Auto review: Passion for the road less traveled with the 2013 Scion FR-S

Most people have heard of Scion. The brand has been made popular over the last decade by the “Toaster,” otherwise known as the Scion xB. While “square” was in for some others have found a love affair with the Scion tC, a personalized coupe offered at an affordable price. The real key to the Scion brand isn’t the price, but instead the individuality that forms the foundation of the brand. With Scion you have the ability to personalize your car with only the options you want; right in the showroom. That sense of the car being one with the owner is in part what has made Scion successful in the U.S. with the youngest buyer group of any other manufacturer. It is also the foundation that has allowed them to build an owners program that has one of the highest percentages of engagement in the industry.

So why does this matter and how does it play into all-new 2013 Scion FR-S sports car? It’s a journey that started with the basic premise of the Scion brand: Give the customer a car that personifies their values and interests. The FR-S came from a need by Toyota (the parent brand of Scion) to develop a car, “Built by passion not by committee!” They wanted to give their current and new customers the chance to own a car that would ignite a rush of endorphins, while still being functional and obtainable in price.

With the introduction of the 2013 Scion FR-S (sold as a Toyota abroad) Toyota is trying to bring “the sport back to the car.”

What makes the 2013 Scion FR-S special, and a car that I predict will be a success for Scion? It’s the pure sports car design with special attention to functionality for all lifestyles. For $24,200 you are welcomed into the Scion owner family with a classic coupe design, 200-hp, rear-wheel drive, 6-speed manual, 300-watt stereo and a la carte options that turn the basic coupe into a vehicle you may never want to give up. In simple, it is passion personified.

Aside from the outside, the best part of the car is the driving experience. The balance of the car is akin to that of driving a Porsche Cayman.
There are some drawbacks, like if you are six foot you aren’t going to get rear seat passengers behind you in this 2+2 coupe. Also, the interior is going to be familiar to those that are Toyota enthusiasts, but might leave a little to be desired by those looking for the design and style of a Nissan Z or Ford Mustang coupe. That said, the special design team has made it possible to get four full-size tires in the trunk with the backseat folded down; a correlate could be made to enough room to carry my partner and I’s luggage when we travel on vacation.
Going back to the importance of this car; why should it change your life? Whether you like to blend in or announce your arrival, the 2013 Scion FR-S is one of the few cars where you only pay for the options you want and the list is more extensive than any other brand I have experience. And you aren’t just buying a car; you are buying into a community that has been built around expression and individuality with mutual respect for one and other. OK, so the two years maintenance and 28-mpg combined fuel economy (auto) doesn’t hurt either! But imagine being able to buy a car that inspires your own passion and opens the door to another world of experiences and people. Scion has that and the FR-S delivers for anyone looking for a sports car that you can live with day-in and day-out.