RE: Lexus RC F: Review

[Dave Hedgehog]

I really thought this could be a contender for my next daily but the weight, dynamics, poor brakes and an interior that looks like it came out of the 90s really put me off

but then it looks brilliant and the noise, oh my the noise, something the M4 is so poor on, but then the M4 is brilliant everywhere else

[Dagnut]

Toyota probably see this as more of a Maserati gt rival....but I think they have really dropped the ball with this, strip this car back , manual gearbox, no frills, Toyota badge, pitch it in at 40k and they could have another gt86 hit

[Dave Hedgehog]

Dagnut said:

Toyota probably see this as more of a Maserati gt rival....but I think they have really dropped the ball with this, strip this car back , manual gearbox, no frills, Toyota badge, pitch it in at 40k and they could have another gt86 hit

somebody bought a GT86?

[Dagnut]

Dave Hedgehog said:

somebody bought a GT86?

Did ok in the us which is lexususeseseses? home turf

[Dave Hedgehog]

Dagnut said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

somebody bought a GT86?

Did ok in the us which is lexususeseseses? home turf

ahh, cause over here everyone just bought M135i's for the same money, and probably now golf Rs for an even lower monthly than the GT

[Dagnut]

Dave Hedgehog said:

somebody bought a GT86?

Did ok in the us which is lexususeseseses? home turf

[Dave Hedgehog]

Dagnut said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

somebody bought a GT86?

Did ok in the us which is lexususeseseses? home turf

theres an echo

and who cares what it does in merica, this is a UK site and it tanked here

[mikEsprit]

It's derivative of it, but I do like the Lexus' grille better than Audi's.

Pretty car. I can see how its design will be too busy for many, though.

The red seats look hideous.

[MadDog1962]

Dave Hedgehog said:

Dagnut said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

somebody bought a GT86?

Did ok in the us which is lexususeseseses? home turf

theres an echo

and who cares what it does in merica, this is a UK site and it tanked here

The GT86 doesn't compare with a Golf GTI or R. It's a totally different experience. I love them both, but in America my Tiguan 2.0 TSI goes nearly as fast as a GTI and is a better choice for city driving or as a daily driver here. For a weekend blasting around wonderful Hill Country roads west of San Antonio my GT86 totally rocks. The Lexus RC will appeal to the same people as Mustang GT but want and can afford something better made. In the UK where most people can't afford a £28,000 second car as a weekend toy a Golf GTI is still a solid choice. But I know which I think would be more fun on my favourite British roads, and it would not be the Golf.

[PunterCam]

"this is a £60,000 hot coupe which could easily be handed some manners by an M235i. And I'm not sure that's the way things should be"

I agree. BMW has got its priorities all wrong and now creates fast, boring cars. Of course a turbo has got more low down torque - no st. But on the road? All you get is traction control warnings. The only reason you can keep up with a n/a car on anything even slightly greasy is because of the electronics.

It all comes down to one simple question in my eyes - a question I thought we'd all answered in the diesel vs petrol debate 10 years ago - which do we prefer? Every day of the week, hands down, in a performance car I want a naturally aspirated engine. The whole point of the m3(4) was to be a halo car wasn't it? You got a 3 series, with the best engine BMW could make in it. I see the new m4, and I see a 3 series with a map. I don't care about the chassis. I don't care about the diff. I don't care about whatever technology it has in it to make it faster. It'll sound like a 3 series. fk that.

No drama, no bespoke, no exotic. So well done Lexus, even if it's not very good.

[3ananaPie]

Wonder how the depreciation will be on these considering there are only about 200/year.

Dave Hedgehog said:

I really thought this could be a contender for my next daily but the weight, dynamics, poor brakes and an interior that looks like it came out of the 90s really put me off

And this comming from an RS4 owner? Granted it isn't a coupe but similar money. But the Audi doesn't exactly feel like a £60'000 car inside. Modern 3 series interior feels very flimsy however.

[Studio117]

The Isf was brought into the uk in very limited numbers only 250 from 08 till 13. I've only ever seen one on the road in that time. It took Lexus quite a long time in its dev cycle to match the v8 m3's laptimes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBjbos7ISf

Shame the rc-f has already been poo pooed from the start 'cause it's not german.

[xRIEx]

405dogvan said:

Almost 400kgs more weight than the class-leader - FOUR HUNDRED - I'd want Solid-Gold Gearknobs and a crystal chandelier in there somewhere to explain that!!

400kgs is over 10 tanks of fuel - it's 4 average passengers - it's 75% of a 'dry' BAC Mono - it's a LOT of weight...

Either your maths is seriously poor, or I'm wrongly assuming you're referring to the M4 as class leader, when in fact you're referring to another car.

[jason61c]

Dave Hedgehog said:

I really thought this could be a contender for my next daily but the weight, dynamics, poor brakes and an interior that looks like it came out of the 90s really put me off

but then it looks brilliant and the noise, oh my the noise, something the M4 is so poor on, but then the M4 is brilliant everywhere else

poor brakes? Or brakes that get hot on a track test? How many track days a year would you do? you read the bit about the steering being better on the road?

[Wills2]

xRIEx said:

405dogvan said:

Almost 400kgs more weight than the class-leader - FOUR HUNDRED - I'd want Solid-Gold Gearknobs and a crystal chandelier in there somewhere to explain that!!

400kgs is over 10 tanks of fuel - it's 4 average passengers - it's 75% of a 'dry' BAC Mono - it's a LOT of weight...

Either your maths is seriously poor, or I'm wrongly assuming you're referring to the M4 as class leader, when in fact you're referring to another car.

Its more like 228kg heavier the DCT M4 weighs 1612kg.

[Cable]

3ananaPie said:

Wonder how the depreciation will be on these considering there are only about 200/year.

If anything like the ISF they'll hold up pretty well. Early ones (2008) bottomed out about 20k (+/- 1K), which is almost in line with a C63. In my year of looking for one I even seen the prices go up a smidgen.

I've had my ISF for 6 months now, and I can't see myself changing cars for a fair few years, I absolutely love it... the engine is fantastic, the brakes very good, and all the extras as standard. The E92 M3 my have it (just) dynamically, but on the road it wouldn't make a jot of difference.

As for the RC-F, I wasn't initially convinced by the front end, but it's starting to grow on me, and with a large UK number plate filling a lot of the grille I think it would look a lot better. It is a shame that it's put on an extra 100+kg over the ISF, but I know it'll sound great, which is one of the most important factors for me buying a car, something the new BMW would appear to be lacking. And what's wrong with having to work an engine a little bit? It's half the fun IMO.

[mr2j]

I'm sure this thing will be popular in the US, if not here in tiny turbo-diesel badge-buyer land. Lexus has a stronger brand image over there, and there is still a market for big V8s.

[vz-r_dave]

Dave Hedgehog said:

I really thought this could be a contender for my next daily but the weight, dynamics, poor brakes and an interior that looks like it came out of the 90s really put me off

but then it looks brilliant and the noise, oh my the noise, something the M4 is so poor on, but then the M4 is brilliant everywhere else

Have you driven one? Sounds very much like you have.

[marcom44]

I have driven this and it is a really good car, the sound it makes above 3700 rpm is spine tingling. The front is ugly but looks better in real life. Lexus's are fairly bland so at least they have tried ( and failed) to be a bit different. In isolation a lovely motor and will be reliable to boot.