Sure Scions are cute, quirky, and in the case of the FR-S, sporty, but nobody inks a deal on a car from Toyota’s youth brand with heavy hauling in mind. So it’s entirely logical that, according to a recent report in Automotive News, the maker is hatching a plan to help owners handle the load when it becomes too large for their small Scion to bear.
Called the Scion Swap program, the plan is an exclusive promotion offered to customers purchasing or leasing a new Scion vehicle through participating dealers between January 1, 2014 and June 30, 2014. Presently limited to three markets—Miami, Houston, and Phoenix—Scion Swap will be rolled out in more of the nation’s 1000 Scion dealers if it proves to be successful.
Basically, Scion Swap gives owners of Scion vehicles no-charge, limited rentals of a larger Toyota when the need for more passenger or cargo capacity arises. Currently, rentals include the Camry, Sienna, Tacoma, and Prius (though additional models may be available at some dealers), so whether you need to haul the whole gang to catch grandma’s Jai alai match or simply don‘t wish to taint your xB’s interior with garden mulch or drywall dust, the plan has the right vehicle for you. Reservations are channeled through the Scion Swap website. But before you start planning that 14-day peyote-fueled Burning Man excursion, know that there are some restrictions: The loans are limited to ten days per calendar year, and Scion owners will be responsible for fuel and any damages. Additionally, some dealers may have mileage restrictions.
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In the same AN report, Doug Murtha, Scion Vice President, noted that the program is currently undergoing “a systems check with dedicated software to enable the process,” adding that the software is “working really well.” Murtha also stated that the automaker will examine consumer take rates and market interest: “It’s still really small scale. How it shakes out, we still don’t know.”
The way we see it, both brands stand to benefit from the deal: Scion gets a sales tool that it can spin as a value-added customer benefit, and Toyota gets a little extra exposure to a clientele that may have otherwise sidestepped the brand when the time comes to move up from their Scion. It’s hard to believe that the effort will be enough to revive Scion’s sales numbers, but simply knowing that the free loan of larger vehicle is available when needed might help a few hesitant Scion FR-S shoppers sign on the dotted line.