Lexus LFA- Discussion, Pictures & News (new colors gloss black, blue, yellow)
04-06-10, 02:04 PM
#1381
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I believe buyers don't get to choose the options they want on their LFA until June, AFAIK.
04-06-10, 02:23 PM
#1382
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The L-Select program for the LS in Japan comes to mind...trim, paint, cloth, stitch samples...
The LFA, being even higher-spec, should have that too. BTW did anyone notice the C&D tech test article, it mentions that the interior rivets have Lexus individually stamped on each?
The LFA, being even higher-spec, should have that too. BTW did anyone notice the C&D tech test article, it mentions that the interior rivets have Lexus individually stamped on each?
04-06-10, 02:58 PM
#1383
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The L-Select program for the LS in Japan comes to mind...trim, paint, cloth, stitch samples...
The LFA, being even higher-spec, should have that too. BTW did anyone notice the C&D tech test article, it mentions that the interior rivets have Lexus individually stamped on each?
The LFA, being even higher-spec, should have that too. BTW did anyone notice the C&D tech test article, it mentions that the interior rivets have Lexus individually stamped on each?
.It's just one of many examples of the attention to detail on the LFA, and just far how Lexus pursued perfection with the LFA.
04-06-10, 04:42 PM
#1387
I hope things go well for Dave and the gentleman in the DR.
Based on the info I have from the GM at the dealership, the folks who did not get an allocation, received a letter prior to the date the yes letters were delivered (April 2).
I was told that the dealer got the only 2 customer allocations in IL. The other person in IL with an allocation is at their other store is a burb West of Chicago. I do not know which dealer Gengar listed.
Based on the info I have from the GM at the dealership, the folks who did not get an allocation, received a letter prior to the date the yes letters were delivered (April 2).
I was told that the dealer got the only 2 customer allocations in IL. The other person in IL with an allocation is at their other store is a burb West of Chicago. I do not know which dealer Gengar listed.
04-06-10, 11:31 PM
#1388
Lexus Test Driver
Based on the info I have from the GM at the dealership, the folks who did not get an allocation, received a letter prior to the date the yes letters were delivered (April 2).
I was told that the dealer got the only 2 customer allocations in IL. The other person in IL with an allocation is at their other store is a burb West of Chicago. I do not know which dealer Gengar listed.
I was told that the dealer got the only 2 customer allocations in IL. The other person in IL with an allocation is at their other store is a burb West of Chicago. I do not know which dealer Gengar listed.
I listed the dealership I bought my F from (Merrillville in Indiana), which I'm not sure is considered a Chicago-area dealer. I'll admit I did get my hopes up a bit when you mentioned one LFA was allocated to Northern Indiana, but again, I haven't been contacted about it.
Yes, I thought about this several years before, during the LF-A I era, when someone commented that Ferrari's execs were probably perplexed or laughing that Lexus was planning to compete with them. Then, as now, I surmised that the exotic car market isn't a vacuum, with say X numbers of buyers in the world. Rather, there are X numbers of people capable of owing a supercar, but y only bothers to do so (a thru x, such as Warren Buffett, others, don't even own a luxury car, or own a non ultra-luxury car). The y market is mainly Ferrari, Aston Martin, etc. owners.
One of our clients is far richer than I am and I'm not even sure he has a $400,000 house, but somehow I'm the one begging Lexus to spend that much on a car. 
I definitely fall into the category of new exotic owner, although admittedly I've always been borderline. I've driven and tracked many exotics, and came close to buying a 360 Stradale on two separate occasions earlier this decade. (For the record, neither of them had the stripe, just throwing that out there.
) But for many reasons, I backed off - didn't like the dealership, didn't like the idea of having to commit to service at the dealership, didn't like the poser-ness of the brand, didn't like the enthusiast circles. Either way, even being borderline to begin with, and then having Lexus convince me to feel very strongly about buying an exotic is your point.
04-07-10, 12:05 AM
#1389
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I definitely fall into the category of new exotic owner, although admittedly I've always been borderline. I've driven and tracked many exotics, and came close to buying a 360 Stradale on two separate occasions earlier this decade. (For the record, neither of them had the stripe, just throwing that out there.
) But for many reasons, I backed off - didn't like the dealership, didn't like the idea of having to commit to service at the dealership, didn't like the poser-ness of the brand, didn't like the enthusiast circles. Either way, even being borderline to begin with, and then having Lexus convince me to feel very strongly about buying an exotic is your point..IMHO, that is a very good and relevant point you bring up. Critics have questioned where LFA buyers are coming from, and the answer is quite clear; most of them are NOT coming from exotic enthusiast circles.
Most LFA buyers seem to be very low-key, and many of them seem to be coming from the Toyota/Lexus family of vehicles.
I think many of the potential LFA buyers aren't posting online because they don't want to be associated with those enthusiast circles.
04-07-10, 03:45 AM
#1390
Thanks for the update Gengar.
The lack of contact from Lexus is a surprise.
I got a a call from the folks that managed the track event at Homestead checking to see if my allocation package was received and a separate call from the local product specialist.
I am still trying to sort our some facts, like the actual US allocation total (170 based on my Lexus internal contact and 250 from the GM at the dealership here in Chicago).
Good luck with your conversation!
The lack of contact from Lexus is a surprise.
I got a a call from the folks that managed the track event at Homestead checking to see if my allocation package was received and a separate call from the local product specialist.
I am still trying to sort our some facts, like the actual US allocation total (170 based on my Lexus internal contact and 250 from the GM at the dealership here in Chicago).
