What's with the complete lack of official news from scion on the tC? We are about a month out and nothing has changed from 2-3 months ago.

Not to mention, I live in the midwest. xA and xBs are due at the same time as the tC, yet, every lot has a sample A and B already out for climbing in and poking around.

In the meantime, we don't even have an official release of the accessories for the tC, much less a magazine review, working configurator, and especially no test drive vehicle. Is this a sign that Scion is behind and going to miss the June 23 date?

What are your opinions and whose cage do we have to shake to get some official news :!: :?: :evil:

Wouldn't you say its Mid May? Time for the list...i gotta order my options!
Come on Scion...get on the ball!

Maybe this is there marketing approach

I am not sure about other areas, but I have been told by our regional people that we will start receiving our tC's on June 16th. Dealers will not be getting a demo vehicle, though. There are limited numbers of these vehicles, so they are not going to be putting them into rental service.

We have information on the accessories and such, but we haven't even seen the vehicle in person. :?

At our dealership, I am going to try and keep a "house demo" (a vehicle that is not for sale) so that customers can test drive a tC. Everything I have heard about this car tells me it will be awesome, but I want people to be able to see and drive one.

It is frustrating, not to have a TRAC car, both for customers and for dealers!

i went down to longo scion..they said they will have the tc for sale on june 21st..2 days before the initial release date?
lets hope so :D

ive also seen the tc at longo scion once. it was that modified azure pearl with the intake and exhaust. pretty nice and didnt sound like a can.

^^^ Did that tC have a lip and 18s as well?

I really dont know what more there is to state about the tC on here....everyone already knows about it...what the numbers and how much its going to cost....why does it really matter that Toyota isnt slamming every single publication in the world with advertisements of the tC....maybe they want the first individuals who buy it to do there advertising for them....

example....you buy car....you drive car...someone comes up and asks you what it is...you tell them....they go to Toyota dealership...test drive it...like it.....buy it...and it filters down the line

basically the tree effect

I dont know if I'd say theres nothing more to state about it as say theres nothing more to talk about.
We've compared it to many different cars, Some people have sat in it. No one has driven it, styling questions have been asked, everything from lowering it to lambo doors. Colors have been discussed, rims and too. What else is there till a magazine issue comes out?
It was my understanding that in MID May the accessory list would be made public. So this is the week for it to still be considered Mid May. Next week, it'll be late may. I'm getting tired of waiting, but I'm still really excited.
Also, many new people are joining and i've notice that instead of looking through the lists of posts, they just start a new one. So now we have multipul posts of the same question.
I dont know. Soon as the dang car comes out it wont matter anymore....is it July yet?

I was just noting that actually having one on the lot like they do the A and B in the midwest would be the best. But regardless, we don't have an official accessory list with prices, nor pictures (what does the lip look like, anyone?)

It just seems to me that Scion is draging their feet. And dealers are promising delivery on the tC by the 21st? Good. Have they seen a single unit, probably not. But I'll leave that for the dealers to comment on.

Limited in production? YES!!!

And considering that the promotion for this vehicle is as nonexistent as some t-t's on gwenyth paltrow's frontal region, there is no chance that this vehicle will become the next "civic".

Well, maybe, but no time soon. Hopefully, it's true that this vehicle won't be overly produced.

the tC wont be the next civic because the civic has been out for 10+ years. if limited production, even better but i gotta have one though :wink:

I am wondering why no car magazines like Car & Driver or Motor Trend have gotten a ride in this car when a prototype has been available for so long...then again, the same thing happened with the Xb & Xa. Still, Scion is definitely not hitting the marketing strategy right on this one...sure, all of us here know about the Tc here but it seems that most of the people here are car afficiandos...

Eh, as long as I could read an opinion on the car's ride characteristics from some source besides a dealer then I would be content.

I am wondering why no car magazines like Car & Driver or Motor Trend have gotten a ride in this car when a prototype has been available for so long...then again, the same thing happened with the Xb & Xa. Still, Scion is definitely not hitting the marketing strategy right on this one...sure, all of us here know about the Tc here but it seems that most of the people here are car afficiandos...

Eh, as long as I could read an opinion on the car's ride characteristics from some source besides a dealer then I would be content.

Yeah, I agree. I think Scion would be selling a ton of cars if the advertising was present. The xA and xB have been available in Virginia since FEB and I hardly see any advertising for the vehicles. I guess lucky for us, we might be able to get our tCs w/o much wait.

Kevin

I went online and spoke live with Scion. Heres the convo,

Zion: How may I help you today?
Ron: When are we going to see the release of the accessory list for the Tc?
Zion: This should be online on the 1st week of June.
Ron: does that also apply to the online builder?
Ron: hello? >
Zion: That's right, also applicable to the Online Configurator.
Ron: thankyou much. I hope the Tc lives up to the hype
Zion: Sure, thanks for your interest, Ron!

So thats that.

I went online and spoke live with Scion. Heres the convo,

Zion: How may I help you today?
Ron: When are we going to see the release of the accessory list for the Tc?
Zion: This should be online on the 1st week of June.
Ron: does that also apply to the online builder?
Ron: hello? >
Zion: That's right, also applicable to the Online Configurator.
Ron: thankyou much. I hope the Tc lives up to the hype
Zion: Sure, thanks for your interest, Ron!

So thats that.

Thanks. I have also found using the Scion "on line chat" to be useful. Get answer NOW! Hopefully they know what they are talking about. It will be interesting after say June 18th to see if certain dealers are getting the tC PRIOR to the June 23rd launch date.

Kevin

Limited in production? YES!!!

