Was It Worth The Wait? First Drive Of The Lexus LF-A Suprises Everyone

No matter how good some things may be, it seems that there are always some people that find something to pick on, especially if it's Japanese. I have yet to hear some truly complimentary words from the euro only fanboys. If this were a European car we all know that comments would be completely different here. You gotta wonder if they're really enthusiasts.

An "automotive" ethusiast - yes.

This thing ought to inspire some killer body kits and wings with tons of scoops and swoops for scions and corollas!! I am checking ebay already. The boy-racer look is sweeeet! (I just hope it doesn't look this ricey in person)

"But it's NOT a European car. Does "enthusiast" mean one has to be enthusiastic about all brands, regardless of where they're made? I think not."

OF COURSE it's not a European car, that's why you won't really give it any kudos nor will any other euro-only fanboys.

I think that anyone that is a true auto enthusiast would not care where the car came from. It's like saying that you only like European food when the rest of us real foodies like all types of food.

_43LE I don't think there is a built up prejudice. But typically the just good enough approach of many of the Japanese makers doesn't lend itself well to their interpretation of a performance car.

The NSX was a prime example, When it first came out it was world class, however after 3 years it was regularly outclassed and never gained the lead again.

The GT-R examples were typically lame sports sedans. HOWEVER the potential of a super car was there and only after serious tuning was that potential realized. While the GT-R did have stand out models, typically the most quoted examples were so far removed from stock you could have easily called them something else.

The Toyota Supra and Nissan 350Z twin turbos were great all around performers and hold my respect. However most of these again are modified almost as much as a GT-R. They are fond but yet distant memories.

009, if you don't see the built up prejudice then you are as blind as the fanboys. We all know that was the way you lean anyways. Don't judge a NEW car by it's past or non-existent history, especially if you have not even driven it yet. All I'm saying is that if this car were European, the Euro fanboys would keep quiet. That's a fact, and you very well know it.

For all those people who have no idea about supercars, except for the zondas and the ferraris, most other ones like Koenigseggs, Lamborghinis, and Aston Martin DBS also have steering system that has been tuned for high speed than track feel, probably only Porsche and Ferrari are capable systems for both high speed runs and tack sharp feedbacks, so as a Supercar it is not uncommon to have steering that is not feedback inspired, but made really to just make the car go fast. I guess it is a shortcoming, but not that bad of a deal, especially when you bring in the equation of that engine in the LFA, this is a masterpiece, a super high revving mountain scorching roar that goes as high as the skies, i am in love with this engine, i have not heard a noise as beautiful as this one, probably only the zonda has a better sound, also the F430 were the pinnacle of audible music, and Lexus certainly comes close. And take a look at that interior, wow, it will bring the grey Porsches, and chest bare Ferraris to shame, it is no zonda or spyker inside, but a darn good one it is(remember the zonda and the spykers are twice the price of this LFA). I love the great and tastefully unconventional solid block carbon fiber haunched on leather suede box and a curvaliscious aluminum extension block coming from all the back like a swooping eagle, and the TFT screen wow, better that any car known to man. Also i have no complaint about the exterior, it is not smooth, or sexy, but it is very japanese, those who have had a legacy with the 90 Japanese supercars will know what i am talking about, a very original japanese design, very rugged looking, aggressive in your face type, and looks to be bred from rough streets of tokyo not the silky plains of maranello. This car looks like a street racer, exactly like what the supra was, and that is why i love it, so original, i am sure Lexus could have gone with L finesse, but i like the fact that they went back to their roots. But mostly i love this car because of that engine. Oh what a sound

WOOOOOOW $400k for the LFA?? its just tooo much!!! Is it really worth $320k more than the GT-R?? I doubt it honestly.

To most of these buyers $350,000 to $500,000 is merely academic.

star: most ferraris are spectacular pieces of design. they're gorgeous. people would have sex with them if they could. the GT-R or this thing? nope.

star: You are absolutely stupid and ridiculous to even think of comparing a Ferrari to a GT-R or an LFA. Nothing wrong with the GTR or LFA, but Ferrari is intrinsic. There's more inherit value.

Take it for what its worth, but when you build a car that the average price is 250K, then people do not question you charging 400K for a car. When you build cars that sells for an avg of 30K, then building a 75K GTR get put under the microscope.

