RE: Spotted: Lexus LFA
Discussion
DanielSan said:
I'm not a fan of the Veyron but have you seem one up close? They're far from a big car, only marginally bigger than an R8 to be honest. It's the one thing about that struck me most, I expectsed it to take up the same amount of sq/ft as a modest sized mansion.
IMO the Veyrons main problem is its noise, or complete lack of any pleasantness to the small amount of noise it does make. It's like the VAG influence is still deep down in its bowels and the decision was made to not make it sound as exciting as a car of its kind should.
This is what I love about PH, I see plenty of Veyrons in London and they are tiny. I can't fathom how people on here can make judgements on attributes like quality and size without seeing one in real life close up. Same for the LFA, I love the concept and the cost and performance doesn't play such a big part in my love for it. IMO the Veyrons main problem is its noise, or complete lack of any pleasantness to the small amount of noise it does make. It's like the VAG influence is still deep down in its bowels and the decision was made to not make it sound as exciting as a car of its kind should.
DanielSan said:
IMO the Veyrons main problem is its noise, or complete lack of any pleasantness to the small amount of noise it does make. It's like the VAG influence is still deep down in its bowels and the decision was made to not make it sound as exciting as a car of its kind should.
I love the noise of the Veyron, I remember the first time it was used competitively (Prescott), stood very close there and you could actually feel the power of the thing as it shot past, it sounded like it was sucking in all the air around you (strange description, but it made sense at the time!)Whilst I prefer the scream of the LFA or the rumble of the Morgan GT3, I've never felt the Veyron lacked drama in the aural department, it's just very different to the norm.
DanielSan said:
I'm not a fan of the Veyron but have you seem one up close? They're far from a big car, only marginally bigger than an R8 to be honest. It's the one thing about that struck me most, I expectsed it to take up the same amount of sq/ft as a modest sized mansion.
IMO the Veyrons main problem is its noise, or complete lack of any pleasantness to the small amount of noise it does make. It's like the VAG influence is still deep down in its bowels and the decision was made to not make it sound as exciting as a car of its kind should.
IMO the Veyrons main problem is its noise, or complete lack of any pleasantness to the small amount of noise it does make. It's like the VAG influence is still deep down in its bowels and the decision was made to not make it sound as exciting as a car of its kind should.
Problem for who? For internet dreamers or the people who buy them?
I always think this comes down to cudos and brand image. I wouldnt say the LFA is the most beautiful of hyper cars out there. Ferrari/Lamb seem to have that covered!
Im lucky enought to own the very distant cousin of the LFA, the ISF and am amazed at the lack of knowledge about the car. Ive had friends drive it who own c4's etc and they have been amazed at the performance and handling. Just comes down to brand expectations/marketing and market share I guess. Everyone expects you to go with the M3 (which is slightly faster round the track).
Think the LFA gets dismissed as 'just a Lexus', will take quite a bit of time for this to be accepted into the supercar club mindset by a select few.
Im lucky enought to own the very distant cousin of the LFA, the ISF and am amazed at the lack of knowledge about the car. Ive had friends drive it who own c4's etc and they have been amazed at the performance and handling. Just comes down to brand expectations/marketing and market share I guess. Everyone expects you to go with the M3 (which is slightly faster round the track).
Think the LFA gets dismissed as 'just a Lexus', will take quite a bit of time for this to be accepted into the supercar club mindset by a select few.
Oh I agree the Veyron has massive road presence, the engineering gone into it is fantastic and while it is a bit muted aurally, it does make an interesting if different sound.
My only problem with it is that it's had to give up too much to be able to deliver it's party trick 250+ top speed. In order to decrease drag coefficient which is very important for top speed, they've had to make it look like a bubble (not a great look IMO), the tyres have to be special to take the high speed but this means they need changing every 2500 miles and the servicing requirements to keep the 1000bhp engine in top shape are ridiculous so while I certainly applaud the achievement, I feel they've had to compromise too much to get there which always seems to be a problem when you are more focused on chasing numbers then actually making a car which is fun to drive like the LFA.
My only problem with it is that it's had to give up too much to be able to deliver it's party trick 250+ top speed. In order to decrease drag coefficient which is very important for top speed, they've had to make it look like a bubble (not a great look IMO), the tyres have to be special to take the high speed but this means they need changing every 2500 miles and the servicing requirements to keep the 1000bhp engine in top shape are ridiculous so while I certainly applaud the achievement, I feel they've had to compromise too much to get there which always seems to be a problem when you are more focused on chasing numbers then actually making a car which is fun to drive like the LFA.
Thought it was 5000miles for the tyres on a Bugatti? not that bad really when you consider how few miles most cars like this actually do is it?
I know the running costs are crazy though and its more akin to running a decent boat to a car....
I still totally love it though and have always read that its a fabulous car to drive. That is is involving, it is fun, it is great to hussle down country roads etc...
Just never heard a bad word about the car from someone who has driven one.
And newest Gransport vitesse adds some more drama and noise and fun by loosing the roof apparently
Never understood the hate for the Veyron. Yes its expensive to run in comparison to even other supercars but it does stuff other cars can't do AND its supposed to be great fun at normal speeds. I remember Chris Harris driving one back to back with a 997 GT3RS on country back roads in what looked like a forest in the uk and raving about the Bug and how amazing it was... saying it just does everything better than any other car and how incredible it was.
And I LOVE the way it looks as well.
If I could have any car in the world. It would be a Gransport Vitesse... but saying that on here makes me sound like I am not a petrolhead I feel.
