Utah man changes legendary 2012 Lexus LFA exhaust sound to 'improve it' and instantly gets humbled by brutal reactions
Published on Nov 14, 2026 at 12:53 AM (UTC-5)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Nov 14, 2026 at 12:53 AM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Mason Jones
A supercar owner thought he could make one of the world’s best-sounding cars sound even better, but his fellow car enthusiasts had other ideas.
Supercar Ron decided to experiment with the exhaust on his 2012 Lexus LFA, swapping the original setup for an aftermarket alternative.
The result was certainly louder, but it didn’t take long for the criticism to start rolling in.
Even his closest car friends weren’t prepared to hold back when they heard what he’d done.
The Lexus LFA is famous for its incredible V10 soundtrack
The Lexus LFA is already something of a legend among Japanese supercars, particularly because of the noise coming from its naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V10 engine.
Only 500 examples were produced, and the car became famous for its incredibly high-pitched exhaust note, which has often been compared to the sound of a Formula 1 car.
Lexus worked with Yamaha during development to create the engine’s distinctive soundtrack, with an extraordinary amount of time and engineering effort going into getting it just right.
Supercar Ron, who previously owned another LFA before selling it for a profit, admitted he missed the car and jumped at the opportunity to buy another one.
He also decided to give his latest example a few personal touches, including a set of polished BBS LM wheels that he considers his favorite wheel design.
But it was another modification that would prove far more controversial.
His aftermarket exhaust quickly became a controversial modification
Ron fitted an expensive aftermarket exhaust to his red 2012 LFA, hoping to give the already impressive supercar a little extra personality.
The modification was installed before the car was shipped from Pebble Beach to Utah, meaning he hadn’t spent much time driving it with its original exhaust.
When he eventually shared footage of the modified car driving through a tunnel during Monterey Car Week, the reaction was immediate.
Rather than celebrating the louder sound, viewers were quick to question why anyone would want to change something that was already so well engineered.
Ron even admitted in his YouTube video that it was probably the worst mistake he’d ever made with a car.
And the criticism wasn’t limited to strangers online.
His friends were particularly unimpressed, and one described the decision as ‘sacrilegious’, while another suggested they had effectively ruined the car.
One enthusiast explained that Lexus had put an extraordinary amount of work into acoustically tuning the LFA, even bringing in people with experience building musical instruments to help create its signature sound.
Another came up with a rather brutal comparison, saying the modification was like taking the Mona Lisa and adding eyebrows, lip filler and fake eyelashes.
The group agreed that the new exhaust had made the car louder, but certainly hadn’t made it better, and to make matters worse, Ron revealed that the aftermarket exhaust had also triggered a check engine warning.
Supercar Ron eventually admitted defeat and reversed the modification
After hearing the feedback from his friends and followers, Ron appeared to accept that he had taken things a step too far.
He explained that he had modified plenty of cars before and generally enjoyed experimenting, regardless of what other people thought.
But this time, the response was different.
In the video’s description, he acknowledged that Toyota had spent millions of dollars developing the LFA and that removing the carefully engineered original setup hadn’t been a good idea.
He also confirmed that he had since made amends with the car community and was reverting the supercar to its factory exhaust.
The experience is a reminder that sometimes even the most expensive aftermarket upgrades aren’t necessarily improvements.
And when it comes to the Lexus LFA, perhaps the best modification really is none at all.
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Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