To that effect, when you build and sell cars that averages 40-50K, then you build a sportscar for 400K, that gets really scrutinized. Its not about the price. Its about the inherit value in relations to the value of other vehicles you build.

t henry--

you are oversimplistic, but still in response: you can buy a chevy truck for $25k. does that make it absurd for any other chevy truck to cost $45-50k? does the existence of sub $15k hyundais make the genesis an absurd proposition, price wise?

and there already is lexus models costing over $100k, regardless of the 'average' price.

considering there is NO other carbon fiber car for sale (mite be some built simply for a racetrack), the $400k is not unreasonable.

XYZZ:
You misunderstand my point. I am not criticizing. I am saying that is why people tend to criticize. I, for one, do not care for or against the car.

btw, just because you building one model over 100K does not mean anything. Example-VW built a 80K pheaton and people criticized it because it is not the norm for a company building cars priced at 20-30K. Its just natural. And yes, for Chevy, if they have a 20K truck, when they build a 45K truck, people are going to expect more and wonder if its worth it...

I do not care if it is Japanese, the design do not likes me, but the beauty is in eyes of the beholder so thats subjective....what really matters is that the car figures looks great...and I 100% sure that there is something that won't be matched (at least for now) for the europeans sport cars (may be SLR...unbreakeable reputation)..This will be an sport car very reliable (may be the most reliable)....and it have all the necessary elements to be considered as colletable exotic car...Kudos to Lexus.

In the video the commentator states that it is "massively better than an SLR".

david:

no way! a 2011 model is better than a discontinued SLR that came on the market in 2003?!? that's AMAZING!!!!

I am setting the record straight.

The big question here has toyota brought anything new to the table here?

Looks - NO

Performance - NO

Yes this is new for toyota and yes it is a fast performance car. However, Non-toyota manufacturers have been making this class of car for decades and at the same bringing real innovation to the table!

I hope you know that by trying to belittle Toyota, you only make yourself looks smaller...

kpxx-

you completely MISS the point; toyota is announcing it is entering the arena of supercars. and it may just raise the bar for EVERYONE, especially is this car is as reliable and bulletproof as other toyota/lexus products.

THAT would be something COMPLETELY NEW!

...if this car...

Another complaint about the LFA from the Edmund's writer;

"the LFA might be so good that it doesn't challenge your driving skills enough"

The laughs never end.

that is a funny one!
a super car who's steering "could be more communicative" and drives for you!

"the LFA might be so good that it doesn't challenge your driving skills enough"

"The laughs never end."


well, when the acura NSX came out, there was a similar "complaint." yet despite the fact that even your granny who's used to an accord could also drive the NSX, it was nevertheless a true exotic car which could be flung around a curvy road with the BEST the rest of the world had to offer.

lexus is just taking up where the NSX left off.

Reliability is a moot point. All new cars are pretty much reliable. I'm not sure what people mean when they say that the LF-A will be more reliable than the other exotics? I've yet to see a Ferrari broken down on the side of the road. If the Lexus requires 1 or 2 fewer trips to the dealer for unscheduled repairs, over a 5 year period than the Ferrari then so what. I still would choose the ferrari. Can someone show proof on how lexus performance oriented models are more reliable than say a BMW?

From what I've read, the IS-F required more unscheduled stops for repairs than the M3. So much for reliability.

There's nothing wrong with the Lexus (other than price). Saying that the Lexus is better because of reliability is a very, very weak argument. All new cars are reliable.

Baloney about the IS-F. It is infinitly more reliable than any M car. As for reliability of exotics like Ferraris or Lambos, any owner will tell you they love their cars, but they are very wary of driving them often because of all the little things that may go wrong. When you buy a Ferrari, one of the options is a fire extinguisher because of the very real possibility of engine fires.

david999 you don't know what you are talking about. You just say things without any actual knowledge. The M3 is incredibly reliable even under extended track use. You can't just make things things up and expect that everyone here is as ignorant and inexperienced as you.

"When you buy a Ferrari, one of the options is a fire extinguisher because of the very real possibility of engine fires."

LMAO!!!


Seriously, David999, you're constant Lexus trolling is really too much. Have you ever owned a Ferrari? Do you think reliability is a selling point when buying a Ferrari? Hell no. The styling, the performance, the badge, the status and the looks it gets you are just some of the many selling points a Ferrari or Lamborghini offers you. The LF-A might be very reliable, but so what? Compared to any Ferrari (except maybe the hideous California), the LF-A looks bland, pretentious and tame.

And unlike some of the cars the LF-A competes against, its badge lacks the history and heritage and more importantly the racing pedigree that make a brand like Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini etc. very appealing and prestigious.

