We were privileged enough to be invited to Scion HQ and get a hands on walk-around the FR-S last month.  This month we get to drive it.  For three hours on Monday, May 7 starting at 6:00 pm, Guelph Scion is getting the only FR-S in Canada for staff and VIP test drives.  From all of the positive reviews of those who have driven it there’s a lot the FR-S has to live up to.  Journalists across the globe have praised the FR-S, saying “It’s possibly the best car Toyota’s ever built,” to simply “Buy one.”  It isn’t easy to impress people who test drive cars for a living all day, every day.  If the FR-S is even half as good as they promise it will be the front runner for affordable rear-wheel sports cars in the world.

Feel free to call anytime for up to date info on the FR-S arrival, or to schedule a test drive.  We’ll happily provide napkins to wipe up any drool upon first sight of the game changing FR-S.

There’s nothing better than kicking off your snow tires, rolling down the windows and heading for the country, the shore, the mountains.  Basically anywhere that isn’t the stuffy corner you’ve been snowed into for the last five months or so.  And what better way to do it than in a sports car that doesn’t break the bank on price or gas.  Not only can you go farther, but you can actually afford to stay there a while.  The Scion tC and the tantalizing, soon to arrive FR-S, are both designed with normal, every day, non-millionaire type folks in mind.  The tC starts loaded for just under 22000, and the FR-S will start just below 26000, as we found out much to our excitement last week.  As a result, the pre-orders for the initial FR-S models are going fast.

We’ve made it our personal mission this summer to make Scion a household name.  Not only will we be out and about in the community, we’ll also be organizing fun events for our current and prospective customers alike.  Please feel free to stop by, call, email,smoke signal or carrier pigeon any questions to us, or just come on by and say hello if you see us out and about.  Only one of us bites.  You’ll have to guess who.

To be honest, we weren’t sure how the iQ would be received at first.  While we knew it was a solid,well built vehicle, it is so unique there was some concern that customers would be reluctant to embrace it.  While it doesn’t happen often, I am proud to admit we were wrong.  The most common reaction to the iQ at first glance is mirth.  Men especially like to doubt the potential of the little devil.  In the end, however, everyone walks away for a new found respect for the mighty iQ.  Comments we have received have ranged from general ”cute, fun, exciting, cool and  surprising,” to the more articulate “peppy, nimble, loaded and roomy.”  That last one might catch you by surprise.  That’s okay, it did that to all of us.  People are always shocked by just how much space the world’s smallest four passenger car actually has inside.  It is meant to be a commuter vehicle with an emphasis on fuel savings, but Scion doesn’t feel that should impact on comfort.  Nor should it impact value.  This is not a bare bones vehicle.  Far from it in fact.  All Scions come equipped with Pioneer audio systems matched with steering wheel audio controls, as well as bluetooth, air conditioning, power windows and locks and much, much more.  That’s probably why Consumer Reports gave the iQ their highest rating for owner cost.

If you happen to be in the Stone Road Mall through March or April, please feel free to take a peek at the iQ we parked in there just this morning.  I am pleased to say that we hadn’t even finished dusting it off and locking it up before we were being approached by curious onlookers so we expect the interest to continue building.  All we ask is that you wipe any nose prints you leave behind off the glass.

Have a great spring folks.

Generally January and February are quiet months in the auto industry.  Something about blizzards and roaming polar bears keeps people away from the lot.  This year has been quite the exception for us however.  We’ve been swamped as of late.  Our first couple of iQ’s have been adopted into loving homes and there are still more on the way.  We’ve almost cleared out of our 2011 models thanks to a healthy customer incentive from Scion Canada.  Not to mention all of the buzz surrounding the upcoming relaesae of the FR-S.  I recently had to move the FR-S poster away from my desk because my drool was constantly shorting out my keyboard.  The biggest news of the month, however, is the release and iminent arrival of the Limited Edition xD’s and xB’s.

Each year Scion does a limited run of each of their lines.  They kicked off the year with the High Voltage tC, which featured a custom high voltage yellow paint job with matching interior, and TRD body kit and blacked out alloy rims to name a few of the upgrades.  Now we are ready to show of the Blizzard edition xD and the Hot Lava xB.  Both have custom paint and matching interiors as the tC did, and both have limited edition badging as well.  The Blizzrd xD also has a colour keyed centre console and a beautiful two tone premium seat fabric.  The Hot Lava xB has even more, including a hood mounted Scion logo that actually lights up when the vehicle’s keyless entry is activated, as well as a custom front grill that spells out Scion, of course.  To see more about these Limited Edition rides, please click on the links below.  Please remeber that there are only a few of these beauties making their way to Canada, so if you’re interested in checking them out, well, the early bird gets the sweet ride after all.

http://www.scion.ca/scion/vehicles/xb/features-benefits/rs

http://www.scion.ca/scion/vehicles/xd/features-benefits/rs

Guelph Scion has been extended a VIP invite to the annual Frosty Mug event, which will be going on during the game.  While we’re pretty sure the invite was a typo, who are we to decline.  Especially when the invitations have the words “Chill it and Fill it,” printed in bold.  All we can say is, “Yes please.”  That makes our goals at the event twofold.  First is to watch the Gryphon’s mash Laurier’s team into a fine paste.  The second is to make certain we get invited back next year.  Might be we even get to hand out some swag and have some fun with the crowd while we’re there.

See you for the puck drop.

The first of our new offerings and available now is the Scion iQ.  There has been quite alot of buzz surrounding the release of the iQ, and with good reason.  The bang for your buck with this car is astounding.  So much so, it earned the highest value rating from Consumer reports as well.  Pint size cars like the iQ don’t often come loaded with features such as Bluetooth, Pioneer Audio Systems and USB audio ports, to name a few, but the iQ has all of that and more.  Often times, cars in the subcompact category are thought of as underpowered.  The iQ is a welcome exception to the rule.  With a 1.3 Litre engine, coupled with a seamless CVT transmission, the mighty little iQ has plenty of get up and go.  Please accept our formal invitation to strap one on for a test drive.  Any giggling like a school girl with excitement will be kept confidential.

The second offering is anticipated to be a summer release.  We’re not sure if Scion is entirely to thank for bringing the FR-S to North America.  Having seen specs and videos on the FR-S, I’m pretty sure the Car Gods above deserve some of the credit as well.  The FR-S is no longer simply a concept designed to peak our interest.  It is, in fact, a reality.  As a co-operative design by Toyota and Subaru, there is no doubt that the build quality of the FR-S will be of the highest possible standard.  Powered by a 2.0 Litre Subaru Boxer engine and rear wheel drive, the FR-S will fill that niche for a Toyota sports car that has been left vacant since the departure of the Supra.  Best of all, rumour has it that the FR-S will reatail under the 30k mark.

With all the doom surrounding the Mayan calendar and the year 2012, we here at Guelph Scion would like to offer some encouragement from a much more viable source; Hollywood.  You see, the world can’t end in 2012 if Marty McFly was able to travel to 2015.  Hopefully that helps.  Please remember, if you see anyone from Guelph Scion out and about this year, hosting events, giving away swag, come on over and say hello.  We’re full of helpful ideas and insights.  Of course, you can just opt for the free stuff instead.

Cheers.

The very morning many of us were waking up in our Toronto hotel rooms, getting ready for day two of our Scion Champion training, it struck.  Over a quick bite before the meeting we stared, slack jawed, shocked and horrified at the images of what was happening in Japan.  While we were all saddened by the human toll of the catastrophe (that’s for a different blog altogether), we were also acutely aware that it was our anticipated inventory that was being washed out to sea.  Sufficed to say, the energy of the remaining day’s training was a little subdued.

It’s pretty obvious that many of us Champions were a little concerned over what the remainder of the year had in store.  With Scion being brand new in Canada, and with a shortage of inventory, some of us speculated that our shiny new jobs would be put on hold while the lion’s share of product would go to quench the thirsty American market.  Thankfully, that day never came.  We plodded ahead with our respective Launch Parties (ours here in Guelph saw over 100 people in attendance).  We gave away concert tickets and swag galore.  Most importantly, we got the word out; and with the continued support of Scion Canada, people came.

During it’s first year in Canada, Scion went on to have six record breaking months for sales.  Bolstered by an aggressive advertising campaign, and Consumer Report’s tip of the hat naming Scion the most reliable automotive brand, with the xB named as the best car under $21000, word of mouth continued to spread.  At Guelph Scion, we’re like ducks on a pond.  Calm and smooth on the surface, but with our feet kicking like mad as we scramble to fill customer orders.  Teamwork abounds as dealerships work with one another, while Scion Canada offers parental advice and assistance where possible, to make certain the customer is happy; and more importantly, stays that way.  Yes siree, collectively we turned those early spring lemons into a lovely year end lemonade.

With 2012 fast approaching, we here at Guelph Scion plan to meet the new year with high hopes and open arms.  We have in hand, three of the best built vehicles in the universe (Please direct any interstellar challenges to our legal team).  Not only that, but we also have the imminent release of the IQ upon us, as well as the palpable hype surrounding upcoming launch of the FRS.  It’s easy to look forward to the future when you have momentum on your side.  It’s easier to embrace a troubled past when you’ve had someone there to help shoulder the burdens.

This holiday season, if anyone wants to know what I’m grateful for, I’ll tell them, the love of my family, the birth of my son, and the health and happiness of all those I care about.  Deep down inside however, in the farthest reaches of my heart, in that little corner where I’ve always saved a little room for 80′s music, pork rinds, and funny cat videos; I’m going to open up a little more space.  That, my friends, is where you’ll find my undying gratitude and adoration for my sweet, sweet, sugar coated love… Scion.

Thank you, and Happy Holidays to all.