Is the 2023 Lexus RC 350 F Sport AWD a BETTER performance car than a BMW M440i?
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- RC 350 gets a few changes from Lexus for 2023. On the outside you will find the bright Solar Flare Yellow, 19 in wheels, LED lighting and dual exhaust. On the inside you will be greeted by a two-tone interior, new touch infotainment screen and digital gauge cluster. Under the hood is a 3.5L V6 churning out 311HP & mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Is the 2023 Lexus RC 350 F Sport AWD a BETTER performance car than a BMW M440i?
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Videography: Steven Flood🎥
Reliable, simple, not super fun, not super boring. Time for a redesign!
no
@@77artos777 I agree with a redesign. RC looks great, but i'm sure a redesign it'll look very nice like the new IS. Just keep the internals the same.
@@TorontoDrivers416the IS got another refresh not a redesign...
@@mattmekhaeil Ah that's what I meant.
@@TorontoDrivers416this actually got refreshed already before the IS
That's the new nyc yellow cab?
LOL You are freaking cracking me up Kenny!
@@RaitisRides lol
Lol
In my opinion the exterior styling has aged well in this generation. It’s a timeless design. Yes it’s dated when you hop inside but I don’t really care. As long as you enjoy driving it all that matters. If I was buying one I’ll go all in and get the RCF with that glorious sounding 5.0 NA V8
Meh. You sound like a Lexus die hard. In reality it was dated when it came out, hated for the grill and a poor sports car. Hence why sales numbers are worse than fiats.
What interior features make it "dated"?
I fell inlove with this car, just bought mine year 2019 and im loving it. It's a head turner while im driving it lol.
Jealousss, how have you been liking it so far? Does it have enough power for you?
As a former owner of an AWD IS 300, RWD IS 350, and current owner of an IS 500, I say go RWD unless you absolutely need AWD. The 8-speed noticeably improves fuel economy and is programmed a little better for daily driving. Also, the AWD system adds weight and puts a little hump in the driver's footwell. That being said, the 2016 IS 300 AWD I had was what made me start to become a Lexus fan. I loved it. I did have a chance to drive the RWD IS 350 a couple of years after I got my IS 300 AWD, and I immediately could tell it was a more balanced car. And this was when I lived in Missouri, where there was snow. My friend, who had the IS 350 RWD, simply ran winter tires instead of opting for AWD, and apparently had a lot of fun with it in winter. So, that would be my recommendation.
Good review, Joe. You hit all of the main points that define the purpose of this car. I have a 2016 RCF CF/TVD edition and also a 2019 IS350 F-Sport. I have driven the RC350 F-Sport many years ago before I owned my RCF. The RC350 F-Sport is the same base platform as the RCF, but interestingly has all of the suspension and powertrain bits shared with the IS350 F-Sport. The base RC platform is 50% more rigid than the IS platform so you can feel almost no shudder or jiggliness while in my IS, I can sometimes. Agreed, the suspension is on the softer side even in SPORT+ for the RC/IS. The RCF however, is a 70% different car suspension and chassis wise than the RC350 F-Sport. As a result, RCF feels a lot more stiffer and uncompromising on rough roads. All of the suspension, chassis, tire, brakes etc. were designed for the RCF so the RC350 F-Sport is a nice middle ground. RCF feels a lot more overkill for the streets than the RC350 F-Sport or my IS350 F-Sport and the V8 has 160+ HP so they have their own target demographic. My IS350 F-Sport is the perfect street car for daily driving. 311 HP is more than enough for any kind of street driving situations and also it is fun to go around turns, Whole point of my RCF (modded to 510 HP) is not to race anyone, but more of a fun hobby, project car to create my own vision of the perfect performance high-performance track oriented/GT luxury car.
❤😊a
Honestly the RC F I drove rode great. I wouldn't describe it as harsh, though it was noticeably firmer than my IS 350 F Sport was.
@@ARentz07 Driving casually at slow speeds is fine. The roll pitch differences are wide at over 7/10ths of the cars. I have both and on rough roads especially at higher speeds, RCF's stiff chassis/rebound makes it a lot stiffer than my IS350 F-Sport even with AVS in SPORT+. It is a big difference, actually. On the same exact bump, at 50 - 55 mph my IS350 dips before rebounding or springing back up while on the same bump whereas my RCF just stomps over (though, there is a shock through the chassis) However, if you are driving slow (below 50 mph), RCF will absorb things well and the delta is much more smaller.
