OT: Lexus LFA, What are your thoughts?
Thread Starter
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From: Naperville, IL/Chicago
2008 CLK63 Black Series 2012 C63 Black Series 2014 SLS Black Series
Here is a tidbit for all interested parties.
Projected build quantity is 500 units total. All have been spoken for already. Talks of having 50 special models as well. Not sure if its 450 regular and 50 special or 500 regular and 50 special. Regardless, i can probably think of 20 cars i would throw 350 large at before this one.
another personal opinion.
The LFA will lose a lot of its value when Honda comes out (and they will) with their NSX replacement at a price a third of the LFA's.
I have heard conflicting information from yours regarding the sales of these vehicles. You are correct that 500-600 2012 models will be built between Dec 2010 and mid 2012 but as far as all of them being spoken for is not at all correct. I can walk into my local dealership today and be guaranteed delivery of one by May 2011. I was told that they have lowered the base MSRP becuase of lackluster demand, at least lack luster in North America.
I do agree with you on the NSX comment, at least the performance side of it but I've heard the next generation NSX which I believe is called the HSV-V10 (NSX replcement) is going to be priced at well over $200k. Initially Honda/Acura had big plans for the new NSX, then they scaled it back and wanted to move the pricepoint down market becuase of a lagging global economy but late last year they decided to move forward with a no holds barred supercar, I'm sure the LFA motivated Honda to get back on track with a supercar...Honda does not like to lose either on the track or in the showroom.
http://www.hondapedia.org/2010/04/16...eady-for-2011/
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From: Cave Creek, AZ and Newport Beach
'22 G 63 AMG, '21 GLE 53 AMG, '20 NSX
I guarantee the second question question a LFA owner will be asked after how fast is it will be, is that a kit car?
Thread Starter
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From: Naperville, IL/Chicago
2008 CLK63 Black Series 2012 C63 Black Series 2014 SLS Black Series
When did you get the roll bar installed? Did you go with the same one I have? do you do the leather wrap? I have been thinking about doing an alcantara dash, steering wheel and headliner to match the alcantara on my DTM seats and then have the roll bar recovered in matching alcantara. What else have you done to her since I last saw your car?
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E CLASS
Get it if you want bragging rights 
...but...has everyone forgot about the ACURA NSX when it was first introduced....highest tech and baddest car of ITS time...but where is it now 
...don't forget...the LFA does not even have a Toyota motor...they had to get it from Yamaha....
...but like I said...bragging rights...or foolish honor...
...but...has everyone forgot about the ACURA NSX when it was first introduced....highest tech and baddest car of ITS time...but where is it now ...don't forget...the LFA does not even have a Toyota motor...they had to get it from Yamaha.......but like I said...bragging rights...or foolish honor...
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From: Naperville, IL/Chicago
2008 CLK63 Black Series 2012 C63 Black Series 2014 SLS Black Series
Yamaha builds lots of automobile engines. Yamaha has developed several F1 engines in the 80's and early 90's and has been involved behind the scenes with Toyota's most recent F1 team and their engine development, they worked with Cosworth/Ford to develop some of the strongest and most powerful Rally Car engines of their time, they also built the original Ford SHO motor which was a technological marvel in it's time (believe it or not) and Yamaha worked with Mercury Marine and Chevrolet to build the original 1989 Corvette ZR1 engine, and if I'm not mistaken a 1989 ZR1 is a HIGHLY collectible vehicle.
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CLK63 Black Series
When did you get the roll bar installed? Did you go with the same one I have? do you do the leather wrap? I have been thinking about doing an alcantara dash, steering wheel and headliner to match the alcantara on my DTM seats and then have the roll bar recovered in matching alcantara. What else have you done to her since I last saw your car?
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From: Cave Creek, AZ and Newport Beach
'22 G 63 AMG, '21 GLE 53 AMG, '20 NSX
When did you get the roll bar installed? Did you go with the same one I have? do you do the leather wrap? I have been thinking about doing an alcantara dash, steering wheel and headliner to match the alcantara on my DTM seats and then have the roll bar recovered in matching alcantara. What else have you done to her since I last saw your car?
The basic design is the same except the mounting points are on the side rails rather than the floor. We used the seat belt mounting points in the side rails to tie into as it gave us a little more more strength. I had it wraped in leather to take some of edge off the look.
Other mods?.. Can't get the headers due to Calif emission regs, but we're working on some other things.
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From: California, USA
E63 P30, CL500 Sport
The Lexus LFA, in my opinion, is a great car. I feel the name gets a little mistreated when people say "well, it's just an expensive Toyota". And while that maybe true, I don't think one should dismiss a car because of the name of the manufacturer 
Lets give it a chance to shine. Toyota/Lexus worked extremely hard on the engineering of the LFA and its performance around Nurburgring (arguably one of the toughest racetracks out there) is a good illustration 7:24 
. The car was built for track enthusiasts yet still houses tons of technology and fun gadgets. And knowing how much Jim loves road courses, I think this maybe a good match. I do agree, however, that the price tag is high and will be the deterrent for many potential buyers.
