Finally got the LFA to the track
#1
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
Finally got the LFA to the track
All I can say is WOW!..... THIS is what the LFA was made for and makes you truly understand what a really fantastic car it is and how much time the LFA engineers spent perfecting the handling of the car. It simply could do no wrong! The harder and harder I pushed it just made it dig in that much stronger establishing crazy speeds while exiting corners. When you stood on the brakes it would slow more than expected prompting you to dive deeper and deeper with each lap. The most fun I have had possibly ever. And naturally it was the hit of the day since no one had ever seen one before. My instructor was literally giddy lap after lap, mesmerized by the ever escalating scream of the V10. I was just in complete awe of the capabilities that the LFA exhibited. As time marches on this car will be more and more appreciated, no doubt.
The following 7 users liked this post by SUNLINE:
05RollaXRS (10-08-18),
autoz4me (10-10-18),
DaveGS4 (10-08-18),
john341 (10-10-18),
redspencer (10-12-18),
and 2 others liked this post.
#2
Lexus Test Driver
Nice writeup. Great to see you enjoying LFA while pushing it to the max. From what I remember, you put Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tires on your LFA? Is that correct? If so, what did you think of the tires.
Some video footage would have been nice.
Some video footage would have been nice.
#3
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
I have Continental Extreme Contacts. They work much better in the colder temps and are very predictable. FWIW the LFA kept right up with a 2015 P Turbo S accelerating down the long straight which surprised me. I think at higher speeds and higher revs the LFA is faster than it’s 0-60 times elude to.
#4
Lexus Test Driver
I have Continental Extreme Contacts. They work much better in the colder temps and are very predictable. FWIW the LFA kept right up with a 2015 P Turbo S accelerating down the long straight which surprised me. I think at higher speeds and higher revs the LFA is faster than it’s 0-60 times elude to.
Yeah, way back a few years ago, I had made the same claim that the 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds primarily does not speak to the car's accelerating abilities. From 60 mph to 163 mph, it took only 16 seconds to get up to that speed. It is primarily traction limited and the launch control is very restrictive to preserve the transmission. From a rolling start especially on the track, it is a beast.
Last edited by 05RollaXRS; 10-10-18 at 08:31 PM.
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john341 (10-10-18)
#5
Again, the performance was, to me, a revelation and somewhat shocking. I thought it would be great, but didn't expect that it would be such an animal. There was a 458 and a 12C there that day and, respectfully, I think they were left somewhat baffled at the ease with which the LFA hunted them down on track and then disappeared within half a lap later. All that said, I will probably downgrade to at Pilot Supersport, or equivalent, after these are toast. Most of my driving is on the road and the Cup 2s are tough to get into their temp window unless you are on track. Great tire, though.
In any case, it does seem like the LFA is finally getting its due praise. I see the two 'Ring editions going for big money at RM and Barrett Jackson this week. Incidentally, my LFA was also asked to be in the Canadian International Auto Show in Feb. So a little bit of LFA mania, 7 years on. Not bad.
The following 3 users liked this post by lfahalo:
#6
Lexus Test Driver
Awesome review. Great to see some evidence of what I had been saying all along that the Bridgestone S001 tires were not aggressive enough to extract the maximum potential. Especially, when all manufacturers are putting slick tires for press cars to get bragging rights of lap times. Wish Lexus had provided press cars with Cup 2 tires.
Having said that, I agree if majority of driving is on the streets then Cup 2 tires are not ideal. I don't like MPSS tires particularly designed for the RCF as they don't have reinforced sidewalls. They tend to be squishy. I believe there is a version available that is XL rated. The MPS4S tires are XL rated so I will be buying those next for my RCF as they have reinforced sidewalls.
I agree LFA is being talked about lately again. You must have seen Mr. JWW's review.
Having said that, I agree if majority of driving is on the streets then Cup 2 tires are not ideal. I don't like MPSS tires particularly designed for the RCF as they don't have reinforced sidewalls. They tend to be squishy. I believe there is a version available that is XL rated. The MPS4S tires are XL rated so I will be buying those next for my RCF as they have reinforced sidewalls.
I agree LFA is being talked about lately again. You must have seen Mr. JWW's review.
Hey Rolla, apols for being out of touch, lately. I still have my LFA and did in fact put the Cup 2 tires on this past summer. In a word, the on-track performance is RUDE. The extra grip enhances the inherent abilities of the LFA's chassis and brakes to a level that is fairly astounding for a road car. Again, the strength of the front end is just something you don't find in anything other than a racecar. Combined with the massive braking performance, you can just lean on the car so hard going into corners, it allows you to make up a ton of time. The added grip is pretty great exiting the corners as well, as really, it is the rear end of the car that needs managing. I did find that the car's damping could probably be recalibrated for the Cup 2, it seems as if the sidewall may be significantly stiffer than what the car was developed for. Basically, at the recommended hot pressures, the damping is a bit "springy" and not perfectly settled over bumps. I ended up taking the rear pressures down by approx 2 psi in the rear tires and that did improve the feeling. I would probably also like a bit more weight in the steering, to match the rest of the load being transmitted through the chassis, but that is nitpicking; of course I wouldn't want the extra steering weight for road driving.
