A Tale of Two Sports Cars: LC 500 vs Supra 2.0
Though each represents a different purpose when it comes to sports cars, LC 500 and Supra 2.0 complement each other on the road.
Toyota and Lexus each possess a halo car to draw in new and old fans alike. For Toyota, it’s the Supra, a legendary name in the performance game. Lexus, meanwhile, has the LC 500, the successor to the SC300 and SC400 from the company’s first decade. Both represent the best each company offers, though differ in demographics, and how each applies its given performance abilities.
Yet, the Supra and LC 500 complement each other because of those differences. Kevin of Exhaust Sports Auto recently compared the two to not only parse out how each takes on the road, but how, in the end, he’d welcome both into his garage.
“This is where my argument of these cars transcend spec sheets comes in,” said Kevin. “This heavy curb weight […] makes [the LC 500] feel so superior out in the street. That’s what makes this such a great street car. It’s a one-off experience. No other car, not even in the Lexus family, can replicate the way that this vehicle feels.”
Kevin goes to say the LC 500 is truly its own animal, as it doesn’t fit neatly into the categories of sports car or grand tourer. It also doesn’t ask you to flog it on the road like the Supra does, although it can hang with it if desired. It may not be a fast car, and its rear seats may as well not exist, but the Lexus will reward you with a drive befitting its luxury performance status.
“As soon as I got into this [Supra] […] I just could not stop driving this thing,” said Kevin. “I don’t like driving cars for long periods of time. But this car, I just didn’t care. I just kept driving it for no reason.”
Of course, one reason is the 2.0-liter turbo-four up front, whose characteristics beg the driver to let it go. Kevin notes the Supra encourages the driver to push the sports car hard, leading to tons of fun at every turn. It’ll also beat the LC 500 off the line, though it’s nothing Lexus owners need to worry about.
“Where do both of these vehicles sit?” asks Kevin. “Honestly, I would like to have both of these vehicles in my garage.”
After all, the Supra’s perfect for track days, the LC 500 for weekend road trips. There’s ultimately no picking one over the other, aside from how much you’re wiling to spend.
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