Good luck with your conversation!
04-07-10, 08:39 PM
#1391
I spoke with the Product Specialist (PS) today (very cool guy).
His understanding is that the 170 number for the US is real. If there are cars left at the end of the 2 year run, they will cover dealer requests for cars for the dealership folks' own use.
I asked about getting to drive a prototype in traffic and that probably will not work out. I did get an invite to a track event being held in the Chicago area in May at a place called the Autobahn. This is a dealer's event and a pro driver will take us out in the LFA. Here is a link to the track.
http://www.autobahncountryclub.net/oem_auto_events.htm
There was another email that went out today through the Lexus events mechanism with additional descriptions of the ring package. The PS asked if I had seen this. I replied that I had and that I am looking for a regular one. He was not sure if the orange car in the pics seen around the web are from a real car or a mock up.
I asked about the red car seen in Japan. He replied that they are building a few more prototypes (he does not know how many) and they may get another one in the US.
He confirmed that he has a bag full of sample materials to use while selecting the details for the car.
His understanding is that the 170 number for the US is real. If there are cars left at the end of the 2 year run, they will cover dealer requests for cars for the dealership folks' own use.
I asked about getting to drive a prototype in traffic and that probably will not work out. I did get an invite to a track event being held in the Chicago area in May at a place called the Autobahn. This is a dealer's event and a pro driver will take us out in the LFA. Here is a link to the track.
http://www.autobahncountryclub.net/oem_auto_events.htm
There was another email that went out today through the Lexus events mechanism with additional descriptions of the ring package. The PS asked if I had seen this. I replied that I had and that I am looking for a regular one. He was not sure if the orange car in the pics seen around the web are from a real car or a mock up.
I asked about the red car seen in Japan. He replied that they are building a few more prototypes (he does not know how many) and they may get another one in the US.
He confirmed that he has a bag full of sample materials to use while selecting the details for the car.
04-07-10, 10:53 PM
#1392
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I spoke with the Product Specialist (PS) today (very cool guy).
His understanding is that the 170 number for the US is real. If there are cars left at the end of the 2 year run, they will cover dealer requests for cars for the dealership folks' own use.
I asked about getting to drive a prototype in traffic and that probably will not work out. I did get an invite to a track event being held in the Chicago area in May at a place called the Autobahn. This is a dealer's event and a pro driver will take us out in the LFA. Here is a link to the track.
http://www.autobahncountryclub.net/oem_auto_events.htm
There was another email that went out today through the Lexus events mechanism with additional descriptions of the ring package. The PS asked if I had seen this. I replied that I had and that I am looking for a regular one. He was not sure if the orange car in the pics seen around the web are from a real car or a mock up.
I asked about the red car seen in Japan. He replied that they are building a few more prototypes (he does not know how many) and they may get another one in the US.
He confirmed that he has a bag full of sample materials to use while selecting the details for the car.
His understanding is that the 170 number for the US is real. If there are cars left at the end of the 2 year run, they will cover dealer requests for cars for the dealership folks' own use.
I asked about getting to drive a prototype in traffic and that probably will not work out. I did get an invite to a track event being held in the Chicago area in May at a place called the Autobahn. This is a dealer's event and a pro driver will take us out in the LFA. Here is a link to the track.
http://www.autobahncountryclub.net/oem_auto_events.htm
There was another email that went out today through the Lexus events mechanism with additional descriptions of the ring package. The PS asked if I had seen this. I replied that I had and that I am looking for a regular one. He was not sure if the orange car in the pics seen around the web are from a real car or a mock up.
I asked about the red car seen in Japan. He replied that they are building a few more prototypes (he does not know how many) and they may get another one in the US.
He confirmed that he has a bag full of sample materials to use while selecting the details for the car.
04-08-10, 04:49 PM
#1393
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04-08-10, 09:51 PM
#1394
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Of course, that is not to say that there aren't very cool enthusiast groups out there. I'm certainly not trying to stigmatize all exotic owners. For example, there's no enthusiast I haven't gotten along with at the various track days I've attended, and there are always plenty of exotic owners present at those. Of course, those tend to be the types of drivers who buy cars because of the driving experience those cars can give, rather than brand name, performance, 0-60 times, resale value, or any of those other ridiculous characteristics brought up at other points in this thread.As a further update, I was told that the US allocation notifications will go out in waves until the allocations are finalized, which is currently scheduled for the end of June. This makes sense, since it's unlikely they'll get 100% responses. Anyway, still holding out hope!
04-09-10, 05:50 AM
#1395
Hi Gengar,
Thanks for the update.
The due date for the yes/no is Friday, April 16th.
I guess once they see how many folks both pony up the first $10K and pass the credit check, they will move on to other folks on the list.
What is looks like, is the allocations are regional (20 areas). If someone in X location does not take their allocation, Lexus will go to the next person in that area.
It is interesting that some folks got a flat out no letter and some folks are in queue.
I also heard from Dave in Japan that his straw drawing will be Saturday, so good luck to him too.
I will try to flesh that our some when I speak with the product specialist next week.
Thanks for the update.
The due date for the yes/no is Friday, April 16th.
I guess once they see how many folks both pony up the first $10K and pass the credit check, they will move on to other folks on the list.
What is looks like, is the allocations are regional (20 areas). If someone in X location does not take their allocation, Lexus will go to the next person in that area.
It is interesting that some folks got a flat out no letter and some folks are in queue.
I also heard from Dave in Japan that his straw drawing will be Saturday, so good luck to him too.
I will try to flesh that our some when I speak with the product specialist next week.