Lexus lfa

Lexus lfa

Don’t get me wrong; the LF-A is an amazing machine. It just comes down to pure numbers, pedigree, and common sense.

The issue is that Lexus (Toyota), are caught in a market they’ve never been in. Sure they had the Supra in the 80’s and 90’s, but that was a machine built to compete with the then growing sports coupe market. Not the pure-bred super-car market they’re trying to enter now.  Likewise, for companies trying to gain a foot-hold in this market is met with a VERY pesky thorn: The Nissan GTR.

 Lexus lfa

Despite the extreme light weight, the LF-A still can’t compete with the Nissan GTR. So what does Lexus think about that? They ignore the GTR altogether and compare the LF-A to the Ferrari Enzo and the Mercedes SLR-McLaren, as a “cheaper alternative”. But again, as you will see in the provided numbers, there is no comparison. The LFA keeps coming up short. They’re stuck in super-car limbo with a good looking, lightweight, and terribly performing machine. During a heated office discussion, I think I said it best:  “The Lexus LF-A is the big plush leather seat that everyone wants to sit in…a true “super car” is the rigid, light weight, and uncomfortable seat that only true enthusiasts will appreciate.”

 Lexus lfa

It’s just that it’s the biggest super-car impostor since the Delorean. At least the people who bought the Delorean KNEW they were getting an under-performing – pretty looking (?) – car.  My issue is that the Lexus LFA claims to be something that it is clearly not. I don’t give a shit that it’s constructed of 95% carbon fibre, or that it has a odometer straight out of Grand Tourismo… they’re all just sales gimmicks. The car wasn’t constructed as a pure performing super sports car, it was conceived through the sales ideas of Toyota marketing. Caution wasn’t thrown out the window, it was carefully used to understand what sells a super car these days. That is, when you’re a econo-box company trying to make it in a market they have no business being in: You make a car and fill it with all the gadgets and toys people in that market talk about, pay for biased and skewed comparisons from third parties, and ignore your direct competition while comparing this monstrosity to iconic hyper cars. All the while fooling the public into believing that this car belongs. It does not.

 Lexus lfa

Paraphrased, the LFA is a fad and/or a gross bastardization. It suffers from delusions of grandeur.  It will never be known for its performance. Just it’s looks, bells and whistles, and insane price. Wait… this is all too familiar.  Lexus F-’ed up like this once before. The failed Lexus SC430…. Hey Lexus – don’t get yourself down – girls LOVE them!  It’s like a big comfy leather Miata. Maybe you just created the first super-car for the female market? (Was that sexist?… hmm).

 Lexus lfa

 Lexus lfa

 Lexus lfa

Lexus is being totally, completely, and retardedly pretentious about the way one must acquire the LFA (well, in the USA anyways… us EU residents can have the title immediately). Lexus claims that they wants to “avoid the fly-by-night buyers” who will snatch up these limited production cars and sell them for “outrageous prices”.  So Toyota decided to do that themselves!   Lexus is LEASING the LFA for two years before the original leaser can opt to purchase the vehicle. The lease (which isn’t really a legit lease) is worth $12,400 A MONTH – paid all up-front !   Yup, suckers lucky buyers won’t just buy their LFA once… no, no, these lucky suckers buyers get to buy their LFA’s TWICE!   The 24-month lease alone will cost the buyer $297,600.  THEN they’re lucky enough – after said 24-months – to pay out the ass again! Yay!   It’s a terrible maneuver, whether they’re trying to add to their bottom line (100% yes, for sure), or somehow curb resellers (just a bad excuse to charge more) – they’re not doing themselves any favours.

P.T. Barnum said it best – “There’s a sucker born every minute”.

Lexus lfa