I know the running costs are crazy though and its more akin to running a decent boat to a car....
I still totally love it though and have always read that its a fabulous car to drive. That is is involving, it is fun, it is great to hussle down country roads etc...
Just never heard a bad word about the car from someone who has driven one.
And newest Gransport vitesse adds some more drama and noise and fun by loosing the roof apparently
Never understood the hate for the Veyron. Yes its expensive to run in comparison to even other supercars but it does stuff other cars can't do AND its supposed to be great fun at normal speeds. I remember Chris Harris driving one back to back with a 997 GT3RS on country back roads in what looked like a forest in the uk and raving about the Bug and how amazing it was... saying it just does everything better than any other car and how incredible it was.
And I LOVE the way it looks as well.
If I could have any car in the world. It would be a Gransport Vitesse... but saying that on here makes me sound like I am not a petrolhead I feel.
Porkie said:
If I could have any car in the world. It would be a Gransport Vitesse... but saying that on here makes me sound like I am not a petrolhead I feel.
I think the Veyron has a lot of fans but I guess it's not a pure PH car in a lot of ways which is why it probably seems like it doesn't get much love on here. That or the fact it's a VAG product. 
Me personally, I'd love a go in one, just to be able to experience that power\acceleration at least once but I don't lust after owning one like I do an LFA or many other hypercars.
I'd love a go as well. I just love the amazing engineering and way it performs. The top speed thing does nothing for me. I just like how anyone can drive it. It's amazingly comfortable but supposed to be amazingly thrilling and fun as well.
Why isn't it a PH car? Genuine question
I'd love to see Chris thoughts on this and his opinion of the grandsport vitesse in particular
Why isn't it a PH car? Genuine question
I'd love to see Chris thoughts on this and his opinion of the grandsport vitesse in particular
mat205125 said:
Fair point, but we'd best close of the majority of threads running on here if having the means to get your hands on a particular vehicle is the only route to entitlement to opinion.
I totally accept that, but the point is the Veyron not really about the aural experience...its a about hyper performance in a refined comfortable packagePorkie said:
I'd love a go as well. I just love the amazing engineering and way it performs. The top speed thing does nothing for me. I just like how anyone can drive it. It's amazingly comfortable but supposed to be amazingly thrilling and fun as well.
Why isn't it a PH car? Genuine question
I'd love to see Chris thoughts on this and his opinion of the grandsport vitesse in particular
The Veyron is an amazing car I don't get why it attracts so much hate on here either. You'd of thought it would be the ultimate car if money were no object.Why isn't it a PH car? Genuine question
I'd love to see Chris thoughts on this and his opinion of the grandsport vitesse in particular
d child of a Carrera GT and that front-engined NSX that Honda let go.After_Shock said:
em177 said:
Makes me really want Lexus to try a mid size Cayman rival circa £40-50k.
Essentially a posh GT86 'R'
That is an interesting prospect, they did reveal a sports car recently did they not? Cant remember the name of it now tho!Essentially a posh GT86 'R'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC5HxPJCd-4
Or the LF-CC?
Dagnut said:
CoupeCrazy said:
The LF-A is more expensive because it is a 'supercar' with integrity.
1500 Kilos with engine at the front is about optimal for a road car with this amount of power.
The integrity lies in that it has Grand Tourer sensibilities - but with a chassis so strong (no one bothered to mention chassis strength vs weight yet) and sophisticated light weight multi-link suspension with ceramic braking (very low unsprung weight compared to other expensive cars), you have a very rare combination of raciness in a very high quality real world usable car - also the attention to detail when it gets built is staggering.
You have to remember, the Japanese do not follow the old 1960's template of performance cars, small temperamental mid engined cars that can only really be enjoyed by professional racing drivers is not what they do.
You don't need to sell me on the LFA , it's masterpiece..I just don't know why everyone keeps spouting and defending the marketing when it's obvious bullsh!t.1500 Kilos with engine at the front is about optimal for a road car with this amount of power.
The integrity lies in that it has Grand Tourer sensibilities - but with a chassis so strong (no one bothered to mention chassis strength vs weight yet) and sophisticated light weight multi-link suspension with ceramic braking (very low unsprung weight compared to other expensive cars), you have a very rare combination of raciness in a very high quality real world usable car - also the attention to detail when it gets built is staggering.
You have to remember, the Japanese do not follow the old 1960's template of performance cars, small temperamental mid engined cars that can only really be enjoyed by professional racing drivers is not what they do.
Edited by CoupeCrazy on Tuesday 18th December 22:53
Edited by CoupeCrazy on Tuesday 18th December 22:54
The manufacturing process should not be selling you a car...it's entirely irrelevant if you end up with the same result.
- that I don't believe any supercar can match. To do that you need a very strong and light chassis - a tall order.
Two chassis with CF incorporated into them from different car markers (Lexus vs insert supercar here) are not the alike, unfortunately data on how strong the chassis of the LF-A is not available on the interwebs or from any 3rd party source, but the very positive comments on the car's refinement and behavior is a very good indicator of how strong and developed that chassis is - yet the entire car is on the low end of 1500 kilos fully loaded.
The Ferrari F12 (1630 kilos & £240k) is a good contender though with its very unique combination of layering and interfacing 12 different alloys.
This development to reach this level of refinement and strength costs a significant amount of money - especially when done for the first time.
LaurasOtherHalf said:
Watched that one a few nights ago. The sound with no roof must be epic.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff