LFA value discussion thread
#106
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Lexus has the first right of refusal within the first two years of ownership. Meaning, the only people you can flip it to is the dealer. They will purchase it for MSRP or market value, whichever one is less. Bottom line, it would be a big mistake to buy this car to make money on it considering you have to hold onto it for TWO years to realize any gains, if any. This is a risk that will take much fortitude to undertake.
#107
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Building a culture behind a car isn't as simply as just building a good one and turning it lose on the customer base. Somehow the car has to be coveted and to do that a culture has to spring up that can sustain the car. You can't build that culture on false expectations or the car becomes negatively typed by dissatisfied customers. Get customers who understand the car, and they will do far more to sustain the brand. Sustain the brand and there is reason to build new products in the same category.
Ferrari (Enzo) only sold cars b/c it would support his racing habit originally. His cars were being coveted but it might be the only case and well, Ferrari is Ferrari, I don't think anyone else can be like them.
So lets look at others.
Lambo-built out of anger towards Enzo. He started with nothing, no base. Ferrari races, he doesn't. Lambo to this day rarely races but is in demand and is successful.
Pagani-started with nothing, no base, car becomes successful and in demand. Car is not raced and very rare, not even sold in America.
Ford GT-sold what 40 years after the original. Sold well and the next most expensive Ford was 100k less.
Honda./Acura NSX-changed what people thought a sports car was. No prior history of a car of this magnitude. People bought it initially.
Porcshe-959 was never sold here, lost millions. CGT was their first true supercar, sold well. 918 is coming and might be a hybrid.
Luxury marques
Audi-R8/R10 had nothing like it before it, shares with Lambo, well received. Audi not known for sports cars.
BMW-no supercar on the market for decades, the M1 was an I-6. They have the sport/racing pedigree, no car.
Lexus-hardly any sport/racing pedigree, builds super-car to be halo for new "F" brand.
Jaguar-XJ220 was a marketing disaster (V-12, right here is a V-6 turbo) that performed well but the company was a disaster internally. Nothing like it since.
Mercedes Benz-SLR was a McLaren/Benz effort that got mixed reviews compared to the Enzo/CGT and never met sales goals. SLS is now produced. Amazingly Benz has built more supercars than BMW.
Maserati-MC is an Enzo clone. Highly coveted.
(Surely I have missed some others)
No real blueprint to success. What I can appreciate is all these marques making these cars.
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#108
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This is all a very long way of saying in the value discussion that if you're will to spend _____ on depreciation and still enjoy the car, and you're satisfied with the use, you will likely do far more for the brand than if you're a customer who expected a higher number and were disappointed and bailed on the car. The less cars come up for sale, the better.
#109
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I don't think there is one way to do things. Every brand seems to have their own kind of exotic success (or not success) story.
Ferrari (Enzo) only sold cars b/c it would support his racing habit originally. His cars were being coveted but it might be the only case and well, Ferrari is Ferrari, I don't think anyone else can be like them.
So lets look at others.
Lambo-built out of anger towards Enzo. He started with nothing, no base. Ferrari races, he doesn't. Lambo to this day rarely races but is in demand and is successful.
Pagani-started with nothing, no base, car becomes successful and in demand. Car is not raced and very rare, not even sold in America.
Ford GT-sold what 40 years after the original. Sold well and the next most expensive Ford was 100k less.
Honda./Acura NSX-changed what people thought a sports car was. No prior history of a car of this magnitude. People bought it initially.
Porcshe-959 was never sold here, lost millions. CGT was their first true supercar, sold well. 918 is coming and might be a hybrid.
Luxury marques
Audi-R8/R10 had nothing like it before it, shares with Lambo, well received. Audi not known for sports cars.
BMW-no supercar on the market for decades, the M1 was an I-6. They have the sport/racing pedigree, no car.
Lexus-hardly any sport/racing pedigree, builds super-car to be halo for new "F" brand.
Jaguar-XJ220 was a marketing disaster (V-12, right here is a V-6 turbo) that performed well but the company was a disaster internally. Nothing like it since.
Mercedes Benz-SLR was a McLaren/Benz effort that got mixed reviews compared to the Enzo/CGT and never met sales goals. SLS is now produced. Amazingly Benz has built more supercars than BMW.
Maserati-MC is an Enzo clone. Highly coveted.
