Lexus RC F TVD - any issues?
Discussion
Am actively hunting for an RC F. I've seen a single reference (in the PH buying guide I think) to potential TVD issues, and an eye watering repair cost.
I appreciate their reputation for exceptional build quality, and the ten year warranty, but I'm looking at 15 and 16 plate cars that are approaching the end of this period.
Should I shy away from TVD equipped cars, or is it false jeopardy?
I appreciate their reputation for exceptional build quality, and the ten year warranty, but I'm looking at 15 and 16 plate cars that are approaching the end of this period.
Should I shy away from TVD equipped cars, or is it false jeopardy?
h8tax said:
Am actively hunting for an RC F. I've seen a single reference (in the PH buying guide I think) to potential TVD issues, and an eye watering repair cost.
I appreciate their reputation for exceptional build quality, and the ten year warranty, but I'm looking at 15 and 16 plate cars that are approaching the end of this period.
Should I shy away from TVD equipped cars, or is it false jeopardy?
I haven't seen any issues reported on the UK owners forum. One of the reasons I bought my RCF with TVD and AVS was because my confidence in the engineering and production quality was so high I didn't think there would ever be a problem. Unlike every other marque I've owned where I would shy away from such things.I appreciate their reputation for exceptional build quality, and the ten year warranty, but I'm looking at 15 and 16 plate cars that are approaching the end of this period.
Should I shy away from TVD equipped cars, or is it false jeopardy?
There is a very good owners forum which you should check out Lexus owners uk
h8tax said:
...ten year warranty, but I'm looking at 15 and 16 plate cars that are approaching the end of this period.
Been meaning to start a thread asking if anyone was brave enough to go for a 15 plate as we move into 2024.Reliability is not a concern for me but depreciation is. On the other hand, great, get a year's worth of Lexus warranty with a 9 year old car.
The other annoying thing is the feature creep which I believe Lexus has been pretty clever about. Never read about a car with so many yearly updates. The cynic in me thinks its a ploy to keep year on year values higher each time. I've only driven a 2020 facelift and I kinda feel I'll be missing out on the upgraded features. Then I remind myself its really the engine, steering, comfort and acoustic isolation that I'm buying into which is present on all cars. But then that 'auto away' steering wheel is nifty. And the suspension was upgraded right? And lower gearing? and so on and so on. Confuse. Especially because the pre facelift lights look so much better.
Going back to the TVD, the 2020 I drove I was under the impression that it had a TVD. The car pivoted better than I'd hoped at low speeds (roundabouts for example). So I left the test drive thinking yeah, v cool. Got back did some more research and it wasn't even equipped with one
I guess at this juncture in the car's age/typical mileages there's no reliable answer out there yet. Unless you pick up a really caned one there's good reason to believe it won't even be your problem unless you kept it for years and years. Kick it down the road, quite literally!Finally, the markets gone a bit weird for them. A couple weeks back there was 11 under £30k, currently 9 but there's f all 2017-2019 models apart from the yella fella. I guess people must be hanging onto them.
Finally finally... do you want a GPF?
Dakar Nofade said:
h8tax said:
...ten year warranty, but I'm looking at 15 and 16 plate cars that are approaching the end of this period.
Been meaning to start a thread asking if anyone was brave enough to go for a 15 plate as we move into 2024.Reliability is not a concern for me but depreciation is. On the other hand, great, get a year's worth of Lexus warranty with a 9 year old car.
The other annoying thing is the feature creep which I believe Lexus has been pretty clever about. Never read about a car with so many yearly updates. The cynic in me thinks its a ploy to keep year on year values higher each time. I've only driven a 2020 facelift and I kinda feel I'll be missing out on the upgraded features. Then I remind myself its really the engine, steering, comfort and acoustic isolation that I'm buying into which is present on all cars. But then that 'auto away' steering wheel is nifty. And the suspension was upgraded right? And lower gearing? and so on and so on. Confuse. Especially because the pre facelift lights look so much better.
Going back to the TVD, the 2020 I drove I was under the impression that it had a TVD. The car pivoted better than I'd hoped at low speeds (roundabouts for example). So I left the test drive thinking yeah, v cool. Got back did some more research and it wasn't even equipped with one
I guess at this juncture in the car's age/typical mileages there's no reliable answer out there yet. Unless you pick up a really caned one there's good reason to believe it won't even be your problem unless you kept it for years and years. Kick it down the road, quite literally!Finally, the markets gone a bit weird for them. A couple weeks back there was 11 under £30k, currently 9 but there's f all 2017-2019 models apart from the yella fella. I guess people must be hanging onto them.
