Here's what to do with $100K and a need for speed

This review first appeared in the September 2023 edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

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Sacramento, California -- It turns heads just parked at the grocery store. It appears to have a lot of Corvette DNA in it. But it's pricier than a basic 'Vette ... six figures to get into the game, my friend.

It's the 2023 Lexus LC 500 coupe. And in circles where $100,000 is just the ante for one hand of poker, it's worth every penny.

My tester was wearing striking "Cadmium Orange" paint, which only enhanced the wow factor of the car's super sporty-sleek appearance.

It looks racetrack ready at the curb. Lexus says its LC 500 "represents the most passionate expression of the Lexus brand," and it's no brag.

Stepping into the cockpit and firing up the 5-liter V-8 rated at 471 horsepower produced a feel-it-from-head-to-toe rumble.  The neighbors positioned three lots away told me they could hear and feel it as well.  No one complained.

On the open road, the LC 500 makes you master of everything.  No traffic opening is too tight. You can dart out of harm's way with one quick blip on the accelerator. You can actually see that surrounding motorists don't want to challenge the car on any level, adding a certain serene security to an outing.

Fuel cost for the typical LC 500 buyer is likely not a concern. On the tested model, the numbers came in at 16 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

Even with its $106,885 sticker price seared into my brain, I was stunned at the numerous comfort, convenience and safety features included as standard.

The options list, which added about $12,000 more to the bottom line, took things even higher.  That included a head-up display (a particularly welcome feature on a high-performance vehicle), a 13-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system, an intuitive parking system and carbon fiber roof and door scuff plates.

For those who need an extra rush on the move, the option list also included a speed-activated rear wing -- just what you need in a vehicle that makes the zero-to-60-mph run in just 4.4 seconds.

So, there you have it ... a genuine road warrior with Lexus-level luxuries and perfect fit and finish.

Kind of makes that $106K sticker look like a bargain.