LC500 V8 Thunder Redux: What a Time to Be Alive

    A swift almost 10 years ago I recall a faint memory. One of thunderous V8s and Japanese luxury in the mountains of West Virginia. I wrote a small snippet on Facebook some time ago featuring what was at the time the pre-production LC500. In 2026 this beautiful machine is being discontinued and an era of that thunderous Japanese V8 glory is closed. An era sparked by the glorious LS400 in the US and the creation of Lexus altogether.

    In 2016 on a routine day picking up gear from my unit in Parkersburg, WV — shout out 119th Sapper Company, lol — I took a back road on the way back because this time, time was no concern. I lived in Lewisburg, WV at the time and decided to take the scenic route back, and boy was it worth it. I spotted something strange — a car covered poorly with a car cover meant to hide its shape, exterior features, and detract from being noticed. Little did I know it would turn out to be an early production LC500 being tested in my home state. Pure shock and awe from a then 20 year old me. I raced to get spy shots as if I was a paid car paparazzo. After all, this was rural WV, not exactly home of cool expensive cars. It was very hard to photograph due to a Toyota Highlander that kept blocking me. I did get a glimpse ever so slightly. I actually almost wrecked my Jetta attempting to get another picture.

    The car was poorly covered so I was moving around trying to see any little bit of real metal and paint I could. The one panel I could see looked to be a sunburnt orange or bright red-orange shade. Besides that the styling from the outside looked elegant. Every contour shaped like Michelangelo himself designed it. But the performance — that was the real spectacle. Granted I was in a 12 year old Jetta, a 2.slow with 100 some odd hp. It took the turns of Route 60 headed eastward from Gauley Bridge to Rainelle with the most ease, as if it were gliding over every turn. The exhaust sound I couldn't quite hear due to the cold air intake I had just fitted the week before, but when it did accelerate it was as though Thor and his mighty hammer had struck the throttle — creating one of the most beautiful engine and exhaust symphonies I have ever heard. It was an experience I am to this day grateful for.

    So why talk about this today? The LC500 being discontinued, no. One word — PASSION. I recently purchased an IS500, the present day ISF that never was. I know what you're thinking — "did this guy just tell me a story about how he became a Toyota/Lexus guy? BORING." Not exactly. I was actually searching for a G80 M3, the "Look Ma, I made it!" car. Long story short, had a horrid dealer experience on Christmas Eve. Drove an M3, ZL1, and IS500 on pure merit and experience and the IS500 was the clear winner — not even close. The ZL1 is an amazing car but too coffin-esque for my personal tastes. The M3 was fast but just not me. The big single panel display, and my wife wasn't astonished by the BMW luxury experience either. Then enter the Lexus IS500.

    The first one I drove was some limited spec with aftermarket mods — exhaust, Rowen plastic fender extensions, things like that. I personally didn't love the look of the mods but we drove the car and my word. I did not know they still made cars this good. In all fairness the E92 is my favorite M3 mechanically, and this felt like what that experience is somehow, just trimmed out in Toyota and Lexus engineering. It slowly hit me — what if cars were better before all the value adds and features? Maybe they detract from the experience. Not saying the IS500 is perfect. But maybe less really is more. Maybe I'm saying that because I am now a 2UR-GSE fanatic, or maybe because I'm contrarian and like something a bit different. Either way the swan song of the production NA V8 is formidable and worth your time — if you believe less is more, like a margarita pizza.

Simple yet good.

Sayonara,

-- Andee