(Surely I have missed some others)
No real blueprint to success. What I can appreciate is all these marques making these cars.![Thumb Up](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Ferrari (Enzo) only sold cars b/c it would support his racing habit originally. His cars were being coveted but it might be the only case and well, Ferrari is Ferrari, I don't think anyone else can be like them.
So lets look at others.
Lambo-built out of anger towards Enzo. He started with nothing, no base. Ferrari races, he doesn't. Lambo to this day rarely races but is in demand and is successful.
Pagani-started with nothing, no base, car becomes successful and in demand. Car is not raced and very rare, not even sold in America.
Ford GT-sold what 40 years after the original. Sold well and the next most expensive Ford was 100k less.
Honda./Acura NSX-changed what people thought a sports car was. No prior history of a car of this magnitude. People bought it initially.
Porcshe-959 was never sold here, lost millions. CGT was their first true supercar, sold well. 918 is coming and might be a hybrid.
Luxury marques
Audi-R8/R10 had nothing like it before it, shares with Lambo, well received. Audi not known for sports cars.
BMW-no supercar on the market for decades, the M1 was an I-6. They have the sport/racing pedigree, no car.
Lexus-hardly any sport/racing pedigree, builds super-car to be halo for new "F" brand.
Jaguar-XJ220 was a marketing disaster (V-12, right here is a V-6 turbo) that performed well but the company was a disaster internally. Nothing like it since.
Mercedes Benz-SLR was a McLaren/Benz effort that got mixed reviews compared to the Enzo/CGT and never met sales goals. SLS is now produced. Amazingly Benz has built more supercars than BMW.
Maserati-MC is an Enzo clone. Highly coveted.
(Surely I have missed some others)
No real blueprint to success. What I can appreciate is all these marques making these cars.
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#110
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I'm also going to say I think us non-exotic owners can learn a lot from Tommy since he is an exotic car owner for sometime (and I've been to the Lambo forum and the guy is legit). While you might not agree with all his views, he has a lot of insight into the minds of exotic owners which I think is very valuable.
Its no different then when I tell someone that they haven't owned a luxury car(s) so their perceptions of things will not be the same as owners. Exotics are just on a grander scale![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Please don't see that as being pompous but one of the lessons in the book "the richest man in Babylon" is
Seek advice from those who are competent through their own experiences to give it
Its no different then when I tell someone that they haven't owned a luxury car(s) so their perceptions of things will not be the same as owners. Exotics are just on a grander scale
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Please don't see that as being pompous but one of the lessons in the book "the richest man in Babylon" is
Seek advice from those who are competent through their own experiences to give it
#111
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The other thing interesting about this list is that it's not necessarily the car with the most to offer that wins. The Maserati is rather bare inside, yet damn expensive and it's still a very sought after car. Meanwhile the SLS has been a disaster in our market.
#112
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I'm also going to say I think us non-exotic owners can learn a lot from Tommy since he is an exotic car owner for sometime (and I've been to the Lambo forum and the guy is legit). While you might not agree with all his views, he has a lot of insight into the minds of exotic owners which I think is very valuable.
Its no different then when I tell someone that they haven't owned a luxury car(s) so their perceptions of things will not be the same as owners. Exotics are just on a grander scale![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Please don't see that as being pompous but one of the lessons in the book "the richest man in Babylon" is
Seek advice from those who are competent through their own experiences to give it
Its no different then when I tell someone that they haven't owned a luxury car(s) so their perceptions of things will not be the same as owners. Exotics are just on a grander scale
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Please don't see that as being pompous but one of the lessons in the book "the richest man in Babylon" is
Seek advice from those who are competent through their own experiences to give it
#113
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I remain very skeptical that there are only 20 remaining or even only 60 remaining for two reasons. One, they are spending big dollars on advertising, something that is EXTREMELY difficult to justify with so few cars remaining if that's the case. The average TV prime time spot costs $120k, just for one ad, on average. I've seen them during major football games. That's even more expensive. So, how many ads have they run in the US market? Lots! Lamborghini or Ferrari never ever advertise on TV in the US market and they sell more exotics. They can't justify it either. If they had two years to sell only 20 or even 60 cars, why the worry? Why incur the expense?
Completely false and incorrect. As a former Honda fan, I would highly recommend you do some more research in terms of exactly what the NSX did for Honda, not just in North America, but worldwide.
Do you have 100% confirmation those cars are for dealers, and not private customers?
