2012 Lexus LFA Road Trip: Drag Race Against the 2012 Nissan GT-R

well obviously the gtr cheated or something! haha

nice race, I am extremely jealous. Are you using the hdpros?

Godzilla beats Rodan.

http://annao6.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/godzilla_harris_godzilla_rodan.jpg

Sweet Video! Next: GTR vs LFA at a road course.

Ouch, that AWD, dual clutch trany turbo charged engine can really hurt.

I can get a Mcdonalds burger faster than my local pub too.

They should have pulled the AWD fuse in the GT-R to make this a fair race :))

Like others have said...

1. Some modded EVOs can kill the crap out of the LFA in straight line or track or the 'Ring.
2. My old Casio watch can turn the TV on and off but a Rolex can't.

Best performance for the buck, the LFA certainly ain't...

@ptcdawg

I think the point that was made is that for it's price you don't get anything exceptional in fact you can get a ferrari for less. Its heavy compared to its competitors (despite carbonfiber construction.) and for 375k it better at least danm well beat an 80k car. In its price bracket there are just better choices available Mclaren much??? Not dissin the LFA its just to much money.

Damm...

The more you think about it.. The GTR is almost unreal for what your paying for & geting.

You can buy a 2011 GTR & pay off your house or buy a second home at the same time ;0 for what the FLA would cost you.

HA! HA! HA!

Nice video, showing what we already know.

And already the excuses are coming! About the AWD.

But that is just reality.

You know what LFA fanboys?
The 2012 GTR traps at a higher speed than the LFA per IL

http://www.insideline.com/nissan/gt-r/2012/2012-nissan-gt-r-full-test-and-video.html

So there goes your AWD excuse.....even on a roll, nahh.

But then again, the LFA "was tuned for perfection" as one LFA fanboy said
Too bad perfection didn`t meant beating even a lowly $90K Nissan LOL

Just check out the numbers of braking, grip and slalom of the 2012 GTR and you`ll see what I am talking about.

Acceleration wise? Not a chance LFA.

Even if I had $375K to spend, I'd still get a GT-R. Then I'd drop it off at AMS for their Alpha 9 treatment to silence the ZR1 fanboys.

@windsor5 My thoughts exactly.

The probably the only thing the LFA does better than its competition is sound better. For close to $400,000 (after the balloon payment at the end of the lease) the LFA should be moving the performance yardstick, like the 911 Turbo, GT-R, MC4-12c, etc. have done. After years of development and being postponed it kind of leads me to believe that Toyota doesn't really know what they're doing. I would love to see what Nissan, or even Mclaren could do if they planned to sell their cars at $400k.

"I can get a Mcdonalds burger faster than my local pub too. "

I'd say it's more like finally getting into that exclusive high end restaurant and discovering your local pub does a better steak.... less frills and presentation perhaps but the results speak for themselves.

If the performance for dollars is the goal, why is the GT-R sales never really caught on. I believe the more expensive chief competitor, Porsche 911 turbo still do much better here.

No surprise at the result, but good lord, what an engine note. Best in class, IMO.

There is a reason why supercar owners don't comment on these boards/blogs because...

They don't care.

i love both cars, but the GTR has a great advantage, with its lunch control awd system the lex never had a chance. I would still buy both of them......in my dreams!!...lol

"i love both cars, but the GTR has a great advantage, with its lunch control awd system the lex never had a chance. I would still buy both of them......in my dreams!!...lol"

I sure as hell hope it doesn't have LUNCH control. I control my own food decisions!

Seriously though, I'd take the GT-R in a heart beat given the choice. I loooove it. Saw one this morning - it still makes my head turn.

That's a pretty big difference from when Motortrend pitted the 2010 GTR against the LFA. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5R-oi91bd4&feature=player_embedded

Goes to show how much Nissan did in the 2012 update

GTR can do 0 to 60 in 2.9 sec..something the lex will never accomplish.. rwd NA V10 or not!

louiswei is right, they dont post on these boards. Not sure if that means they dont care or not, being rich is often about proving you can do something others cant do. It cant be comforting to spend $400k on a car that can't outperform a $90k car. A person that is rich and justs want to flaunt his money would likely go for the LF-A. Someone who is rich but really understands performance and has nothing to prove to other rich people would probably just get a GTR and ZR1 or 911 Turbo and keep the change.

People become rich by making good finacial descisions

The LFA is not

You don't get the prestige other super car brands have regardless of cost.
You don't get an edge in performance.
If this car sold for 150k or 200k it makes it more reasonable but this is still the most expensive lexus ever made.
If your flaunting your money and don't care about performance there is

Bently
Maybach
Rolls Royce

@ windsor5,

People don't buy anything like LFA when they are are BECOMING rich, they buy it AFTER they are rich. Also, probably none of the supercars is good financial decisions...

