2025 Lexus LC 500 Convertible Review: Encounter Your Legends

      Caleb Jacobs

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      Hello, I'm Caleb, and I have a deep interest in celebrities—not in a “paparazzi stalker” way, but in a “I might write a biography someday” kind of way. People, whether famous or not, fascinate me, though it's undoubtedly easier to discover details about those who lead public lives. However, I believe humans aren't inherently suited for celebrity status—we just aren't built for it. That's why I advise caution when reading the Wikipedia page of someone whose music, writing, or art you admire; that experience of “meeting your heroes” might shatter your perception when you find out they've committed a heinous act or express disdain for people akin to you.

      Thankfully, cars can't do any of those things. That's why I actively pursued one of my automotive idols—the Lexus LC 500—for years. Now that I've finally driven it, I can confidently say I have no regrets about this meeting.

      Many of us have a dream car we've admired from a distance; the LC 500 is that for me. Almost every auto journalist has experienced it before I did. In fact, my friend Chris Tsui mentioned in his recent convertible review, “If I remember correctly, this is my fifth time driving an LC 500 (and I plan to keep driving them every single time Lexus offers one)…” He even titled one of his articles, “Forget Owning a Home. Get One of These.”

      So, it’s understandable why I was thrilled when Lexus agreed to send me one. I had been trying since 2021 to get behind the wheel, and finally, it happened this spring.

      I won’t lie; I was a bit anxious about meeting the LC 500, similar to how I would feel before shaking hands with my favorite actor. It has all the fame and aesthetics of an Academy Award winner, which makes the moment seem surreal, but part of my apprehension also stemmed from my self-perception. This wasn’t my first “pinch me” experience in this job, yet given the significance I had mentally attached to the LC over the years, I felt the familiar weight of impostor syndrome.

      In my mind, I’m still just a kid from an obscure place. I grew up in the Missouri Ozarks and proudly continue to live here. I mention this because it's not Detroit, NYC, or LA—which, while I understand is perfectly acceptable, is notable since many of my favorite car writers grew up in such cities as teenage me dreamed of making this a full-time career. I often doubted my ability to earn a living driving and writing about cars, partly due to my location, partly due to my lack of a college education, and partly because it’s a dream unfulfilled for many who grew up reading MotorTrend and Road & Track just like I did. For various reasons, however, The Drive took a chance on 18-year-old Caleb, and here I am at 27.

      Even after nearly ten years of driving cars in amazing locations worldwide, it never loses its charm when one is delivered to your driveway. The Vibrant Flare Yellow LC 500 convertible looked quite out of place next to our mobile home, adorned with oak siding crafted by my grandfather, but it certainly catches attention wherever it goes. I was just excited to lower the top and give it a proper drive.

      And that's exactly what I did after settling into the blue-on-white interior, with all 6 feet 5 inches and 290 pounds of me. After allowing the 5.0-liter V8 some time to warm up, reaching the digital tachometer’s redline of 7,300 rpm, I pulled onto the two-lane highway a short distance from our double-wide. I wish I could say my approach was graceful, but having waited so long, I zeroed in on the nearest bluff and unleashed the power.

      If anyone claims the LC’s 471 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque are insufficient, they're not telling the truth. It delivers a powerful punch with the immediacy that only a naturally aspirated V8 can provide. And while it may not rival a high-end supercar, it doesn’t have to; this is perhaps the best-sounding sports car you'll find today. It rumbles, it yells, and it crackles when you pull the paddle shifter. It’s absolutely addictive.

      The sleek Lexus handles poorly paved roads remarkably well precisely because it doesn’t boast a million horsepower. You feel like you have just the right amount of power, never too much. It never feels frenetic, and a true grand tourer shouldn't anyway. It devours miles while rewarding you with smiles.

      I can’t recall a moment when the LC felt unstable surging out of a bumpy corner. I rarely entered a bend at maximum speed but often exited in such a manner, and the experience remained consistently