Minsk99
05-06-2004, 07:36 PM
It seems like Toyota's warranty program is not in sync with their marketing strategy.
Clearly the xB is marketed and promoted as a car that can and should be "modified". If you read articles in magazines with Toyota marketing executives they repeatedly state that this car is specifically designed for the younger driver who will want to make the xB an unique and individual expression of their driving needs and aesthetic tastes. To then say that doing so will pretty much make the warranty void is absurd!
I went into my dealership last week and when my sales person saw my aftermarket rims (which are 15" BTW) he gave me the wink and nod and said "I hope you have your stock wheels because if you have any suspension problems your warranty is voided". The whole time I'm looking at the six xB's they have on display out front with 17's and 18's and low profile tires. I asked if they would be under warranty and was told "yes". As if some guy at the dealership can put on a wheel any better then the average bozo. I'm no lawyer, but this seems to violate about a zillion anti-trust laws.
For Toyota to market the box as a highly customizable car, have the dealers sell these aftermarket options and then say that this is the only way not to void the warranty is not acceptable and probably not legal. I just took a second to flip through two issues of the Scion brochure (a.k.a Scion magazine) and the brochure for the car (the PRIMARY MARKETING MATERIALS) is laden with pictures of the xB with all sorts of non-Toyota parts. In fact, there are advertisements from Blitz, Enkei and GReddy to name a few. The ONLY full on pictures of the xB are the SEMA cars that are totally tricked out. I realize that under each picture in small text is: "Vehicles shown are SEMA show cars, modified with non-Genuine Scion parts and accessories. Modifications using non-Genuine parts or accessories may void Scion Warrenty.....bla, bla, bla", but the dealers are selling these very parts. Scion is making the use of these parts the centerpiece of their marketing campaign and are letting these aftermarket part manufacturers advertise in the vehicle brochure.
I wonder how this would all play out in court. The Scion brand is doing very well and most owners are modding at least a little. Toyota knows that any individual, unless they have a lot of money and time on their hands is probably not going to mount a civil warranty case against them. However, if the dealers don't become more forgiving with warranty work, some ambulance chasing law firm could make a bundle on a Scion warranty class action. The Scion brand is a unique one and due to their marketing strategy might make this possible. Almost certain not to happen, but perhaps worth some letters to Toyota USA. Perhaps they will put pressure on their dealers to be more liberal with warranty work. Additionally, a few high profile write-ups in reputable car magazines about the inconsistencies between Toyota’s marketing and warranty policies, might make them change their attitude (at least a little).
Clearly the xB is marketed and promoted as a car that can and should be "modified". If you read articles in magazines with Toyota marketing executives they repeatedly state that this car is specifically designed for the younger driver who will want to make the xB an unique and individual expression of their driving needs and aesthetic tastes. To then say that doing so will pretty much make the warranty void is absurd!
I went into my dealership last week and when my sales person saw my aftermarket rims (which are 15" BTW) he gave me the wink and nod and said "I hope you have your stock wheels because if you have any suspension problems your warranty is voided". The whole time I'm looking at the six xB's they have on display out front with 17's and 18's and low profile tires. I asked if they would be under warranty and was told "yes". As if some guy at the dealership can put on a wheel any better then the average bozo. I'm no lawyer, but this seems to violate about a zillion anti-trust laws.
For Toyota to market the box as a highly customizable car, have the dealers sell these aftermarket options and then say that this is the only way not to void the warranty is not acceptable and probably not legal. I just took a second to flip through two issues of the Scion brochure (a.k.a Scion magazine) and the brochure for the car (the PRIMARY MARKETING MATERIALS) is laden with pictures of the xB with all sorts of non-Toyota parts. In fact, there are advertisements from Blitz, Enkei and GReddy to name a few. The ONLY full on pictures of the xB are the SEMA cars that are totally tricked out. I realize that under each picture in small text is: "Vehicles shown are SEMA show cars, modified with non-Genuine Scion parts and accessories. Modifications using non-Genuine parts or accessories may void Scion Warrenty.....bla, bla, bla", but the dealers are selling these very parts. Scion is making the use of these parts the centerpiece of their marketing campaign and are letting these aftermarket part manufacturers advertise in the vehicle brochure.
I wonder how this would all play out in court. The Scion brand is doing very well and most owners are modding at least a little. Toyota knows that any individual, unless they have a lot of money and time on their hands is probably not going to mount a civil warranty case against them. However, if the dealers don't become more forgiving with warranty work, some ambulance chasing law firm could make a bundle on a Scion warranty class action. The Scion brand is a unique one and due to their marketing strategy might make this possible. Almost certain not to happen, but perhaps worth some letters to Toyota USA. Perhaps they will put pressure on their dealers to be more liberal with warranty work. Additionally, a few high profile write-ups in reputable car magazines about the inconsistencies between Toyota’s marketing and warranty policies, might make them change their attitude (at least a little).