All LFAs sold. well sort of...
01-24-10, 11:49 PM
#77
Lexus Champion
Interesting. I agree that in exotic circles, they know little about it. Most in that group, first look basic performance numbers versus cost. Once they saw those or heard about it, the car was immediately dismissed as overpriced. $375k to go 0-60 in 3.6? A 560 Gallardo or F430 will do that. What fascinates me is that Lexus has claimed to found an entirely new car niche where there are 160 buyers in the US willing to plunk down $375k (even the price is debated because on TopGear they clearly said 375,000 pounds, which would put it at over $500k) and not draw buyers from the existing exotic market without displacing any cars. And all of this by identifying buyers themselves that they choose from?
How do they choose a buyer without relying on numerical data and not get sued? I'd think they would run into all kinds of problems otherwise. What if a minority didn't get chosen? Wouldn't they have a lawsuit? What if they didn't pick enough women? I'm ready to leave this one alone and watch it unfold. I remain a skeptic.
I'd love for one of the US buyers to step forward and write about the order process. I'd also love to see someone put together an actual registry of these cars, given there are so few. I'll post if I learn anything concrete.
Meanwhile I still do like my Lexus. The only problem was I blew out the audio system once. Other than that, it's never had any unscheduled problem. My SC430 on the other hand was a complete nightmare.
How do they choose a buyer without relying on numerical data and not get sued? I'd think they would run into all kinds of problems otherwise. What if a minority didn't get chosen? Wouldn't they have a lawsuit? What if they didn't pick enough women? I'm ready to leave this one alone and watch it unfold. I remain a skeptic.
I'd love for one of the US buyers to step forward and write about the order process. I'd also love to see someone put together an actual registry of these cars, given there are so few. I'll post if I learn anything concrete.
Meanwhile I still do like my Lexus. The only problem was I blew out the audio system once. Other than that, it's never had any unscheduled problem. My SC430 on the other hand was a complete nightmare.
On the other hand here in Japan the selection process is just about finalized and will be done by a draw, which is as fair as it can get.
But this does not take away the fact that there are more people in line to buy the car than there are cars.
And just on a personal note , the main reason why I am interested in the car is b/c I believe it will be a very user friendly car with most of the comforts that you usually see in a Lexus, plus some added extras that you don't see. I have just been told that servicing is going to be a lot more expensive than a normal Lexus. Eg $800 US for an oil change.
01-25-10, 05:23 AM
#78
Lead Lap
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I think the problem here that most people are still speculating on how the cars will be allocated b/c there certainly has not been any concrete info on how the selection process will be undertaken. My guess is that Lexus will do what they have always done and wait to the last minute to announce how everything will go, until then it will be a free for all like we saw whether the LFA would be built or woundn't.
On the other hand here in Japan the selection process is just about finalized and will be done by a draw, which is as fair as it can get.
But this does not take away the fact that there are more people in line to buy the car than there are cars.
And just on a personal note , the main reason why I am interested in the car is b/c I believe it will be a very user friendly car with most of the comforts that you usually see in a Lexus, plus some added extras that you don't see. I have just been told that servicing is going to be a lot more expensive than a normal Lexus. Eg $800 US for an oil change.
On the other hand here in Japan the selection process is just about finalized and will be done by a draw, which is as fair as it can get.
But this does not take away the fact that there are more people in line to buy the car than there are cars.
And just on a personal note , the main reason why I am interested in the car is b/c I believe it will be a very user friendly car with most of the comforts that you usually see in a Lexus, plus some added extras that you don't see. I have just been told that servicing is going to be a lot more expensive than a normal Lexus. Eg $800 US for an oil change.
I've posted on all the major forums, the question regarding who has firm plans to buy one and I've not heard from anyone yet. This differs significantly from the reaction to the release of other cars in the last two years. This lack or reaction is on par with how the Mercedes McLarin SLR, was received and the AM DBS. Both manufacturers claimed sold out production and the cars never moved.
I'm curious, the "Lexus" brand was new around 2004-2005 in Japan is Lexus more popular than BMW and Mercedes in Japan or is it treated as too domestic? I was in one where the driver could select dialect of Japanese. Whatever it was made the passengers laugh.
Lamborghini had an allocation per country for the LP670-4 SV and changed it once demand shifted. BTW, I say my first Lamborghini Murcielago while in Tokyo in 2004. I loved walking the back side of the Ginza district on a Friday night just to see the cars. I do love Tokyo!
01-25-10, 05:40 AM
#79
Lexus Test Driver
TommyJames, I agree with you that Lexus doesnt have the performance numbers or the brand name for a $400000 car. Thats why they are limiting the production. Its the old saying, people always want what they cannot have. I am sure there will be at least 150 rich Asian guy in the US who would pay that much for the LFA.
01-25-10, 07:22 AM
#80
Super Moderator
TommyJames, I agree with you that Lexus doesnt have the performance numbers or the brand name for a $400000 car. Thats why they are limiting the production. Its the old saying, people always want what they cannot have. I am sure there will be at least 150 rich Asian guy in the US who would pay that much for the LFA.