![Uhh...](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/1387914497.gif)
As for what Lexus should do, they should be honest first. People are spending real money and should know what's going on as they have their own resale to consider. That being said, if cars don't sell, cut production rather than flood the market and harm everyone who's bought one. If they do sell out great, but it's also then important to keep building the culture and not let that die either or that too will tank resale.
For those of you who hate my posts, the forums are the only place where honest debate about these cars can take place. The magazines are far from objective because they are all getting big revenue from Toyota and don't want to **** them off so they sort of toe the line, drop hints to protect their so called "journalistic credibility" which is an oxymoron these days.
So EVERY single magazine is getting "big revenue from Toyota", even the magazines that show the LFA in a negative fashion?
I don't post for the fan-boy because that individual probably isn't going to write a check for an exotic anyway. How many here even have an exotic? I write so that those who are actually contemplating writing a check and need to clear it at home with the warden are not dropping their life savings thinking an exotic will be a great place to shelter some retirement money for the next two years while still having some fun. The magazines aren't going to tell you what's really up, Lexus sure don't have a lot of credibility on the subject of demand, so where do you go to find the truth? You have to come to the forums where hopefully there will be lots and lots of opinions backed up with whatever data people can find that holds a credible argument.
You're also making assumptions now on what sort of buyers are interested in the LFA? Asking how many people here own an exotic makes you seem as if you are looking down on those that do not own one. Months ago your posts made it clear that you highly doubted anyone from outside the exotic market was interested in the LFA. You have already been proven wrong on this point, yet you continue with this argument?
![Uhh...](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/1387914497.gif)
To top it all off, you're also telling potential buyers or owners how they should or shouldn't research the LFA and where they should or shouldn't find information or experience about exotics. I'm not sure potential buyers or owners would agree with you.
Flame on? Wow, so now you are explicitly encouraging flaming and are baiting others into arguments?
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Lurker and long-time member here. Just wanted to add that people buy cars for many reasons. Expensive is a matter of perspective. What makes sense for one person will not for another. If someone can afford a $375k car, chances are that they can afford to add the cars it's vehemently being compared to. The thought alone of spending that much money on any car is already irrational. Why bother trying to make sense of it?
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Lexus has the first right of refusal within the first two years of ownership. Meaning, the only people you can flip it to is the dealer. They will purchase it for MSRP or market value, whichever one is less. Bottom line, it would be a big mistake to buy this car to make money on it considering you have to hold onto it for TWO years to realize any gains, if any. This is a risk that will take much fortitude to undertake.
#115
Lexus Test Driver
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I fully expect the LFA to depreciate on par with other exotics such as the last several generations of Ferrari models. That doesn't mean it will, but that's my expectation and something I'm perfectly fine with given my decision to purchase.
Lexus has the first right of refusal within the first two years of ownership. Meaning, the only people you can flip it to is the dealer. They will purchase it for MSRP or market value, whichever one is less. Bottom line, it would be a big mistake to buy this car to make money on it considering you have to hold onto it for TWO years to realize any gains, if any. This is a risk that will take much fortitude to undertake.
Certainly, the same issues exist as far as the point you're making with regard to the unreasonableness in buying with intent to flip the car.
#116
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I agree with you that exotics are not a rational purchase nor should they be treated as such. That's why a "value" thread as concerns the LFA or any supercar is more than a bit silly. I also don't understand why supercar buyers concern themselves so much with evaluating their vehicles as investments. Anyone willing to spend $400,000+ on a car should be doing so because of their valuation of that car for the experience that such a car can provide, and experiences aren't investments.
I fully expect the LFA to depreciate on par with other exotics such as the last several generations of Ferrari models. That doesn't mean it will, but that's my expectation and something I'm perfectly fine with given my decision to purchase.
Just to clarify, the FROR I signed gives the dealership I buy the LFA from (not Lexus) the right to buy back the car at MSRP if I try to sell the car to another party at over the MSRP. I can sell the car to whomever I want as long as it's under the MSRP, and it's up to the dealership to allow it in any other case. The dealership is certainly under no obligation to buy it if I try to sell the LFA to a another party.
Certainly, the same issues exist as far as the point you're making with regard to the unreasonableness in buying with intent to flip the car.
I fully expect the LFA to depreciate on par with other exotics such as the last several generations of Ferrari models. That doesn't mean it will, but that's my expectation and something I'm perfectly fine with given my decision to purchase.
