Doesn't sound to me like they'll necessarily draw the same demographic as that of Scion...

8)
Paul

Allscion -- an e-commerce Website with news and accessories for your Scion vehicles
http://www.allscion.com/store

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060220/SUB/60216041/1003

When American Honda Motor Co. wanted a Scion fighter, it put Christina Ra in charge of consumer research...

Her first order of business with the Fit program was to do clinic work with both youthful and older people. Unlike the Scion xB, which was designed so young people could create their own look with aftermarket equipment, she said Honda customers wanted comfort, convenience and a better-equipped vehicle.

With the U.S. Fit, Honda added a five-speed automatic transmission. Fits sold in other countries are equipped with continuously variable automatics. U.S.-made Fits also have standard side-curtain airbags.

Um... I think Scions are selling pretty well with that "own look with aftermarket equipment" thing and not the "comfort convenience, etc" crap. But you can't get too much more equipped than a tC anyways. Except maybe the side-curtains as standard. Would have been nice. But no biggie.

I'll say it again, I don't see Scion impacted too much by this... but I think sales of the Suzuki Aerio and Chevy Aveo are gonna take a hit!

The Nissan Cube I dig.

The Fit? Ain't no way. :loser:

I have to say, I kinda like the fit... I remember seeing them in Japan and noticing how cool it would be to have them in the USA

Like others, I don't see the Fit detracting from Scion purchases. It's quite plain and boring... very Aveo-ish. Here are a couple pics I got at the Chicago Auto Show:

http://benville.smugmug.com/photos/56823676-M.jpg

http://benville.smugmug.com/photos/56823675-M.jpg

Isn't that a rebadged Aveo? It kinda looks like it.

There's no funk with the Fit. Scions make a statement about who you are. The fit just says you're too cheap to pay for something with style.

I'll say it again, I don't see Scion impacted too much by this... but I think sales of the Suzuki Aerio and Chevy Aveo are gonna take a hit!

I bet you that xA and Yaris sales will be affected by the Fit. . . how much, I don't know.

probobly will see a slight decline...if anything its another big blow to domestics...which are taking a beating but don't seem to care to much.

There's no funk with the Fit. Scions make a statement about who you are. The fit just says you're too cheap to pay for something with style.

I totally agree. That looks no different than anything that's already out there, and makes no difinitive statement. The element, as ugly as it is, has more character than this car.

xA sales decline? I disagree. Toyota can't build them fast enough to fully meet demand, and dealers can't keep them on the lot. Heck, even if a substantial amount of people do buy a Fit rather than wait for an xA, it will make it easier for everyone else to get their Scion.

Mini-minivan?
Doesn't Fit for me.....

xA sales decline? I disagree. Toyota can't build them fast enough to fully meet demand, and dealers can't keep them on the lot. Heck, even if a substantial amount of people do buy a Fit rather than wait for an xA, it will make it easier for everyone else to get their Scion.

I bet you a very LARGE portion of Fit/xA buyers will cross shop. I bet you Honda incentives will steal a few buyers. I bet you that the xA supply isn't so drastically unmatched to the demand that a segment leading competitor (at least compared to the rest of the group, aveo, spectra5, etc) will have zero effect on sales. You could argue that the decline would be small, but zero decline? Supply and demand would beg to differ.

However, if gas prices rise, then I could see the overall demand for this class of cars going up, which in that case sales could increase. But overall market share (for the xA) would drop, with the addition of the Fit.

Like all other Honda designs (sans the new Civic coupe) it's another big boring Yawn. Honda is good at creating cars that do many things right and poor at developing models that have any hint of inspiration and excitement. It's always play it safe for Honda designs. If they Jazzed it up they'd pick up a market share for sure.

It'll steal sales away from the garish Suzuki Aerio and Korean-built Aveo.

Scion's real competitors are or will be the new Civic Coupe vs TC and Nissan's Cube vs xB.

I bet you that xA and Yaris sales will be affected by the Fit. . . how much, I don't know.

Well, considering the Yaris is still rather new, it's hard to tell how the Fit will affect its sales. But the average xA buyer isn't exactly in the same market as the average Fit buyer, there is some crossover however. So I think you'd have to expect some impact.

The Fit does have some nice body kits available for it in Japan that do give it a more aggressive look. But yeah, overall it's pretty boring looking. Why bother being edgy when being boring has sold so many cars for Honda?

With gas prices being what they are these days I think there's room in the market for the Fit and the Scions.