The SLS is a great car as well and what makes this a hard decision is that the SLS does cost half as much. It's funny when the company that is supposed to build lower-priced cars makes a very high-priced supercar and the company that normally makes high-priced cars ends up making a lower-priced supercar
Lets give it a chance to shine. Toyota/Lexus worked extremely hard on the engineering of the LFA and its performance around Nurburgring (arguably one of the toughest racetracks out there) is a good illustration 7:24 . The car was built for track enthusiasts yet still houses tons of technology and fun gadgets. And knowing how much Jim loves road courses, I think this maybe a good match. I do agree, however, that the price tag is high and will be the deterrent for many potential buyers.The SLS is a great car as well and what makes this a hard decision is that the SLS does cost half as much. It's funny when the company that is supposed to build lower-priced cars makes a very high-priced supercar and the company that normally makes high-priced cars ends up making a lower-priced supercar
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From: Naperville, IL/Chicago
2008 CLK63 Black Series 2012 C63 Black Series 2014 SLS Black Series
Jim,
The basic design is the same except the mounting points are on the side rails rather than the floor. We used the seat belt mounting points in the side rails to tie into as it gave us a little more more strength. I had it wraped in leather to take some of edge off the look.
Other mods?.. Can't get the headers due to Calif emission regs, but we're working on some other things.
The basic design is the same except the mounting points are on the side rails rather than the floor. We used the seat belt mounting points in the side rails to tie into as it gave us a little more more strength. I had it wraped in leather to take some of edge off the look.
Other mods?.. Can't get the headers due to Calif emission regs, but we're working on some other things.
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From: Atlanta
03 C32 AMG
+1. Look at the engine bay. Its just a mass of black plastic covers. Looks soulless and bland. Might have a great engine and be really fast, but its still a shallow, lifeless Lexus.
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Jim,
The basic design is the same except the mounting points are on the side rails rather than the floor. We used the seat belt mounting points in the side rails to tie into as it gave us a little more more strength. I had it wraped in leather to take some of edge off the look.
Other mods?.. Can't get the headers due to Calif emission regs, but we're working on some other things.
The basic design is the same except the mounting points are on the side rails rather than the floor. We used the seat belt mounting points in the side rails to tie into as it gave us a little more more strength. I had it wraped in leather to take some of edge off the look.
Other mods?.. Can't get the headers due to Calif emission regs, but we're working on some other things.
Could you show us a few photos of the new and improved Roll Bar....
Jim
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08 S65, 06 M3 CS(stick), 02 BMW X5 4.6iS, 07 R1 Raven, 08 F-450 4x4, 08 CooperS JCW
Maybe don't rush just yet, their top guy just wrecked and died in the LFA.
Toyota and safety, they're getting to be synonymous!
Toyota and safety, they're getting to be synonymous!
to JRCART i'd say that the LFA is sure to a be a special car and a rare sight but the price does seem to be very high compared to competition just like the SL BS...but this thing is much more special imo...if you can afford it go for it and i wouldn't be put off by the badge...heck all the sheiks in Brunei and many billionaires in Russia drive Toyota LCs...
-Rob
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From: THE Orange County, California
2024 C8 Z06- 2025 BMW CS- 2022 Porsche 992 GTS
No real opinion on the car but I did hear there are rules on acquiring the car. You have to lease it first for two years and then have the option of buying:
Here is a little on that:
Click Here
and for the poster who said no one has seen the car, I worked for Lexus and saw the car in person in November- its a looker.
Quoted from a local Lexus GM:
It’s 10K to submit to be interviewed. If there is a car, and they accept you, it’s 50K, non-refundable to place an order. Base price 375K. If they get the base, the 24 month “one pay only” lease payment is appox 12400 x 24 mos = 297K with a buyout of approx 94K
Here is a little on that:
Click Here
and for the poster who said no one has seen the car, I worked for Lexus and saw the car in person in November- its a looker.
Quoted from a local Lexus GM:
It’s 10K to submit to be interviewed. If there is a car, and they accept you, it’s 50K, non-refundable to place an order. Base price 375K. If they get the base, the 24 month “one pay only” lease payment is appox 12400 x 24 mos = 297K with a buyout of approx 94K
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08 S65, 06 M3 CS(stick), 02 BMW X5 4.6iS, 07 R1 Raven, 08 F-450 4x4, 08 CooperS JCW
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From: South Florida
ML350
ill state the obvious.....you need to see one and possibly drive for yourself before making this decision. But the sound is intoxicating, and the stance is Lambo-esque. The LCD dash is super cool and will be the future for all cars. As a baseline it will be great for mods. The GTR looks like huge side by side.
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Supercharged CLK500,ML500,S580
+2. Compared to it's competition I'm not impressed (yeah, the exhaust sounds awesome; but at this price you need the total package). If I saw the LFA next to a Lambo or F-Car at stop light, I wouldn't give it a second look.
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08 S65, 06 M3 CS(stick), 02 BMW X5 4.6iS, 07 R1 Raven, 08 F-450 4x4, 08 CooperS JCW
-Rob
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Supercharged CLK500,ML500,S580
The fact is; I will probably never get to drive, let alone buy, any of these wonderful vehicles. If I was fortunate enough to be able to buy a car of this price range, LFA wouldn't be on my top ten list.
I saw the LFA at the L.A. Auto Show and I thought that it was a great $250K car. Later I was shocked to find out that they were asking for $400K!
jrcart's first post stated that due to underwhelming demand the price was dropped, so I must not be the only one that feels it's over priced. But there is no right or wrong answer to this topic. If jrcart buys the LFA and enjoys the experience it brings; I would be happy for him.
