If You Have the Means, Do Yourself a Favor and Get a 2024 Lexus LC 500. Here's Why

I have never been a fan of buying cars just for the sake of keeping them in a climate-controlled building. If you can comfortably pay for an outrageously powerful vehicle that looks like it was designed to put its wheels on the red carpet with you at the helm, there's no point in leaving it alone in a random place. It should be as close to you as possible.

After all, if we're honest with ourselves for a little bit, nobody needs V8-, V10-, or V12-powered cars. These rides are statements on wheels. They complement your personality. They reveal a part of who you are as a person. It's a message you show to everyone else without even uttering a single word toward them.

Yes, the novelty will wear off as time passes. It won't be new again. It won't make you feel absurdly happy or like a star for eternity. But neither you (nor I) can embark on such a challenge for other people in our lives or even for ourselves. We eventually grow old. Our bodies and minds won't be the same forever. Life is there to be lived, and, at the risk of sounding morbid, death is the great equalizer.

However, some cars (even used) can become more than just temporary commuting appliances. They might not have the same spark for you any longer, but they can turn into great things to leave behind for our loved ones.

At the same time, they could also transform from liabilities into assets. It takes a bit of research and luck to buy the right cars that will appreciate in value as time goes by, but honestly, that's like researching the best ETF for your Roth IRA. It's boring. And for an industry that's as intricate as the automotive world, dotting every "i" and crossing each "t" when it comes to picking one of the few very special internal combustion engine-powered cars left is like deeply regretting every 10 mm socket that goes missing.

What's life without a little risk?

So, why not give the rear-wheel-drive Lexus LC 500 a chance? Let's refresh our memory first.

For model year 2024, the Japanese automaker gives us two non-hybrid options: the LC 500 Coupe and the LC 500 Convertible with a soft top. The former has an MSRP of $99,800, while the latter demands $7,500 extra to allow you to sunbathe while on the move. Both are powered by the same 5.0-liter V8 engine that puts out 471 hp and 398 lb-ft (540 Nm) of torque. The naturally aspirated powerplant is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, which should ensure a smooth and relaxing driving experience or immediate downshifts for those moments when the road opens up, and the right foot gets a bit heavy.

Just keep in mind that the convertible doesn't have rear-wheel steering, and the Torsen differential, which pushes power to the wheel with the most grip, is an option.

I went on Lexus' configurator and chose an LC 500 Convertible finished in Flare Yellow. It took me around five minutes to be done with the build, which ended up with an MSRP of $114,555. That's peanuts compared to what others, like Mercedes-Benz or Porsche, are asking for their V8-powered rides nowadays. Don't get me wrong; that's still a six-figure sum. However, it's my belief that you would be better off with a sexy convertible than a posh SUV or four-door wannabe supercar.

If you have a little bit more money available, the Inspiration Series iterations (which come equipped with a serialized badge) are also worth considering. They're a bit pricier, starting at $116,700 for the coupe and $121,900 for the open-top LC 500, but they add a little bit more spice to a machine that's already pretty great.

But if you really want to go over the top and tell Lexus to make you an LC 500 that nobody else has, then there's the Bespoke Build option that costs $5,500 and lets you pick exactly what you want. On top of that, the marque delivers your special Japanese-made ride with a certificate of authenticity and adds a plaque right in front of the gear shifter. You won't have to consult all sorts of databases or pay for goofy reports to prove your Lexus is custom-made.

The special bits and pieces

The 2024 LC 500s are now well-rounded. The minor esthetic changes really helped. For example, the taillights no longer have that cheap plastic cover. The cabin also features better tech and is less cluttered. It really does feel like a futuristic Japanese ride forced to accept our contemporary world, especially since you can add carbon fiber in places where very few people will look. Moreover, it has a particular foreign appeal. The perfect fit-and-finish doesn't hurt, either.

No matter what version of the luxury grand tourer you choose, the LC 500 won't ever make you feel like you're behind the steering wheel of a rushed product. That's especially true now because Lexus added compression rebound control with faster shocks, which enables the suspension to react exactly as the driver wants it to.

But all those minor upgrades and changes pale in comparison with what that engine and gearbox can do when you put the pedal to the metal. It doesn't come close to the almighty LFA, but it will sing. At times, it might even shout. But you'll have to push it. The LC 500 might look like a comfy, stylish cruiser. But deep down, it's a wolf in sheep's clothing.

The absence of a turbocharger is what allows you to connect with the machine. You will learn everything about it and control it like a domesticated stallion. You will learn to trust it, and the vehicle will give you everything it can.

I won't say that buying an LC 500 or LC 500 Convertible today will be just like buying a Ferrari 458 or 458 Spider in 2014 or 2015. Nobody can claim that the Lexus will enjoy the same fan base or notoriety as the last prancing horse badge-wearing Maranello-made machine. But what I will say is that the LC 500 is one of the most important Japanese cars manufactured in the last 25 years. It's an emotional vehicle, a luxurious smile generator. Add its striking appearance into the mix, and what you get is a future classic. Time will tell how valuable it will be.

In the end, if you asked me to choose between the LC 500 and the Lotus Emira, the Ford Mustang Dark Horse, the Porsche 911 Turbo S (or 718 GTS 4.0), and the Chevrolet Corvette, I would, without a shadow of a doubt, pick the Lexus and enjoy it until the wheels would fall off. Considering that, at its core, it is a reliable Japanese car, that would probably never happen.

And, no, I wouldn't sell it. That'll be up to my kid.