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Seems like a much better deal on the xB. Sure you dont get to negotiate but your overall expenses for what you are getting is so MUCH better. You have to move to the XRS Matrix to get the same equipment and spend thousands more for you to feel like you get a deal. Even at the 4.9% interest rate currently a Matrix base is the same overall price basically as a xB except you get a Corolla Motor instead of Camry not to mention the lact of features. I know I sell Both cars.
Honda Element is $2000 More has 2 half doors, Listed as SUV for insurance and gets 5 mpg less.
For anyone that doenst know this - Scion builds all the vehicles the same except for the exterior color and transmission of the vehicle. By doing this they can build the car for $3-4000 cheaper than your typical car that has a lot of variations and inflating building costs. Scion cuts this figure out which is generally used for buying down the interest rate and/or to negotiate with. So overall you can buy a car faster and cheaper when you go with a Scion. For those that want to negotiate feel free, but you wont get the same money value when you buy another car.
Scion also is rated the most reliable Brand of Cars on the road today by Consumer Reports. Scion xD is the Most Reliable car on the road period. Scion xB and tC are a Top Ten best Reselling vehicle on the road today. They are all made by Toyota in Japan so uncertainty of quality and reliability is taken care of when you say Toyota.
I can go on for days and show lots of reasons to buy a Scion over any other car on the market today not just cause I sell but for the fact they are the best deal on the market today. From time of purchase to resell of the vehicle.
I’m not going to dispute that the Scion is a good value at MSRP. It certainly is. For my needs though the incentives that are available right now and in this buying environment (one of the best ever for buyers), the Scion starts to lose some of that value.
Let me give you some numbers comparing the Matrix and xB. (I used the Matrix base, because I wanted the better gas mileage of the 1.8; both are 5sp for my comparison.)
This is what I’m looking for in a car, your mileage will vary:
Price at dealer
Matrix (base) (prices assume 4.8% over invoice, the same markup as the xB)
With stability control & cruise: $17,260.56
add power package $18,090
add upgraded stereo to that $18,279.22
(included is all weather package, which is a required option on Matrix, which adds $269 to invoice)
Scion (base): $16,420
At straight MSRP, it’s clear the xB is a better value, but here’s where things get interesting. Now factor in the incentives that Toyota is offering right now: $750 rebate or .9%/1.9% financing (36/48 mos.) (For my example, I used the financing, as it offered the best deal.)
Total cost of the car only, including the financing (does not include sales tax, plates, tags or dealers fees; I’m looking at a straight apples to apples comparison)
Matrix with stability control, cruise:
$17,501.10 (36 mos. @.9%)
$17,938.42 (48 mos. @ 1.9%)
With power package added:
$18,342.68 (36 mos. @ .9%)
$18,801.04 (48 mos. @ 1.9%)
With upgraded stereo added:
$18,533.95 (36 mos. @ .9%)
$18,997.09 (48 mos. @ 1.9%)
Scion
$17,849.40 (36 mos. @ 5.5%)
$18,329.82 (48 mos. @ 5.5%)
(I got my financing at AAA for 5.5%)
For me, the base Matrix is a good deal, even in comparison to the xB. You can get one with stability control and cruise for cheaper than the xB. You also get better gas mileage (saving $114.72/year at 12,000 miles a year, $1.719 a gallon). What I lose with the Matrix is power windows/locks, no Ipod connector (but you have the aux. connector), no steering wheel audio control and no trip computer. I could certainly live without those conveniences.
The Pontiac Vibe is also a contender. The red tag prices for a car with air conditioning are close to the xB ($16,681), but you don’t get cruise control. The Vibe does offer the better fuel economy (with the 1.8), satellite radio ($449 extra on the xB), 1 year of Onstar and a 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.
In normal times the Scion would offer your best deal. With the incentives being offered, it may not be such a clear cut choice, depending on your needs. I would agree though that for most people, that want the power accessories and the bigger engine, the xB, makes more sense.
I am looking at 2009 manual transmisstion versions of xB, xD, and Honda Fit.
I would also like to look at 2010 Kia Soul and 2010 Mazda3 hatchback, both coming out by April.
In my area of southwest Florida, the 3 local dealerships charge $500, $600, or $700 non-negotiable (by Florida law) dealer fees.
