"by far" means "to the most extreme degree"
a) That car is the most expensive car I have ever seen. I have never seen a car that is more expensive than that one.
b) That car is /by far/ the most expensive car I have ever seen. No other car that I have ever seen comes close to being as expensive as that one.
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"far" and "way" and "much" can mean "to a great degree" But this is not the same thing as "to the most extreme degree" (or: "by far").
So, the following three are identical in meaning:
That car is /way/ too expensive. I do not have enough money to buy it.
That car is /far/ too expensive. I do not have enough money to buy it.
That car is /much/ too expensive. I do not have enough money to buy it.
So, "way" can mean "far." But "way" does not mean "by far."
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Last, we have another expression "far and away," which is really just another way to express "by far," except with even more emphasis.
That car is /far and away/ the most expensive car that I have ever seen.