Or Porsches… my friend was the first person our local Porsche dealership called when they got an allocation for a 911 GT3. Of course he's purchased/traded-in (to the same dealer) 9 Porsches over the years to earn this "privilege". Bananas.

 

Rolex dealers are the same as of 2019ish...

 

An astute and honest observation.
Ferrari and Porsche do offer very special vehicles but they certainly make you jump through hoops to obtain them. To be fair their customers are more than willing to accept these conditions. My mother in law has been a very loyal Porsche owner since 1996. She can get her 911 custom configured the exact way she wants to however they itemize you to the moon.

No argument about the LC 500 ordering process could be improved (Without much effort it seems from the outside looking in). Admittedly limited interior color schemes compared with other upscale manufacturers. Yet it comes standard with features that are up charge options for other manufacturers. My mother-in-law has to pay to get power seating for the Carrera 911! You can easily spend 150-160K in no time at all. It isn’t difficult to spend well beyond that depending on what options you choose.

Ferrari takes this type of options pricing to another level. Both of these brands are well made cars but I believe that the LC 500 is more robustly constructed and solid. $100-110K (Coupe) gets one quite a marvelous overall finished product.

 

No arguments with any of that. As you say, it would however probably be possible for Lexus to allow real customisation, for those who are happy to pay for it, without a great deal of effort. Even just allowing customisation among existing options, or cosmetic options available in other markets. I strongly doubt it would affect production line efficiency in the slightest, would make the product seem more special, and would boost Lexus' profit margins. For example, WHY can't a Bespoke model have the rear steer module? I can't think of a single valid reason...

 

@Hythe
“. For example, WHY can't a Bespoke model have the rear steer module? I can't think of a single valid reason..”

This one in particular is a perfect example. I’d love to know the rationale for why this was decided. Another example, I think the Saddle/ Black interior of the 2020 Nori green Inspiration model was an excellent design. Why on earth would Lexus not make this an ongoing interior color option? They miss the boat with some of their corporate decisions. Again, why no Rioja red interior with the Infrared exterior in the USA yet it’s available in the Canadian market? I don’t get it.

 

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I too admire the nori green is interior and prefer it over the regular tan interior. I also love to have the new wind color on a coupe. I don’t understand why would they decide to make all these wonder options/colors exclusive to a few cars.

 

I so agree with the complaints about the Marketing/Production aspects to the custom purchase process which seems to defy logic and have posted so in the past. It is a Toyota mystery. However, despite attempts to dissect the rationale for this on all fronts (including the why's and why-not's), I find myself with a vehicle at the 108K range rather than the 160K++ range, that makes me jump-up-and-down and happy every time I see it and drive it. I've come to accept I'll never see behind that Toyota curtain and who/what philosophy drives the levers. Meaning: I've stopped trying to have it make sense, but just savor the result of the dish.

 

Thank you for this perspective. I hope I feel this way in the future. Assuming Lexus decides to build my LC...

 

Amen, brother.

 

Over here it isn't as easy as saying "here is $239,000 please Sir can I have a :LC500 " quite extraordinary to be fair

I was lucky, I have purchased 20 + vehicles from my awesome local Toyota dealership, four of them being GR or GR Sport models ( the closest Lexus dealership in my Island is 400 kms away)

Even then it was pretty hit & miss as to whether or not I would get my LC, the sales manager & CEO both had to state my case as to why Toyota NZ should sell me one....

A week or so later the top dog of Toyota NZ rang me & confirmed my order, quite an intense wait to be fair...

10 months & 8500 Kms on it of daily driving I still love & take pictures of it, the USB under lights is absolutely ridiculous...



The photo really doesn't do it justice, its dirty ....

 

@KiwiGreg
Perspective is meaningful. I wouldn’t have known that it was so difficult to purchase the LC 500 in New Zealand. I’m glad you prevailed. I imagine there are some very beautiful and scenic routes to enjoy driving your LC 500. 🇳🇿

 

Ugh....I hate you and your stupid photos!!!!









Every time you post you make me want to order a damn USB LC!!!!!!!!!

 

Carpe Diem just go do it!!! USB !!! What will your feelings be one day in the near future when production stops and you can't buy new in ANY color? Just saying.

 

My 2015 RCFsport was USB and constantly got positive comments on the color. Went IR on the IS350Fsport and didn't get as many comments on the color other than "is that Mazda red?". The 26 LC got ordered in USB. Full ppf upon arrival. USB for the win.

 

The real question is, did you like the USB better or the IR?
I can careless how many compliment I get on the color I chose as long as I like the color.