Lexus LFA vs. Nissan GT-R

[BusyBadger]

It sounds sooo purty. But seriously GTR>LFA.

Certainly this GTR is, and it's still far less than the LFA.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX3XsJFt9ac[/youtube]

[bmike818]

$400K super car barely beats $80K GTR......I will stick with my Nissan GTR thank you!


the LFA is sick, but for that price, I rather get a Lambo or a Ferrari.

[confused9]

a GTR that barely lost for around 80K or the LFA that's 400K that barely won? can't afford either but the GTR is way cooler

[elwesso]

honestly i like the GT-R better anyway... I like the interior, the exterior, and the price a lot better...

The GTR seems like a badass car you could live with every day.

[Mr1der]

The point here is you were incorrect to claim there was no racing heritage for that company. The fact is, Toyota's racing heritage dates back to the 1950's.

Can you provide some links? Wik ipedia shows their introduction more recently... not the 50's, and not even on par with Datsun/Nissan. Definitely not a level that backs up the asking price of this Corolla LFA.

Toyota has been in motorsports since the 60's at the very least.

[bmike818]

I am intrigued that Yamaha made this engine. A 10 cylinder that weighs less than a V6. I say make a V8 version that weighs as much as a 4 banger then slap that baby into an Elise


$400K LFA...Toyota chassis with a Yamaha engine, albeit it's a great engine.



.

[elwesso]

yeah, yamaha did great when they made an engine for the SHO

[Mr1der]

mhmm.

Don't ever scoff when a piano company makes an engine, at least we know it's gonna sound great.

[s13drifter88]

i thought kawasaki made the engine for the taurus sho? either way theyre both bada*s cars but 85k vs 400k... 3.8v6 vs that v10. hmmmmmmmmmmm, what if the gtr was a v10??? oh well, take that Italy!!! lol

the rising sun has long since risen and is now setting on the Italian shore line

[numbnuts240]

the rising sun has long since risen and is now setting on the Italian shore line

do italian automakers even pay attention to what's going on on the opposite side of the planet?

[Bubba1]

the rising sun has long since risen and is now setting on the Italian shore line

do italian automakers even pay attention to what's going on the opposite side of the planet?

Like Ferrari? Probably, but with production for their high end vehicles sold out for the year, how worried should they be?

[flohtingPoint]

the rising sun has long since risen and is now setting on the Italian shore line

do italian automakers even pay attention to what's going on on the opposite side of the planet?

It's not likely.

63 Formula 1 Titles (between driver/constructor/engine supplier/tire)
20 WRC Titles (between driver/constructor)
13 Lemans Wins (Constructor)

[wingFeather]

Use the wiki link you just provided earlier. Click on the origins section.

Thank you - I missed that link

I may have to bow out of this conversation. I just don't consider one family sedan entered in a rally race (then 20 years later a Celica)... enough credentials to build a "supercar" that is priced at a level that demands some sort of pedigree. I am definitely an admirer of the last Supra, but again, it's not an achievement that merits busting onto the scene at a price obscenely higher than Ferrari & with a marketing arrogance that only blood, sweat & tears can earn. To me it is like spending $100,000 on a Hyundai and acting like you're a pimp. But I realize this is my opinion & not shared by every human... so I will bow out.

Thanks for the mature discussion


Toyota's 50's racing entry:


Ferrari's entry (10 years earlier):

[numbnuts240]

I just don't consider one family sedan entered in a rally race (then 20 years later a Celica)... enough credentials to build a "supercar" that is priced at a level that demand some sort of pedigree

toyota raced 2000gt's and the 7 (ironically enough, yamaha produced the chassis, but toyota built the engine) in the late 60's.

[Bubba1]

I just don't consider one family sedan entered in a rally race (then 20 years later a Celica)... enough credentials to build a "supercar" that is priced at a level that demand some sort of pedigree

toyota raced 2000gt's and the 7 (ironically enough, yamaha produced the chassis, but toyota built the engine) in the late 60's.

Agree. And building a car that wins 4 consecutive WRC championships alone makes Toyota qualified to build fast cars. Then toss in the expertise required just to qualify cars for both F1 AND LeMans, and there's a company that's more than qualified to build a supercar.

I will acknowledge that it does seem weird for a car company known for mass produced "boring" cars to invest so much money into a limited production supercar, especially in this economy. That's their perogative, but based on their history/experience, they absolutely are qualified to build a good one. They just did. Personally, for the price they want for it, I'd rather buy a Ferrari...and a vacation home..

[Jesda]

i thought kawasaki made the engine for the taurus sho? either way theyre both bada*s cars but 85k vs 400k... 3.8v6 vs that v10. hmmmmmmmmmmm, what if the gtr was a v10??? oh well, take that Italy!!! lol

the rising sun has long since risen and is now setting on the Italian shore line

No one in the market for an Italian exotic cares what happens in Japan, and neither do the manufacturers. Buying a Ferrari or Lamborghini means you're buying into a heritage, image, symbol, and experience.

You could make a toaster that outperforms a 458, but who cares? Let me know when the toaster looks, sounds, and feels like something out of a childhood dream. Even Japan itself builds more interesting cars than these two.

