LFA [Official] Lexus LF-A Supercar (Production Version)

[Merc1]

That is an inaccurate assumption. These were dealership owned LFAs that never were titled. Th...

Nah don't buy it, doesn't make any sense. NO ONE keeps an unsold nearly 400K car at the dealership for years just to attract people to a dealership. Now if an owner likes the car and keeps it for himself that's a different story. The car was overpriced and didn't sell, that is just a fact. I have no doubt that it will appreciate in value, that isn't the point.

M

 

[bmwz4coupe]

Nah don't buy it, doesn't make any sense. NO ONE keeps an unsold nearly 400K car at the dealership...

The LFA was a halo-car, it wasn’t made to make money, so talking about a comercial disaster doesn’t make much sense.

 

[Merc1]

The LFA was a halo-car, it wasn’t made to make money, so talking about a comercial disast...

Yeah it was a halo car but to think that it wasn’t meant to be sold also doesn’t make much sense either. A dealership sells cars to make money, now if Lexus or Toyota doesn’t turn a profit that is their problem.

M

 

[dalab]

It is a case study, Toyota, the inventors of efficiency and profitability applied to the industry, got into unknown terrain and did everything "wrong" (except the car that is great, the rest of the business case was deplorable).

10 years of development, cancellations, rebirth, when they saw that they would lose money even selling it more expensive than a Lambo, because they let themselves be carried away by the passion (new to them) and made a car never seen before, they had the Japanese stubbornness to assume it and even so make it (just because they can afford it), other brands can make great cars but they can't lose money so they don't make them (so the subject is a bit unfair) to put it somehow.

The positive thing is that they did it and it is a car that should never have existed and that in addition to being perfect makes it even better.

 

[Bucketslash11]

look what has come up for sale:

2012 Lexus LFA For Sale at Marshall Goldman Motor Sales

 

[Yaz]

Wouldn't be a failure if it sold at sticker or more.

Paris Hilton's is for sale:
blog.dupontregistry.com/lexus/paris-hiltons-2012-lexus-lfa-for-sale/

 

[330CIZHP]

All of the LFAs (even used) have sold over MSRP and have been going up steadily. Market always adjusts the prices of cars. Overpriced cars always see plummeting values with time for example, XJ220 or McLaren SLR etc. Again, it is a fact and not an opinion.

I know for a fact that dealerships held LFAs for projected future profit. It is not speculation or hear-say, it is a fact that I have confirmed where the sellers said it was not available for sale.

 

[hovabongZA]

This LFA has been on sale this side for as long as I can remember of course POA, but I’m sure it’s some absurd number especially since this will be extremely rare here.

 

[sako97]

A Lexus dealer near me had a white/red LFA with delivery miles for sale for 5 years at MSRP, then after $350k (not much off). Sales manager said they simply couldn’t find a buyer ... Lexus specifically told dealers to not discount LFAs.

I’m a huge LFA fan and I’m stil in awe of the craftsmanship, but it’s clear it was too expensive for what it was because it came as a production car a few years too late.

 

[330CIZHP]

A Lexus dealer near me had a white/red LFA with delivery miles for sale for 5 years at MSRP, th...

I find it odd because I personally know few exotic owners who told me they tried finding mint condition LFAs with low miles at close to MSRP and had troubles finding them even across state lines.

Also, Lexus does not control private market prices, which could drive the prices down. For example, auction prices of standard LFA have been well over $400K. The Sothebys auctioned an LFA for around $425K a while back and the Nürburgring Edition LFAs have been auctioning for close to $1 million.

 

[sako97]

I find it odd because I personally know few exotic owners who told me they tried finding mint condition LFAs with low miles at close to MSRP and had troubles finding them even across state lines.

Also, Lexus does not control private market prices, which could drive the prices down. For example, auction prices of standard LFA have been well over $400K. The Sothebys auctioned an LFA for around $425K a while back and the Nürburgring Edition LFAs have been auctioning for close to $1 million.

