

[bicepeak]

FWIW....The woman who was driving the car while I rode couldn't get over how much nicer it was than her current Corolla.

 

[ToddMS]

Which Corolla is he comparing the iM to?

My guess is he is referring to the newest Corolla which had a body style change in 2014.

Isn't that just saying that the Auris is better than the Corolla? I just don't think it's that big a deal. They are both made by the same brand and the Corolla is a fine vehicle.

As a current Scion owner and having several friends that I have met through Scion car culture, it makes a huge difference to me. Scion's numbers are way down since the peak in 2006 and there has been talk of tanking the brand. I would hate to see that and miss out on the chance to meet more people due to the car culture. I want Scion to sell more iM's than Corolla's. Toyota has enough good press and it's about time Scion gets some. I understand that they are both made by Toyota, I just don't want the public opinion of Scion to be similar to that of Saturn or Pontiac.

 

[DBB]

Isn't that just saying that the Auris is better than the Corolla? I just don't think it's that big a deal. They are both made by the same brand and the Corolla is a fine vehicle.

so then you might as well buy a corolla? LOL...

The iM is already goign to lose big time to the corolla so if they can game a few more sales by getting the journos to say yes its better then a corolla.... well then maybe they can siphon off some of that volume into the brand that dearly needs it...

 

[igs]

iM = double wishbone rear suspension

Corolla = torsion beam rear suspension

Not sure why the two are even being compared?

 

[Briggs]

It just seems like Scion wouldn't purposely compare itself to Toyota. They would rather say they are better than a brand they are actually wanting to compete with. Stealing sales from Toyota is basically cannibalization.

 

[DBB]

It just seems like Scion wouldn't purposely compare itself to Toyota. They would rather say they are better than a brand they are actually wanting to compete with. Stealing sales from Toyota is basically cannibalization.

then you don't understand how cannibalisation works. Scion can't cannibalise Toyota because its far to small and lacks the brand cache to do so. Toyota can totally consume scion should they want to...

Its different then two mcdonalds located near each other cannibalising their respective same store sales.

For scion to siphon off a couple thousand sales from the Corolla is largely INSIGNIFICANT to the health of Toyota, yet extremely important to the health of scion. And for Toyota its a way to keep consumers around who may not want a relatively uninspiring Corolla. They now have an experimental weapon to try and keep potential buyers out of Mazda 3's and Civic's...

Its a parent and child relationship, not a combative one.

 

[S-Factor]

Isn't Toyota also using Scion as a testing grounds of sorts for the online car ordering option?

 

[bicepeak]

Isn't Toyota also using Scion as a testing grounds of sorts for the online car ordering option?

I think they are testing that with Lexus too.

 

[Briggs]

then you don't understand how cannibalisation works. Scion can't cannibalise Toyota because its far to small and lacks the brand cache to do so. Toyota can totally consume scion should they want to...

Its different then two mcdonalds located near each other cannibalising their respective same store sales.

For scion to siphon off a couple thousand sales from the Corolla is largely INSIGNIFICANT to the health of Toyota, yet extremely important to the health of scion. And for Toyota its a way to keep consumers around who may not want a relatively uninspiring Corolla. They now have an experimental weapon to try and keep potential buyers out of Mazda 3's and Civic's...

Its a parent and child relationship, not a combative one.

I think its a matter of wording though. Its really not that the iM is "superior" to the Corolla, it's more that the iM offers something different than the Corolla that may be better suited to different customers' needs. The two vehicles aren't targeting the exact same type of buyer.

The conversation would be:

"I don't think the Corolla is for me because of x,y,and z." --> "Well, there is the Scion iM that might be more what you are looking for."

Not:

"I'm interested in the Corolla." --> "Well, you could go with the Corolla, but the Scion iM is a superior vehicle actually. Have you looked at that?"

 

[DBB]

I think its a matter of wording though. Its really not that the iM is "superior" to the Corolla, it's more that the iM offers something different than the Corolla that may be better suited to different customers' needs. The two vehicles aren't targeting the exact same type of buyer.

The conversation would be:

"I don't think the Corolla is for me because of x,y,and z." --> "Well, there is the Scion iM that might be more what you are looking for."

Not:

"I'm interested in the Corolla." --> "Well, you could go with the Corolla, but the Scion iM is a superior vehicle actually. Have you looked at that?"

THe iM is superior to the Corolla in the ways that Scion shoppers are after. YeS?

Ostensibly yes, they are in the same buying buckets. The Scion shopper may be a bit more of an enthusiast then the Corolla shopper. That's not to say they both can't be interested in the potential of the iM.

A non enthusiast Corolla buyer might not care about double wishbone suspension, but if it ticks boxes in terms of style or practicality...

 

[Gotcha]

I'm sure Toyota is not about to say that one of their vehicles is better than another. They probably just accentuate the strengths of each of their products.

 

[Filmore]

I'm sure Toyota is not about to say that one of their vehicles is better than another. They probably just accentuate the strengths of each of their products.

yes they will if it helps them make a sale. "we think the iM is superior for your needs". Toyota is not likely to say a Honda is better then a Toyota however...

 

[Briggs]

Any good salesperson knows that if one product isn't right for a customer, you should say so, but you should also propose another product that would better fit the customer's needs.

 

[SiM]

Any good salesperson knows that if one product isn't right for a customer, you should say so, but you should also propose another product that would better fit the customer's needs.

Yup, most folks need direction and education on products and if you can be that person, chances are you can get a commission out of what they actually need. Good of its a Scion dealer attached to a Toyota one, but not independent.

 

[ToddMS]

I don't think I have seen an independent Scion dealer. Does that even exist? I have seen independent Lexus or Toyota dealers, but not a standalone Scion lot.

 

[bicepeak]

I don't think I have seen an independent Scion dealer. Does that even exist? I have seen independent Lexus or Toyota dealers, but not a standalone Scion lot.

I've never seen one....maybe a separate building....but next door to Toyota.

 

[SiM]

I don't think I have seen an independent Scion dealer. Does that even exist? I have seen independent Lexus or Toyota dealers, but not a standalone Scion lot.

Always seen them on the same lot but though there might be the possibility one might be standalone.