1996 Lexus Ls400 Base Sedan 4-door 4.0l on 2040-cars

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Lexus fans vote Solar Flare for new RC F hue

What's in a name? When it comes to model nameplates, quite a lot, and automakers go to considerable lengths to find just the right one. Same goes for the names of the colors in the catalog (save for maybe the Rape Yellow in the extensive Bugatti palette), but every once in a while, an automaker will open it up for suggestions from the public.
SRT did that when it introduced a new shade of blue for its Viper, as did Chevy for the pale green on the Volt. And last month, Lexus followed a similar path when it asked fans on Facebook to come up with a name for the new shade of orange for the RC F.
Fans suggested names like Tangerine Flame, Outrageous Orange and Fiery Orange, but ultimately the winning submission that Lexus selected was Solar Flare. The name was suggested by five individuals and will now enter the catalog of colors for the new luxury muscle coupe with its 450-horsepower 5.0-liter V8.

Satisfaction with dealer service rises, Lexus and GMC are tops

During the economic downturn, many car dealerships counteracted their slowing income by focusing on things that would set them apart from competition - things like the quality of customer service they provide. When the economy picked up and more sales and service followed, many also first invested those funds back into the business, improving their dealership facilities and service centers.
It looks like those investments are paying off, as J.D. Power and Associates' latest Customer Service Index Study shows that overall consumer satisfaction with dealer service has increased to 797 (on a 1,000-point scale), up from 787 in 2012 and 29 points higher than the score in 2011. The study also finds that people are more satisfied with the service they get at dealerships compared to independent service providers, despite the much higher average out-of-pocket cost per visit ($118 vs. $44).
Note, however, that this study only looks at how people are treated by a dealer's service department during the first three years of ownership (the survey is based on responses from 91,000 owners and lessees of 2008 to 2012 model year vehicles), so we're talking about the experience had when bringing a car in for repair or maintenance work, most likely under warranty. In fact, maintenance work is increasing in share and accounted for 77 percent of service visits (up from 72 percent in 2012 and 63 percent in 2011). This helps explain why customer satisfaction has also risen, since a properly maintained car is one that's less likely to require a dealer visit for an unexpected repair.

Is now the time to snap up a Lexus LFA?

If you missed out on getting a Lexus LFA when it was new, the time might be near to start looking for a less expensive used one. Listings indicate that the cost for the Japanese supercar is finally starting to drop below the original $375,000 sale price. Lexus built just 500 units of the LFA between 2010 and 2012, and around 200 of them came to the US. The supercar's major highlight was the 4.8-liter V10 with 552 horsepower and a 9,000-rpm redline. It's among the best sounding engines to ever hit the street. Since production stopped, LFA prices have generally remained higher than the original $375,000, but as CarBuzz recently found that trend has shown signs of changing. The site discovered a black 2012 example on Craigslist with 2,797 miles for sale in the San Francisco for $369,000. It's quite a beauty, too. Further research shows you can find an LFA even cheaper. AutoTrader currently lists eight of the supercars for sale, including the one in San Francisco. However, another black 2012 example in Florida is just $349,000 with 2,005 miles on it. If you wait around for the right auction, there are even better deals out there. Sportscar Market reported that a White Pearl 2012 LFA went for $335,000 at a Russo and Steele auction in California in June 2015. The buyer got quite a deal because the Japanese supercar had a mere 140 miles on it. Buying a vehicle for over $300,000 is still well out of the reach for most customers, but these listings hint that LFA prices are beginning to fall. The Lexus will never be at the neighborhood used car lot, but if this trend continues, it could make for some interesting shopping. For instance, if the Japanese supercar drops into the $250,000-range, would people consider spending a little more to buy one instead of a well-optioned new Acura NSX? The Lexus' engine certainly sounds better, and the company has no plans for another supercar of that caliber. Related Video: