LFA....wow (good and bad)

Let me get this in writing right away....I am a fan of Toyota. Lexus is putting out some great cars but this car gives me mixed feelings. The technology in this car is amazing. The engine revs up to 9000 RPMs, putting out 552 hp. This engine sounds like an F1 car. It's got an all LCD gauge, because a normal Tachometer can't keep up with how fast the engine revs. Similarly, with the Nissan GT-R, they removed that moving/tracking headlights because the headlights could not keep up with how fast the car can turn.

This is my problem.....the price. If you want one, the price tag is $400,000. For one of those, I could buy a new Porsche 911 Turbo, Audi R8 AND the Nissan GT-R. Is the LF-A good as all three of those cars combined? Going back to the GT-R...this car is about $90,000. Motor Trend did a drag race between these two cars and found the LF-A was only 0.1 sec faster in a quarter-mile. Is 0.1 sec worth an additional $310,000?

I'm sure the car is a great one, and Lexus tells me I can't even buy the car anyway (lease only). See, I think my problem is where I'm relating these two cars. I remember watching Japanese videos of people comparing the Nissan Skyline GT-R and the Toyota Supra Twin-Turbo. These cars are fast, and were very close in terms of performance. When they both died, I was sad...Then I heard Nissan was bring it back (AND bring it to America) I was sooooo excited. Then rumors from Toyota came out about a new Supra.......

The GT-R made it's comeback......the Supra came back as a $400,000 Lexus.......

The Surprising Challenger

I decided to take a trip to my home town for the 4th of July weekend this year, something fun to see my parents and childhood friends. When I arrived to pick up my rent-a-car, they gave me a New 2010 Challenger SE (I doubt a rent-a-car would ever buy SRT8s). The car is HUGE. It had a very long nose which made it a bit hard to see....but I hate to admit, I'd totally spend the money on one.....

First: The looks~

This is such a sexy looking car....for those who like classic American. I am a fan of that square front nose that looks like it could suck in and eat a cat as you drive by one. It definitely has personality. And the stretched out tail lamps in the back is definitely attractive to me.

Second: The feel~

Something I love about Chrysler, and this might be thanks to Daimler...but I absolutely enjoy the sound system in Chrysler cars.... I went out and bought one of those Droid phones before going and listening to my Pandora radio stations in that thing was a great joy.

I was also interested in how they designed the back seats. They put lights in the back of the chairs to light the area for the people in the back (as my friend puts it, a "Crotch Light"). They also gave the back seat a center arm rest with cup holders. I thought that was pretty good...just wish they'd give more space for your legs (as I complain about later).

The car was also Crazy comfortable. I remember riding around in a Camaro that I got my hands on and I remember it being very low to the ground and very sporty. Still a very good car...but this is a totally different feel. You ride a bit higher, visibility is better, the ride seems softer and more comfortable yet doesn't feel like a boat around corners. This model has a 3.5L V6 and I hate to admit the power is lacking in this car, but strangely enough I didn't mind too much. I was happy with the fact that I was driving this car, with it's comforts and looks.

A couple of down sides....The interior is a bit plain.....If this car was the SRT8, I would excuse any plainness that this car has because of how much fun that car would be to drive. However as a normal one, looking at the dash was a bit boring (unlike the Camaro with the retro gauges).

And~ I am 6'5"....Looking into the back seat told me that a small child or an amputee would be the only people who could sit behind me. The back seats were a bit small. However, if I'm honest, it's a sports car.....Who's going to use this as their family of 4 car? It'd be you and your girl up front, windows down, rocking out and cruising the pacific coast/country side.