Discussion
So new car, new thread!
After 7 hours driving and and hour or so of test drives I’ve just put down a deposit on a 18 plate LC 500 Sport (not plus) V8 with 12k on the clock
There were two cars, both at a main dealer, first up the hybrid sport plus in Kent in deep blue and ochre interior. Generally good condition though needed a deep clean a trim piece replaced and some swirl marks removed. Loved the external colour and the interior but it did make it feel a bit old at first glance.
Performance was more than acceptable, fake noise and gear shifts made it feel like a video game, which isn't a bad thing. The 'box felt a bit snatchy at times and for a 2017 car the interior seemed well worn (the paint steering wheel controls was coming off). Very quiet at motorway speeds, felt like the chilled nature might suit the car better. Rear seats are a joke but at a push it could get my youngest in there. One thing that did suprise me is how much I could feel the car move when the engine came on, I had a similar experience in my leggy 400h but assumed it was down to worn engine mounts. Clearly it's a feature of the hybrid power unit.
Then I drove to Coventry to see a V8 in red with a black interior. The change in interior colour made it feel more modern, serious even. I wasn't blown away by the noise, it sounded nice but after electric cars there is some aspect of it just being exactly that, noise.
I should clarify that my current car is a 2020 Model 3 Performance that does 0-60 in 3.1, so whilst the sound was nice it wasn’t a revelatory experience videos had built it up to be. It also felt like there was more road noise compared to the hybrid. The gear box was indeed faster and more precise but in day to day driving I’m not sure you’d really care all that much.
Overall both drivetrains are excellent, and testing one with the HUD really made me miss it in the other. What swung it in the V8s favour was the condition of the car, 1 owner and had been bought & sold back to the dealer in order to upgrade to the convertible.
The dealership experience was better at the V8 dealer, I think they had the car a little while so managed to push them on the trade in and the selling price. Which made it the cheapest one in the country currently.
I’m getting it MOT and serviced there as they offered a discount, aiming to pick up on Friday or Saturday.
After 7 hours driving and and hour or so of test drives I’ve just put down a deposit on a 18 plate LC 500 Sport (not plus) V8 with 12k on the clock
There were two cars, both at a main dealer, first up the hybrid sport plus in Kent in deep blue and ochre interior. Generally good condition though needed a deep clean a trim piece replaced and some swirl marks removed. Loved the external colour and the interior but it did make it feel a bit old at first glance.
Performance was more than acceptable, fake noise and gear shifts made it feel like a video game, which isn't a bad thing. The 'box felt a bit snatchy at times and for a 2017 car the interior seemed well worn (the paint steering wheel controls was coming off). Very quiet at motorway speeds, felt like the chilled nature might suit the car better. Rear seats are a joke but at a push it could get my youngest in there. One thing that did suprise me is how much I could feel the car move when the engine came on, I had a similar experience in my leggy 400h but assumed it was down to worn engine mounts. Clearly it's a feature of the hybrid power unit.
Then I drove to Coventry to see a V8 in red with a black interior. The change in interior colour made it feel more modern, serious even. I wasn't blown away by the noise, it sounded nice but after electric cars there is some aspect of it just being exactly that, noise.
I should clarify that my current car is a 2020 Model 3 Performance that does 0-60 in 3.1, so whilst the sound was nice it wasn’t a revelatory experience videos had built it up to be. It also felt like there was more road noise compared to the hybrid. The gear box was indeed faster and more precise but in day to day driving I’m not sure you’d really care all that much.
Overall both drivetrains are excellent, and testing one with the HUD really made me miss it in the other. What swung it in the V8s favour was the condition of the car, 1 owner and had been bought & sold back to the dealer in order to upgrade to the convertible.
The dealership experience was better at the V8 dealer, I think they had the car a little while so managed to push them on the trade in and the selling price. Which made it the cheapest one in the country currently.
I’m getting it MOT and serviced there as they offered a discount, aiming to pick up on Friday or Saturday.
Some background, the LC is a car I’ve lusted after for quite some time. But I couldn’t pull the trigger on getting a petrol car and so bought a new Tesla instead. The ownership of the T has left me cold, the customer service sucks and the car is not what I wanted it to be.
The Tesla was supposed to be the fast kinda practical car that the family could go in, if we wanted. Except the ride is rubbish and the road noise gets annoying after a while. Plus it made them car sick!