When you combine these dealer fees with the "true price" Scion, it really makes the Scion pricing very unattractive.
How long can this last? Toyota just idled all Japanese factories. My closest dealership has 10+ xB sitting there (all automatics though).
Toyota just announced new incentives for the Matrix ($1000 cash back). No incentives for Scion. Maybe sales aren't that bad with Scion.
You are much better with a trade in (that they can overallow), or possibly negotiating more of their overpriced add-ons for much less money. Obviously if they want to remain consistent with their dealer fees, just get 5-8 bids towards the end of the month with all dealer fees included. $1000 allowance for a junker barely worth $100 and 1800 worth of overpriced add-ons for $300 is about $1500 or so off msrp. And the factory sees a sales price of sticker.
Good luck
--jjf
Scion was designed to be a low inventory pure price model, and the brand was designed for upturns and down in the economy. Check out the kbb.com trade in value of an 08 scion with avg miles. This is what your 09 will be worth in 12 months. A 17000 08 scion may have a trade in of 12000 or so. $5000 is a lot to eat to drive a funny box 1st year, especially in a recession. For the Tc you need at least $2000 off (one way or another) to be competitive with other vehicles, the hipster 20 something advertising only going so far (and getting old after 3 years)
The toyota matrix, pontiac vibe, nissan versa, may be more competitive. Perhaps even the honda fit or the 09 mazda3 sport hatch(definitely check that out) for $16000 or less would be killer.
Good luck
--jjf
I had no trade and the Scion manager knocked the $600 off the MSRP and threw in the mats for free. I bought the cargo net and the fogs at full price but got the alloy wheels for 1/2 price to seal the deal.
BTW, it's a great little commuter as I now have 95,000 miles on it and still going strong with only regular maintenance. FWIW, I don't like the redesigned Box, and will look at the Kia Soul next year as my next driver.
Took a tad of effort and pushing my salesman (who was just following the rules) to ask for the discount. They had to call a Toyota/Scion district supervisor who did okay the discount.
Not a huge amount but, hey, it was my $775.00
Do a little browsing around and find the info to help in your own negotiations.
Hope this helps.
I took a serious look at both the Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix after calling off my search for an xB at a reasonable price. My local dealers all wanted a $300-600 documentation fee to do the sale.
I eliminated the Matrix because I could not find one locally with the specific options I wanted. The local Toyota dealers did not seem to want to go out of their way to locate a car for me either.
I had much better luck with the Vibe. Two dealers were very willing to work with me and gave me offers of slightly over $16,000 for a compatibly equipped Vibe. Even at that price I think the Scion is worth $400 more to get the convenience features like ipod integration, trip computer, steering wheel controls, etc.
I found a dealer in NY (about 1 and a half hours away) willing to sell me an xB at sticker with a $45 doc. fee. (NY state law caps these fees at $45.) They added on a couple of extra charges at the end for another $50, but I saved about $250 over what I would pay locally and the dealer even delivered the car to my house.
I've had the Scion for a few days now and am very happy with my decision.
It's like going to WalMart and buying $250.00 worth of groceries and when you ask for the receipt itemizing your purchases, they won't give it to you without paying them another $25.00. It's truly a masked markup.
I know what I'm talking about because I worked for a new car dealership for four years. I know, too, that, at least with Ford, there is a 2%-4% dealer "holdback" (of invoice) which is given to the dealer at a later date. There is also an advertising allowance. And if a vehicle fails to sell within its model year, corporate gives the dealer a "carryover allowance"of several hundred dollars to help offset potential loss.
I took the doc fee into consideration when I made my offer, reducing it appropriately.
I have an opportunity to get an 2008 xB with 22k miles on it for $13900 with no doc fees. It is an Auto with premium audio. I couldnt find a better price localy for a preowned but I am wondering if there are better deals to be had on the Fleabay.
2009 MSRP for a similar vehicle is $17659. So it looks like I am getting about a $3800 discount for the 22k miles.. It doesnt seem like that hot a deal but I cant seem to find a better deal locally.
Any opinions would be appreciated.
Excellent
$12,800
Good
$12,050
Fair
$10,675
Considering the car is on sale retail and it is under warranty, it would have to be classified excellent or good. So the dealer is making a neat profit on this.. Hmm perhaps I should shop around.
Good luck
--jjf
Thanks