by "LJ909" (lj909)
Published 08/02/2017 at 14:04
by "LJ909" (lj909)
Published 08/02/2017 at 14:04
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STARS: 0
Im thoroughly convinced of that too. The LFA was amazing dont get me wrong. That V10 at redline was something to give you goosebumps.
BUT, I always hated the looks too. It looked dated when it came out. Like something from 2004. Even now 5 years on it looks even more dated. Just look at it:
And it was about 300 grand more than it should have been. Yea it had a hand built V10 that it only got to use but still. Anoos said it best on Kristen Lee’s article: Special engine or not, this is car that delivered 90% of the performance of a Ferrari 458 (Toyota had benchmarked the 430 but took too long in development) for 30% more cost with none of the badge. And most of that cost was I’m pretty sure to recoup the development costs of the engine itself. To me the LFA was a car that you acknowledged but didnt lust after.
Fast forward 5 years and Lexus gives the LC. A downright gorgeous personal luxury coupe in the same vein as an S Class Coupe. But to me its what the LFA should have been. Just look at that interior:
Not only can you get it right under 100 grand if you look hard enough, it doesn’t come with some stupid way of buying it the way the LFA did. If Toyota had waited a little more maybe the LC could have been the LFA performance wise. But only time will tell if Lexus does something like that again. As it is the F brand has been sat on a shelf only to be pulled off as a “I look like I go fast” trim for most of if not all Lexus models. Here’s to hoping we get and LC-F
"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
08/02/2017 at 14:09, STARS: 4
In defense of the badge thing, I’d feel significantly more privileged driving around in an ultra expensive Lexus than I would being just another rich person in a Ferrari.
"diplodicus" (diplodicus)
08/02/2017 at 14:10, STARS: 4
I thought the high price of the LFA was due to Toyota investing in the carbon fiber looms.
"LJ909" (lj909)
08/02/2017 at 14:15, STARS: 0
True. That’s mostly due to the doucheniess of the Ferrari badge now a days.
"LJ909" (lj909)
08/02/2017 at 14:16, STARS: 0
Yea that and the engine. But still 400 grand? That’s a lot for even a Lexus.
"RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire" (ricerocketeer2)
08/02/2017 at 14:18, STARS: 5
About that performance thing ...
LC 500 curb weight:
4,280
lbs (!)
LFA curb weight:
3,263
lbs (!!)
That, in a nutshell, is where all the money went.
Sauce:
https://www.lexus.com/models/LC/specifications
http://www.lexus.com/models/LFA/specs/
"MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig" (MR2_FTW)
08/02/2017 at 14:19, STARS: 0
The dated looks is a subjective subject, I think it still looks modern. Ugly, but modern. However many people I’ve heard talk about it that have tested exotics say that while, yes, a GTR will beat it for a lap time, the LFA is a much much better car in terms of quality and dynamics. The biggest thing that dates it is the use of a single clutch transmission. Other than that it is supposed to be absolutely phenomenal to drive. It’s like the Toyobarion GTZ86, overpriced for it’s performance numbers, but so much nicer to drive than many cars faster than it.
"Saracen" (manualdoucheelitist)
08/02/2017 at 14:22, STARS: 4
The cost was to absorb the financial hit of basically developing the car twice. The first time was with aluminum...the scrapped it, and went carbon fiber. That’s a HUGE cost.
The cost was right in line with the similar but more powerful (and much heavier) 599 GTB. I think the LF-A was exotic enough to justify its cost.
I think the LFA looks exciting as hell and it’s definitely a lottery car for me.
"LongbowMkII" (longbowmkii)
08/02/2017 at 14:23, STARS: 1
The LFA was great for Lexus. The details have filtered down the line well.
"diplodicus" (diplodicus)
08/02/2017 at 14:28, STARS: 0
Ya it is a lot, but I can’t think of any carbon fiber car that could be had for significantly less money at the time. Carbon fiber takes a lot more man hours vs steel or aluminum frames and body panels. Truth about cars has a good write up on it. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/07/the-making-of-the-lexus-lfa-supercar-who-what-where-and-most-of-all-why-an-inside-report-chapter-1-from-a-bar-to-bar-none/
It is funny you say it looks like something that came out in 04, since the first concept came out in 05.
