2009 L.A. Auto Show Day 1 - 2011 Ford Fiesta, Lexus LF-A, Cadillac CTS Coupe - 12/03/2009

Hey Derek
You recently commented on the Mazda 2 & the new Ford Fiesta styling.
You may be interested, the new Mazda 2 came out about 18 months ago in NZ & was a fresh design, raising the design benchmark, previously raised by the Suzuki Swift, previously raised by the Hyundai Getz.
About 5-6 months ago, the European sourced new Ford Fiesta arrived in NZ.
My step father & I went down to test drive the Ford (in automatic version), he was interested in it as a economical, around town "retirement" car.
Well, certainly thought the Ford had again, raised the bar, but in auto version, was pretty mediocre to drive & driving dynamics were average at best. Got back to the dealership (Ford & Mazda combined) & jumped in the equivalent Mazda 2 Auto. This was considerably quicker on pick up (lighter), but more significantly, was actually fun to drive, even as an Auto. The Mazda lacked a few options, incl. no cruise control, but the decision was a no brainer & I've grown up with Ford. Oh well, at least Mazda's in the Ford stable.
Big NZ fan of FLD & love those T-shirts. Mark.

If they made the LFA with a V6 blown or turbocharged and sold it for A,000 they would sell a ton of them and make money. I'd buy one.

For those who are bashing the LF-A for being 350,000, they already said that they're loosing $ on every single one. AND, it looks awesome and sounds even better.

Derek and FLD, When U show Us the New cars, U Should Use   FLD Detours info Script of the cars  
Like the Price, MPG, year, Model, etc.

You are something ! D ! i hope you don't get kicked out from the show!!

anyhow~ LF-A is way too much money! i know it's hand built, V-10 is great but is it really better than hand-built cars like Zonda, Ferrari, Lambo??? LF-A should be priced around 200K or less.... i want to see HONDA's Respond to LF-A.

great episode ! and i love the random matt appearances.

Car show carpets are enormously expensive to install and are dumped after the show. I guess just another habit that bailout money subsidizes. 
Also would be nice if the FLD crew supplied their own lighting so we can more easily see Dickless DeAggravator as he annoys the press that thought it was safe on preview days from fools with white belts.

LFA is a monster. This episode is not on crack, as stated by the clown below me. Love the enthusiasm and of course, Santa in the house.

My head hurts....this episode was on crack...I love FLD but today it was a brain rape....Derek you're the man but tomorrow take a few deep breaths and keep it together-it must be the new car smell that's got you all hopped up I understand that but  i don't understand why anyone has any need to see a puke green fiesta from 8 angles in 3 seconds.

* Time may prove me right or wrong, but there is no way in Haiti do I see anyone, anywhere in the current economic climate forking over almost 1/2 a Million U$D for a Toyota, no matter HOW good it may be {and we actually have 3 Lexi in our family}[i can't believe it either]. ?Torque 350? 0-60=3.7? As Shania Twain would say; 'Dat Don't Impress Me Much! Too-too-tadoo!' I mean seriously, think about it, when did Toyota win an F1 championship? Would you really rather have a Toyota instead of a Ferrari??? Imagine the hangover the next day spending all that dough, and having virtually no resale market? Acura NSX Deja-Vu (but that was a nice car).

Well.....unlike Bugatti i guess Lexus is hell bent on making at least 85,000 profit on each LFA a.ka "Engineering Exercise" sold. Maybe i just have not seen enough of it but it seems there are quite a few other cars in that segment that have tried and true technologies in them that i do not have to be the crash test dummy for. There are to many cars that cn be bought that will have the same if not more wow effect and alot of those are some much cheaper you can buy a back 50,000 ride for when you wrap your 350,000 ride around a tree andour waiting for the insurance check.

0,000 FOR A “LFA” WHAT A RIP!! Much rather have a “SLS AMG” for less $$$$.
Lexus , Acura , Infiniti are brands that are always trying to make better cars than Mercedes-Benz or BMW but will never be as good.

about time Ford got wise and ditched the 'For 60+yr old Designs' in favor for the better looking performing Euro fords. Mustangs (true to retro concept car) front end shouldve been done upon its original release.  They gota stop watering down theyre concept to production renditions.   As for the super celica, the LFA needed to look way more exotic for its price tag.