Just to clarify, the FROR I signed gives the dealership I buy the LFA from (not Lexus) the right to buy back the car at MSRP if I try to sell the car to another party at over the MSRP. I can sell the car to whomever I want as long as it's under the MSRP, and it's up to the dealership to allow it in any other case. The dealership is certainly under no obligation to buy it if I try to sell the LFA to a another party.
Certainly, the same issues exist as far as the point you're making with regard to the unreasonableness in buying with intent to flip the car.
The exotic owners who seem to enjoy their cars the most look at it as they would any sport such as sailing or flying. They know they will have depreciation within a given range and expenses within a given range based on a defined number of miles driven. It's very different between Lamborghini and Ferrari. A Lamborghini doesn't have the same mileage penalty as the Ferrari and it's because of used cars competing with low miles.
It's predicting the acceptable depreciation that gets tricky. Too fast and it pisses off the customer base and they don't come back to the brand. Lamborghini is learning that the hard way with the LP700 because the LP640 guys got burned.
All the Scuderias were snapped up in the Seattle area when they became available in 2008 and few owners were actually driving their cars. When the bubble burst, the cars that took the huge hit were the ones that were driven, even though most had fewer than 2,000 miles in 2010. Some two year old cars that came up in 2010 had fewer than 500 miles! When you look at that cost on a per mile basis, that's a giant hit, especially when these cars went out at $50k over sticker.
Lamborghinis have a different customer and usually have more miles because there is a slightly different buyer expectation about how the car will be used, but it's still the same problem. Lamborghini built all the market would hold and then some so they weren't charging over sticker. Still, that one guy who garages his car with no miles still sells his first while the high mile car goes last and if it's for a discount and it's competing against new, then the new car price drops and everyone gets pulled down. It creates a disincentive for others to drive their cars, which is a shame.
The problem with the LFA is that there is no customer profile history in which to know what drivers will be like, regardless of what you read here. What people say they will do and what they actually do are two different things. If dealers are buying and holding cars with no miles it will harm those who actually drive. If enough drivers are out using their cars, it actually helps all owners sustain better values.
This is where driving culture comes into play and why it's so important that the LFA culture become very active. Not just dinners but actual drives. I've been a strong advocate of all exotics getting out on the roads to help break that cycle of no mile cars harming both new sales as well as used cars.
With regard to your agreement with Lexus, I specifically asked if there were any buyer restrictions on the car and the dealer said there were none. I think it's unlikely that any exotic will appreciate anyway in this market so the point is mute.
#117
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I can't believe this thread has gotten to 8 pages.... really? ![Egads!](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/pat.gif)
Maybe it's because I look at it from the perspective of a person who wants this car but currently cannot afford it.... but I think if you are spending money on a car with the sole intention of making it all back then.... why buy the car in the first place? That would be dead money to me. Normally one buys a car expecting to use the cash from it's future sale towards the purchase of a new one. I've always looked at the LFA as the car that would be parked forever next to my imaginary RUF RT-12.
Impossible. The LFA will depreciate at first, but I have no doubt that 15+ years from now, the car will sell for well over a million in today dollars.
That being said, I think the dealers "first right of refusal" will go a long was to keeping the value of the car for a while, because no dealer is going to let a fat profit slip though his fingers by allowing an LFA to be sold to a third party for much over MSRP. You just know that they will ****** it up and sell it themselves.
Pretty much.
![Egads!](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/pat.gif)
For those of you who hate my posts, the forums are the only place where honest debate about these cars can take place. The magazines are far from objective because they are all getting big revenue from Toyota and don't want to **** them off so they sort of toe the line, drop hints to protect their so called "journalistic credibility" which is an oxymoron these days.
I don't post for the fan-boy because that individual probably isn't going to write a check for an exotic anyway. How many here even have an exotic? I write so that those who are actually contemplating writing a check and need to clear it at home with the warden are not dropping their life savings thinking an exotic will be a great place to shelter some retirement money for the next two years while still having some fun.
I don't post for the fan-boy because that individual probably isn't going to write a check for an exotic anyway. How many here even have an exotic? I write so that those who are actually contemplating writing a check and need to clear it at home with the warden are not dropping their life savings thinking an exotic will be a great place to shelter some retirement money for the next two years while still having some fun.
Impossible. The LFA will depreciate at first, but I have no doubt that 15+ years from now, the car will sell for well over a million in today dollars.
That being said, I think the dealers "first right of refusal" will go a long was to keeping the value of the car for a while, because no dealer is going to let a fat profit slip though his fingers by allowing an LFA to be sold to a third party for much over MSRP. You just know that they will ****** it up and sell it themselves.
