TOP GEAR: S14E07 - Lexus LFA

[PricklyPete]

Here's what I don't like about the LFA:

1) It's not particularly beautiful...too overwrought

Here's what I like about the LFA

1) Everything else

The engine is unbelievably fantastic. The crazy tech inside is great. The work they put into carbon fiber process is amazing. And it puts down good times...even if it isn't the best.

This car (as well as the Bugatti Veyron) are what large companies like VAG or Toyota need to be doing. The reason is two fold:

1) They provide a Halo car for a brand (at least for Lexus...for Bugatti they are the only car...although that is supposed to change).
2) MUCH more importantly, it gives engineers from those companies a fairly open check to create some really amazing tech that we can hopefully see in future cars in some form down the line. Toyota needs this. There lineup is as bland as it comes. Hopefully some of the tech used in the engine, chassis, and body work will see its way down into less expensive Lexus and Toyota models at some point in the future.

 

[PricklyPete]

Thank You. When I saw the review, I looked up the Buick equivalent and was disgusted. What an ass-looking car it was.

The auto industry here seems to be marketed towards 45+ year olds. That is why they are dying.

The "regular" Buick Regal is identical (save the grill) to the "regular" Opel/Vauxhaul Insignia. The VXR edition is a "special" Insignia. If the Regal does well in the US, we'll likely get something that looks much closer to the VXR here in the US.

The Regal will have a lot of social stigma to overcome in the US with it being a Buick...but you can't fault GM for trying to reposition one of their main brands to a younger audience.

Autoblog already did a story on how woeful Buick's current customer base is. The average buyer is 70...where as the industry standard is 52. The Lacrosse is already changing this to some degree with the average buyer being 55. If the regal can move that number even lower (espeically a "VXR" Regal)...maybe Buick will get a rebirth here in the States once again.

 

[yh125d]

Stupid ass graphics in the LFA test. Overall good episode though, cause this seasick steve guy is amazing

 

[SSSnail]

The same people that are praising the LFA will be bashing the next NSX when it come about, go figure...

 

[Arkaign]

The same people that are praising the LFA will be bashing the next NSX when it come about, go figure...

I think it's quite good, but the price is utterly insane. I think they just went too complex/exotic, while somehow managing to look like a derivative mess on the outside.

 

[SSSnail]

I think it's quite good, but the price is utterly insane. I think they just went too complex/exotic, while somehow managing to look like a derivative mess on the outside.

Yeah, the car is quite good, but the styling looks like an over done body kit (and the price... lol). Check out the next NSX, the sound that engine puts out is somewhat intoxicating. What amazes me is that it's low displacement but tremendous power. And for some reasons, I keep thinking that Toyota ripped the tail off the HSC concept and changed a few things around and put that on the LFA.

 

[Arkaign]

Yeah, the car is quite good, but the styling looks like an over done body kit (and the price... lol). Check out the next NSX, the sound that engine puts out is somewhat intoxicating. What amazes me is that it's low displacement but tremendous power. And for some reasons, I keep thinking that Toyota ripped the tail off the HSC concept and changed a few things around and put that on the LFA.

The frustrating thing is that I know Lexus/Toyota was more than capable of just adding a notch to the IS-F for their halo car, and then making a $35k 350hp simple FR sports car with off-the-shelf drivetrain parts.

This LF-A is just a bizarre thing to me, probably had too many different pushes from management over the year. The GT-R trumps it IMHO, just considering how remarkably close the performance is for a FRACTION of the cost.

 

[DVad3r]

Luxury and status of a LFA? At the end of the day, it's still a $400k Lexus.

I just don't like the overall aesthetics of the LFA.. just looks off to me.

At the end of the day, it's not just another Lexus...do you have any idea what went into the design of that car, how it's made, etc? Get past the fact that the Lexus badge on there really has nothing to do with the actual quality of the car compared to the regular line up, this is super car category.

 

[ulukay]

the car is great but it has a big problem
why would anyone spend so much money on a supercar with the lexus badge? almost everyone would rather go for a ferrari, aston martin maybe pagani, koenigsegg, maserati

 

[Koing]

The car is f0cking ridiculous! I like it a lot

The rear end looks big and needs a slim down imo but it's sweet.