01-25-10, 08:09 AM
#82
Lexus Test Driver
01-25-10, 08:51 AM
#84
Interesting. I agree that in exotic circles, they know little about it. Most in that group, first look basic performance numbers versus cost. Once they saw those or heard about it, the car was immediately dismissed as overpriced. $375k to go 0-60 in 3.6? A 560 Gallardo or F430 will do that. What fascinates me is that Lexus has claimed to found an entirely new car niche where there are 160 buyers in the US willing to plunk down $375k (even the price is debated because on TopGear they clearly said 375,000 pounds, which would put it at over $500k) and not draw buyers from the existing exotic market without displacing any cars. And all of this by identifying buyers themselves that they choose from?
How do they choose a buyer without relying on numerical data and not get sued? I'd think they would run into all kinds of problems otherwise. What if a minority didn't get chosen? Wouldn't they have a lawsuit? What if they didn't pick enough women? I'm ready to leave this one alone and watch it unfold. I remain a skeptic.
I'd love for one of the US buyers to step forward and write about the order process. I'd also love to see someone put together an actual registry of these cars, given there are so few. I'll post if I learn anything concrete.
Meanwhile I still do like my Lexus. The only problem was I blew out the audio system once. Other than that, it's never had any unscheduled problem. My SC430 on the other hand was a complete nightmare.
How do they choose a buyer without relying on numerical data and not get sued? I'd think they would run into all kinds of problems otherwise. What if a minority didn't get chosen? Wouldn't they have a lawsuit? What if they didn't pick enough women? I'm ready to leave this one alone and watch it unfold. I remain a skeptic.
I'd love for one of the US buyers to step forward and write about the order process. I'd also love to see someone put together an actual registry of these cars, given there are so few. I'll post if I learn anything concrete.
Meanwhile I still do like my Lexus. The only problem was I blew out the audio system once. Other than that, it's never had any unscheduled problem. My SC430 on the other hand was a complete nightmare.
i am not saying the lfa is fastest on the ring, but the fact remains that lexus (or anyone else) really has any confirmed figures on the track time. could be fast, could be slow. but there are numbers from lexus long time racer on the rough time which seems very promising. another "reference" would be the top gear wet track time which again looks pretty promising
i think until there are more track times available, it can't be a fair game comparing the lfa to other cars from a price + performance aspect
01-25-10, 09:09 AM
#85
Guest
Posts: n/a
one thing i will want to stress again, and as an exotic / supercar owner as you are you should very much agree, that 0-60 is a pretty moot point in cars like these. i am not saying it's meaningless, it does has its value, but if you talk about performance of the car, track time makes a lot more sense.
i am not saying the lfa is fastest on the ring, but the fact remains that lexus (or anyone else) really has any confirmed figures on the track time. could be fast, could be slow. but there are numbers from lexus long time racer on the rough time which seems very promising. another "reference" would be the top gear wet track time which again looks pretty promising
i think until there are more track times available, it can't be a fair game comparing the lfa to other cars from a price + performance aspect
i am not saying the lfa is fastest on the ring, but the fact remains that lexus (or anyone else) really has any confirmed figures on the track time. could be fast, could be slow. but there are numbers from lexus long time racer on the rough time which seems very promising. another "reference" would be the top gear wet track time which again looks pretty promising
i think until there are more track times available, it can't be a fair game comparing the lfa to other cars from a price + performance aspect
That doesn't make other exotics any less meaningful. Some still consider the McLaren F1 "THE" exotic, doesn't make anything else a bad choice. Again I am not totally surprised that many exotic car owners don't know about the LFA. Lexus hasn't had a huge marketing event for the car. Who is really wanting/expecting a Lexus supercar? Hardly anyone.
We should all be glad it is here.
01-25-10, 12:22 PM
#86
Lexus Test Driver
I know this will be impossoble to prove, but I bet that the percentage of LFA sold to Asian Americans will be much greater than the percentage of Asian American population in the US.
01-25-10, 12:40 PM
#88
Lexus Test Driver
01-25-10, 02:52 PM
#89
Lexus Test Driver
I think the SALES model is a lot more like the Enzo. The surrounding circumstances are obviously NOT, but the approach is not new or unique as it mimics Ferrari's model when they sold the Enzo. Owner qualification required, selection required, and lease only. I really doubt Ferrari called anyone about buying an Enzo as I'm pretty confident they had no problem finding willing buyers. Sounds to me like Lexus is ignoring the "community" because they've already found buyers for such a small production run. It wouldn't be the first time they've ignored convention.
No, they really don't look at "basic performance numbers" first. Sorry.
Last edited by gengar; 01-25-10 at 03:08 PM.
01-25-10, 03:18 PM
#90
Nice!!!
(By the way, Maranello is only an hour away from the Ducati factory..
)