However, I will argue that given that Lexus is only building 500 of these, it can easily become a collector's item and will appreciate.

ZR1 drag race please.

For one AWD isn't cheating or anything its called Nissan being smart and thinking about traction, acceleration, and handling

Yeah the LFA has a certain appeal and yeah i'd take one but if it was my money i'd buy the GTR then take the remainder and go by the V10 Audi R8 spyder
That's savvy investing ha

windsor5

"People become rich by making good finacial descisions"
You are right about that but could be wrong about the LFA. An used GT-R may fetch about 40K 15 years from now, but an used LFA may go for about +1mil if one followed the 2000 GT's value appreciation curve.

Hey look! One of the all time fastest (in a drag race) production cars is faster than another type of car! Who would have thought?

Isn't it amazing (but it should also be common knowledge) what AWD can do in a drag race?

"However, I will argue that given that Lexus is only building 500 of these, it can easily become a collector's item and will appreciate."

Its possible, but is there any track record for a collector Lexus that is worth more now than when new? Don't think so. There is much of a market for this car NOW, so I dont see much of a market for it at inflated prices 20 years from now. One issue is the design, its not memorable nor beautiful.

"Its possible, but is there any track record for a collector Lexus that is worth more now than when new? Don't think so."

It it's possible to have a Toyota is that worth now than it was built 40 years ago then I don't see why can't that happen to a Lexus...

"There is much of a market for this car NOW, so I dont see much of a market for it at inflated prices 20 years from now."

That doesn't make any sense...

500 is 500.

It will not appreciate to 1million dollars I garuntee it and lexus is limiting it to only 500 because there is not a large market for 400k dollar sports cars I bet it will actually depreciate 50k

Have you looked at the price of the Toyota 2000 GT lately?

"I bet it will actually depreciate 50k"

@ windsor5,

What do you want to bet on? I'll take the bet.

So what are the terms? How long will it take for the LFA to depreciate $50k?

Anyone wants to join the fun?

The USA is not a good indicator for expensive exotics right now. LFAs are sold out in countries that has 100% sales taxes.

I'd still take the Lexus.

I don't peg dollars to 0-60 and 1/4-mile times. Once the price hits six-figures I don't think most people look at drag strip capability. If they did Ferrari wouldn't 'sell out' its product line every year. Moneyed folks would just buy a PDK-equipped Porsche 911 Turbo S -- one of the fastest 0-60 and 1/4-mi 'production' car ever built -- for well under $200K.

Toyota could have just used a forced-induction/AWD approach to speed too if they wanted to. Hell, they're one of the biggest platform/component sharing companies in the auto business. In that vein they could have employed off-the-shelf components and produced something with the same level of (or even better) straight-line 'performance.' Pick a RWD platform, shave it down, make it a coupe, style it, strap some turbos to any of their V8s, bolt on a manual, hook and AWD system up to power the front wheels, add some fancy leather and gauges and call it a day.

But Toyota didn't go that route. They built something bespoke. Even at $375K they'll lose money on every one of these ($188M in total revenue for 500 cars won't come close to covering the R&D, overhead, and variable material/labor cost of this exercise). The LF-A is an exotic car in the truest sense. It looks wild. The design/assembly-quality of components most people won't ever even see remind me of a tourbillon watch. It probably smells unique thanks to a mix of carbon fiber adhesives and expensive leathers. It makes strange and wonderful noises that no other street car makes at any price. People who've driven it around a track say its dynamics are second-to-none.

Some people retort, "Well any of the big car manufacturers can do this!" Maybe they can. But other than the odd VW project (Bugatti), none really ever do.

The GT-R is an impressive machine for the money. It's impressive even ignoring the money. But it's cold. It's really quite conventional. And it does nothing for me.

I'll probably never be able to afford (or even drive) either car. So the concept of something being worth it to me is tough to quantify. But I know how seeing and hearing the Lexus makes me feel. And that's what I use as my guide in judging cars like these.

"That doesn't make any sense..."

I meant to say if they can only sell 500 now at these astronomical prices I dont see how there will be a major market for collector cars in 20 years at doublt that price. $375k is a lot of money for a car, more than established makers of exotics charge for their cars. Do you also think the VW Phaeton or Equus will make collector cars? Both were landmark vehicles for their respective brands that challenged far more established brands.

I think it will be almost impossible to determine the value of this car in a few years because so few will change hands. With only 500 units to be sold its going to be rare for a "used" LF-A to appear on the market. What are Carrera GTs going for right now? Did they appreciate?

As for "classic" Toyotas, I wasnt aware there were any of note. Then again I dont follow the classic car auction business too closely. When I flip past the B-J show on speedchannel they typically aren't showing old Toyotas.

@ 1487,

Go look up Toyota 2000GT, check how much they are going for now and check how much they were going for when they first came out.

Also, check how many of those Toyota made.

Factor in the inflation if you want to, I don't care.

When you did all that then we'll talk.

1487

I believe Australians are paying around 800K a piece for their LFAs right now.

I don't think it would be totally out of line to use the Carrera GT as an example of what the LFA might see in short-term depreciation. I believe there were only 600 or so examples sold in the U.S., and based on the original MSRP ($450K or so) and the ones I have seen listed for sale ($350K give or take) implies 20-25% or so depreciation over five years.

However--and I'm a Porsche guy--I think one could argue that the LFA is much rarer not only in terms of pure production numbers but because Lexus will likely never produce anything like this again (unlike Porsche). This is it. And I would expect auction prices--if and when one of these comes up for sale years from now--will reflect this.

I'll add that if I won the giant mega lotto tomorrow, I wouldn't buy either car. I would have to have a true manual transmission in a car like this.

Which is why I would buy a Corvette ZR1..aka The Blue Devil.

I agree with anonimo. Appreciation is possible due to rarity. However, I think if you want to bracket where the LFA might sit in this respect, look at something like the Mclaren F1.

Currently around 25 years of age, give or take, they are commanding about twice or more of their original ~$1 million asking price. There were only about 100 produced including some racing variants, the car was far more exotic than the LFA (composites, V12, more power, much less weight - 2500-2700 lbs), and it had some serious performance and racing pedigree. At the time it was arguably the quickest and fastest road car produced and had one of the sweetest naturally aspirated engines in existence (some would argue still to this day).

Outside of some rare Ferraris and usually cars that are much older, the McLaren represents a higher level of supercar appreciation than most. The Ferrari Enzo, with 400 produced seems to have appreciated somewhat less. Given that both cars are substantially higher performance and come from more established marques in this class, I think that a 25 year appreciation for the LFA of more than 10-20% would be unusual. But, you never know.

1487 is so stupid and obtuse he cant get his head around the fact that people will pay that kind of coin for a Lexus and NOBODY would pay that much for a GM car. Even Ford sold all the 150K GTs they could make. That much for a Chevy? The world is laughing at that thought.

@louiswei

The terms are this

1 year bet

@ the end of the year whoever is closest wins

If you lose you have to add granny shifter to your name if you win you don't have to bear the shameful.title

One year? You are kidding right? What do you think this is? The stock market?

Don't be to hard on 1487 hes just really passionate

As for the 2000gt the price is not bad considering the age and rarity of those cars they are also iconic james bond drove one in a movie iconic. Only about 300 were made and were japanese engineering marvels thar said old corvettes and mustangs have sold for that much which makes me think its age more than anything else that is indicitive of the price. 40 years old just about

The GTR is like Lindsey Lohan. Has experience being fast, can usually finish first (in bed), cheaper. Can sometimes break down (on a drug/alcohol fueled binge).
The LFA is like Kate Upton. Beautiful, exotic, not as experienced (in bed), expensive.

I know which one I'd choose. Neither, because I'm married with a kid, not supposed to look at other women.

yellowbal

LOL,
On that note, we need to close this thread right now. The LFA fbs have successfully distracted everyone from discussing the drag race result.

Its just a silly bet louiswei if we were serious we would choose 10 years but I doubt I could care enough about it by then

People need to stop talking about this car being overpriced. If it's $20 (which is chum change to the rich), will you get one?

Lol at the farter.

LFA vs CGT: About the same weight, naturally aspirated, acres of carbon fiber, a mine's worth of aluminum, screaming V10's, similar price tags (CGT was 450k-ish).

So what makes the Carrera GT a better value than the LF-A? 50 horsepower? That's it?

as var as CGT values, Dupont Registry shows three at around 400k, a handful in the mid 300's, and one (with alot of miles) at 310. There were, however, 1270 CGT's built in total. Expect the CGT's value to rebound over the next decade.

I do think the LF-A will only appreciate in value...not only because of its rarity (and on that note, any car with a run of only 500 will be sought after by collectors due to rarity), but because it is a landmark car for the Toyota Corporation.

There are highly wealthy enthusiasts out there who are willing to buy a 300-400k car (CGT's, Murcielagos, Ferrari F40's, SLR's, yadda yadda) and drive the piss out of them. My parents neighbor campaigned an SLR 722 in the cannonball run! They can afford not just a car, but a TOY that is that expensive, and also afford to maintain it. To them, 375k is chump change; their 375k is your 5k that you are willing to drop on a Miata.
They will buy an LFA because
1) Like IL said it is absolutely exhilarating to drive
2) it's unique and
3) They can.

please repeat the same race frumaroll. bet the lexus takes it from 5mph up. in-gear times matter greatly in the real-world.

the launch control is just too good from a dig.