[Poyzinous]

That LFA can really go, but can it stop? or does the pedal stick to the floor....?
In any case, they're two very different cars, and as far as money/practicality, I'll take the GTR all day every day.

[Jesda]

Use the wiki link you just provided earlier. Click on the origins section.

Thank you - I missed that link

I may have to bow out of this conversation. I just don't consider one family sedan entered in a rally race (then 20 years later a Celica)... enough credentials to build a "supercar" that is priced at a level that demands some sort of pedigree.

I have a feeling Toyota will sell every one of these, not that they intend to build very many. Money is a funny thing -- having a lot doesn't mean you're good at spending it, but spend it you can.

[LocAL_anarchy]

I am intrigued that Yamaha made this engine. A 10 cylinder that weighs less than a V6. I say make a V8 version that weighs as much as a 4 banger

This thought immediately crossed my mind as well. How incredible would it be if Toyota/Yamaha developed an engine like that, had it pushing out some impressive power, put it into a well-designed, rear-wheel drive chassis, include some of the bells and whistles the LFA has, and have it priced at about 80k? It could be the new Supra. But no. They would rather build the boring, ugly vehicles that MoD has discussed in another thread, or build a 400k supercar that barely out-performs a GT-R.

[s13drifter88]

they have v8 that weighs less than a cyl. ariel atom. im pretty sure its 2 suzuki 1300's fused together to make a vy. i watched it on youyube a long time ago but i cant remember. and im not trying to insult the heritage of the italian automakers, it was a joke. i think its cool that the japanese, same ppl that made our 240s and Z's, are making cars that can rival the Italian supercars. and as far as heritage goes u can say that about the Z. that is one of the most iconic cars in history

[wingFeather]

as far as heritage goes u can say that about the Z. that is one of the most iconic cars in history

Nobody is questioning Nissan/Datsun's credentials (even though the 240Z looks suspiciously like a Ferrari clone LOL). With NISMO, a serious dedication to offering a Skyline each time, and the Z legacy, and comparing the sporty handling of even the Versa (compared to the Cadillac handling of the Celica)... Nissan dominates.

[Watermelonwarrior]

No one in the market for an Italian exotic cares what happens in Japan, and neither do the manufacturers. Buying a Ferrari or Lamborghini means you're buying into a heritage, image, symbol, and experience.

You could make a toaster that outperforms a 458, but who cares? Let me know when the toaster looks, sounds, and feels like something out of a childhood dream. Even Japan itself builds more interesting cars than these two.

Agreed.

[LEMHEAD16]

How did a supra jump from 40K to 400K? WTF was Toyota thinking? Lets make a car that's accessible only to .03% of the worlds population. Great thinking in an automotive recession. They would have been smarter to build this as a showcase piece and then build a real world model in the 8-=100K price range. Still out of reach for most car enthusiasts but much more marketable and profitable. I bet Nissan will see a profit on the GTR long before Lexus does on the LFA (If it ever does).

[Urabus GodofTraction]

Weight and power are not the problems with them. The problem is aerodynamics. Their brick-like aerodynamics make them a real handful over 100mph. I know an owner that tracks his FF roadster. They are autocross monsters, but on road courses with long straights, not so much.

Problem, meet solution:


Daddy liiiiiike.

[S13_love]

Great thinking in an automotive recession. They would have been smarter to build this as a showcase piece and then build a real world model in the 8-=100K price range. Still out of reach for most car enthusiasts but much more marketable and profitable. I bet Nissan will see a profit on the GTR long before Lexus does on the LFA (If it ever does).

It sounds like that is almost exactly the opposite of what Lexus wanted. They didn't want this car to be a showcase piece...they hand-picked their customers who they thought would actually drive this car and show it off instead of parking it in a garage (which necessarily isn't a bad thing).

Also, another thing Lexus appeared to go for is to enhance the brand's exclusivity and make it a competitor among Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/1 ... 27187.html) Imo, they purposely made it out of reach for most car enthusiasts (obviously).

...

Only 500 are going to be produced and it appears Lexus has already sold all of them anyways. (If they haven't yet, they will...)

http://www.insideline.com/lexus/lfa/lex ... r-all.html

Back on topic...

$400K super car barely beats $80K GTR......I will stick with my Nissan GTR thank you!

Agreed.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Only thing I like about the LFA is the sound...holy god almightly.

[s13drifter88]

any word on the infiniti essence???

[youngmoney]

Weight and power are not the problems with them. The problem is aerodynamics. Their brick-like aerodynamics make them a real handful over 100mph. I know an owner that tracks his FF roadster. They are autocross monsters, but on road courses with long straights, not so much.

Problem, meet solution:


Daddy liiiiiike.

what is that beast?

[Razi]

Factory Five GTM

[Bubba1]

Factory Five GTM

That is sexy, but Ford actually fixed the aerodynamic problem of the Cobra roadster back in the 60's with the Cobra Daytona Coupe. I guess people seem more fixated on the Roadster but the Daytona coupe was a much better car for the big road courses.