C8 or LC 500? Club Lexus Forum Members Debate
Some Club Lexus members previously owned at least one Corvette. Others currently have both!
The 2020 “C8” Chevrolet Corvette recently debuted to near universal acclaim. The switch to a mid-engine layout is shaping up to be a major game changer for the nameplate, and a move that will potentially put automakers like Acura and Porsche on notice. General Motor’s halo car is shaping up to be a success right from the start. With a sub $60,000 starting price and a 0-60 time under 3 seconds, it’s not hard to understand why people are interested in the car. But where does that leave prospective LC 500 owners?
Club Lexus member “Oilman” essentially asked this question when he created a thread on the 2020 Corvette. He got a decent number of replies, and it turns out that a surprising number of Club Lexus members are current or former Corvette owners. Overall, it seems like the community is interested in the C8 but not 100 percent sold on it yet.
OP started the thread by getting right into the thick of things.
With the introduction of the new Corvette for 2020, anyone having second thoughts about owning one vs the LC500?
The first reply came from “flowrider” and it was quite terse.
Nope!
“Puertex” responded with his own Corvette ownership history while bringing up some fair points about the Chevy.
Not me? I have had two Corvettes.
Great cars for the price.
The design style of the car just got too aggressive for me after the C6 model.
Plus the fact that, well, there are so many out there. No exclusivity.
Yes, the Vette is faster but I decided that I don’t buy the car just based on the horsepower or 0 to 60 speed.
After all, how fast can I drive in the city without getting a ticket.
So I would like to admire the Corvette but I don’t want to own one.
As Puertex points out, the Corvette may seem exotic now but at some point they will become somewhat common. If Chevrolet sells about 30,000 examples per year for the next five years, that means at least 150,000 Corvettes will be running around America by 2025. By contrast, Lexus has sold under 5,000 examples of the LC 500 to date. There really is no question as to which model will be more exclusive.
A bit later on in the thread, “DRGibbons” points out some similarities between the LC 500 and the Corvette.
Glad I have my LC. The new Vette looks nice but as I was watching the reveal last night, I noticed how they were mentioning a lot of things that the LC has already – thin air vents, leather/suede surfaces ect. on the interior. The base engine isn’t as powerful, though the Vette is quicker but as Puertex states, they will become quite common in short order.
I do like the nose height auto lift feature they mentioned, though . . . . .
OP then replied to DRGibbons and revealed he is a former Corvette owner himself.
I watched the introduction video and I was taken by the number of ideas that appeared to have come from the LC500 as well. I used to own a Corvette many years ago and while I think this is probably a leap forward for the car, it doesn’t make me want to trade my LC 500 in for one either. I am surprised at the low entry price of the new Vette. Sounds like they want to crank up production in KY!
Club Lexus member “LC500NV” chimed in later to explain why both cars are important.
I’ve owned 13 Corvettes over the last 30 years. In fact, my first car was a Corvette. I sold my ’17 Grand Sport a few months ago in anticipation of the C8 and because I was unsure about some weird transmission behavior (very common) that had started happening. I wasn’t about to deal with that issue, so I sold it sooner than I had planned. Rather than wait for the second or third model year of the C8, I moved into an LC and found a real sweet spot between sport and luxury. I love the car and although it’s not the track beast the C7 was, it a much, much finer car in all other aspects and just as much fun to drive on the street. If I do eventually get a C8, it will be in addition to the LC instead of in place of it. Actually, I’m not sure I could settle for GM’s quality after owning the LC. It blows away anything else I’ve ever own including Audi, Porsche and Mercedes. I also love the exclusivity of the LC….I’ve only seen three (other than mine) in the last two years. People often ask me what it is and they’re shocked to find out that it’s a Lexus.
The one thing I miss about Corvette ownership is the vast network of information and owner experience. I’m not a “Corvette Club” guy or anything like that, but I do find the internet forums very helpful with the ongoing ownership experience. The Lexus simply does not have much of a fan base compared to the Vette, so you’re pretty much on your own when any problems or questions arise. The camaraderie and experiences of fellow Vette owners was also fun from time to time, although those forums get pretty crazy with so many fanatics and wackos. Having said that, I don’t expect many issues with the Lexus so a hotline for problems may never be necessary.
My local dealer will have a C8 on display on August 29. I will definitely check it out, but I would most likely wait a couple of years for the Z06 version before getting serious about it.
If you’re looking for a performance oriented sports car at an unbeatable price, the C8 Corvette is worth a look. The Corvette community is also well established and active, which helps with the ownership experience should problems occur. The Lexus LC 500 is simply a different beast. It’s got an alluring blend of performance and luxury, like LC500NV said. And its exclusivity is definitely a selling point. Both cars are examples of excellent engineering and each model plays to the strength of their respective brands. The Club Lexus community stands behind the LC 500, but also respects the new Corvette for what it represents. It will be interesting to see how this debate evolves once the C8 arrives at Chevy dealerships early next year.
If you’d like to contribute to the ongoing discussion about the merits of the C8 Corvette, click here to head on over and engage with fellow Lexus enthusiasts.