Very well specced M240i xDrive is under $60K (starting at $51K). Who would get this instead of the B58/ZF8 combo that's much faster and gets better mpg?
Exactly lmaooo
Seriously. Idk who this car is for.
The Weebs.
Well said! M240i is my next car in 5 years. Currently have a 330i m sport and that blows the doors off this Lexus in every category
@@Bmwkid330i This is the way. LCI will hopefully clean things up a bit too.
Hopefully the interior will get a refresh soon, but still a great car for daily driving 😊
No it's a pig
Will you get one?
@@atg1338 its not a sportscar big guy
Hmm, this is a bit hard to justify buying when the IS500 is a few grand more and the IS350 AWD is $8K less. You win both ways with the IS and lose with the RC. It needs a clean sheet redesign with a kick in performance...
Agree 100% when you buy a car that’s a 2023 you want the newest technology and best design and longevity.
poeple buy the RC because its a coupe or else they would buy the is500.
RC is just for people who cant afford an LC but wish they did
I've seen reviews of the IS500 saying it is a dissapointment and not a real IS-F.
@@andydufresne8034 There are very few reviews who expressed disappointment with the IS 500. Carecarenut is one and I cannot recall others apart from Doug De Muro. The IS 500 is a decent car and having all the F means the car will not become practical Sedan. It has almost a decade of improvements in it vs the original IS F. The only unfortunate part is they did not include the pre production Trans cooler into the retail model. Plus RC F costs 10K more and if you add leather package it shots upto 90K+ range while you can get the same NA V8 and same 8Spd around 67K in the IS 500. I love the F line with it's exclusive body parts and the tuning with Track additions but sadly the market is moving away from sedans.
Bought a '19 RC350 earlier this year. I couldn't be happier. The build quality is incredible, the performance is decent(but not super exhilarating), I enjoy both the interior and exterior, and overall it's probably the best daily driver I've ever owned.
The interior lacks the styling cues I despise from newer vehicles like the overreliance on screens and the 'minimalism' excuse to cover up cheap build quality and lazy design. I like the analog gauges(mine isn't an F-Sport) and the interior is a pleasant place to me. I'm glad mine doesn't have the 'dash-mounted tablet' infotainment screen placement; once you get used to the touchpad and voice commands it's not a bad way to get around.
I have to say I much prefer my car's exterior and interior colors much better than this(pearl white on black and tan), but overall it's a great car and I plan to keep it for many years.
I like Toyota GR86. But living in pnw, and having winter sport hobbies, i would rather have a car with AWD. This would be a perfect choice for me (wife, no kids). Undortunately a bit over my budget, so i am still leaning for Mazda 3 hatch.
Just drove an M440i yesterday. Is the Lexus more reliable? Absolutely. A better performance car than an M440i? Not even close.
Agree 110%. Drove one a few days ago and no way does this even compare to that twin turbo 6 in that M440i. This will be WAY more reliable but it would get smoked by the M440i.
Love the sound of the exhaust not too low not too loud
Honestly the 2GR motor is a goat in its own right its fast enough for a DD
Love that Color , only yellow vehicle I was really a fan of was the 2000 Integra Type R
I own 2018 rc350 black edition, best car I have ever owned. Handling is out of this world ( feels like flying deep into the cosmos). Lexus is number 1 when it comes to reliability.
Come on man, be real. The handling is not out of this world. The car is heavy, the 0-60 is super slow. Much lighter cars with much better suspensions like the Audi TTS and the BMW M-series cars handle much better. The car is beautiful and luxurious, but it's not a performer.
This is a over looked gem
Still love the design to this date..
My favorite pain job
That’s painful.
@@nicocastillo2099 yupp
I have a 2015 Fsport rwd has 58k miles.. love the car I won’t be selling it ever, it’s a pure joy feels like I just bought it a week ago best purchase when it came out
13:55 Dude that is what I have been saying forever, Toyota should have used this car as a the base for the new Supra, and since its bigger than the BMW Z4 it would have allowed the designers to implement the actual Surpa design they came up with, which was awesome. The Supra as it stands now is too small and the back end looks smooshed together, which is a shame. If it had been allowed to take the proportions of this RC it would have looked amazing. PS: The yellow color is just wonderful. I am glad there are still fun colors out there. :)
This cobbled together platform would have been a disaster as a Supra.
@@MercOne how do you mean?
@@nikoleigraham8747 Google the RC’s platform.
