Lexus RC F Carbon | Spotted
9,000 miles and more than £30k off - because not everyone wants an M4, you know...
Lexus is nothing if not a brand full of contradictions. On the one hand here's a manufacturer that created the near-flawless LS400, the smart original IS200 and the sublime LFA; on the other is a firm happy to continue with the CT200h. But also makes the LC, surely one of the best bits of car design seen in the past few years. Its performance models retain a 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated V8, yet hybrid and electric models are what Lexus is known best for. The range is, at times, a bit baffling.
Nothing encapsulated the Lexus way better than the RC F Carbon. Already the standard RC F was a confusing car, because in some regards it felt quite sporting and in others it felt like any other large Lexus. The Carbon certainly ensured there was no doubt about the intentions anymore: a carbon boot, roof and bonnet delivered the road-racer message loud and clear. Paired with orange paint as on this car, the Carbon treatment turned the RC F from bold to just about unmissable.
But the Carbon only saved 15kg - this was still a 1,765kg coupe, so it wasn't what you'd call transformative. Certainly most cars with carbon bonnets are a little more... hardcore. However, despite that and the quality of the opposition, we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that the RC F was, in any form, a decent car to drive. Even if it wasn't class leading, the Lexus boasted Brembo brakes, Sachs dampers, a torque vectoring differential and more than enough ability: when PH tested RC F and M4 five years ago, the Lexus was less than a second slower around a Bedford Autodrome lap. Even though the BMW won out overall, it was said that "there's a little bit of magic to the RC F that never lets you forget its potential." Something that was notable for its absence in the M4.
Point being that the Lexus is most likely a far better sports coupe than it's often given credit for - nobody seems too bothered about a C63 being 1,800kg, after all. It was resolutely its own thing, too, which is a bold and laudable approach in such a competitive market. Perhaps most importantly, the RC F deserves some attention because a Carbon like this - with just 9,000 miles recorded - is for sale at £35,490. These were £70k cars new, carrying an £8,000 premium over the standard F.
Compare it to the obvious rivals and the RC's case looks stronger still; an M4 Competition from the same year at the same price has another 15,000 miles on it, while an equivalent C63 has more than 30,000 miles - that's not the 510hp S, either. No one is saying that the Lexus doesn't have its flaws, but you can't ignore the value that's on offer either. That's less than an NX costs brand new. It says here.
You would have to hope that rarity helps stem the flow of depreciation somewhat, because it does stand to cloud the ownership experience a tad. On the plus side, it surely can't lose this much again, and running a 5.0-litre V8 Lexus should be about as painless as any similarly configured vehicle could be. A Solar Orange RC F Carbon is never going to be to all tastes, but that's exactly the point - it isn't trying to please all buyers and it is a bit different, which it's hard not to admire the big Lex for. Especially at half price...
SPECIFICATION | LEXUS RC F CARBON
Engine: 4,969cc V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 477@7,100rpm
Torque (lb ft): 391@4,800-5,600rpm
MPG: 26.2 (claimed)
CO2: 252g/km
Year registered: 2016
Recorded mileage: 9,000
Price new: £68,995 (standard RC F Carbon)
Yours for: £35,490
Was the IS200 any good? I remember Dad test driving one, and him complaining that it had the fuel economy of the Impreza we were trading, without the handling of the BMW he ended up buying. Appreciate that's a sample size of one though. Remember them feeling awfully cheap inside for the price.
Coming for a V12 twin turbo AMG to the RCF was an easy transformation and the running costs are as 'cheap as chips' just re-newed the full and very good Lexus Warranty that covers everything in a way you would not believe for under £500 a year, servicing is very cheap indeed.
Most owners on the forum tend to run them using the paddle shift because being N/A you have to rev them but the engine loves to rev.
Just a note the photo's do not do the colour justice, properly detailed in sunlight the colours really looks good.
