Lexus Says If Approved, LF-A May Never See More Than 500 Units Ever

This has to be the longest gestation period of any car I have ever seen.

— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/26/2008 12:37:27 PM | | Votes: 8   

erm the Ford mustang 2010 aka 2009 V2 or the Chevy Camaro ring a bell?

— veyron1001 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/26/2008 7:08:16 PM | | Votes: 0   

At that price they will be lucky if 3/4 of those 500 are sold. Not many people will want to fork that kind of money out for a Lexus. In that price range you hit the SL65 Black Series, Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo, Aston Martin, and the likes.

Lexus shouldn't even think about a sports car like that until they build a small to mid-size coupe that is even worthy of being called a sports car. When it comes to appeal in the sports department they are a joke. The SC430 is a joke and the only people I see driving it are old elderly Caucasian folks who don't any better. The sports-GT category is owned by the SL for it's luxury.

— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/26/2008 8:31:44 PM | | Votes: 7   

All the LF-As will be sold, don't kid yourself.

— david999 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/26/2008 9:57:33 PM | | Votes: -4   

The LF-A will be purchased because it's a limited production car and will probably be driven by middle to elderly people. The hardcore Japanese import fans will opt for a GT-R or the upcoming NSX. Luxury and sport does not go hand in hand for Lexus. Why jump ahead of themselves when they don't even have a proper medium-size sports car? The LF-A should inspire the lower range first and then work it's way up. So in that regard my statement still stands. "Not many people will want to fork that kind of money out for a Lexus. In that price range you hit the SL65 Black Series, Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo, Aston Martin, and the likes." Plus in today's economy people will look towards a brand like Lexus because its slightly cheaper than its German counterparts. Many of the Lexus drivers were former Toyota drivers and with the same income + some good rates they were able to obtain a Lexus badge. $150,000 USD would be the best pricing for the car but apparently the R&D and costs to put the darn thing together is too expensive? They sure came into he market a bit late.

Two words: ECONOMY MELTDOWN

The LF-A will be a car those SC430 owners will adore because it's a major upgrade in power and most likely quality. Lexus aren't meant to be exotics so don't kid yourself. But I do have respect for the car and would love to see it sell well but as I said, the pricing is a bit steep for a Lexus. Most of the sales will be in North America as it should. It is after all a Japanese-American brand and the marketing(which has been superb by the way) has been catering for the N.A consumers.

I respect it but don't mean I have to be head over heels over this car and it's price David. Hate it or love it but that's my two cents.

— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/27/2008 2:13:18 AM | | Votes: 7   

Ok Agent that's a fair comment. The LF-A definitely sounds like a screamer, especially in those spy videos. I agree with some of what you had to say about this LF-A myth. It's pretty safe to say it's priced too high. If I wanted luxury amenities with hammer blowing sound and power the MB SL class is a leader. My 997TT is world class performance with luxury amenities although it's not as comfortable as the SL but doesn't sacrifice much. If I don't care about luxury or the world's best interior material the GT-R is king and that's why I've put a deposit down for one. I've waited about a month now I think for mine? With the LF-A price I could buy a nice slick CLS63, a ML63 for my wife :P, and a Maserati Gran Turismo with some change left for a nice vacation in south of France and still out class the LF-A.

— 997TT (View Profile)

Posted on 11/27/2008 4:12:30 AM | | Votes: 1   

Think about how much Zonda F roadster cost, Millionaire will consider get 1 of dis...

— hao420 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/26/2008 10:16:45 PM | | Votes: -2   

Amiodynski, in response:

1) Production of the fifth generation Camaro was approved in August 2006 and will go on sale this spring. The concept was first displayed at the 2006 NAIAS. That is really only three years of production time. The first LF-A show car was dispalyed at the 2005 NAIAS and has been in development hell/limbo since then.

2) Your argument, "... but once it's out, watch out !! This car is going to be the ultimate "Halo" car for them. This car is designed to go after the Ferrari buyer that wants reliability too..." awfully is trite.

This was the same reason your fellow Lexus fanboys gave us as to why the IS-F would dominate the BMW M3 (before the IS-F was actually released). Now that the IS-F is out, it has done nothing to diminish the dominance of the M3. At best, the IS-F is an also ran that has already been forgotten about.

— HSCenterconsole (View Profile)

Posted on 11/26/2008 12:53:30 PM | | Votes: 7   

** is awfully trite.

— HSCenterconsole (View Profile)

Posted on 11/26/2008 1:00:07 PM | | Votes: 4   

AMiodynski - I think Lexus will sell every one at that price. But 480 HP is way too low for this league. At that HP a RS6 Station Wagon may out run it before it is released.

— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/26/2008 1:45:08 PM | | Votes: 5   

The LF-A test mule already outruns what are considered superfast cars on the "ring". These include the GT-R and SLR.

— david999 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/26/2008 9:53:53 PM | | Votes: -9   

Except that the Camaro is finalized for production and the plant is already set up and production begins in what 3 months.

Lexus can't even decide IF they should produce this car much less get it to market.

— 91z4me (View Profile)

Posted on 11/26/2008 6:51:13 PM | | Votes: 6   

haha...yes, I know, you are right. Its sarcasm...

— ThierryHenry14 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/28/2008 3:16:16 PM | | Votes: 1