Pretty much.
#118
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I can't believe this thread has gotten to 8 pages.... really? ![Egads!](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/pat.gif)
Maybe it's because I look at it from the perspective of a person who wants this car but currently cannot afford it.... but I think if you are spending money on a car with the sole intention of making it all back then.... why buy the car in the first place? That would be dead money to me. Normally one buys a car expecting to use the cash from it's future sale towards the purchase of a new one. I've always looked at the LFA as the car that would be parked forever next to my imaginary RUF RT-12.
Impossible. The LFA will depreciate at first, but I have no doubt that 15+ years from now, the car will sell for well over a million in today dollars.
That being said, I think the dealers "first right of refusal" will go a long was to keeping the value of the car for a while, because no dealer is going to let a fat profit slip though his fingers by allowing an LFA to be sold to a third party for much over MSRP. You just know that they will ****** it up and sell it themselves.
Pretty much.
![Egads!](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/pat.gif)
Maybe it's because I look at it from the perspective of a person who wants this car but currently cannot afford it.... but I think if you are spending money on a car with the sole intention of making it all back then.... why buy the car in the first place? That would be dead money to me. Normally one buys a car expecting to use the cash from it's future sale towards the purchase of a new one. I've always looked at the LFA as the car that would be parked forever next to my imaginary RUF RT-12.
Impossible. The LFA will depreciate at first, but I have no doubt that 15+ years from now, the car will sell for well over a million in today dollars.
That being said, I think the dealers "first right of refusal" will go a long was to keeping the value of the car for a while, because no dealer is going to let a fat profit slip though his fingers by allowing an LFA to be sold to a third party for much over MSRP. You just know that they will ****** it up and sell it themselves.
Pretty much.
I'm sitting on an offer for my SV right now that is far more than I paid, but it's because it's the only one they made in this popular color for the US market and SVs are leaving the US at a rate of about one a month, and we're down to 26. I didn't plan it that way.
I don't think the LFA will ever go for anything over sticker unless they drastically cut production. The Ferrari story is only because there is a huge Ferrari exotic culture already in place. For that to even be possible you have to have a lot of existing Lexus collectors and there really isn't much in the way of Lexus collectables. Even the Reventon has fallen in value because all twenty are identical and they were not cars of performance distinction. The LFA, while a respectable performer, isn't at the top of performance chart, something the Enzo achieved and sustained for a while.
It takes very little for values on any exotic to drop. It's like stocks, one car sells cheap and auction and the others suddenly decide to cut their losses. 150 of any car in the US market is still a lot of cars in that price range so that adds considerable downward pressure, not up.
It would be wonderful for all exotics to appreciate, but to buy with that in mind, or even not tank in value as they almost always do, would be foolish. It's best to plan on 50% depreciation in three yeas with less than 10,000 miles and if resale happens to be better consider it a bonus. The very fact that cars are still available right now doesn't bode well for appreciation.
#119
Lexus Fanatic
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I do have friends who've done nothing but make money on cars, but they never buy new, and they only buy extremely rare, and are very disciplined about price and they do tons of homework.
I'm sitting on an offer for my SV right now that is far more than I paid, but it's because it's the only one they made in this popular color for the US market and SVs are leaving the US at a rate of about one a month, and we're down to 26. I didn't plan it that way.
I don't think the LFA will ever go for anything over sticker unless they drastically cut production. The Ferrari story is only because there is a huge Ferrari exotic culture already in place. For that to even be possible you have to have a lot of existing Lexus collectors and there really isn't much in the way of Lexus collectables. Even the Reventon has fallen in value because all twenty are identical and they were not cars of performance distinction. The LFA, while a respectable performer, isn't at the top of performance chart, something the Enzo achieved and sustained for a while.
It takes very little for values on any exotic to drop. It's like stocks, one car sells cheap and auction and the others suddenly decide to cut their losses. 150 of any car in the US market is still a lot of cars in that price range so that adds considerable downward pressure, not up.
It would be wonderful for all exotics to appreciate, but to buy with that in mind, or even not tank in value as they almost always do, would be foolish. It's best to plan on 50% depreciation in three yeas with less than 10,000 miles and if resale happens to be better consider it a bonus. The very fact that cars are still available right now doesn't bode well for appreciation.