Again, the performance was, to me, a revelation and somewhat shocking. I thought it would be great, but didn't expect that it would be such an animal. There was a 458 and a 12C there that day and, respectfully, I think they were left somewhat baffled at the ease with which the LFA hunted them down on track and then disappeared within half a lap later. All that said, I will probably downgrade to at Pilot Supersport, or equivalent, after these are toast. Most of my driving is on the road and the Cup 2s are tough to get into their temp window unless you are on track. Great tire, though.
In any case, it does seem like the LFA is finally getting its due praise. I see the two 'Ring editions going for big money at RM and Barrett Jackson this week. Incidentally, my LFA was also asked to be in the Canadian International Auto Show in Feb. So a little bit of LFA mania, 7 years on. Not bad.
Again, the performance was, to me, a revelation and somewhat shocking. I thought it would be great, but didn't expect that it would be such an animal. There was a 458 and a 12C there that day and, respectfully, I think they were left somewhat baffled at the ease with which the LFA hunted them down on track and then disappeared within half a lap later. All that said, I will probably downgrade to at Pilot Supersport, or equivalent, after these are toast. Most of my driving is on the road and the Cup 2s are tough to get into their temp window unless you are on track. Great tire, though.
In any case, it does seem like the LFA is finally getting its due praise. I see the two 'Ring editions going for big money at RM and Barrett Jackson this week. Incidentally, my LFA was also asked to be in the Canadian International Auto Show in Feb. So a little bit of LFA mania, 7 years on. Not bad.
#7
Awesome review. Great to see some evidence of what I had been saying all along that the Bridgestone S001 tires were not aggressive enough to extract the maximum potential. Especially, when all manufacturers are putting slick tires for press cars to get bragging rights of lap times. Wish Lexus had provided press cars with Cup 2 tires.
Having said that, I agree if majority of driving is on the streets then Cup 2 tires are not ideal. I don't like MPSS tires particularly designed for the RCF as they don't have reinforced sidewalls. They tend to be squishy. I believe there is a version available that is XL rated. The MPS4S tires are XL rated so I will be buying those next for my RCF as they have reinforced sidewalls.
I agree LFA is being talked about lately again. You must have seen Mr. JWW's review.
Having said that, I agree if majority of driving is on the streets then Cup 2 tires are not ideal. I don't like MPSS tires particularly designed for the RCF as they don't have reinforced sidewalls. They tend to be squishy. I believe there is a version available that is XL rated. The MPS4S tires are XL rated so I will be buying those next for my RCF as they have reinforced sidewalls.
I agree LFA is being talked about lately again. You must have seen Mr. JWW's review.
I've always believed that the passing of time would be extremely kind to the LFA, as the difference compared to modern cars will only become more pronounced over time. I genuinely believe that nobody will ever make a car as SHARP as the LFA, perhaps ever again. The V10 cannot be replicated and the handling is too knife-edged to be signed off by the test drivers and lawyers. Even if another car had all that, it still wouldn't have the build quality, obsessive precision and reliability of the LFA. In retrospect, we are extremely lucky that Toyota/Lexus undertook this project; it could only have happened at that point in time. It is only a shame that chief engineer Hiromu Naruse is not alive today to see the car finally being praised for what it is. The LFA, after all, was really a result of his compulsion for perfection.
p.s. congrats on the RC-F, looks mint!
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autoz4me (01-21-19)
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#8
Lexus Test Driver
Thanks. I really enjoy the RCF, but only can drive in the spring/summer.
The review by Mr. JWW was one of the best one's so it is definitely worth watching. I am sure you will like it. Ring editions are now closing in a million dollars with one just recently auctioned for $825,000 in the Sotheby's auction.
The review by Mr. JWW was one of the best one's so it is definitely worth watching. I am sure you will like it. Ring editions are now closing in a million dollars with one just recently auctioned for $825,000 in the Sotheby's auction.
I can't seem to keep track of all the youtubers, nor can I stomach most of them, to be honest. But if you mean the vids that were posted here recently, then yes I browsed through them.
I've always believed that the passing of time would be extremely kind to the LFA, as the difference compared to modern cars will only become more pronounced over time. I genuinely believe that nobody will ever make a car as SHARP as the LFA, perhaps ever again. The V10 cannot be replicated and the handling is too knife-edged to be signed off by the test drivers and lawyers. Even if another car had all that, it still wouldn't have the build quality, obsessive precision and reliability of the LFA. In retrospect, we are extremely lucky that Toyota/Lexus undertook this project; it could only have happened at that point in time. It is only a shame that chief engineer Hiromu Naruse is not alive today to see the car finally being praised for what it is. The LFA, after all, was really a result of his compulsion for perfection.
p.s. congrats on the RC-F, looks mint!
I've always believed that the passing of time would be extremely kind to the LFA, as the difference compared to modern cars will only become more pronounced over time. I genuinely believe that nobody will ever make a car as SHARP as the LFA, perhaps ever again. The V10 cannot be replicated and the handling is too knife-edged to be signed off by the test drivers and lawyers. Even if another car had all that, it still wouldn't have the build quality, obsessive precision and reliability of the LFA. In retrospect, we are extremely lucky that Toyota/Lexus undertook this project; it could only have happened at that point in time. It is only a shame that chief engineer Hiromu Naruse is not alive today to see the car finally being praised for what it is. The LFA, after all, was really a result of his compulsion for perfection.
p.s. congrats on the RC-F, looks mint!
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