You might be right about folks buying $100K+ cars only caring about the first 3 years as they trade up, but I tend to keep cars longer so CR is more useful to me. But thanks for the JD Power link showing that Porsches are indeed solid the first 3 years.

Sorry to hear about your woes with the RC-F, sounds like you got a rare lemon. I don't know any other Lexus owners that have had that kind of experience in any model. More like 1 issue per 100k miles.

One more comment on the resale value of the RC-F; it seems to fit the pattern of most high performance / premium versions of normal cars. Once on the used market, most people are just looking for "X" and the fact that your car has a bigger motor or nicer wheels gets kind of lost. Options and packages depreciate much faster than the base car. Had this discussion with my brother who is waiting for the RS3 to arrive. I told him he'll be paying $60K+ for what to most other people is the same A3 that his admin assistant drives, so don't expect much attention or good resale. No he's not planning to track it, just drive it to work and the beach. He didn't even like the sport seats that came with the S3 he tested, so I'm scratching my head wondering how he'll like that they come standard in the RS3. But he's the kind of guy that has to have cars "fully loaded", which means the biggest engine it comes with :-)

 

Funny stuff how one only hears what one wants to hear. Porsche 911s have been amazingly reliable and dang near bullet proof since introduction of the DFI in 2009. My wife's 2010 has had absolutely no failures and nothing replaced except the stock batter in 7 years. Nothing in 59k miles.

There were multiple guys on the RCF forum, which did not have that many owners to begin with, that lemoned their cars or initiated lemon law claims against Lexus over their RCF. Two of the issues (spoiler and fuel pump) I had almost everyone had and their were other complaints about interior items such as seats prematurely ripping or showing major wear (mine did this as well). My navigation system was also constantly resetting itself or going blank.

Prices for 997.2s have actually appreciated, particularly for the C4S and GTS models, over the last year.

 

Can we rename this the "Humble Brag" thread?

I have no hot wife buying me sports cars, an apparently "meager" income, heck I don't even have sexy pics of my LC to post in my signature. It's all entertaining for me though, as the internet should be.

That being said, I would choose the LC 500 over an equivalently priced Porsche any day of the week. Porsche's are beautiful, timeless and I confess I want one. However, little people like me just can't justify dropping $150K+ on a car. Yes, it sounds ludicrous coming from an LC driver. But here's what swayed me, the LC 500 is a poor-man's sports car that looks like a rich-man's one. That's not the only reason I bought it but it definitely fulfills that need.

Otherwise I think American cars are winning the sub $100K category, hands down. We can throw facts and figures back and forth, but between the Corvette Z06, Camero ZL1, Mustang GT 350, and the Challenger thingy that succeeds the Hellcat, anybody with a good work ethic and patience can light up the street. This is important, because the American lineup changed the conversation to one of desire and not just raw numbers. I don't think anybody buying a car with just 2 doors is ignoring emotional appeal. Sure, one could get some super-duty truck-beast with "better performance" than a Toyota 86, but that's not what 86 buyers are looking for. There's a story behind every car. The LC 500's story is that of an LFA for the mere mortal, with panty-dropping good looks and a glorious engine soundtrack.

I believe the skeptics want the LC 500 to be the LFA. It's out there, waiting for you, by all means buy one and tell me about it.

 

You can get a nice base 911 for less than $100k out the door.

Look, I came to this thread to bash Lexus for its engine choice in a $100k car. I am not necessarily bashing the car which I otherwise thought was a fresh design and look. I only brought up the 911 because, other than Lexus loyal fan base, 9 times out 10 someone looking for a sports coupe in the $100k price range will go 911 over LC due to Lexus using an outdated power plant with a weak torque curve. The LC deserved better and I would have perhaps gone that route with a better power plant.

Didn't mean to ruffle feathers, just venting about engine. Enjoy your beautiful cars . . . Just don't race anything German, including fancy SUVs, for titles.

 

Is an LCF the same as a base LC? Doesn't really matter what the rumors say but how realistic is it to expect a $92k luxury coupe to have 650hp? Never mind the LCF rumors we've heard recently but they're just rumors until something more solid comes along.

 

Who the f*** is going to race their LC?? If you they bought an LC for racing you're they're stupid Most LC owners also have a track car in their garage as well. No one is going to cross shop an LC with a Beetle 911, completely different cars and purposes. People that want a mid/low-level track car, they'll get a 911. Otherwise they'l go for a real supercar.

 

I never said anything about 650 hp version being $92k. Two years ago when that was the plan for the LC-LF, the price was slated to be "comparable to the 911 turbo." I was told by several Lexus insiders (Wife being one) that the LC-LF would be a twin turbo V8 producing 650hp and costs about the same as a Porsche turbo. Don't know if Lexus detuned the platform to keep costs down based on RCF's failure to penetrate the performance market or if the twin turbo version will show up later. Wife left Lexus in early 2016 to go to Rolls Royce and never heard anything else about it until they announced the LC 500. I posted about this back in early to mid 2015.

 

Lol, you are a wound up guy. Too daft to catch that the racing SUVs for titles was a joke??? At least one on here said he was cross shopping both and your probably right . . . In its present state very few if any will consider or purchase the LC, but it would have been cross shopped with a 911 if had numbers better than a performance SUV.

 

I'm really liking the M3 tooi still would choose a 3 series over an IS anyday

 

Exactly.

In my case I just rent track cars, as we have quite a choice down here.

Mr. DougHII, I don't think any of us are genuinely wound up. It's Car forum shop talk. The polite people are all over in the duck-face pinterest forum, talking about The View.
As well, we're not disagreeing with you. I've been eyeballing Porsches and building them on their website for years. Your're right, for $90K and change you can drive off in a 911 that's better equipped than an LC 500. The LC 500 is just one of those cars that captured an audience. I sat on my hands when I was finally in a position to get a Porsche. The LC 500 got me into the dealership.

***EDIT***

Just wanted to share my review for the LC 500 that I did on Edmunds, about 10 days ago. I pretty much share your opinion, as far as the car's shortcomings. The car is desirable in its own right, it really does transcend the numbers.

 

I like your review! Very fair assessment.

 

great review!

 

Some weird fascinations with front row valet in this thread. I'm not letting any valet touch my 20yr old cars let alone any recent ones.

 

Agreed. Frankly I can't believe the LC500 only costs 92k. It is a stunning car, both exterior and interior.

Reading the rest of this thread, I'll just say I'm surprised that anyone would cross-shop a 911 and an LC. Totally different cars in my mind.

 

I doubt anyone is legitimately cross-shopping the LC and the 911. Doug likes to pit the 911 against both the LC and the RC, but I don't know anyone that debates between those cars. I like Porsche, can afford one, but bought the RC-F. And I'll very likely buy the LC-F when it comes out. I have friends that like both Lexus RC/LC and Porsche, and guess what? They own both. In other words, they're not choosing between the two. In fact, the only "debate" I've ever seen is when a longtime Porsche owner checked out the LC at my friend's Lexus dealership, he traded in his nearly new 911 right there on the spot.