On an unrelated note: I'm just not that interested in the GT-R. Mainly due to the transmission. Not only is it a flappy paddle gearbox, but it is also incredibly fragile. R32-R34 GT-R's had indestructible manual gearboxes. I also love straight 6's, and the RB is one of the best. It's said to see another straight six get replaced with a Vee.

Nissan set a new performance benchmark with the GT-R, but has far less of the appeal to me of the old RB26-powered cars.

GTR won because of its trick launch control system. LFA makes the GTR next to it sounds like running with mute button on. Amazing!

THE NISSAN GTR HAS AN ADVANTAGE BECAUSE IT HAS "LUNCH CONTROL' SAID DOUGHTEEN, WTF, I DID NOT KNOW A CAR COULD CONTROL YOUR LUNCH.....

Line up the GT-R with any exotic and it would walk a ton of cars hard from a dig; ZR1, Ferrari, Lambo, Viper, etc. Don't forget the advantages this car comes with. So to see this result with the LFA is no different than what would occur for the other cars. GT-R fanboys need to STFU because their Datsun isn't the end-all of all supercars. Relax and step away from the Playstation.

This vid makes the ZR1 look better and better... (What happened to Toyota, they seemed so flawless... then recalls, lawsuits, and now this! LOL)

YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its alive godzilla is aliiveeee !!!!!!

and the GT-R was like : NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEXXXXXXXXTTTTTT loll can't be serious on that one sorryy everyone !

and the GT-R was like : NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEXXXXXXXXTTTTTT loll can't be serious on that one sorryy everyone !

-ptcdawg says:
-10:33 AM, 04/14/11
-I can get a Mcdonalds burger faster than my local pub too.

I totally agree, because its the quality of your time racing in a straight line towards a quarter mile that truly counts.

Why do a lot of you get so worked up? They're both great cars (and I own a '12 GTR).

Have we considered that absolute performance isn't always the foremost criteria to every buyer? The reality is that if you can afford either...you've done quite well.

GT-R may have performed better, but the LFA founds better. LFA ftw

It's really simple to figure who's who on these threads. Those that understand why Toyota didn't build a boosted AWD car and those that don't.

sherief says: "On an unrelated note: I'm just not that interested in the GT-R. Mainly due to the transmission. Not only is it a flappy paddle gearbox, but it is also incredibly fragile. R32-R34 GT-R's had indestructible manual gearboxes. I also love straight 6's, and the RB is one of the best. It's said to see another straight six get replaced with a Vee.

Nissan set a new performance benchmark with the GT-R, but has far less of the appeal to me of the old RB26-powered cars."

This is exactly how I feel. The current car is a godlike engineering mindf*ck, but the old cars were so much more visceral, and the inline engine sounded *12341234 better. I drove a 2010 example a dude I met at a Lions game owned, and the acceleration was murder, but I never warmed up to the exterior or paddles.

"As for "classic" Toyotas, I wasnt aware there were any of note. Then again I dont follow the classic car auction business too closely. When I flip past the B-J show on speedchannel they typically aren't showing old Toyotas."

Thank you for giving us an example of how close-minded you are. Check out any 2000GT, Supra, etc. and you'll see what I mean. Not everybody watches the old Buck auction channel.

This race was awesome! Also it is important to note that GTRs aren't selling for even close to their MSRP right now. I know someone who just bought one for $135k because they just didn't have any of them in the area. The performance even for that price is killer, though. Still, I'd take the LFA. A n/a V10, slower to 60 or not, and wrapped in the LFA's sexy sexy package is infinitely cooler than the boring sounding twin-turbo V6, IMO. Plus, in a Lexus vs. Nissan battle lexus will win every time.

Hey Bevis!, Uh, huhuh, uhhh, he farted in a $375,000 car. uhuhuh uhuh huh

If you're really rich, you'll buy this, the GT-R, ZR-1, 911 GT2, 458, etc. and not worry too much which is best. The LFA has a different level of refinement and build quality over the GT-R and the buyer of this isn't necessarily going to care about absolute performance. He probably owns a 458 too and has his name in for a McLaren MP4-12C also.

HA.... I knew it. I knew it all along. It was only a matter of time before we got to see this. And I knew the 2012 GT-R would win.

I also noticed Mr. gt500svt didn't post any comments as I predicted. I understand what being a fan about a car is like. I love the GT-R, but even as a fan, I'm not gonna let my love for a car blind me enough to think that it's the best supercar ever around.

To gt500svt... The LF-A is a beautiful car, but it's clearly not the best either. And to be fair, neither is my favorite GT-R. But in the end, at least we can say that Japan can have bad-ass supercars now.

