I'd be ok paying a $500 premium for Subaru > Scion. If it were a situation like the "Saabaru", I'd happily take the $5k savings for the cheaper one. I bought

I'd be ok paying a $500 premium for Subaru > Scion. If it were a situation like the "Saabaru", I'd happily take the $5k savings for the cheaper one. I bought a Lincoln LS loaded for $21500 when they were discontinuing it in UAE, and got basically an S-Type ($50k or so in UAE at the time). Brands have some value. Especially if it influences where you get your post-sale support. It's just not an infinite value.