g_schroder
318
A wonderful and underated car
I've had the opportunity to drive an LC500 a few times and I have to say it's one amazing car.
My benchmark for comparisons is often a Porsche given how well they do most things, but the engine sound in the LC is better than a standard 911 (of 718 for that matter), the shifts are just as quick as the PDK, and the ride and handling are sublime. I actually even think the trunk is pretty decently sized in comparison to other sports cars (though maybe not in comparison to other GT touring cars).
There are not many LC500's on the roads so seeing one is an uncommon sight (unlike the 911 which is everywhere), so it's truly a connoisseurs car. The only drawback I've experienced with it is the infotainment system is awful (as is typical of many Lexus), though I've read that even that has been updated in the latest model.
A truly excellent car that I hope you enjoy for many, many miles.
More posts:
More photos of the LC500
Not the fastest or most nimble thing out there - but as a luxurious long-distance battlecruiser, it's tough to beat! ...
Thank you!
The interior is easily my favorite part of the car, high quality materials and beautiful design throughout it!
One of the most under rated cars!
Beautifully finished and a great drive especially with the 5 litres engine. A bargain in the West but priced at USD 300k in Malaysia so it remains a rare sight on the roads here.
Thank you Sham!
Wow, that's an absurd price difference compared to what we have to pay! What's the reason for such a large discrepancy? These are still quite rare to see in the US as well, which was also part of the appeal for me.
Unfortunately
the import duty on imported cars is high in Malaysia, particularly on a large capacity engine. The road tax on a LC500 would be USD 2500 per year!
What a shame...
Well if you ever find yourself in Chicago, you're welcome to have a drive!
You are terribly kind thank you.
I tried driving once in Western Connecticut in 1988 and gave up after ten minutes.
Where I love that would be ...
.. 3500 € road tax per year .. but approximately 15.000 € for the first year.
I am sure there are certain perks being an American! :-)
My wife for one had married two in the past!
That seems a tad cheap Nico
as they were selling for a lot more in the UK, let alone in Malaysia.
I'm not an expert on Porsche...
But I think they are a different story these days in the US, with enormous dealer markups on some models. I would at least rather give that 60k to the government than the dealership 😅
I just checked the malus prices.
There's some evil people in the French government .... 60.000 € from 194grams CO2. A Megane like mine would be 3500 €, back in 2018 I payed a Belgian malus of 835 € but currently that would be around 2000 €, so not a huge difference there. Crazy times, a ...
Things are changing rapidly ..
... EU is going completely crazy and they simply get the money the easy way. Cigarettes in Belgium will cost 10 € next year ..
Thank you, amanico!
It's very much the type of car that appeals to emotions, getting inside of it each time is an occasion!
Thank you Cpt!
The caramel interior was a must-have for me, and the exterior color choice followed from that.
It has but a single flaw IMHO…
Namely the tiny boot 🤦🏻♂️ Otherwise I was sorely tempted but with 195 liters for a family of four 🤷🏻♂️
Practicality isn't the strong point of this car unfortunately 😅
IMO even worse than the trunk is the lack of space for the back seats, which I'd guess would be an even bigger deal breaker if fitting 3 other passengers inside is a priority.
I read once that having two back seats...
...no matter how tiny, helps bring the insurance down? Could be B.S. but it might explain seats like these and in the 911...
I've heard that as well, though I have no idea how much of a difference it makes regarding insurance premiums.
But I'm glad that they are there regardless since it does at least give the option of fitting a couple of extra people in if necessary, along with providing some extra space for bags.
I'd like room for a golf bag...
...but I wouldn't want to mess up a car this nice. Would probably have something more practical for an outing on the links.
Absolutely!
In terms of design, it's a very refreshing departure from the current trend towards minimalist interiors in cars. And on top of that the materials and build quality are all at a high level. Just touching the buttons, clicking the magnesium paddle shifters...
Alpine is a brand I'm just beginning to discover as we don't have them in the US.
It sounds like that might change in a few years fortunately.
Thank you!
The LC has some beautiful interior colors. In addition to the caramel, there are few blue/white variants that look absolutely stunning.
Very Comfy Looking Ride
My wife owned a couple of SC400s back in the day. Smooth comfy and quiet ride
I love this Battlecruiser!!
Where this car might lack in driving performance, it surely makes up with aesthetics and quality. It is absolutely gorgeous inside and out. Unique. If it suits your tastes and needs, you got the right machine. Who cares if some douchebag in a BMW can beat...
Thanks Michael!
Hahah don't get me wrong, I think the LC has more than enough power/performance for street driving. I've heard that it's surprisingly capable on track for how heavy the car is, not that I plan to ever track the car myself. But as you said, the real strong...
There is a very futuristic quality to this machine!
It will age very well. A design tour de force! A TRON quality exists! I recommend you wear a MING watch! ...
Thank you Patrick!
The LC was one of the few cars I could see myself happily holding onto for 20+ years, I'm sure it's appeal will endure. What watch could pair best with the LC is a question worth discussing! That Ming could definitely match on aesthetics. If I wanted to k...
Beautiful car, enjoy it for many years to come
Very interesting debate, what watch would look best with this wonderful car. Cool idea the GS
Thank you!
The are certainly some similarities with the LFA, but given the GT nature of the car I'd personally consider it more of a poor man's Bentley Continental GT
Amazing car !
Apart from not being nimble I bet it does everything else with grace. Enjoy it. Filip
Thank you! I wouldn't go so far to say it handles poorly, I just meant that it's unlikely to compete on track against the current lineup of true sports cars in its price range, like the latest generation of Corvettes.
However, it does have a limited slip diff and rear wheel steering which help out in that area.
A wonderful and underated car
I've had the opportunity to drive an LC500 a few times and I have to say it's one amazing car. My benchmark for comparisons is often a Porsche given how well they do most things, but the engine sound in the LC is better than a standard 911 (of 718 for tha...
Thanks for your comments!
Mine has the new touch screen infotainment system and I'm happy to report that it's very useable. More important however is that fact that it now includes a 360 parking camera as well, which is a must-have for a large car like this.
The matte black looks great!
I've also seen photos of a matte orange which I love, very spaceship-y. Although not available anymore, the "structural blue" color is probably the most well-known of the limited production models.