Finally finally... do you want a GPF?
The 2017 cars like mine are pretty thin on the ground as they didn't bring many into the country that year. I bought mine with the TVD and the AVS. I tried the pre 2017 car without the active suspension (AVS) and paid the extra for a later car with it as it was very noticeable.
A word of caution dealers tend to advertise pre 2017 cars with AVS they do not perhaps its just laziness on their part. Oh and the really nice thing about the 2017 cars is I paid £165 for a years road tax as opposed to nearly £600.
BIRMA said:
You might want to head over to the Lexus owners uk forum, there is a section specifically for the ISF, RCF and the GSF cars and a lot of very knowledgable and honest people on there.
The 2017 cars like mine are pretty thin on the ground as they didn't bring many into the country that year. I bought mine with the TVD and the AVS. I tried the pre 2017 car without the active suspension (AVS) and paid the extra for a later car with it as it was very noticeable.
A word of caution dealers tend to advertise pre 2017 cars with AVS they do not perhaps its just laziness on their part. Oh and the really nice thing about the 2017 cars is I paid £165 for a years road tax as opposed to nearly £600.
Cheers. Sounds like I've got my work cut out to source the right car.The 2017 cars like mine are pretty thin on the ground as they didn't bring many into the country that year. I bought mine with the TVD and the AVS. I tried the pre 2017 car without the active suspension (AVS) and paid the extra for a later car with it as it was very noticeable.
A word of caution dealers tend to advertise pre 2017 cars with AVS they do not perhaps its just laziness on their part. Oh and the really nice thing about the 2017 cars is I paid £165 for a years road tax as opposed to nearly £600.
Hope that AVS isn't anything like as fidgety as the G87 M2's I tried the other day!
Dakar Nofade said:
Cheers. Sounds like I've got my work cut out to source the right car.
Hope that AVS isn't anything like as fidgety as the G87 M2's I tried the other day!
From my experience on the Lexus it’s a very well designed and executed bit of kit.Hope that AVS isn't anything like as fidgety as the G87 M2's I tried the other day!
I’ll try and find the engineering explained video quite an eye opener.Just realised you meant AVS for some reason I thought TVD. Anyway before I bought the RCF I had an AMG CL65 with it's magic carpet ride air suspension. At the time I was driving long distances to meet clients and I wanted a car for comfortable long distance, tried an early RCF which I likes but the dealer had a new car with AVS so I drove both back to back, no contest I paid considerably more for the later car.
I must admit that since buying a Yaris GR my RCF at 13000 genuine miles may be up for sale as I hardly ever use it. I’ve customised it with a wrap and different wheels, exhaust etc but have all the bits to return it to standard, enclosed photo.
Edited by BIRMA on Wednesday 13th December 18:07
Edited by BIRMA on Wednesday 13th December 18:11
Edited by BIRMA on Wednesday 13th December 18:14
Edited by BIRMA on Wednesday 13th December 18:53
Thanks for all your replies. I can't find anything significant about the TVD cars so maybe it's a red herring.
Of the handful of cars for sale under £30k the main factor affecting price seems to be mileage, which is odd when the brand is so strongly associated with reliability.
Maybe time of year and general car market weirdness is at play. I will definitely dive into ownership in January
Of the handful of cars for sale under £30k the main factor affecting price seems to be mileage, which is odd when the brand is so strongly associated with reliability.
Maybe time of year and general car market weirdness is at play. I will definitely dive into ownership in January
h8tax said:
Thanks for all your replies. I can't find anything significant about the TVD cars so maybe it's a red herring.
Of the handful of cars for sale under £30k the main factor affecting price seems to be mileage, which is odd when the brand is so strongly associated with reliability.
Maybe time of year and general car market weirdness is at play. I will definitely dive into ownership in January
Like I said I haven't seen any owners on the forum having issues with the TVD, I was quite happy to buy one with TVD, something I just wouldn't do with my previous AMG's and M cars because I knew the Lexus would always work and have no expensive maintenance or reliability issues. A bold statement I admit but one I was happy to stand by.Of the handful of cars for sale under £30k the main factor affecting price seems to be mileage, which is odd when the brand is so strongly associated with reliability.
Maybe time of year and general car market weirdness is at play. I will definitely dive into ownership in January
Good luck with your purchase and I would suggest you join the owners forum for any advice you may need.
I would just make sure it has a full dealership history because the servicing is in my opinion very reasonable and there's no reason for an owner not to use a main dealer.
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