Values of the LFA rose above $420k starting around 2017 for non-Nurburgring versions, which already was above $500k. Beforehand hand there were many examples unsold at MSRP; examples with miles were in the $350-400k range. The exotic owners you speak of could’ve found examples close to MSRP prior to 2017.

Doug Demuro’s article from late 2016 speaks of a untitled LFA that was at a dealership with asking price of $382k, in other words, base MSRP with a few options. At the time there were a few other similar examples.
Autotrader - page unavailable

That being said, arguments over a car’s value is fruitless... the discerning person with the means to purchase will decide whether it’s worth it. The LFA will continue to appreciate in value because it’s one-of-a-kind.

 

[Merc1]

A Lexus dealer near me had a white/red LFA with delivery miles for sale for 5 years at MSRP, th...

Yep the dealer here had an ugly rose gold colored one that sat for the longest and it wasn't held for profit, they simply couldn't sell it at the absurd price they were asking.

M

 

[bmwz4coupe]

Maybe there are a lot of stupid Lexus dealers out there - I don’t know and I don’t care....
IMO the LFA is one of the most successful halo cars that has been made. This is a very special car. A little over-weight (like all Lexuses), a fantastic engine, a truly special design, a car that still creates a lot of emotions and discussions 10 years after it was launched.

 

[hovabongZA]

One of the best sounding cars ever made....extremely special!

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[Merc1]

A dream car would have been a GS F with this V10. I don't think Lexus realized what they had with this engine.

M

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

I love this V10, but in a GS-F? Dunno. It's not torquey enough for a heavier 4dr sedan. That, plus it was an expensive engine to make....either $25K or $40K per engine, can't remember which figure it was.

I feel like I've had this conversation...it's like an episode of Seinfeld.

 

[330CIZHP]

I love this V10, but in a GS-F? Dunno. It's not torquey enough for a heavier 4dr sed...

Not to mention the engine alone cost $156K to make.

Having owned that powertrain for 3 years now, it is an absolute masterpiece for an N/A engine below $100K price point. One of the best engines ever made. Extremely responsive and loves to live in high rpms with decent torque after 3000 rpm, but comes alive after 5800 rpm. Only complaint is, I wish it revved out 200 o4 300 rpms more it keeps building power till it hits the rev limiter just under 7.5K.

 

[Merc1]

I love this V10, but in a GS-F? Dunno. It's not torquey enough for a heavier 4dr sed...

Yeah I know all that, still would have been an interesting car. Even if they tweaked the engine a bit for sedan duty.

M

 

[330CIZHP]

Yeah I know all that, still would have been an interesting car. Even if they tweaked the engine a...

The engine MSRP is $156K because it is too laborious to build. It was bored/stroked to reach 10,000 rpm easily and producing flat power, which sacrifices low end torque. So they would essentially have to redesign the whole engine to produce low end torque to make the 4100 lbs GSF not feel lifeless below 6000 rpm.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

Not to mention the engine alone cost $156K to make.

Having owned that powertrain for 3 years now, it is an absolute masterpiece for an N/A engine below $100K price point. One of the best engines ever made. Extremely responsive and loves to live in high rpms with decent torque after 3000 rpm, but comes alive after 5800 rpm. Only complaint is, I wish it revved out 200 o4 300 rpms more it keeps building power till it hits the rev limiter just under 7.5K.

The engine MSRP is $156K because it is too laborious to build. It was bored/stroked to reach 10,000 rpm easily and producing flat power, which sacrifices low end torque. So they would essentially have to redesign the whole engine to produce low end torque to make the 4100 lbs GSF not feel lifeless below 6000 rpm.

Damn, it was that much more just for the engine? And here I thought it was around $25K or $40K. Yeah, that would have made the GS-F a pretty penny, though perhaps producing more engines would have brought the price down a bit through economy of scale?

I always wondered what Lexus learned from those higher capacity V10 engines they were testing out on those prototype LFA's at the N-ring......