Notices
General Automotive Discuss all things automotive here other than the RX-8

Toyota has to "hand pick" LFA owners

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 01-20-2010, 12:56 AM
  #1  
Out of NYC
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
nycgps's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 19,881
Received 31 Likes on 29 Posts
Toyota has to "hand pick" LFA owners

wtf ?

350 K for that LFA

and ... you have to "Apply" for it?

wow ...

as much as I think the car is "cool", this is a little bit too much

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home...d=family-autos
Old 01-20-2010, 01:19 AM
  #2  
VS8
4 Cylinder Rotary
iTrader: (4)
 
VS8's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
ionno i see where theyre comin from i still think its a cool car
Old 01-20-2010, 01:26 AM
  #3  
STiMPACK
iTrader: (10)
 
gh8st's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Nassau County, NY
Posts: 2,107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
LOL doesn't ferrari do that with their fxx? and i know that konigsegg won't let you own one their cars if you don't already own a supercar.. I guess it will allow lexus to really keep that 'exclusivity" that they are desperately hoping for
Old 01-20-2010, 05:14 AM
  #4  
Wheels, not rims!!
iTrader: (8)
 
SayNoToPistons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LA
Posts: 6,527
Received 67 Likes on 56 Posts
They want the owners to represent their engineering masterpiece the way the feel necessary, therefore they are hand picking the owners. Well played.
Old 01-20-2010, 08:13 AM
  #5  
Registered User
 
MICHGoBlue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I guess too many wealthy Americans want this car.

I don't see Europeans overpaying for a Lexus, I really don't.
Old 01-20-2010, 08:21 AM
  #6  
Registered User
 
Shoafb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by MICHGoBlue
I guess too many wealthy Americans want this car.

I don't see Europeans overpaying for a Lexus, I really don't.
Only 150 of the 500 made are destined for the USA.
Old 01-20-2010, 10:27 AM
  #7  
Registered User
 
MICHGoBlue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That's too bad, as American would be the perfect market for this Lexus.

What a cool car though, albeit very overpriced.
Old 01-20-2010, 10:35 AM
  #8  
whines all the way home
iTrader: (2)
 
Rotr8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Towson/Baltimore, MD
Posts: 7,402
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
and the 150 slighted for Japan are already spoken for,,,
Old 01-20-2010, 10:41 AM
  #9  
silent assasin
iTrader: (6)
 
rodjonathan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Houston
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
i thought there were 250 for the us? also now that theyre doing this wait and see people buying then selling this for a huge premium just because they got picked and some other guy with money didnt
Old 01-20-2010, 11:21 AM
  #10  
Registered User
 
Shoafb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by rodjonathan
i thought there were 250 for the us? also now that theyre doing this wait and see people buying then selling this for a huge premium just because they got picked and some other guy with money didnt

Maybe it was 250?

Either way I believe the handpicked buyer will have to sign an agreement not to sell for XX period of time.

It may aslo seem overpriced but take a look at how they are building this car. NONE of the parts are outsourced IE tranny, brakes etc etc. It is all being made custom in house for this car.

Last edited by Shoafb; 01-20-2010 at 11:25 AM.
Old 01-20-2010, 11:42 AM
  #11  
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
 
Jedi54's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: The Dark Side
Posts: 22,394
Received 2,625 Likes on 1,875 Posts
this isn't anything new; Lambo has been doing it for some time and I think Ferrari does as well.
I'm not a fan of it but I understand the mentallity that you don't just want any person (mis)representing your brand.
Old 01-20-2010, 12:36 PM
  #12  
silent assasin
iTrader: (6)
 
rodjonathan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Houston
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
^ correct but as said before lambo and ferarri do it to ensure brand loyalty they dont check what else you have in your garage just that your brand loyal to their brand ... what is lexus gonna check ... that you have an isf??
Old 01-20-2010, 12:38 PM
  #13  
Got Ings?
iTrader: (1)
 
ac3mastuh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Missoula, MT
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
that lf-a is just an engineer's wet dream, but its WAYYY too expensive, why would anyone want an LF-A over a GT-R? It boggles the mind being that the GT-R is 1/4 the price
Old 01-20-2010, 12:51 PM
  #14  
Hit & Run Magnet
iTrader: (3)
 
kersh4w's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: DC Area
Posts: 6,690
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
you cannot buy a new ferrari unless you already own a ferrari. the best way to buy a new ferrari is buy a used ferrari, then have maintenance done on it by a ferrari dealership for at least 2 years so they get to know you. only after that, can you be put on the list to buy a new one.