Now all we gotta wait for is Acura to come out with the return of their NSX and be a supercar. Wouldn't that be Awesome?

And yes. I too wanna see a full test/road course comparison between these 2 cars as well, Just to seal the deal on which is Japan's best once and for all ;-)

I'm sure this would be a hit for the crowd that thinks the "Fast and the Furious" movie is a documentary.

For the rest of us, I would love to see both of these posur-mobiles (turbo sentra and a toyota) get blown away by some 20 year old kid with a 1992 supercharged Mustang he sunk about $5000 into. That would be a great "pinks" episode.

Akula1,

Again, you fail to explain your snide comments. Another swing and a miss.

Oh that looks sick. The GTR is nice but it has no emotion, it's no fun. The LFA is Waaaayyyyyy Better. It's way more fun to drive, sounds way better, and looks waaaaayyyy better. Who even cares about the GTR anymore....

"Oh that looks sick. The GTR is nice but it has no emotion, it's no fun. The LFA is Waaaayyyyyy Better. It's way more fun to drive, sounds way better, and looks waaaaayyyy better. Who even cares about the GTR anymore...."

Both cars have automatics, only difference is the GTR sounds like crap and LF-A doesn't. Both are fast cars that any 16 year old can drive.

I call BULLSHIT!

There's no way a $375,000 hypercar like the LFA can lose to a $90,000 DATSUN!

That GT-R had NAAAAWWWWWS! Turbos and NAAAWWWWS are for cheaters!

And besides, who cares if a cheap car beats a more expensive one?! Only superior, rich, intelligent people like PARIS HILTON get to own cars like the LFA! The LFA isn't about performance, it's about being rich and better than you! Like being Paris Hilton!

... am I sounding like an LFA fanboi yet?

Reminds you how amazing a deal the GTR is...

I know that the exotic car buyer isn't sweating spending 4 bills on an LFA, but even if I were a multimillionare right now I would still be in the camp of thinking about all of the other cars I could buy for that sum of money...

R8 V10 spyder
Hennessey CTS-V
New M5

+1^
I know a few guys that are rich car nuts. They buy vehicles like the LFA and store them. A car like the GTR is great not only for its performance but the fact its cheap enough to actually be used.

audisport, most people buying this car probably already have those cars. Very rarely do you find someone who only owns one supercar.

Wow chiphomme, you are about the densest person around other than dgmail. There should be a rule against illiterate people posting.

Swing and a miss? You are so clueless it's beyond pathetic. You should stop embarrassing yourself.

I'm a fan of both the Datsun and the Toyota... they both represent pinnacles of engineering from their respective companies, obviously one with a bigger budget than the other. Both cars are undeniably fantastic. Sure it's fun to race them against each other but that's not going to tell you which car is "better" or "worth it".

When you're talking supercars like these, the only thing that really matters is your priority as a buyer. For some, the Datsun GT-R is everything and others the Toyota LFA. And some people will like neither and would prefer something with pushrods and chrome wheels. And the price? Well that's set by the market, not the manufacturer. When you go north of $100K a lot of intangible factors start making a major impact, like rarity and significance. Quite simply, if the LFA wasn't worth $375,000 they wouldn't be selling at that price.

People can down play this all they want, and hate as you wish, but the 2012 GTR is very impressive. If it had an Infiniti badge and had an M56 like interior no one would cry like little babies about it. Well some of you Euro fans still would, but then again you dream of Porsches you'll never own.

Point blank, the CTS V is still the fastest production sedan, and the GTR is still the best bang for the buck super car.

"There is a reason why supercar owners don't comment on these boards/blogs because...

They don't care."

Ha! Finally someone that makes sense on all of these lfa posts....

"Oh that looks sick. The GTR is nice but it has no emotion, it's no fun. The LFA is Waaaayyyyyy Better. It's way more fun to drive, sounds way better, and looks waaaaayyyy better. Who even cares about the GTR anymore...."

I take it you have driven both of these vehicles??Sorry, Sony Playstation GT does not count... If not please stop looking like the biggest idiot on these posts, which believe me is quite hard to do....

Entirely expected outcome. My question is how does the LFA trap 123 mph with 552 hp while the GT-R traps 124 with 530 AND 300+more lbs? Both have similar fast shifting gearboxes and the LFA only has two wheels to drive (hence less driveline hp loss). GT-R underrated or tiny powerband on the LFA (no torque).

Akula1,

Maybe you should start backing up your nonsense instead of puking up more ad hom.
What super cars do you own again?
What's your definition of a super car?
And please explain why Toyota built a $375k car that can be beaten by a number of stock vehicles costing considerably less.