As a bit of a knuckle dragger I would be drawn to a V8 Mustang with a manual box if I were after a coupe at that money. However I can see the appeal of this. I’d have a IS-F if you could get a rear facing ISOFIX seat in it without chopping the legs off the front passenger, they seem to have a lot less potential issues than a E92 M3 or C63 and are a bit of a sleeper.
The Engine is Great, gearbox ( in auto mode) and infotainment leave ( much) room for improvement - I however usually forget this once I floor it when the valvetronic kicks in it sounds poor race... better than my old c63 and this is the benchmark. Handling is so so on the norm rcf
The car in the as is cold normal Rev limit is 7250 it adjusts as it warms up
Against: its colour spec is either gloriously exuberant or the choice of an attention-seeking trustfund-supported son of a Yakuza-contracted pimp.
I think I’d prefer the all-black choice of a Yakuza-contracted ninja.
I do know they were excellent, and the 300 moreso, but the MPG on the 300 was fairly terrifying.
I remember a salesman mid test-drive saying to me 'You hear that?', I asked what and he said 'It's the Lexus husssshhhh'. Cheesy but highlighted how quiet and smooth it all was.
Not too sure about the carbon bonnet and bright orange paint on this particular example, they look better in blue, but fantastic cars overall.
Must have been something wrong with mine.
BIRMA? What Mpg average are you getting?
Must have been something wrong with mine.
BIRMA? What Mpg average are you getting?
16mpg mostly around town, with the odd squirt of power when out on the open road.
22mpg was the best I saw when trying on a couple of longer runs.
Mine did feel painfully unresponsive at low revs, so I'm now thinking, along with the low Mpg, there could have been something wrong.
16mpg mostly around town, with the odd squirt of power when out on the open road.
22mpg was the best I saw when trying on a couple of longer runs.
Mine did feel painfully unresponsive at low revs, so I'm now thinking, along with the low Mpg, there could have been something wrong.
I did read somewhere that a software update was needed on the cars and wonder if your dealer was perhaps not aware.
Having said that in standard auto-mode mine is in 5th just a couple of hundred metres down the road, if i use it in manual I'm not even out of second gear.
A note for anyone thinking of trying an RCF, wait until it's warmed up fully then stick it into Sports+ and use manual. Tell the salesman that someone who knows these cars a lot better than him told you it was okay to rev it to the limit. Caution, it does rev so easily/enthusiastically it will bounce off the rev limiter before you know it.
I did read somewhere that a software update was needed on the cars and wonder if your dealer was perhaps not aware.
Having said that in standard auto-mode mine is in 5th just a couple of hundred metres down the road, if i use it in manual I'm not even out of second gear.
I had the fuel pump recall done.
I'm now convinced there was something wrong with it. Mapping or even blocked cats..
Did the Quicksilver exhaust make any performance difference? Or MPG difference?
I had the fuel pump recall done.
I'm now convinced there was something wrong with it. Mapping or even blocked cats..
Did the Quicksilver exhaust make any performance difference? Or MPG difference?
If I were to do it again I'd be tempted by the much more expensive GT Haus or Armytrix exhausts as they have a solenoid switch to open them up and they do sound very good. At motorway speeds you can adjust your throttle to more or less silence the Quicksilver but touch the throttle and you hear it.
Having said that the optional Mark Levinson sound system is superb and can easily drown out the exhaust with no distortion.
I had the fuel pump recall done.
I'm now convinced there was something wrong with it. Mapping or even blocked cats..
Did the Quicksilver exhaust make any performance difference? Or MPG difference?
If I were to do it again I'd be tempted by the much more expensive GT Haus or Armytrix exhausts as they have a solenoid switch to open them up and they do sound very good. At motorway speeds you can adjust your throttle to more or less silence the Quicksilver but touch the throttle and you hear it.
Having said that the optional Mark Levinson sound system is superb and can easily drown out the exhaust with no distortion.
I might find myself buying another so I'll explore the exhaust options.
I currently have a deposit on a GR Yaris subject to road testing it later this year. It'll have to be exceptional for me to spend the 30k, otherwise it'll be RCF, Mustang, M2, or maybe a 370z Nismo at a lower budget.
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