Koing

 

[casiotech wants a new accord]

why don't other car companies offer matte black?

 

[DVad3r]

the car is great but it has a big problem
why would anyone spend so much money on a supercar with the lexus badge? almost everyone would rather go for a ferrari, aston martin maybe pagani, koenigsegg, maserati

Wrong again. So you are saying if for some magical reason Ford makes the fastest/best super car in the world which costs $ 10 million, you wouldn't buy it because it has a Ford badge on it? You don't make any sense, this isn't about badging, this is about the car and what was put into making it. It's a supercar, people really don't give a shit when buying supercars when it comes to price.

You do realize this car has better tech and performance numbers then some of the cars you mentioned in your list? Are you still saying you'd take a lower end model Ferrari over it?

:S

 

[Arkaign]

Wrong again. So you are saying if for some magical reason Ford makes the fastest/best super car in the world which costs $ 10 million, you wouldn't buy it because it has a Ford badge on it? You don't make any sense, this isn't about badging, this is about the car and what was put into making it. It's a supercar, people really don't give a shit when buying supercars when it comes to price.

You do realize this car has better tech and performance numbers then some of the cars you mentioned in your list? Are you still saying you'd take a lower end model Ferrari over it?

:S

I think for the person that wants supercar elite performance but doesn't care about badging would just get a ZR-1 for that purpose. Equal performance and a fraction of the price, and leaves enough room in the budget for a Bentley or perhaps a mint Maybach 57 for a DD.

A ~400k Lexus is a little wonky, given that it's not 5 times better than a GT-R or Z06. 3.7 second 0-60, a relative lack of torque, and a less than overwhelming top speed @ 203 sort of makes this the odd duck out. At least the McLaren SLR Mercedes, another relative disappointment, has a serious pedigree and some real power.

For a real sense of contrast, the Ferrari 458 trumps the LF-A completely, more power, lighter, faster, and a LOT better looking, for similar $ :

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/28/officially-official-ferrari-announces-the-458-italia/

EDIT : The 458 looks like it will retail for considerably less $ than the LF-A! I think someone would have to be insane to choose an LF-A over the 458.

 

[Imported]

I think for the person that wants supercar elite performance but doesn't care about badging would just get a ZR-1 for that purpose. Equal performance and a fraction of the price, and leaves enough room in the budget for a Bentley or perhaps a mint Maybach 57 for a DD.

A ~400k Lexus is a little wonky, given that it's not 5 times better than a GT-R or Z06. 3.7 second 0-60, a relative lack of torque, and a less than overwhelming top speed @ 203 sort of makes this the odd duck out. At least the McLaren SLR Mercedes, another relative disappointment, has a serious pedigree and some real power.

For a real sense of contrast, the Ferrari 458 trumps the LF-A completely, more power, lighter, faster, and a LOT better looking, for similar $ :

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/28/officially-official-ferrari-announces-the-458-italia/

EDIT : The 458 looks like it will retail for considerably less $ than the LF-A! I think someone would have to be insane to choose an LF-A over the 458.

Completely agree. I was just gonna mention the 458, but you beat me to it. You'd be insane to pick the LF-A over a 458. And it's a Ferrari to boot for the badge whores.

 

[SSSnail]

Shiet... the LF-A is not better than a dozen super cars that are available TODAY, for much less. Those that think it warrants the price tag, you're high on Toyota's crack (not the mind altering chemical kind).

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

No question, the LFA is just stupidly expensive. IMO this car should be priced at $125K, $175K tops. Yes, they'd be losing money, but that's the supercar biz when you're a company the size of Toyota.

 

[ulukay]

Wrong again. So you are saying if for some magical reason Ford makes the fastest/best super car in the world which costs $ 10 million, you wouldn't buy it because it has a Ford badge on it? You don't make any sense, this isn't about badging, this is about the car and what was put into making it. It's a supercar, people really don't give a shit when buying supercars when it comes to price.

You do realize this car has better tech and performance numbers then some of the cars you mentioned in your list? Are you still saying you'd take a lower end model Ferrari over it?