So it got me thinking, why have car we don’t get on with? Dangerous thoughts like that led me to the Lexus used site and I saw that LC’s had depreciated enough to get in one without a huge chunk of change required.
The reason for the lack of exuberance was more about approaching it rationally as I wasn’t sure either would work and it’s a big change. Ultimately I decided today that it was likely the last time I would have a V8, so why not?
The Tesla was supposed to be the fast kinda practical car that the family could go in, if we wanted. Except the ride is rubbish and the road noise gets annoying after a while. Plus it made them car sick!
So it got me thinking, why have car we don’t get on with? Dangerous thoughts like that led me to the Lexus used site and I saw that LC’s had depreciated enough to get in one without a huge chunk of change required.
The reason for the lack of exuberance was more about approaching it rationally as I wasn’t sure either would work and it’s a big change. Ultimately I decided today that it was likely the last time I would have a V8, so why not?
Stunning. I have a GR Yaris due to be picked up next month but I'm really not convinced it's going to be for me so have already had a mooch at something that could me more suited - including a LC500. Had a good nose in one at Manchester a while ago and the relatively old school nature of the V8 coupled with the spaceship looks really do appeal. Infotainment is sub par and the practicality element doesn't seem great, but can certainly see myself in one of these at some point. Prices have actually crept up a bit over the last 9 months but I guess the same for pretty much everything.
LincolnLovin said:
I think it's the closest I'll get to owning a v8 Aston Martin without worry about the reliability or servicing costs
Unless you've always dreamt of being called "Oh, Jaaames" these are better than Astons IMHO.Actually I may be shooting myself in the foot. These LC500s - they're crap. Infotainment is woeful, dealers are awful, and those wheels are really tricky to refurb. And the back seats are tiny. Don't buy one. Nothing to see here.
andy43 said:
Unless you've always dreamt of being called "Oh, Jaaames" these are better than Astons IMHO.
Actually I may be shooting myself in the foot. These LC500s - they're crap. Infotainment is woeful, dealers are awful, and those wheels are really tricky to refurb. And the back seats are tiny. Don't buy one. Nothing to see here.
Heh, fair play.Actually I may be shooting myself in the foot. These LC500s - they're crap. Infotainment is woeful, dealers are awful, and those wheels are really tricky to refurb. And the back seats are tiny. Don't buy one. Nothing to see here.
My "dream spec" would have been the sport with the 20 inch wheels, they are not forged so are easier to take care of. There was one a couple of weeks back but it got snapped up in seconds.
I am looking forward to the pick up experience, as its (hopefully) going to be worlds away from Tesla's "your cars over there mate, log any issues in the app" take on customer service.
One more sleep to go!
Feels weird to be moving the Tesla on, it will be the first time we have not had a BEV in the household since 2016. We still have a PHEV for family duties but actively choosing a slower, more expensive to run car does feel quite strange.
As I took the Tesla out to the supermarket yesterday, I will miss the easy spotify integration - but that's about it, The seat is still uncomfortable and the boot fails to open more recently. It is quick though.
Tonight I'll be driving up and staying in a premier inn (OOO THE LUXURY) about 8 mins from the dealer. Pick up will be early tomorrow!
Feels weird to be moving the Tesla on, it will be the first time we have not had a BEV in the household since 2016. We still have a PHEV for family duties but actively choosing a slower, more expensive to run car does feel quite strange.
As I took the Tesla out to the supermarket yesterday, I will miss the easy spotify integration - but that's about it, The seat is still uncomfortable and the boot fails to open more recently. It is quick though.
Tonight I'll be driving up and staying in a premier inn (OOO THE LUXURY) about 8 mins from the dealer. Pick up will be early tomorrow!
Enjoy the new motor, I’m sure the extra cost will bring more smiles per mile.
I’ve just started looking for an EV to replace the wife’s X1. We have circa 45k to spend and it’s all rather uninspiring. I think we’ll keep the X1 for a few more years, but then the white goods EVs will be a cheaper proposition, and hopefully the new market will be a little more exiting/competitive.
I’ve just started looking for an EV to replace the wife’s X1. We have circa 45k to spend and it’s all rather uninspiring. I think we’ll keep the X1 for a few more years, but then the white goods EVs will be a cheaper proposition, and hopefully the new market will be a little more exiting/competitive.
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