"promoted by the color red" (whenindoubtflatout)
08/02/2017 at 14:36, STARS: 1
You can also ask the Lexus concierge what to do after drawing a gentleman’s sausage on a storm drain. Ferrari would just laugh in your face.
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"LJ909" (lj909)
08/02/2017 at 14:38, STARS: 0
Yea it comes down to them being pretty much 2 different coupes. I just think the Lexus got the LC right and the LFA wrong for the time.
"LJ909" (lj909)
08/02/2017 at 14:39, STARS: 0
Thats one thing I can say about it to it could actually hold its own on the track. Apparently though its ‘Ring time was nothing to write home about.
"LJ909" (lj909)
08/02/2017 at 14:41, STARS: 0
I think thats why it took years to develop. But the looks to me would be at home in like 2002 or 2004. Even in person when I saw it once the exterior was just ok. The interior though is way better. The only thing that makes it exotic to me are its carbon fiber construction. But even then I still dont think it 400 grand exotic.
"LJ909" (lj909)
08/02/2017 at 14:43, STARS: 0
Yea the handbuilt nature of the car along with the carbon fiber construction are exotic, but like I said to someone else, I still dont think its 400 grand exotic. They kept alot of the design features from the concept too they could be why I think it looks the way it does.
"RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire" (ricerocketeer2)
08/02/2017 at 14:49, STARS: 0
I don’t know if there ever was or will be a ‘right’ time when the LFA would’ve made sense as an actual mass-produced product instead of an experimental prototype. I’m glad they sold it to the public but it was never going to be a money maker.
"Grindintosecond" (Grindintosecond)
08/02/2017 at 14:55, STARS: 0
That yellow car a body kit?
"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
08/02/2017 at 14:57, STARS: 0
They engineered a freaking CF loom to build the LFA! It wasn’t the engine, it was their experiment with carbon fiber that made the LFA so expensive.
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Also, no one mocks or complains that the Veyron costs such an incredulous amount. Just because the LFA was made by Toyota doesn’t mean it has to be priced like one. With that logic everyone would say that the Veyron should cost as much as a Golf, because after all, “
it’s only a VW.
”
"LJ909" (lj909)
08/02/2017 at 15:01, STARS: 0
I just feel bad that the V10 was pretty much wasted in a sense. I remember for years the rumors were that the GS-F (which took years to come on its own) was going to get eh LF-A’s V10 but it came with the same ole V8.
"LJ909" (lj909)
08/02/2017 at 15:02, STARS: 0
Nah thats your eyes deceiving you.
"LJ909" (lj909)
08/02/2017 at 15:24, STARS: 0
Yea I remembered that. But people do scoff at the Veyron. But no one complains because Bugatti is a storied brand and its not just some Bugatti with VW parts. Its a Bugatti through and through made with impeccable engineering.
The LFA was overpriced to me because, set aside that carbon fiber construction and you had a car that was comparable performance wise to say a ZR1 that cost way less than half and was faster.
"Nick Has an Exocet" (nickallain)
08/02/2017 at 16:24, STARS: 0
Have you driven an LC500? It’s like a giant middle finger to performance cars. It’s heavy (thumb), numb (ring finger), comfortable (pinky), expensive (index) and has a V8 that screams “why I am pulling around this tub of lard?!” (middle finger).
When I went to go drive it, the racing driver briefing everyone on the cars showed Lexus’s performance heritage leading up to the LC500 and he stopped to gush about incredible driving the LFA was and how lucky he feels as one of a few who were able to ring it’s neck.
The hype around the LC500 is awesome. The car is kind of fat.
"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
08/02/2017 at 16:35, STARS: 1
Comparing numbers is never the correct way to buy a car. Everyone would drive a Camry/Accord/Road Appliance if that were the case.
I’m not saying your analysis isn’t correct; only that it is entirely the wrong way to look at a vehicle like the LFA.
"LJ909" (lj909)
08/02/2017 at 17:03, STARS: 0
Not yet but I want too. Weird they had performance drivers there for a car thats pretty much a 2 door LS. Thats why its heavy, comfortable and expensive. I do think its a little under powered though. It needed at least 500 horses and like the LFA’s V10 its down on torque. Cant deny how beautiful it is though.
"Nick Has an Exocet" (nickallain)
08/02/2017 at 18:34, STARS: 1
On an autocross track no less.