@ copmotor440cid

Although the GT-R has 22 less horsepower than the LF-A, if you compare their torque #'s side by side, it's part of the reason why it's faster.

The 2012 GT-R has 94 more lb.-feet of torque than that of the LF-A. Especially combined with AWD, it's enough to help it pull far ahead of the LF-A. That's mainly the reason why I wasn't surprised that the GT-R had the win.

The Lexus's 354 ft-lbs. of torque is Awfully low torque for a V-10 compared to the GT-R's 448. Even though the GT-R's over 300 lbs. heavier, all that extra torque with AWD was enough to pull ahead of the LF-A

I did some work once for some guys that made a lot of money. That Christmas I received a bottle of wine from them -- a nice gesture. My wife and I opened it about a month later to try some with a meal and we both looked at each other and essentially said "wow, that is really, really outstanding wine!" After dinner I googled a liquor store to see the value of the bottle. It was selling for about $110 per bottle online. It tasted far better than any wine I have bought for myself, before or since.

That doesn't make the wine I drink bad wine. It fits my budget. Some of it is no doubt a bit stronger than the expensive bottle. But I'd much rather have the $110 bottle ready to open if I could afford it.

BREAKING NEWS

Russia stops 50 radioactive cars from Japan

I posted weeks ago that cars from japan would be radioactive, now you can check it out for yourself on Yahoo News http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110414/wl_asia_afp/russiajapannucleardisasterauto

All I can say is "I told you so".

Be Proud. Stay Alive. Buy American.

People are so silly. . . . .

that proves nothing at all. nissan gave the 2012 GTR much more HP and toque... so why would it not be faster then the LFA in a straight line > It already has AWD so thats an automatic jump off the line.. add more power to that and you have a faster car duh... so because it faster in a line... does that makes its a better car ?

I would still pic my beloved LFA anyday of the week if I had the choice.

If a car was judge on speed alone.... hell i kno a bunch of turbo charged civic that would destroy the GTR and LFA in speed and straight line.. does that make the civic a better car then the GTR or LFA ? no Samething goes for the GTR VS LFA. Speed isnt the only factor.. its feel of the road, driver involvement, feel and response of the engine, contact to the road, exotic quality, luxury ... and that is where the LFA destroys the GTR.

The GTR is faster then many ferrari and lambos and MANY other exotic cars including the LFA.. will ppl stop buying them because the Nissan GTR is faster ?

What are you 12? Your gonna walk around saying my car is faster then yours? Its comes to MUCH more then speed and that is where you the exotic cars ( LFA, LAMBO, FERRARI, ASTON, ZONDA ) separate themselves from cars that are just "fast" ( GTR, ZR1 )

Its been said over and over again... the GTR is a computer on wheels and the car basically drives itself.. you just turn and pedal the car and get result... boring. Sure its fast granted and DAMN fast for its price... but that doesn't make it a better car or anywhere near that.

That being said... I will take my LFA in pearl white ;)

^^^^I don't even get that. The LFA is a great car but give the "you can mod something" analogy and a GTR "drives itself" talk a rest. A ZR1 and GTR will keep up with any of the expensive supercars you listed, in any venue (not just on a drag strip). Super cars are about performance. Insecurity and the need for exclusivity is the reason those expensive cars sell. And whats funny, reading posts like yours, you sound as if you had one you'd drive it alot. Guess what? 99% of Ferraris, LFAs, Zondas, etc are garage queens. Whats great about GTRs, Corvettes, and most 911s is that they actually get driven.

@dgmail

"I'm sure this would be a hit for the crowd that thinks the "Fast and the Furious" movie is a documentary. "

Just shows you are an idiotic domestic fanboy. Do us all a favor and drink some bleach.

"For the rest of us, I would love to see both of these posur-mobiles (turbo sentra and a toyota) get blown away by some 20 year old kid with a 1992 supercharged Mustang he sunk about $5000 into. That would be a great "pinks" episode."

Maybe for you, but put that Supercharged Mustang around the corners and it would get destroyed by both cars. Also a crappy supercharged mustang would be less reliable and no one would give it the time of day if sitting next to either of these cars. Exotic owners wouldn't give a crap if that mustang was faster in straight line. At the end of the day it would be just another crappy Mustang with a 302 that will crack if it makes over 500whp LOL.

"its feel of the road, driver involvement, feel and response of the engine, contact to the road, exotic quality, luxury ... and that is where the LFA destroys the GTR."

To whoever said that sounds like you wanna put your money where your mouth is. Before this drag comparison, some LF-A fanboys said the same thing about it beating the GT-R on the straight and as it turned out...well...you saw the results. The GT-R won!!!