And considering that the promotion for this vehicle is as nonexistent as some t-t's on gwenyth paltrow's frontal region, there is no chance that this vehicle will become the next "civic".

Well, maybe, but no time soon. Hopefully, it's true that this vehicle won't be overly produced.

I chated with one of the Scion Reps and this was the conversation.

Troy: Hello. How may I assist you?
Robert: Troy, I was woundering how long the TC will be in production.
Robert: I have heard roumors about limited production.
Troy: The tC will be available for atleast the next 2 years...
Troy: We do not have information beyond this point for tC availability.
Robert: Any idea when the S/C will be release to the dealers?
Troy: It will be fall to winter of this year.
Robert: Cool. Thanks for the help.

Come on people.

There are only a couple Tc's in the states so far. These cars were the first couple produced. Some are show cars, others have been modified like the "scion Evolution tc" that was at Longo.

These cars are not just sitting in some warehouse waiting to be shiped everywhere. Toyota's goal is to have 0 inventory, that means they don't want to be paying for the space nessary to house all these cars.

The first ship real shipment of Tc's will be ariving in Portland Oregon on May 31st. One of my Father's old co workers is part of Toyota USA's supply chain & distrabution.

The cars will be taken off the ship and accessories will be put on them at port. Then they'll be shipped to dealerships for National rollout June 23rd. It is possible that some dealerships may get Tc's before June 23rd and may even sell them before then, however, they can not report the sales until after the national rollout.

Come on people.

There are only a couple Tc's in the states so far. These cars were the first couple produced. Some are show cars, others have been modified like the "scion Evolution tc" that was at Longo.

These cars are not just sitting in some warehouse waiting to be shiped everywhere. Toyota's goal is to have 0 inventory, that means they don't want to be paying for the space nessary to house all these cars.

The first ship real shipment of Tc's will be ariving in Portland Oregon on May 31st. One of my Father's old co workers is part of Toyota USA's supply chain & distrabution.

The cars will be taken off the ship and accessories will be put on them at port. Then they'll be shipped to dealerships for National rollout June 23rd. It is possible that some dealerships may get Tc's before June 23rd and may even sell them before then, however, they can not report the sales until after the national rollout.

That still doesn't explain why none of the prototypes haven't been even previewed by a major auto review magazine...or that hardly any advertising besides a two page spread in Car & Driver this month has been done. Sure, I understand that there isn't any dealer demos because that seems logical being that it is a month away from launch...but I honestly haven't seen many cars come this close to launch without the automotive journalists not getting their hands on one. Underground marketing is one thing but I have to say that Scion isn't doing themselves a favor by excluding such an important segment...

Another conversation.,..
You guys need to use the chat thing on www.scion.com

Dylan: Anything else I can do for you?
Dylan: My pleasure...
Ron: yea...can you explain the reason why, unlike many many other car releases, there has been very little in the way of magazine previews and other tests?
Dylan: We are using gorilla marketing which is an under the radar strategy.
Ron: I see...been successful?
Dylan: Yes, actually. It has worked really well.

I get the feeling that R&T, MW and most definately C&D are domestic cheerleaders (hence all the talk about the colbolt, srt, etc.). Even if they do support an import car it is usually a well established and mainstream one like honda or toyota. Eventho scion is toyota, I think that scion's target audience is younger and hipper than that of the average audience of said magazines. The magazines are try'n to fix this with their new side magazines, boost and such. We prolly will something in these soon.

^^^ they are also euro cheerleaders.

I get the feeling that R&T, MW and most definately C&D are domestic cheerleaders (hence all the talk about the colbolt, srt, etc.). Even if they do support an import car it is usually a well established and mainstream one like honda or toyota. Eventho scion is toyota, I think that scion's target audience is younger and hipper than that of the average audience of said magazines. The magazines are try'n to fix this with their new side magazines, boost and such. We prolly will something in these soon.

Motorweek will probably be airing a review on the tC. Not sure when. They moved the tC before I could take pics. It was at their HQ in Owings Mills, MD along with a Flourescent Green Jeep Unlimited. Motorweek did a review on the xB awhile back. I think the reviewers are waiting to launch the reviews near the launch of the tC. IT may also be a Toyota/Scion disclaimer for them to hush up until the national launch.

scion's marketing strategy with the brand is very similar to the strategy they used for the 2004 Prius. Keep quiet until the release of the car. Don't build up too much hype except with the word of mouth crowd who are naturally excited. When the car is released then BOOM comes the national interest and promotion (to a small degree). As far as production is concerned, they keep the supply < demand, which keeps someone always wanting one and letting the brand survive. It was pretty bold with the Prius, not just for the company but for the advancement in gas-alternative vehicles. Most people assume that electric cars would be small and underpowered. Of course the Prius is Motortrend's car of the year and no one can get one. This will allow them to slowly release the hybrid option throughout the rest of their line. It keep Toyota leading the pack on the technology but it's good globally too. In 2006 the Camry will have a hybrid option, and it's main competitor the Altima will feature the previous generation Toyota hybrid system. THAT'S AWESOME!

I can't wait for the hybrid 1-ton truck next year. 300ft/lb torque @ 0RPM in conjunction with the gas engine. Whew! It'll be a beast.

Motorweek will probably be airing a review on the tC. Not sure when. They moved the tC before I could take pics. It was at their HQ in Owings Mills, MD along with a Flourescent Green Jeep Unlimited. Motorweek did a review on the xB awhile back. I think the reviewers are waiting to launch the reviews near the launch of the tC. IT may also be a Toyota/Scion disclaimer for them to hush up until the national launch.

i watch motorweek every weekend. im gonna keep on watching untill the tC is shown hehe