Lexus LF-A event at Autobahn CC IL today (lots of pics)
03-27-2011, 06:35 PM
#81
Three Wheelin'
Awesome. Was that the most expensive car you ever drove?
03-27-2011, 07:18 PM
#82
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
^^ yeah, under that was a F360 6MT.
wonder how would it compare to a 430? only asking cause i driven one before and shiet was fast
03-28-2011, 12:28 PM
#85
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
I do have some criticism. I think Lexus should have left it aluminum and charged around $200k. And also, I would have much rather preferred a manual transmission. I know pretty much all sports cars these days are moving to dual-clutch autos. Call me old skool but I just like shifting for myself. When I had my Supra I would be aching at the end of a track day just from shifting with the heavy clutch. None of that with these newer cars. The driving experience left something to desire - it felt more like a video game than racing a real car. And that is not good. I have a feeling I would have enjoyed driving a manual ZR-1 more than the LFA, and save what 275k in the process. Sure the interior is garbage but damn, its a race car. Exterior wise I think it looks pretty classy.
Just saw that the 2011 GT2RS is manual only. Nice. And, its only $245k.
Just saw that the 2011 GT2RS is manual only. Nice. And, its only $245k.
03-28-2011, 12:29 PM
#86
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
very fast car for sure, if that 430 was MT it would probably be a better driving experience than the LF-A. If it was paddles still you are having an awesome driving experience, I mean I remember when I drove the 360 a big part of the excitement for me was the fact that it was a Ferrari. As lame as that sounds, I mean just having an Italian thoroughbred V8 at the beck and call of your right foot was a wonderful feeling.
03-28-2011, 01:55 PM
#88
Why look at an LF-A when a GT-R is cheaper and faster?!?!
j/k, i am too poor to afford either, the LF-A is a real work of art and a stunning car. and seriously, who ever sits there and pushes a gt-r to its limits, or an LF-A for that matter. Not the average buyer
j/k, i am too poor to afford either, the LF-A is a real work of art and a stunning car. and seriously, who ever sits there and pushes a gt-r to its limits, or an LF-A for that matter. Not the average buyer
03-28-2011, 02:17 PM
#90
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
very fast car for sure, if that 430 was MT it would probably be a better driving experience than the LF-A. If it was paddles still you are having an awesome driving experience, I mean I remember when I drove the 360 a big part of the excitement for me was the fact that it was a Ferrari. As lame as that sounds, I mean just having an Italian thoroughbred V8 at the beck and call of your right foot was a wonderful feeling.
03-28-2011, 02:22 PM
#92
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
comparing LF-A and GT-R is the same age-old argument, you can put a crate motor in a soapbox and have something that'll wipe anything on the street. lol.
btw my friend drove a GT-R also and he said there is no comparison to the LF-A. He said the LF-A feels like a race car, and the GT-R does not.
I will be driving a GT-R soon (!) and so then I can also give my own personal impression of it (finally).
btw my friend drove a GT-R also and he said there is no comparison to the LF-A. He said the LF-A feels like a race car, and the GT-R does not.
I will be driving a GT-R soon (!) and so then I can also give my own personal impression of it (finally).
03-28-2011, 03:21 PM
#93
BTW, great thread! Excellent pics, video and description. It has made me look at that car in a whole new light...
03-28-2011, 03:24 PM
#94
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
holy crap is that what it was? yeah things have changed. a lot.
you can own one now, if you want. from what I heard, originally it was lease only, but after they all "sold out", they ended up having some extra in Europe, for whatever reason. And they sent that extra over to the USA. I don't know how many cars there were.
you can own one now, if you want. from what I heard, originally it was lease only, but after they all "sold out", they ended up having some extra in Europe, for whatever reason. And they sent that extra over to the USA. I don't know how many cars there were.
03-28-2011, 03:31 PM
#96
Three Wheelin'
so you're saying you need a down payment of $300K for a $375K car and monthly payment is still $12,400? i'm sure the Veyron have similar numbers.
03-28-2011, 03:55 PM
#97
But apparently that has changed...holy crap is that what it was? yeah things have changed. a lot.
you can own one now, if you want. from what I heard, originally it was lease only, but after they all "sold out", they ended up having some extra in Europe, for whatever reason. And they sent that extra over to the USA. I don't know how many cars there were.
you can own one now, if you want. from what I heard, originally it was lease only, but after they all "sold out", they ended up having some extra in Europe, for whatever reason. And they sent that extra over to the USA. I don't know how many cars there were.
The monthly lease payment on the Lexus LFA is $12.398.44. For 24 months. That's $297,562.56 worth of lease payments over two years, at the end of which you own nothing. However, Lexus is quick to point out that the LFA's MSRP is $375,000, so you're technically not paying full price. And at the end of 24 months, lessees are free to plunk down an additional $93,750 (more than the base price of a very comparable Nissan GT-R, we should mention) and buy their LFA outright.