I wouldn't prejudge that so quickly considering a road course comparison has not even been conducted yet between these 2 cars. The new GT-R has the same G-grip Lateral acceleration as the LF-A and was 14 seconds faster than the LF-A on the Nurburgring. The 2012 GT-R is one of the top ten fastest cars on the 'Ring. The whole 7:22 bsh@#$& for the LF-A was unofficial, which means it cannot be confirmed.

Even as a Nissan fan, I already know that other people are gonna spend more money on other exotic cars for the respect of the name, legend, and as well as performance. But other than that, wait for a comparison to be conducted before you make a statement that's backed up with hard numbers.

All that money and wait saving measures and changing it several times in the past decade and it got its ass handed it by Gozilla!

Nissan GTR is an awesome machine and purpose built to smack that ass! of any who show up...the LFA was purpose built to look good, sound good, and try to go fast.

Maybe later they might update the tranny to double clutch and add or fix their launch control, then maybe MAYBE! it could keep up with the biggest and baddest of them all...GTR baby!!

The GTR is a great performer. Performance alone doesn't make a great car (and I am not saying anything directly about the GTR, just cars in general). If we all bought cars based on performance alone (and maybe value ratio) we would all be driving Mitsu EVO's.

@ compressor

True. But $375K, is an awfully outrageous price tag for a car that performs like the GT-R or Z06 Carbon. Even a $160,000 price tag of the GT-R Spec-V doesn't even seem so bad compared to this, and that car can do even better.

I say if you're gonna spend your money, spend it smart. The LF-A is a one time production only car that only 170 lucky U.S. buyers will be able to get their hands on, since they're only makin 500 of 'em throughout the world.

bruceleroy81,
If you only look at a car as a black box to take you from 0-60 in "x" time or circle a track faster than another car, then yes $375K seems stupid. Heck, $1M for a McLaren F1 seems stupid. But cars are not black boxes. There is much more to a car than performance numbers.

"There is much more to a car than performance numbers."

Honestly I'll agree with ya on that. I just find it baffling that some LF-A fanboys think that they'd get more sports car capability than the GT-R because of its price tag.

LF-A is a special car, no denying that. This is the best car Toyota has ever made since the Supra. Better styling, better sound, more exotic materials, that's just about it. But the GT-R not only performs better, it's also a 40 year Nissan Skyline Legend. Let's not forget that. Skyline GT-R still remains, 'till this day, as the Legendary Street Racing Icon (which is looked at a lot more than just a "black box"). And we finally have one here in America.

But in the end, these are 2 of Japan's best supercars that are getting the world's attention, Especially all of America. And I'll admit that it's not only nice to see that Japan has come out with supercars, but that the GT-R now has a Japanese Rival (which some of you folks have to admit makes this clash much more interesting).

This isn't about price of the car.

There are Swiss made watches that cost over a million dollars and all they do is tell time, but they are rare and beautiful to own.

If I was a multi-millionaire I would want the Lexus.

Anyone in the market for an AMG E-Class could buy the Nissan and around here in Newport Beach they are everywhere.

MANN you guys are getting your panties in a bunch about that race??? Give me a break, that exhaust note from the lfa WON that for me. Are you gtr hard ons kidding, who cares what won, it's all about at the end of the day what you pull up in. For example all these bias the lfa is too expensive crap, even if it cost 50000, half of you STILL couldn't afford it. And even if you could afford it at 400000, Lexus wouldn't have chosen you to own it so have more respect for this masterpiece.

So let me get this straight: $400K but no AWD, no dual clutch transmission, no launch control, no FI. In other words, the LFA is classic Toyota de-contenting epic fail.

If this is any indication, FT-86 fans, watch out.

The GT-R NOW, after getting sent back to the drawing board by the LFA last year, is the faster car
It needed a much bigger turbo to get the job done, and now it is faster

And guess what?
And it doesn't make a whit of difference.....
BD

If you really want the best bang for the buck, you should look into Sportbikes.

2012 Nissan GTR (motor trend)
$90,950
0-60: 2.9
0-100: 7.4
1/4 mile: 11.2 sec @ 122.7 mph

2010 Yamaha R1 (MC)......LFA's engine co-developers :)
$13,290
0-6:?
1/4 mile:10.02 sec. @ 144.23 mph

BD... Your Joking right? The 2009-2011 GTR did 0-60 3.5 and 1/4 11.6@120 down 70+ h.p and 300lbs more weight Beating the LFA BEFORE the updates. You just can't wrap your tiny brain around the fact that the LFA is a joke when it comes to performance for the price. If it was 200k it would be a great deal but not at 400k I don't care how "Exclusive" it is when your "Supercar" get eaten alive by a EVERYTHING in it's class.

Toyotapower... I love when people start talking about street bikes vs a car it's just desperate and has no baring on how a more expensive, powerfull and lighter LFA got Dusted by car costing 1/4 the price.

