Is Lexus Really Canning The LF-A Lease Program Because They Fear It Won't Sell Out?

Notice it isn't sold out yet with only 500 examples globally?

reaching 009? Why not just open up a special section of autospies.com so that all the newbies get the low-down on how much you hate Lexus. That will save you time from coming up with these absurd articles.

Not reaching this time.

Stop and think about it though only 500 units worldwide of such a monumental halo car, you would think it would blow out the very quickly.

Yes I know it is expensive but this car was anticipated by millions, well in advance and they STILL haven't sold them all.

So the question really is to Lexus. Just how many are spoken for?

The car is completely sold out. This was announced over a month ago. Lexus is simply being more flexible in payment options.

mitch:

not a single car is 'sold.' they may have people on a list with a small deposit, but no LFAs have been produced and not a single one has been delivered. let's talk when they actually show up.

mitchatlexusofmarin - If every unit was already claimed then why change the terms. No need to change the rules if everyone accepted the terms. Clearly not every deal was 100%.

Look Lexus has spent a billion dollars getting this car to market and no one wants to buy one because if they are going to spend half a million dollars on a car, it sure the hell isn't going to be a Toyota.

Well in about the same amount of time it took for them to realize they put faulty brakes on their cars, Toyota has figured out that they have probably made a mistake by pursuing the ultra exotic market. I recommend that they pull out now before it causes a problem that lasts a lifetime.

No... customers are complaining. Simple as that.

They aren't complaining because Lexus LF-A owners are about as rare as Big-foot. It's hard for people to complain when they do not exist.

LOL Lexus has no idea how the free market works, do they? Look at Ferrari and Porsche, they could care less if what people do with their supercars.

If I had the wealth and the desire to buy the LFA, I would never subject myself to a stupid lease so that I can be told what to do... HELLO? PEOPLE WITH MONEY DO NOT LIKE BEING TOLD WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN NOT DO WITH THEIR CARS.

People buy cars to OWN them.

Ferrari subjects its owners to even more scrutiny and hoops to jump through. But, as you pointed out, you're not exactly in the market for these vehicles, so I guess you wouldn't know that.

thetruth01, my point was about the "lease". You are telling me Ferrari has a lease program like the LFA? Address the topic at hand please. Your backhanded insults are amusing but immaterial to the discussion.

Please enlighten us how Ferrari limits the customer's use of the Ferrari after purchase? Also, since you appear to be intimately familiar with the Ferrari purchase experience, how is the Ferrari purchase worse than Lexus? Oh wait, that's right, YOU CAN'T BUY AN LFA.

Ferrari had a similiar lease program on the F50 when it came out because the F40's were being flipped and sold for such him premiums over sticker.

"Ferrari had a similiar lease program on the F50 when it came out because the F40's were being flipped and sold for such him premiums over sticker."

- The last F50 was a 1997 model, F40 before that. How about something current and relevent? You know... Like how the LF-A is current and relevent. Ferrari hasn't done that lease thing in over 13+ years. Can Lexus say the same?

To be fair Ferrari only sold Enzos to loyal buyers. But they did sell them (no lease crap). So that means that they didn't repeat what they did with the F40/F50 with the Enzo. So equating Lexuses current practice with Ferrari's current practive isn't accurate.

Sorry buddy, but you are completely wrong with Ferrari not caring what buyers do with the Ferrari's they bought. Ferrari learned from the F40 debacle, went to far with the F50 program(that and it was slower than the F40), and keeps a close eye on the cars. If you ever have the chance to buy a Ferrari, and relish the opportunity to buy another one, especially if you plan to work your way into the special owners club, you have to do what Ferrari wants you to do.

They still haven't sold all 500 units yet? Fail!! And LOL!!

Guess there aren't 500 Rich people who would be stupid enough to spend $375,000 on a car that isn't a ferrari (599), doesn't perform as well as a Ferrari, doesn't have an exotic car name or history, yet still costs more than the Ferrari.

LF-A = Lexus Fails Again. I almost feel sorry for lexus. They overpriced this car by at least $200,000. And this was supposed to be the king (According to the Fanboys)? What an Epic Fail.

What the hell is happening at Toyota?

LexSucks,

Can you explain to me how exactly this car is overpriced when Toyota is "LOSING" money on every one they sell?

"Can you explain to me how exactly this car is overpriced when Toyota is "LOSING" money on every one they sell"

- They aren't losing money. That's what Lexus want folks to beleive. The Mclaren also has a carbon fibre tub, better transmission and is mid-engined (more expensive setup than the front-engined LF-A). Yet it costs about $125k less than the LF-A. Mclaren isn't losing money on thier cars, so how can lexus? What is lexus doing wrong if they are losing money? Lexes needs to consult with Mclaren if that's the case.

“LexSucks,
Maybe you'd be better served posting all of the articles discussing how overpriced and underperforming this car really is.....I'll wait right here.”

- Why do you need an Article to tell you that? Numbers are numbers. The Ferrari 599 outperforms the LF-A while costing about $75,000 less. With the LF-A you pay $75k more for less performance. If that isn’t overpriced IDK what is.


“It's sad how some of you fanboys are so blinded by hate that you can't simply appreciate craftsmanship at this level. If this had a prancing horse on the front you'd be running around your house with a can of Crisco looking for a box of tissues.”

- There’s nothing really special about the LF-A. And in regards to “craftsmanship” There isn’t anything special there either. And Ferrari would never make a car exactly like the LF-A, Ferrari makes better cars than that.


“It's a great car, pure and simple, but keep up the campaign.”

-It is a great car. But there are cheaper cars that are better. Live with it.

I think that before any judgments on how special the car is, people should drive it, as agent 00R did a while ago. We all know that he is not the biggest Toyota/Lexus fan but he was quite impressed.

LexSucks,

So you know for a fact that Toyota is not losing any money on the LF-A based on the common knowledge of the cost of a Mclaren? Wow, with that logic, world peace should have been solved a long time ago.

i'm confused as to how you came to the world peace conclusion from a logical comparison.

I could not have said it better myself.

At the price of the LFA relative to both its performance and the price/performance of the competition, Toyota probably felt that it would be easier to get people in the car by offering a lease program. At that point, they felt the product was strong enough that buyers would want to keep the car or that the price of the model would appreciate enough that those buyers would take the buy-out option and sell the car after a year.

Isn't this car 15 minutes over yet.

Is Toyota Really Canning The LF-A Lease Program Because They Fear It Won't Sell Out? That should have been the headline. Anyway, there are some very good arguments here. And has Toyota built and delivered just one yet? Nope. It may be next year. Ferrari did sell the 599XX, and it is kept at Maranello and you do have a crew that tends to the car when you fly to Italy and drive it around the Fiorano track and the car does stay there when you are done. But you are right about the F50, which was to keep it out of speculators hands and into the hands of owners.

So there are actually a few people out there that would want to pay more than $375,000 for a Special Toyota just so they can have it right now? Really? Let's see what happens when they are on the ground. And I still cannot get the idea of a $375,000 Toyota. A Ferrari 599 GTO sounds a lot better even though they are all really sold out!

Lexus is losing money on the LF-A because they are amortizing their "down the drain" Toyota F1 investment into R&D on the car. Throwing around a billion on any car will make it a money loser.

Just saying...

It is your option to read of not. I merely post the questions and bring up counter points.

let's talk about what a stupid investment this car is for toyota....

ferrari, porsche, aston--even mercedes--produce super cars AT A PROFIT that SELL FOR LESS. toyota is losing a fortune on every LFA it will sell even though it costs far more than the competition.

that's just pathetic. what's the point of this car from a business strategy perspective?