:S

wrong

people who got the money for a supercar usually don't care about performance figures and geekyness. all they are intrested in are good looks and a cool image/badge.
people who like the LF-A (myself included) are (car)geeks who would buy one, but will never have the money to do so.

otherwise the honda nsx would have been a great success
look at the VW Veyron

 

[Arkaign]

wrong

people who got the money for a supercar usually don't care about performance figures and geekyness. all they are intrested in are good looks and a cool image/badge.
people who like the LF-A (myself included) are (car)geeks who would buy one, but will never have the money to do so.

otherwise the honda nsx would have been a great success
look at the VW Veyron

To add insult to injury in the case of the LF-A vs. Ferrari, the ~$210k (reported price, not final yet) 458 looks better in every way, at least on paper. That's $165k cheaper than the Lexus.

I think if Lexus had scaled back some of the crazy tech, and went with more conventional ways to keep it light (Carbon Fibre is awesome, but hella $$$, there are other ways to do that) .. they could have come out at a $100k-$150k price point and still performed as well. One easy way would simply be to add some displacement or forced induction to the mix. That would make a hell of a lot more sense to me than a nearly $400k car.

Even if the LF-A was being released by let's say Aston or Lambo, I think people would still have a WTF moment with it based on the price.

 

[SSSnail]

So what's so geeky about this LF-A, or special features that would it heads and shoulders above other super cars, and warrant that price tag?

 

[DivideBYZero]

And why can't GM sell the Vauxhall Insignia VXR in the USA???

WTF?

Turboed 4-cylinder, AWD, 6-speed. What is not to love???

And instead they give it to Buick? And then wonder why they are dying???

It is so obvious a blind man can see it.

It's a 2.8ltr V6 with twin turbos. And the LFA is priced in pounds, so it's more like $1/2 Million....!

 

[Strk]

It's a 2.8ltr V6 with twin turbos. And the LFA is priced in pounds, so it's more like $1/2 Million....!

The UK hates cars. The LFA in the UK probably has ­­over £100k in taxes.It's around $400k in the US.

 

[TehMac]

The UK hates cars. The LFA in the UK probably has ­­over £100k in taxes.It's around $400k in the US.

Correct. Import taxes, gas taxes, road taxes, shit tons of taxes.

And their roads arent even that good...so I am told.

 

[DivideBYZero]

The UK hates cars. The LFA in the UK probably has ­­over £100k in taxes.It's around $400k in the US.

Well, I live here and have plenty of tasty cars to choose from, and car taxes are no worse here than in the US in reality. Any new car is subject to VAT(sales tax) @ 17.5%, then there is a new gas guzzler showroom tax of ~£1000, then yearly road tax @ £400 a year for this type of car, but that's it. However, the fuel tax is huge and we all have to pay it. On the other hand when we sell out private cars we don't have to pay any tax, whereas you have to pay a sales tax on it. Six of one, half a dozen of another, you see?

The UK public loves cars, the Govt. loves to tax us, via fuel, for the pleasure, but here is no '£100k tax' on any car. Ireland is like that. They have a nasty 'luxury car' tax. The UK does not.

Roads are mainly OK, some are bumpy and some have pot holes. No worse than areas of the US that I have driven in, sometimes much better than that. They COULD be better, but then they always can be, right?

 

[Pariah]

Well, I live here and have plenty of tasty cars to choose from, and car taxes are no worse here than in the US in reality. Any new car is subject to VAT(sales tax) @ 17.5%, then there is a new gas guzzler showroom tax of ~£1000, then yearly road tax @ £400 a year for this type of car, but that's it.

Sales tax in the state I live is 3%. $4350 on a $30,000 car is significant. Some states have 0% tax, Delaware is one I think. In reality, that's much better than 17.5%. Registration, title, and other fees shouldn't be more than about $100. Gas guzzler tax depends on the vehicle, ($0 for 22.5MPG up to $7700 for less than 12.5MPG).

 

[sandorski]

Seems very nice. If I had Leno $ and collected cars, I wouldn't hesitate buying one of these. All Super Cars are over priced, that's just part of what they are.