I'm sitting on an offer for my SV right now that is far more than I paid, but it's because it's the only one they made in this popular color for the US market and SVs are leaving the US at a rate of about one a month, and we're down to 26. I didn't plan it that way.
I don't think the LFA will ever go for anything over sticker unless they drastically cut production. The Ferrari story is only because there is a huge Ferrari exotic culture already in place. For that to even be possible you have to have a lot of existing Lexus collectors and there really isn't much in the way of Lexus collectables. Even the Reventon has fallen in value because all twenty are identical and they were not cars of performance distinction. The LFA, while a respectable performer, isn't at the top of performance chart, something the Enzo achieved and sustained for a while.
It takes very little for values on any exotic to drop. It's like stocks, one car sells cheap and auction and the others suddenly decide to cut their losses. 150 of any car in the US market is still a lot of cars in that price range so that adds considerable downward pressure, not up.
It would be wonderful for all exotics to appreciate, but to buy with that in mind, or even not tank in value as they almost always do, would be foolish. It's best to plan on 50% depreciation in three yeas with less than 10,000 miles and if resale happens to be better consider it a bonus. The very fact that cars are still available right now doesn't bode well for appreciation.
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#120
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I do have friends who've done nothing but make money on cars, but they never buy new, and they only buy extremely rare, and are very disciplined about price and they do tons of homework.
I'm sitting on an offer for my SV right now that is far more than I paid, but it's because it's the only one they made in this popular color for the US market and SVs are leaving the US at a rate of about one a month, and we're down to 26. I didn't plan it that way.
I don't think the LFA will ever go for anything over sticker unless they drastically cut production. The Ferrari story is only because there is a huge Ferrari exotic culture already in place. For that to even be possible you have to have a lot of existing Lexus collectors and there really isn't much in the way of Lexus collectables. Even the Reventon has fallen in value because all twenty are identical and they were not cars of performance distinction. The LFA, while a respectable performer, isn't at the top of performance chart, something the Enzo achieved and sustained for a while.
It takes very little for values on any exotic to drop. It's like stocks, one car sells cheap and auction and the others suddenly decide to cut their losses. 150 of any car in the US market is still a lot of cars in that price range so that adds considerable downward pressure, not up.
It would be wonderful for all exotics to appreciate, but to buy with that in mind, or even not tank in value as they almost always do, would be foolish. It's best to plan on 50% depreciation in three yeas with less than 10,000 miles and if resale happens to be better consider it a bonus. The very fact that cars are still available right now doesn't bode well for appreciation.
I'm sitting on an offer for my SV right now that is far more than I paid, but it's because it's the only one they made in this popular color for the US market and SVs are leaving the US at a rate of about one a month, and we're down to 26. I didn't plan it that way.
I don't think the LFA will ever go for anything over sticker unless they drastically cut production. The Ferrari story is only because there is a huge Ferrari exotic culture already in place. For that to even be possible you have to have a lot of existing Lexus collectors and there really isn't much in the way of Lexus collectables. Even the Reventon has fallen in value because all twenty are identical and they were not cars of performance distinction. The LFA, while a respectable performer, isn't at the top of performance chart, something the Enzo achieved and sustained for a while.
It takes very little for values on any exotic to drop. It's like stocks, one car sells cheap and auction and the others suddenly decide to cut their losses. 150 of any car in the US market is still a lot of cars in that price range so that adds considerable downward pressure, not up.
It would be wonderful for all exotics to appreciate, but to buy with that in mind, or even not tank in value as they almost always do, would be foolish. It's best to plan on 50% depreciation in three yeas with less than 10,000 miles and if resale happens to be better consider it a bonus. The very fact that cars are still available right now doesn't bode well for appreciation.
The Reventon is a terrible example for valuation, just like the Scuderia you brought into discussion. Although they are limited in production, they are inherently an iteration of an existing, mass produced model. The exception, of course, are models with a badge with historical significance, like for example, the GTO for Ferrari, RS for Porsche, or Type R for Honda.
The LFA does not need a specific Lexus fan base for it to be appreciated or hold its value over the long term. Any "car guy" that does his homework will know how much of a milestone this car is for the brand and Japan. The cars that are available is an indication that people are weighing in the alternatives and taking into consideration the future value under the term of ownership. I would speculate that the average exotic owner is not in it for the long haul. Cars are dumped into the market before major depreciation and service hits. The LFA, priced the way it is, is preventing this type of behavior. Lexus is looking for long-term commitments and owners that clearly understand that.