@@MercOneexactly, this platform is a disaster. Overweight, terrible handling etc
no thanks . the RC is a fucking boat
I Really like the way the car looks I would just get it in rwd because it comes with the 8 speed automatic and it would be more fun and in infrared with the black interior and great video as always
As an owner of a 14 gtr and this being my 7th lexus I can tell you it handles way better than my gtr unfortunately. My rc350 is fully modded down to the suspension up to the r&r supercharger with ppe headers , straight piped and tuned .around 560hp and 440ftlbs of torque. But going around the corner in my awd rc is like none other. I love lexus, I have had a few is250's and even an isf but my rc is faster than the rcf by far and I get better gas milage than the F lol. All and all it is a beautiful, rare car , you dont see the rc line alot, the interior is amazing and the reliability is par none. Ive owned two bmw m3's an audi s5 and a mercaded amg nothing compares to lexus , even my gtr just the truth.
Great review of a great little sporty car with uber reliability. Styling is fairly timeless too.
The beemer might be a little sportier, but the Lexus is stupid reliable. I would absolutely trade a little performance for that kind peace of mind. This thing will outlive any BMW by double the lifespan.
It is a fun daily sports car. Multi-purpose coupe. I had a 2015 rc350 f sport. I like the design.
Thanks for sharing that ownership input Troy!
I drove the RC300, what an amazing car, so quiet. You cannot even hear the engine or any rattling. If that is type of car you want , it is extremely quiet car, very luxurious.
I would rather have this than a Ford Mustang.
This is such a sexy car! I agree Joe. I don't think it needs much changing.
I don't see dated. I see ten years of kaizen making it possibly the most refined and solid car on the road, and a timeless body. My dream garage is an RC-F in red, RC-350 in black with chrome wheels -- the regular 350, not the F-Sport, cause I want chrome trim and analog suspension -- and I'll get my manual fix from a special-edition Supra, GR Corolla, and/or Integra Type S. I have an amazing and gorgeous old 07 Solara Sport I'm never getting rid of and want to restore and park next to my RCs.
I like the way that you think!
14:42 someone just watched mission impossible 😂
I know everything in audio is being formatted to wireless streaming. But I’m still digging and giving kudos to Lexus for not killing the C D player and giving you that extra option in theirs vehicles.
The Levinson stereo really shines with a good old fashioned CD, just take your favourite disc to a Lexus showroom and hear for yourself why they leave it…
Joe Never Makes Us Disappointed With These Fire Videos 😁❤️
Toyota should put the ttv6 into this and tine it to 400hp
I agree. Chrome bumper letters should be black to stand out on banana yellow, white, silver, red cars
I think the BMW is still the superior car in many ways and it’s hard to argue. However, this is still a very awesome car.
My '15 350 F-Sport is nearing 80k miles. No hiccups, no issues, just a smooth, stupid-comfortable grand tourer with the tried and true 2GR.
I'm excited to see if Lexus decides to completely redesign it for the next gen!
The next IS is going to be a Hybrid / EV system. 2GR-FKS is going to sunset soon, only the Lexus ES 350, IS 350 and Camry has that they killed all the NA engines in RX, Tundra, LX, Sequoia, GX, Tacoma. Once they change the ES and IS in 2025 the RC line will perhaps have a last run for a year or so once they reveal the new LC successor and will retire the RC and LC like GS. RC is a mix of GS + IS. Since there's no IS with NA V6 or the legendary NA V8 in 2025 (IS 500 won't exist until then) so the RC will be done. Sad fate because EPA and Finance mafia want to ruin the auto industry.
Sweet, sweet ride. I would never need more of anything, that this car already offers.
I just got a 21 rc300 and it's not a beast but I love it! I have no problems and it's plenty quick. Plus it turns heads. V6 Japanese coupes are disappearing so this is a nostalgic experience.
Reliable, simple, not super fun, not super boring.
I think you hit the nail on the head!
As this car design gets older I actually like it more.
I bought one just a few weeks ago. I love the car. But here in NYC I don’t need 470 hp car tooo many speeding cameras. So 311hp is good. 1 thing I don’t like is why Lexus doesn’t make a all weather trunk mat for the RC.🤔
I would get one from weather tech!
This car looks awesome I dig the yellow and the V6 engine packs some punch but I'm torn between this and BMW!
bmw
BMW probably fast and better handling, but owning it after 50k miles will be rough on the wallet.
Lexus more reliable tho I think maintenance will be cheaper as well mileage u should look into as well
@@marmarcr7683 this is definitely true
@bryanwashington9511 it's not like he's getting a cheap car so saving over time is always a good option
Love that yellow. And when was 300 HP not enough?? Beautiful car.
