Now do you think the LFA is worth it?

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
P

Pariah

Elite Member
Apr 16, 2000
7,357
20
81
Once you're past $200k there is no such thing as shopping for bang for buck. For anyone spending $400k+ on a car, $400k means nothing. It's no longer about value, it's simply a status symbol or buy in price for exclusivity. If I had a garage full of Lambo's and Ferrari's, would I consider buying an LFA? Absolutely, it's an amazing piece of engineering. Complaining about value for dollar in this price range is just another way of saying you can't afford it.
 
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
Why did Toyota build the LFA? They won't even build a Supra, but they waste money and man-hours on a supercar?
 
M

makken

Golden Member
Aug 28, 2004
1,476
0
76
I see the LFA similarly to the veyron; I respect it immensely for what its able to achieve, but it doesn't make me go "OMG I WANT IT!"

Given one, I would probably sell it, buy an aston martin dbs and a maserati quattroporte, and probably still have enough left over for a GTR.
 
J

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
Pariah said:
Once you're past $200k there is no such thing as shopping for bang for buck. For anyone spending $400k+ on a car, $400k means nothing. It's no longer about value, it's simply a status symbol or buy in price for exclusivity. If I had a garage full of Lambo's and Ferrari's, would I consider buying an LFA? Absolutely, it's an amazing piece of engineering. Complaining about value for dollar in this price range is just another way of saying you can't afford it.
Click to expand...

Spot on. I'm sure the person that owns an LFA probably has a Ferrari in the garage too. When you have that kind of money, it isn't a matter of "either" "or." You just buy what you want.
 
Arkaign

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,377
126
JackBurton said:
They did build the Supra, it just called the LFA now. ;)
Click to expand...

It's not really a Supra though :) Supras were available at dealerships for around the same price as the Z and up and around Vette level for the TT models. A small quantity supercar at roughly double the price of competitive Ferraris doesn't really add up the Supra heritage in any real way.

There is hope though :

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/30/report-toyota-secures-trademark-for-supra-name/

Probably just a lawyer move covering their bases, but hopefully we again see a high-performance 6-cylinder boosted RWD sports coupe from Toyota again. Or even a decent NA V8.
 
LOL_Wut_Axel

LOL_Wut_Axel

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2011
4,310
8
81
You know what's funny? So many people saying cars like the ZR-1 and LFA are much faster than the 2012 GT-R when the GT-R was tested on a semi-wet track and did not use performance and safety enhancements like a roll bar (in the case of the ZR1). Not only that, but the LFA Nurburgring Edition costs $40,000 more than the base car, which already costs more than 4x what the GT-R does. As for the Z06, if the GT-R were run on a dry track it would surpass it easily. That's without mentioning the GT-R comes with a lot more features standard, of course.
 
J

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
LOL_Wut_Axel said:
You know what's funny? So many people saying cars like the ZR-1 and LFA are much faster than the 2012 GT-R when the GT-R was tested on a semi-wet track and did not use performance and safety enhancements like a roll bar (in the case of the ZR1). Not only that, but the LFA Nurburgring Edition costs $40,000 more than the base car, which already costs more than 4x what the GT-R does. As for the Z06, if the GT-R were run on a dry track it would surpass it easily. That's without mentioning the GT-R comes with a lot more features standard, of course.
Click to expand...

If it means anything, I love all of those cars (Z06, ZR-1, GT-R and LFA). :) But if I really wanted to turn some heads, I'd take the LFA over the others.
 
TheHashmaster

TheHashmaster

Member
Feb 13, 2011
136
0
0
haha, we're having this same discussion in bimmerforum's off topic, and one of the members there brought up a really good point

Anywhere else, 9 seconds is night and day. At the Nurburgring, it isn't.

Example:

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca:

'11 Mercedes Benz SLS AMG: 1:40.74
2009 Audi R8 V10: 1:40.75

Difference in lap time: .01 seconds

Nurburgring Nordshleife:

SLS AMG: 7:40
R8 V10: 7:44

Difference in lap time: 4 seconds

There are MANY examples of pairings like this. Cars run in similar conditions running the exact same times at conventional tracks, and seconds apart at the ring.
Click to expand...
 
SSSnail

SSSnail

Lifer
Nov 29, 2006
17,458
82
86
I'm in the boat with the guys that will buy a Ferrari, Lambo, etc... over this - any day of the week - if I have the means.

