[TartanJack]

I would agree that Toyota has mishandled the Scion brand, as well as completely mishandled the xB. The 2nd Gen xB is an amazing mix of performance, practical interior size, and compact exterior. We all know that, while most don't.
It SHOULD be a huge selling vehicle with a huge market. In fact, for my family of 5, with 2 just under 10 and one 2, the B is our PREFERRED travel vehicle, OVER the wife's Dodge Caravan. For a fam of 4, it's an ideal family vehicle!
Yet, most in that segment wouldn't even THINK of looking at one unless one of us TELLS them to do so.

The Scion brand itself is so mishandled that some of my OFFICIAL documentation says "Toyota xB," some says "Toyota Scion," and only SOME says "Scion xB." Toyota can't even systematically categorize the brand as a distinct brand within it's own bureaucracy.
Also, there are leadership issues WITHIN the Scion brand itself, which affects the regional marketing and "mythos" of the brand. For example, Mike Kennedy was head in the Southeast and did a GREAT job, while his replacement doesn't do nearly as well. Accordingly, the Scion brand has suffered notably in the region as a result.

I would agree that Toyota has dropped the ball on the Scion brand AND the xB. That said, it seems that Toyota is presently readjusting their brands with Lexus as the "high end," "Toyota" as the common, simple (plain) models, and Scion being the "odd" and "interesting" models.
I hope the interesting models continue and manages to get Scion brand managers and leadership who understand what they have and make the most of it.

 

[TartanJack]

I've been an advocate on brighter, bolder colors for years- ever since i got mine and joined this forum. I pushed for the red and Voodoo Blue publicly back in 08, but as STOCK colors and not just RS ones. I also think they need a yellow (like used on the new tCs), bright red, brigher blue, a bold green-green, and then a rotating very bright hue as a stock 1 or 2 year run color (orange, monster-green, pink, etc).
The colors should be like the bold late 40s Woodies and 60s/70s muscle car bright bold hues.

My point with the kids was the size and practicality in a, relatively small package that is also a BLAST to drive is missing from any existent Scion or xB ads, but that IS the essence of the xB.
It is a vehicle for the person who wants to haul their gear and have fun while doing it. For some, that is bikes or boards. for others it is stereo equipment, for others it is family. The 72 cubic feet (seats flat) cargo bay in the small package was a HUGE selling point to me.


Now, on the brand name, at one point EVERY brand was new and "made-up," even the greats. They had to create that heritage through time. Ford started making mass-produced cars when no one knew what a Ford was. Then, they created the top-end "Lincoln" line originally linked tightly to the Ford name to give it relevance. Mercury was created in the 1940s as a mid-model between the low-end Ford and top-end Lincoln, as a completely board-room decision to fight GMs segmented and "stepped" brand set-up. The Mercury legacy and "Crazy about a Mercury" mythos came about through neat cars and performance backing them up.
All three of the core "Ford Family" brands were made-up at some point and had to CREATE a legacy, heritage, and mythos around them. Later, they all became the stuff of song and "coolness" at points in history (see "Hot Rod Lincoln" for example). The Mercury brand died of irrelevance once the geniuses at Ford made them simply rebadged and SLIGHTLY refaced versions of Fords at a higher price. Also, the price-points of both the Ford and Lincoln lines overlapped Mercury entirely They were no longer different enough to justify the separate brand.
The same thing happened to Oldsmobile and Pontiac and, finally, Saturn at GM. All three built their brands on unique and interesting vehicles and ended up selling rebadged vehicles to close to what Chevy sold without enough "uniqueness" to make them stand out for the buyer.

My issue is that Toyota never managed to be consistent and work with enthusiasts to make the brand differentiated enough to stand alone on its own mythos.
Lack of dealer incentives didn't help much either . . .
Many didn't push Scions or care much about them as other than the occasional extra sell.


I will say this, if it wasn't for the xB, I wouldn't have gotten a Toyota. If no xB, I wouldn't have appreciated Toyota and will NOW consider one in the future. The "opening the Toyota family to new customers" worked on me.

 

[TartanJack]

Unfortunately, yep.

More bright colors should be STOCK!

 

[TartanJack]

My house is brick with red shutters . . .
I like color.

(The silver was the best option for my original plan to repaint mine green or blue. But, the economy and job issues intervened and I can't afford my planned paint. I figured the exposed silver parts in the engine bay would just look "metal" . . . )

 

[TartanJack]

Hehehehe

I started it . . .
(With color issue)

Honestly, though, I've grown to appreciate most of the xB shades. The Brown (Blackberry Crush) is my least, as I just don't like brown- others, including my in-laws love it.
My favorite xB colors are Stingray, Red, and Voodoo.
Yet, a Teal or Stingray would be ideal bases for a wood xB Woody! (Maybe, Blackberry Crush or Dark Charcoal (BSP) too.)

 

[TartanJack]

Army rock is more of a tan. Not for me, but not bad looking- esp. with the right accents or on an Army or Marines (military) tribute.

 

[TartanJack]

Enough on my personal aversion to brown in fabrics and paint . . .
WE NEED BRIGHTNESS!!!

 

[TartanJack]

Now, whether the xB is an ideal or a "wrong" vehicle for the Scion brand is a different question . . .
I think BOTH have been miss-handled and done so with a serious lack of focus on either building the OR making the most of a great product (the xB).

If the xB was sold as a Toyota, I would still have looked at it. I'm weird and have an odd hatred of sedans as "half-compromised" appliances. I like vehicles that do what they are designed for exceptionally well. That includes sports cars small/cheap (Miata, Porsche, Lotus, MG, Austin-Healey, etc) and expensive (Lambo, Ferrari, Jaguar C, D, and E), off-roaders (Jeep CJ and Land Cruiser FJ), and even small Euro-Vans (Divco U, Austin A35 Countryman, Morris Minor Traveller, Commer Cob. Lloyd Kombi, VW Bus gen 1-3, and more). I also would LOVE a WRX wagon/hatch.
The xB2 IS one of those, by any brand or name.

 

[TartanJack]

Toyota has entered into a stock arrangement with Fuji Heavy Insustries wherein Toyota "controls" FHI's automotive division as part of the Toyota Group of companies.
Subaru are pioneers and advocates of AWD, so you are likely to see more and more AWD in Toyota vehicles and also Toyota stuff on Subarus.

 

[TartanJack]

Scion may have changed too since then.
Back in 2008, Scion would FINE dealers for variation from Pure Pricing (up or down). Since the car sales have gone to crap, several years on, things aren't how they were then.