Lexus LC v Alfa GT
Discussion
So added these two to my small collection this year. The LC replaced a 2008 XKR 4.2 and the Alfa an E39 3.3 B10 saloon. The Jag running costs were getting completely out of hand £630 road tax, 22 mpg average - now on E5, and he had suffered a serious of nagging problems this year. The Alfa was a basket case I should never had touched but I fell in love with that Busso engine and have ended up pretty much restoring the whole thing. I let my head rule my heart for a change with the LC and went for the hybrid. It's not much slower but effectively does about 30% more to the gallon (Have seen 52mpg around town) and is £300 a year cheaper to tax. I bought it as a GT car so the trade off of better noise and a little extra top end performance seemed worth it.
Every aspect of the 2 cars couldn't be more different, the Lexus is quite simply the best made car I've ever sat in and while not as comfy as the XKR it really is a fantastic place to be. The interior is stunning, proper alloy switches and handles, superb quality alcantara , Levinson 13 speaker stereo sounds superb. It also handles extremely well, something that took me a little by surprise if I'm honest. The GT pack adds loads of desirable kit - carbon roof and details, LSD, 21" rims, retractable spoiler.
The Alfa now its fully sorted is great fun, basically a 156GTA Coupe they are actually a really underrated car. They need the Q2 diff upgrade to give their best and put the 250 bhp down and a good suspension upgrade (KW Coilovers in this case) is another sensible mod. So equipped they will outhandle many a newer hot hatch. They stop well too with the 330mm Brembos up front. And while they might not be as fast as a remapped turbo hot hatch, judged in isolation 180bhp/ton is plenty enough to have fun with the wonderful noise of the Busso V6 ringing in your ears.
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Every aspect of the 2 cars couldn't be more different, the Lexus is quite simply the best made car I've ever sat in and while not as comfy as the XKR it really is a fantastic place to be. The interior is stunning, proper alloy switches and handles, superb quality alcantara , Levinson 13 speaker stereo sounds superb. It also handles extremely well, something that took me a little by surprise if I'm honest. The GT pack adds loads of desirable kit - carbon roof and details, LSD, 21" rims, retractable spoiler.
The Alfa now its fully sorted is great fun, basically a 156GTA Coupe they are actually a really underrated car. They need the Q2 diff upgrade to give their best and put the 250 bhp down and a good suspension upgrade (KW Coilovers in this case) is another sensible mod. So equipped they will outhandle many a newer hot hatch. They stop well too with the 330mm Brembos up front. And while they might not be as fast as a remapped turbo hot hatch, judged in isolation 180bhp/ton is plenty enough to have fun with the wonderful noise of the Busso V6 ringing in your ears.
[url]|https://thumbsnap.com/rvRKH1Nk[/url][url]|https://thumbsnap.com/wRvJ36cG[/url][url]|https://thumbsnap.com/HFKAo9T2[/url][url]|https://thumbsnap.com/3ycbtkBe[/url][url]|https://thumbsnap.com/uE1JzPzA[/url][url]|https://thumbsnap.com/z7oB1D1E[/url][url]|https://thumbsnap.com/MPZZwWXp[/url][url]|https://thumbsnap.com/4XHeZiig[/url][url]|https://thumbsnap.com/y4eY5DTy[/url]Edited by Notanotherturbo on Wednesday 1st December 10:00
Edited by Notanotherturbo on Wednesday 1st December 10:02
joropug said:
Jesus Christ the Lexus is stunning - Great choice. I have only ever seen a couple on the road, a huge plus to ownership and presumably fairly bomb proof to boot.
It certainly feels bomb proof, the good news is if you have it dealer serviced they will warranty it for 10 years or 100k.
Alfa Pete said:
These are both stunning cars. I must admit I was drawn here to see the Alfa but your LC is stunning.
I think I’d rate it as one of the best looking new cars currently available.
Have only seen a handful on the road.
I've loved the LC since it came out, I genuinely think its the best looking new car of the last 5 years, all the supercars are so shouty now whereas the Lexus strikes the right blend of prettiness and aggression IMO. They have only sold 450 in the UK and currently there is no UK stock. Don't ever buy a cheap Alfa I think I’d rate it as one of the best looking new cars currently available.
Have only seen a handful on the road.
Edited by Alfa Pete on Wednesday 1st December 10:47
.Notanotherturbo said:
I've loved the LC since it came out, I genuinely think its the best looking new car of the last 5 years, all the supercars are so shouty now whereas the Lexus strikes the right blend of prettiness and aggression IMO. They have only sold 450 in the UK and currently there is no UK stock.
I'm the same - I really like the LC. Looking forward to hearing more about it. 
seriously though great cars That’s a lovely pair of cars.
I’ve never really paid much attention to the LC, probably because you never see them on the roads or really featuring in reviews etc. They’re very cool thought I saw one at C&M a while back and it certainly made me look.
Love the Alfa too. The GT was a cracking looking little thing,
I’ve never really paid much attention to the LC, probably because you never see them on the roads or really featuring in reviews etc. They’re very cool thought I saw one at C&M a while back and it certainly made me look.
Love the Alfa too. The GT was a cracking looking little thing,
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