Oh yeah, just because the IS-F is a Lexus doesn't mean it is 100% reliable. You clearly associate the name Lexus with 100% reliability (no such thing by the way) - even if the brand isn't perfect in that regard.

To some people, like yourself, perception seems to be everything. Go to Club Lexus and go to the IS-F section and look at some of the complaints there regarding reliability. It's not an unreliable car, but it has problems like any other car. Then go to an M3 forum and do the same. You'll find out that both cars have problems - different sorts of problems. Big and small. It's normal.

So who cares if the IS-F has 4.5 problems per year and the M3 has 5.5 problems per year? Amazing how big that difference is. Sarcasm intended.

Ha Ha Willis,
I have at least 30 experience with Italian and German cars. That is why I appreciate what Lexus has done over the last 20 years. You on the other hand continually like to post anti-Lexus remarks, even though you know little of what you speak. What a dope!

"30 experience"? What does that mean? 30 years? 30 minutes? What?

You seem to pick out my anti-Lexus remarks that are often posted when I am attacking your childish statements. You're a known Lexus fanboy here. Everyone knows this.

Reliability is a moot point. All new cars are pretty much reliable. I'm not sure what people mean when they say that the LF-A will be more reliable than the other exotics? I've yet to see a Ferrari broken down on the side of the road. If the Lexus requires 1 or 2 fewer trips to the dealer for unscheduled repairs, over a 5 year period than the Ferrari then so what. I still would choose the ferrari. Can someone show proof on how lexus performance oriented models are more reliable than say a BMW?

From what I've read, the IS-F required more unscheduled stops for repairs than the M3. So much for reliability.

There's nothing wrong with the Lexus (other than price). Saying that the Lexus is better because of reliability is a very, very weak argument. All new cars are reliable.

My friend owned a Ferrari and it was in the shop every other weekend, they are known to be very unreliable. He owned an NSX, it never broke down and he loved it.Now he just drives BMWs M series, I haven't asked him about the reliability of his Bimmers yet.

This car may have great performance, but with that boy racer styling I don't think too many multimillionaire will put $400,000 for it. I think NBA players and rappers will like this car.

I just don't like the front end head on or from the side, the rear end is huge because of those silly upper scoops. The interior is OK.

Fast car, but I could get a Mercedes S65 and an Audi R8 V10 for the same money.

I think NBA players and rappers will like this car. EL34

So you put this car in the same league as Escalades and and gold caps, or the fact that NBA money is clown money, not Hockey players, swimmers with great taste like say Micheal Phelps, or some Football players with money. Your statement and many like it shows a distain for individuals and such a back handed one is totally unacceptable. The car might not be to your liking, we all have opinions, but that statement is aimed at Africa American Basketball players, and rappers thus the group. I NEVER make a statement or rebuttal like this because I believe that people are people and I will not pander to race issues, but I do find your statement below the belt.

Figures, he's a Euro-only fanboy.

"Was It Worth The Wait?" - Apparently The Answer Is A Resounding... Yes!

Though admittedly the price appears to be highly questionable... something that clearly can't be said of the performance.

i'm trying to like it (especially since i was a big supra fan) but there is something about the design that doesn't catch my eye the way it should.

i agree like i said at the top it looks like there is an aftermarket body kit on it from the factory doesnt have the factory look or feel when i look at the pictures

DECIDEDLY NO. it would be a spectacular achievement if it were priced in the $100-150k range. it looks like a nissan and has nearly identical performance to a GT-R that can be had for $90k. sad, considering the car has been in development for nearly a decade.

for $534,000, i'd take an aston martin DBS, a maserati quattroporte and an E63 AMG wagon for practicality. with the change i'd spend a couple of weeks in the south pacific.

I just don't see the point of this car. Same performance as the base GT-R, but looks more ackward than the GT-R.

yes. an ackward statetment from some dolt with ackward credentials for automotive and esthetic criticism.

Brilliant car, antiquated transmission, I think the limited number will support the price. Worth the wait, should have been out at least two years ago. The wait goes on Lexus web page states that they will deliver over the year 2011, way to long of a gestation period.

No. Not at that price. Its a super expensive GT-R.

The only people who will buy this car are those that have much more money than brains (and yes, NBA players and rappers fall right into that category along with Hollywood celeb's and Silicon Valley millionerds.)

Hey, if you scroll up the list of comments, it looks like everyone is deboosting everyone else. Seems that we can't find any common ground today.

I'd say that we should all get elected to Congress and get paid for not agreeing on a daily basis!