Either way, it's not cheap
03-28-2011, 04:23 PM
#98
I'd tell them to go screw themselves. So many epic cars can be had for $375,000. Actually less than $375,000
03-29-2011, 06:12 PM
#99
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
some more photos -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5569869602/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5569869602/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5569966883/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5569966883/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5570555056/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5570555056/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5569967179/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5569967179/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5569967225/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5569967225/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5570697358/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5570697358/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5570755442/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5570755442/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5570166385/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5570166385/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5571516179/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5571516179/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5569869602/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5569869602/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5569966883/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5569966883/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5570555056/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5570555056/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5569967179/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5569967179/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5569967225/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5569967225/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5570697358/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5570697358/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5570755442/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5570755442/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5570166385/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5570166385/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5571516179/http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/5571516179/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/delobbo/, on Flickr
03-29-2011, 06:13 PM
#100
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
great review. my first time seeing this video, it's nice to see Chris Harris arrive at the same kind of conclusions I did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeNJwS3coLk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeNJwS3coLk
03-29-2011, 06:48 PM
#101
Senior Moderator
As for the GT-R comparison, neither are particularly comparable other than being the flagship of their respective marques. The LF-A is clearly a street legal exotic race car (of sorts) whereas the GT-R is more of a GT car with incredible all around performance and some level of practicality.
Last edited by F23A4; 03-29-2011 at 07:09 PM.
03-29-2011, 07:35 PM
#103
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
As for the GT-R comparison, neither are particularly comparable other than being the flagship of their respective marques. The LF-A is clearly a street legal exotic race car (of sorts) whereas the GT-R is more of a GT car with incredible all around performance and some level of practicality.
04-04-2011, 02:31 PM
#104
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
got some more info on this event... its called "Lexus LFA Driver Development Program" and it was supposed to only be for owners, owners-to-be, or people who Lexus has in mind to buy the car. There were only 4 such events in the country. So I guess you could say I was REALLY LUCKY to be able to drive the car. and I thank everyone involved from the bottom of my heart to make that possible!!
that Illinois event is the last of the four private LFA drive events in the USA. (Fontana, Sonoma, Palm Beach and Joliet)
04-04-2011, 06:36 PM
#105
I learned a very valuable lesson on Friday. A lesson that has changed my life outlook in a very positive way. And that is, don't judge and make conclusions about something until you've tried it for yourself. My main beef with the LF-A prior to driving it (and seeing it in person) was the styling. I didn't like the front end, and it also has some other quirky features that I didn't like (such as the rear 3/4 window styling). Not a big fan of the side-view mirrors or the hoodline either. I think it's also a natural tendency of humans, for certain situations such as this one where you think to yourself that you'll never have one of those, so you just find stuff to pick at. Something which I am quite guilty of in the past, for sure. But after driving it, my impression of the car changed completely. I realized that it's basically a roadgoing race car. And that being said, it's not a hefty price to pay. The other cars that are in the same class as this car (carbon fiber body) are the Enzo, SLR, Zonda, those kind of cars. When you look at it that way, it's actually a pretty good deal. And regarding the styling, seeing it in person makes you realize that all of the lines are there for a reason - this is function over form - the side-view mirrors are designed that way for a purpose, to flow the air into the rear intakes to cool the brakes. The lines along the hood direct the flow or air as well, in a very technical manner, to make the car very aerodynamic. Of course other cars do this as well, but this one just has a more 'surgical' approach to it. While on others they may take a line more towards the middle of form and function.
Definitely also seeing it in person did a lot for me. The car has a foreboding, menacing demeanor and that's something I didn't really notice until I saw it in person.
But the internet has this tendency to make this happen - so I don't think it's necessarily bad to make judgments just from looking at pictures or reading statistics online - because after all if we didn't do that, we wouldn't have much to talk about here. The lesson I learned is that while you can make your own first impressions based on what you see on your computer screen, you should reserve final judgment until you try it out for yourself.
I think many people here know this already, it just took me a while.
Definitely also seeing it in person did a lot for me. The car has a foreboding, menacing demeanor and that's something I didn't really notice until I saw it in person.
But the internet has this tendency to make this happen - so I don't think it's necessarily bad to make judgments just from looking at pictures or reading statistics online - because after all if we didn't do that, we wouldn't have much to talk about here. The lesson I learned is that while you can make your own first impressions based on what you see on your computer screen, you should reserve final judgment until you try it out for yourself.
I think many people here know this already, it just took me a while.
I'm still wondering.... the 3rd exhaust pipe looks awesome, but how the heck does it work? Last time I checked the LF-A was a naturally aspirated V10, so there's no wastegate dump pipe a-la F40
04-06-2011, 01:08 AM
#106
日本国内市場の売春婦
Saw this on POTN and thought your username "srika" looked familiar, and here I am... haven't been on here for months haha. Must have been a super cool experience, I'm very envious! Hopefully I'll get to drive one of these this year if & when one of clients decides to buy one!
08-25-2011, 03:59 PM
#107
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Saw this on POTN and thought your username "srika" looked familiar, and here I am... haven't been on here for months haha. Must have been a super cool experience, I'm very envious! Hopefully I'll get to drive one of these this year if & when one of clients decides to buy one!
08-25-2011, 04:02 PM
#108
Moderator
08-25-2011, 04:06 PM
#109
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
no man, just doing some catch up.
08-25-2011, 04:07 PM
#110
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08-25-2011, 04:17 PM
#111
Senior Moderator
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