curiouz_G

all i know is i need to meet some of these people who buy these cars

PedalFaster

No, you're mixing metaphors. I was talking about LFA vs. ZR1 and GT-R, whereas you're talking about LFA vs. Ferrari and Lamborghini.

I agree that, given the choice between a Ferrari and a similarly fast Lexus, I'd take the Ferrari for a variety of reasons. I'm not the target buyer, though. I think you guys are underestimating how much money you have to have to afford a $350k car, and thus the mindset that buyers will have. I don't imagine it'll be an either / or for most of those people. If you already have five Ferraris and Porsches, would you buy a sixth, or try mixing things up a bit and buy a unique Lexus instead? I imagine Lexus will be able to find 500 people worldwide to try the latter option.

I wish I could find the article now, but I recall reading an article about one of the ultra high-end sedan makers (Rolls, Bentley, or Maybach, probably), which noted that the target buyer had a net worth deep into the eight figures. When you're worth tens of millions of dollars, you've already got a stable of cars -- this is extremely unlikely to be your first sports car purchase.

kntrider

This thing will be a bigger flop than the McLaren SLR and that car had the name, performance to back it up for the same price as this Lexus.

GinoGT

The Veyron sold out before they built the first one. There are plenty of people with insane amounts of money that don't need to justify anything. These cars are for them. Trying to think about them in any rational way whatsoever is pointless. Of course there's faster/cheaper/better looking/whatever ways to transport a human body around the face of the Earth. The whole point is they can afford to buy one without thinking, and most other people can't.

TRDLiquidSilver

that walmart/jcpenney analogy is off. the walmart/jcpenny of cars would be KIA. Lexus on the otherhand would be Bloomingdales or Nordstroms, Toyota would be equivalent to Macy's and Ferrari would be Armani.

if all i read about getting the car is true then you won't be able to get the LFA at your local Lexus dealer. there's a screening process everyone knows about so not every multi-gazillionare will be able to get the car. delivery of the car may take place at a regional headquarters and the owner will have one recommended local dealer that will have a technician that's selected and trained by toyota corp to service the car at home or at the dealer. another rumour has it where Lexus corp. will have a travelling service bay per region (12).

also, there will be red carpets, paparrazi and food will be served by wolfgang puck for your 100 closest friends. peter jackson will direct the video of the owner taking delivery of the car.

Penforhire

I think there are plenty of buyers who will stretch into a Ferrari or Aston but, um, none who will strain their finances to own this car. I understand the idea of a halo car but Lexus should have made a Maybach killer instead.

trainwreck

i would rather have the LFA than a ferrari. it represents the pinnacle of japanese engineering. i would be willing to bet the fit and finish of this car will be 10x better than a lambo or ferrari.

but then again, i dont like european cars at all...

Vik2000

I just don't know why people try to put themselves in the shoes of riches. It doesn't work. When you have too much $, you'd be using your spare $ for LF-A. Of course there are people who are passionate about it, and there are who simply can just afford it as a collection.

S2020

if your opinion is valid, then everyone would tell time by their cell phones. My cell phone automatically connects to the mothership (probably is an atomic clock) and download the time down to the exact second.
the next best is a Casio watch. 28 functions for 50 bucks.

There's no need for Patek, Rolex, Tag, Omega, etc...

people who buy LFA already has 7 Ferrari's in their garage - one for each day of the week. They don't need an 8th.

[DT]

[QUOTE=TRDLiquidSilver,Nov 13 2009, 03:51 PM] they're saying to prevent people from buying and reselling for profit