LOL

I reject the notion that only Ferrari's or Aston Martin's can build "supercars" or "exotics". As a buyer of an R8, Audi's first attempt at supercar territory, I was excited and pleased from the very first pics. But, this LFA, just doesnt do it for me. It simply doesnt look like an exotic. I am very disappointed. Here's hoping that Nissan builds an Infiniti supercar based on the GT-R that truly conquers the world, and maybe ill buy that along with my R8..

Infiniti did build one.. It is called the Infiniti Essence. The question is, will they build two or more.

This is a great car no doubt. It is just a pricy version of every other supercar out there. They will sell all 500 copies because there are 500 people out there that think if they spend more, they get more.

I love this type of question:

Hey all you guys who don't have $400,000 to spend on a car, and have no more automotive experience required (other than having a computer) and have never driven this car or one like it, Tell me that you'd really buy this thing. Oh and if you do your a "fanboy" (as opposed to a "hater" I guess?).

Leave the deciding to the people who can afford it.

There are a lot of blind lexus fanboys here, I would love this car myself but for 1/5th of the price the vett will tie or beat this, the vett has 620hp and 595lbs compared to the Lexus at 552hp, I would never say that this is not a nice car, just way overpriced. I would go with the Vett and buy a sail boat. Hate mail please.lol

There is nothing intelligent to back up your argument as to why I was de-boosted. I am not saying that this Lexus isn't an incredible car, its just that the Vett is better at 1/5th of the price. The Truth hurts you blind fanboys, I dare you to defend your blind devotion.Facts are facts!
Again I like Lexus, they are reliable and this is defiantly a great car, just way overpriced.

Like I said, you could buy a Mercedes S65 and an Audi R8 V10 with money left over than buy this Lexus LF-A.

You would have enough money left over to buy a Rolex, Hublot, Audemars Piguet or a Blancpain watch.

http://blog.watchsuperstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/blancpain-1735-inside.jpg

all you guys whining about the price seem unable to appreciate, that it only ADDS to the prestige and exclusiveness (and the 500 unit run guarantees that).

a ferrari or other current exoticar would be like Rolex in this comparison. no one denies they are good watches and are not cheap. but the other brands are FAR MORE EXCLUSIVE. and in this analogy, a corvette, good as it is for the price, is the equivalent of a TIMEX.

Hold on a second...This will come out in 2011? Not 2010?????

I don't wanna read about this car anymore. The new M3 will perform just as well by then or a year later.

I used to sell Lexus' and I do like the products they build, even though they are somewhat "vanilla". That being said, I expected great things from the LF-A. It seems they have built a truly performance oriented car. It rides well, handles phenomenally, sounds like a supercar, but it's front end styling leaves something to be desired. Looks almost bland. I love everything after the A-pillar, but the front ended needs to be way more stylish, possibly polarizing, and aggressive, at least at $375K. T


















































































































































































































































































































































































































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I don't think you should be saying any one of these cars... more like... all of these cars.

I love how he said "homos" will get offended if the GT-R isn't on his list, and autospies doesnt censor it.

I love how he said "homos" will get offended if the GT-R isn't on his list, and autospies doesnt censor it.

Not surprised that Timzilla is homophobic, typical of his kind...

love the car, it has the japanese feel to it. It could very well be different looking when it is built for it's customers. They still brought out Prototypes. Not production cars. There was only 2 or 3 cars to drive. 2 white ones and the matte black one. They weren't production models. And what was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show looked different. It had a carbon fiber roof. The car tested was the prototype versions still. And I seen body colored roof's on those cars. But the one at the Tokyo motor show wasn't a body colored roof. Not even the finalized product. No one said the cars there were the same as the production versions to yet be made! So the version they tested can be said to be a pre-production version. It's damn near close but i think the new LFA will be again different.

The LF-A looks good. I'm still not sure about the price tag but considering it's limited production the hefty price tag for a Lexus can be somewhat justified. The figures are impressive but even if it was 4.5 seconds and still had that V10 howl I would still be impressed. Good job and good luck Lexus.

Next step for Lexus is creating a midsize sports coupe in the line up. Also have a replacement for the horrible SC430 and use some pedigree from the LF-A and slap it on a brand new model to compete against Mercedes' luxurious SL series. It never really quite cut the mustard in that segment so I hope they can do that too.

I drive a BMW 335i and I think this is a cool car! By "cool" I mean that the manufacture had enough balls to go all the way and build their idea of the top of the line super car. Of course "super car" is a relative term, but to Lexus, this is their idea from paper to real life. Good for them! I normally hate Lexus as I have driven all models, but I would love to take this out!!