something like what lexus is doing is not really unusual for the price point and market they are selling the lfa too. its only usual because its a JAPANESE company doing this.
Old 01-20-2010, 02:48 PM
  #15  
Wheels, not rims!!
iTrader: (8)
 
SayNoToPistons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LA
Posts: 6,527
Received 67 Likes on 56 Posts
Originally Posted by Jedi54
this isn't anything new; Lambo has been doing it for some time and I think Ferrari does as well.
I'm not a fan of it but I understand the mentallity that you don't just want any person (mis)representing your brand.
I know Ferrari did it for the F430 Scuderia. My friend's dad brought one used from a friend that owns a Lotus dealership, otherwise he wouldn't be able to purchase it.
Old 01-20-2010, 06:58 PM
  #16  
2005 Black RX-8 GT 6M
 
CarAndDriver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose Area
Posts: 6,350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Makes total marketing sense. Hand pick drivers that are going to represent your messaging.

However, I don't see Lindsay Lohan driving one soon.
Old 01-20-2010, 07:59 PM
  #17  
The Crawlster
 
josuar88's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fort Lewis WA
Posts: 365
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by kersh4w
you cannot buy a new ferrari unless you already own a ferrari. the best way to buy a new ferrari is buy a used ferrari, then have maintenance done on it by a ferrari dealership for at least 2 years so they get to know you. only after that, can you be put on the list to buy a new one.

something like what lexus is doing is not really unusual for the price point and market they are selling the lfa too. its only usual because its a JAPANESE company doing this.
So tell me how up and coming rappers/celebrities get them with us knowing full well they didn't have one before the brand new one they just bought?
Old 01-20-2010, 08:07 PM
  #18  
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
 
Jedi54's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: The Dark Side
Posts: 22,394
Received 2,625 Likes on 1,875 Posts
because EVERYBODY has a price...
Old 01-20-2010, 08:47 PM
  #19  
Out of NYC
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
nycgps's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 19,881
Received 31 Likes on 29 Posts
I know this isn't the first time Supercar company handpick the owners.

but I dunno, hmm, at 350K, it better be worth it.
Old 01-20-2010, 09:19 PM
  #20  
I zoom therefore I am.
 
laythor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 4,919
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
something tells me this is more a gimmick then anything else.
Old 01-20-2010, 09:28 PM
  #21  
Bang Bang
iTrader: (5)
 
EMart11b's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Morgantown, WV
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I wonder if Bugatti did this with the Veyron...

Applicant: Dwayne Michael Carter
Occupation: Best Rapper Alive
Interesting Facts: Shot self in chest when 9 years old.
Favorite Activities: Smoking pot, drinking syrup, eating rappers.

Old 01-20-2010, 09:35 PM
  #22  
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
elysium19's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Long Island, NY.
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
This car has more engineering derived from their F1 team (which has been pulled, I believe) than anything else. I presume they just want to hand pick buyers so that it's people who understand the phenomenal creation they are buying and represent it well, as was said above.

You won't see any Hollywood celebrities driving this thing around, but not for the reasons you might think initially...
Old 01-21-2010, 02:48 AM
  #23  
Hit & Run Magnet
iTrader: (3)
 
kersh4w's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: DC Area
Posts: 6,690
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by josuar88
So tell me how up and coming rappers/celebrities get them with us knowing full well they didn't have one before the brand new one they just bought?
lol. you answered your own question.

celebrities have instant baller status. they dont wait in line, the bouncer opens the ropes for them.

that applies for them pretty much EVERYWHERE.
Old 01-21-2010, 03:11 AM
  #24  
Wheels, not rims!!
iTrader: (8)
 
SayNoToPistons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LA
Posts: 6,527
Received 67 Likes on 56 Posts
Originally Posted by nycgps
I know this isn't the first time Supercar company handpick the owners.

but I dunno, hmm, at 350K, it better be worth it.
I'm sure it's worth the price they're asking for. It's just that many ordinary people can't see past the Lexus badge.
Old 01-21-2010, 03:40 AM
  #25  
a.k.a. WhITeRE8
iTrader: (8)
 
SiLVeRE8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Nor Cal *
Posts: 2,231
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Its just a marketing thing because maybe they fear that if they dont hand pick the people to buy this expensive *** lexus, then no one is going to buy them. They probably did this to create a massive rich market to fight for it. People always want what they can't have...


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Toyota has to "hand pick" LFA owners



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:59 AM.