I'll even ask if Honda will sell me one of those HSV-10GT before I even consider an LF-A.
 
exdeath

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
13,679
10
81
Pariah said:
Once you're past $200k there is no such thing as shopping for bang for buck. For anyone spending $400k+ on a car, $400k means nothing. It's no longer about value, it's simply a status symbol or buy in price for exclusivity. If I had a garage full of Lambo's and Ferrari's, would I consider buying an LFA? Absolutely, it's an amazing piece of engineering. Complaining about value for dollar in this price range is just another way of saying you can't afford it.
Click to expand...

This.

You don't buy a LFA over a Ferrari. You buy a LFA just to show off that you can throw away money on a $400,000 Toyota even AFTER you already have every Ferrari and Lambo.
 
D

darkswordsman17

Lifer
Mar 11, 2004
23,250
5,693
146
The car isn't completely hideous although I don't really like the looks much (actually, it does look kinda hideous in parts, like how the front fender sits on top of the front fascia, looks like shoddy plastic fitting you'd find on junk plastic cars from 10 years ago). The engine is pretty awesome, and its actually supposed to be a great car to drive and easy to drive quite well.

It still just somehow doesn't really impress in absolute terms, let alone when you consider cars like the GT-R or ZR1 that punch way above their prices.

Really that's what it is to me, its a GT-R that despite being what 500lbs lighter with more power isn't really faster, and costs a ton more, and you might have trouble buying one even if you have the money. Now if I had the money, I'd definitely take it over a GT-R, for the engine alone, but I'd probably have a GT-R too, and drive it maybe everyday.

The LF-A is why I think Nissan should take the GT-R powertrain, stick it in a swoopy, lighter, better looking 2 seater, and sell for twice the price.
 
Fenixgoon

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
32,049
10,822
136
exdeath said:
This.

You don't buy a LFA over a Ferrari. You buy a LFA just to show off that you can throw away money on a $400,000 Toyota even AFTER you already have every Ferrari and Lambo.
Click to expand...

why not buy the LFA because it's awesome? because you like the detail that goes into each component, even down to the tiniest thing like a hood strut?

i mean, if you can afford a 200k ferrari, chances are you can afford just about anything else as well.
 
Arkaign

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,377
126
Fenixgoon said:
why not buy the LFA because it's awesome? because you like the detail that goes into each component, even down to the tiniest thing like a hood strut?

i mean, if you can afford a 200k ferrari, chances are you can afford just about anything else as well.
Click to expand...

Well, if you're to believe a lot of the guys like the TG presenters (who can afford these kinds of toys), and even the 5th Gear guys, some of the supercars like the recent MP4-12C are missing some of the character (for lack of a better word) that makes certain cars so distinctly memorable and charismatic.

The LFA strikes me as a very competent, predictable, precise, and somewhat bland work of engineering. Given Toyota's past decade plus, it's exactly what one would expect of them. The same can be said to some extent of the GT-R and recent Lambos, though I feel it's even more true of the LFA and MP4-12C. Zondas, Konigsegg, the ZR1, FXX, F458, and certainly the Vipers are extraordinarily unique and visceral experiences even while standing still.

This is all just my opinion, but it seems to bear some weight given that I'm not the only one to feel this way, and certainly others that do have the power to buy these cars have expressed similar thoughts. I'm sure there are enough people out there to buy every LF-A that Lexus produces, but it's still a fairly small number.
 
Arkaign

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,377
126
sdifox said:
winder if they'll take this to the ring?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTT_Plethore
Click to expand...

Interesting. This brings up a point that I think bears weight. Tires. It seems like everyone makes a big deal about running street-legal tires for valid 'ring times.

Ummmmmmm. And the answer is why, really? I mean it's interesting and all. But the 'ring is a racetrack. Someone with the money to buy a car costing between $100k and $1m+ surely can afford, and would indeed want to drive on the track with real racing tires. Hell many who run boosted Miatas run racing tires on circuits. At least do both.

That plethore is an interesting case because it has the same power/weight as an F1 car in max configuration. That surely isn't a recipe for total success without racing tires on there.

The recent ACR and ACR-X times I would imagine could be hugely better with proper tires as well, and the LFA, etc. Attempting times around 7 minutes on street tires, even the best ones, is almost tempting fate I think :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom