Scion Won’t Tell First 86 Buyers How Much The FR-S Costs

[import_nation]

Scion hoped to capitalize on the buzz over its new Scion FR-S sports car by offering the first cars to 86 randomly selected individuals who applied at a Scion website. Great idea… except the winners still know nothing about the car they're buying. Scion VP Jack Hollis announced the "Scion First 86" contest at last week's Detroit Auto Show. People applied yesterday at scionfirst86.com for a chance to be one of the first 86 owners or get some undisclosed "special prizes."
As part of the deal you had to select a local dealer, which is a clever way by Scion to judge geographic desire for the new two-door — as well as build buzz.
A Jalopnik reader — who we'll call John to protect his identity — entered and was one of the individuals selected. He was sent the email above and, according to John, was called by Scion corporate. Here's how he remembers the conversation:

Scion: "Congratulations, you're one of our First 86! You won the ability to
buy the FRS early!!"
John: "How early?"
Scion: "I'm sorry, we don't know that."
John: "Okay, can you tell me the price?"
Scion: "The price has not been announced."
John: "What options for the car will I have?"
Scion: "I don't know the options either."

So Scion is asking buyers to put $500 down for a car without knowing how much it'll cost, when they can get it, or what options it'll have other than the pre-selected color and transmission.
Sounds like every luxury car pre-order process we've ever encountered.
And yes, that's for a Scion. The car brand that's supposed to be cheaper than Toyota.
I feel like our world's turned upside-down.
But despite all the hilarious conditions that come with being one of the first 86 buyers, John is still thinking he's going to put down a deposit. He wants the car that badly.

[protobuf]

The deposit is refundable right up until the last minute, including being able to test drive the car, so it doesn't seem like a huge risk to me.

[FreakinReally-Sweet]

i agree the risk in the whole process is nothing. i already put my deposit down and its refundable so im not worried at all. im the first on the list in the at my dealership in socal and am so excited. as for the price...they say 25000 and i doubt the car is going to be more then 26500 at the most.

[FR_S_Fan]

It sucks that we still have no word on pricing but all the speculation about Scion FR-S pricing being around $25k seems right to me, just can't see it being priced any higher and toyota expecting to sell it.

[hatchi]

Putting down 500 down is easy way to hold a car but for a price we still dont know is an issue, what bothers me is they already have the cost and price numbers why must they be so annoying about it and not just tell us the price numbers?

[JohnnyP]

I don't know that they actually DO know the price yet. It seems to me that there's no reason to hold back at this point. They are probably still trying to figure out a way to sell it for as little as possible but with a list of standard features. Anyone else find it strange that the production version shown in November/December had a stadard radio, while the most recent release at the Detroit Auto Show had the "Bespoke" system with a Navigation Headunit. If "Bespoke" is standard on the Fr-S, then do all the cars get navigation or does it function with a standard radio too? I think they want to cram as much stuff in this car as possible and still sell it for under $25,000 ..... they're just figuring out how to do it. Now that Subaru has released info on their trim levels and what they include, this next step should be a lot easier for Scion.

[kmbkk]

I think they have a firm estimate on the price and are trying to decide what all they are going to include in the car, hence adding the BeSpoke system.

[import_nation]

I do understand the frustration of all those who are waiting on pricing though. Scion better offer official pricing soon or there's gonna be a RIOT!