After watching the video, it has a very lamborghini rear end and a very nissan front. Of course, cant you take any vehicle and draw design cues from something else... i guess it all depends what you like!

"Luigi follow only the Ferraris" - Luigi from the Movie Cars!

I'm not feeling it. And it's about $275,000 overpriced.

Just a thought from someone who will NEVER drive one of these cars. This should be an incredible vehicle to drive. I am no Toyota fan, but they do have world class engineers and it took a lot of time for them to bring this car to the market. I would bet a lot of money that this car is every bit as good as the people who drive cars for a living say it is. In my opinion, Toytota built this car for the sheer will of building it. Nissan brings something to the table that raises the bar for Japanese cars very high, so why not put off final production to build something that will do the same, just on a different level (anyone who thinks the GT-R is on this level is kidding themselves). The LF-A may or may not be the fastest, but I don't think sheer speed is what they were after. The interior of this car is VERY nice ( see GT-R comment). And like a lot of you said already.....damn this car is expensive. But Toyota will sell every one of them (maybe even 500 more). There are a LOT of very wealthy people that have very good taste in cars, and I would bet the # of people far outnumber 500 units.

Just an afterthought.....I thought the video and exhaust on the spied NSX sounded far better than this.

V-10 NSX (never coming)

"I am no Toyota fan, but they do have world class engineers..."

this is true.

when they decided to challenge Honda in the CART arena, they had competitive engines right out of the box. this continued as they carried the battles to IRL.
and a toyota engined car even won the Indianapolis 500 in its first attempt, beating out the Olds/Chevy engined cars that were in the series for years.

even when forced to go backwards in technology for NASCAR, toyota made competitive engines in no time.

so why this overlong gestation for the LF-A?

as i understand it, at least two reasons:

1) they were waiting for a victory in Formula One, so as to show off and exploit the car's F1 related v10 engine. (and the reason toyota has NOT done as well in F1 is largely due to just the nature of the F1 circus. drivers are a MUCH LARGER factor on F1 tracks. sheer power of engines is simply not enuff to ensure wins.)

2) being toyota/lexus, they want to ENSURE the car is perfect once released. waiting for an F1 podium, they've had the time to indulge in this perfectionism. perhaps, in response to the criticisms for this overlong gestation, they've decided to finally release it, regardless of Formula One results.

the NSX was a prototype and the exhaust probably wasn't even muffled and probably would sound way less exotic if it were to be produced. Or maybe you just have bad hearing? lol This sound is pure and unbelievable! There might only be a couple of exhast notes better imo. I think this thing is wonderful regardless of the price.

I like Japaneese cars, but comparing the LF-A with the GTR might be going to far,why?
1.The GTR can do 0-60 mph in 3.5 and the Lf-A 3.7 and about the famous race track the GTR under 8 and the LF-A 8.
2. Why? ever year nissan does an upgrade to the GTR, by time lexus release this car the GTR interior might have the same expensive look and feel as the Lexus.Do not believe check the new upgrade GTR.
3.The GTR is a nissan and LF-A a lexus which could aruguable be over price because for a car performance less that a GTR and have been in production for soooooo longgggggg it should be kicking GTR ass.

I don't understand why all you European fanboi hate Japanese cars so much. You should be thankful that Toyota produce this car because it force competition to make their car even better.

And it funny Japan and German were ally during World War 2. German even made Japan an honory Aryan. Please read and learn your history before you make stupid racist comment.

And another thing, it not like all you up here can afforded it anyway. I definitely agree that it really expensive for a Lexus. With that kind of money I can get a Lambo Gallardo LP-560 and still have money left to get an Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Or get the Aston Martin DBS and AM V8 Vantage.

Definitely a Supercar material and has the number to back up, but it just to expensive. I love the Car, it performance, and the exhaust note it make when you step on the pedal. But would I buy this car if I had $400,000? No because I would rather buy an Lambo Gallardo and an Aston Martin V8 Vantage instead. Or I just might get two Aston Martin instead the DBS and AM V8 Vantage.

The torque figures given in this article are off...
it' more like 480 Nm @ 6800 rpm!

Let's just face it: most of you here are stupid and insanely jealous. Lexus will sell these cars almost regardless of any price sticker they put on it. People pay out of the ass purely for exclusivity all the time. Of course they should at least be able to get a car that actually drives well out of the deal. "Magic feel" is priceless, right?