The LF-A is a very nice car but Toyotas gestation was just too long. It's a whole generation of cars out of synch. If it would have been introduced circa 2006 and been running against an F430 it would have looked pretty good. The problem is we're in the 458 timeframe and the LF-A looks like an also ran. The fact car publications are running it against a $92k Nissan shows the LFA to be dated.

10 years in development and the Lexus still gets whacked by the pig that is the GT-R. The Porsche GT3 RS would kill it, not to mention others like corvettes

10 years in development and the Lexus still gets whacked by the pig that is the GT-R. The Porsche GT3 RS would kill it, not to mention others like corvettes

The GT-R is a Super Car. The LFA is a Supercar. Those who understand the difference understand why this race was just a fun little show to get the little boys' and midlife crisis dads' rocks off.

Is anyone who is making the argument that the GT-R is the better car because it did a faster 0-60 over 30? 25? 21? 15?

Price is a measure of what is charged. Cost is a measure of what you gave up. Value is what something is worth to you. The value of a supercar like the LFA in comparison to a super car like the GT-R cannot be quantified simply by objective metrics anymore than a Picasso can be compared to a Rockwell. The GT-R will bag you that hot biker chick. The LFA will bag you that impossible to get supermodel.

Cars are art? And an afrodisiac? I was completely looking at them the wrong way.

Yes and no. Comparing a Picasso to a Rockwell, misses the point (and that's the point I was making). Most of us will never afford to own one, let alone both. When you think in those terms, there becomes a need to justify one over the other. It's the same with cars -- and objective metrics like trap speed, 0-60 times, etc. are the easy way to draw those conclusion. However, those who can afford the LFA, if they're that worried about which car has its way on the drag strip, will probably have one of a number of other cars that they can use to smoke people at stoplights. The LFA was just NOT designed to be that car. But everyone who drives the thing seems to think it justifies the price. Keep on, keep on, armchair generals.

I never doubted that the GTR can crush the LFA. LFA is just an over priced sports car with no street cred!

rayzor, you are right that "street cred" is not included in the $375,000 price tag...

The Honda/Nissan dealerships are down the road that way.

Louiswei, I am there...hahaha!!

The GT-R kills the overpriced and redundant GT2RS. How come no ones bragging about that?

I am in total disbeleif that an 80k GTR beat a 375k LFA. Not that I can afford either one of them, but for 375k I just would expect more, especially when you can get a Ferrari or a Lambo cheaper. Other than its exotic car looks and formula one engine sound, there really is little that makes the LFA stand out. Once you have savored the flavor, you still have a Lexus and not the prancing horse or bull. Not that there is anything wrong with a Lexus, but they have at this point have far less credibility in the market of exotic performance cars. Don't get me wrong, the LFA is a great performance car, but it would be a better one at about 60% off the price.

^^^That's the whole problem with the LF-A. It should be competing against the 911 Turbo not the 599. It's high price tag has a lot to do with low production though. They should have tried to make it a volume car (ie 997 Turbo production numbers). If Nissan would have only produced 500 GTRs they would have been really expensive too.

@FirstWagon:

Response of the day!

"I'd say it's more like finally getting into that exclusive high end restaurant and discovering your local pub does a better steak.... less frills and presentation perhaps but the results speak for themselves." AMEN!

GO, FIRSTWAGON!

We wish InsideLine allowed us to "like" comments so we can praise the response from bonzjr.

The truth about the LF-A is no secret. I've said this before and I'll say it again with something else.

Lexus made this car specifically for the same reason why Lamborghini made the $1.5 million 640HP Reventon and why Aston martin made the 177. Not even the fastest car in the world, limit the production, jack the price up, go after the rich, make their money, and end up being financially ahead.

THIS ISN'T AN ACCUSATION. IT'S THE TRUTH? Even the Skyline GT-R creator Kazutoshi Mizuno knows it.

During an interview, he specifically stated that he did NOT want his GT-R to be some limited production car for a financial bailout. He knows about things like that goin on. He did not want his creation to be sold that way. He also stated along with that, he wants the GT-R to be a car that he want's to share with everybody all over the world who's able to afford such a supercar. The LF-A is not that car.

By selling a few thousand GT-Rs all over the world, Nissan made more money selling that car than Lexus will their 500 production LF-As. If you do the math, it says so.

Plus the LF-A is a ONE TIME limited production car, which means it's not improvable. The GT-R is... because Nissan will keep making it and Lexus wont with their LF-A.

After every Generation of Skyline GT-R, it's gotten better and better and better. Toyota should of stuck with that with the Supra. Which is all the more reason why the GT-R makes much more sense to own over the LF-A. And that's besides the fact that the GT-R is faster.