300hp is plenty for a daily driver but it’s really not a lot depending on the car. In a lighter weight car it’s more than plenty but you’d get used to the rc’s power.
You can get 300hp in a Camry for significantly less and have 4 doors and have a lot more features than the RC
nearly every V6 these days makes over 300hp, so not that special
most of people think they car race drivers. They drag race it on the weekend. lmao.
Exactly. Idk where ppl’s sudden obsession with crazy HP has come from, but some of these manufacturers are going to have to start producing 900 HP vehicles at this rate in the future lol
I love the Lexus Big Grill. My IS350 is Beautiful
9:11 The “TWINKIE” even has “CREAM-FILLING” colored interior‼️😂
You know you're doing well in life when you can get to go on throttle In this Apostle to the Performance Luxury Cars that's truly the sign of success.
I do like that the RC kinda has the looks of an LFA. The LFA gotta be one of my dream cars, that v10 sound 😩😩
I agree with you!
Yes I’m on a study break and this came out perfect 😍
Perfect timing!
Still looks nice. The latest BMW 3 series rear seems to have evolved into somewhat looking like this , especially the rear likes And overall profile of rear quarter of the car
Raitis rides gave me my inspiration to start doing car reviews and shift my channel from food vids. He talks so smooth and very likable not to mention knows a lot about each vehicle he reviews.
Congrats on crossing 1mil subs. Please continue your quality work!
What a Supra review! Thank you Joe!! Steven works like James Cameron on the camera 🎥!!!
You are so awesome my friend!
I got a 2021 black line. I am blown away. But the gas mileage in city is bad. Interior is incredible. I have AWD. Sport S+ mode w paddles it's quick 1 2 3 gear, 4th 5 6 is ass.
It feels heavy, 4000 pounds, tranny is lazy, long pedal travel.
Looks incredible. I suggest get one w all the options. The sound system is unreal.
What up Joe? LEXUS LET'S GO!!!
I wish it was a lift back
Now my dream car for me to buy one Joe.
Holy still making it,!😮😮😮
Great description on the color! I was thinking popsicle orange. But yeah, twinkie yellow fits.
I like the way that you think Eric!
If I was leasing this or the BMW, I would pick the BMW. If I was financing one and was going to keep it indefinitely, it would be the Lexus.
Love the RC 😍😍
I am the original owner of a '09 BMW 328ix with ~196k miles. I love this car, but I've spent ~$15k in repair costs over the last 6 years starting at about the 125k mile mark (ac evaporator coil, electric fan, crankcase breather valve/valve cover, and most recently the transfer case). So, I'm going with the RC 350 F Sport AWD (I live in Colorado) simply because it's a good looking vehicle that is fun to drive as a daily commuter and that I think will last just as long as my BMW, but without the expensive repair costs. BMW is a better sports car, but I'm tired of getting screwed on repair costs.
I prefer this over the BMW but with a different color for the interior.
I agree with you Omar
Lexus grill all day
Its a proven tested 2GRFSE/KS motor that won’t have issues reasonable maintenance costs.
I don't like the yellow color. I would prefer a dark blue or bright white. I still like the spindle grill. Great review.
Cherry red is also a great choice with tan interior
I enjoyed the car and your feedback....keeping my old Forrester and still thinking of that Blue and all Black (accents) Z4, but this 4 wheel may fit the bill for an all-around fit ride.
I can't imagine producing such a nice car on the exterior and putting that interior in it. Redesign needs to happen
Prefer the Lexus grill over the BMW's
Would love it in silver.
I like the way you tjink
just got a '24. Love it! Great review. We have similar opinions of it. Thanks for the vid!
Joe you post so much now I can’t keep up 🤣 keep up the grind
22:29 Joe, I would have taken a look at that C8 too. Very nice.
Clean & simple but I would love a redesign to see where they would take it🔥
Raiti that’s a nice watch! What model?
Unfortunate that the rear blinkers aren’t LEDs
Joe and Lori and Steve and keep up the great work real true and I love the video 👍 ❤💯💯💯💯
I never used my door pockets for 7/11 hot dogs until i started watching raiti
Love you Joe
RC-F is overkill for public roads. RC350 is the sweet spot IMO.
Awesome Joe.
this is my next car for sure manifesting it Lol i just feel like Lexus are more reliable than BMW's
Awesome review as always! Really like the Gundam tidbit on the center storage, sure puts a smile on my face! 😁
I saw the Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC Fs at the Daytona 24H last weekend. They were most impressive!
savagegeese reviewed this its biggest issue is the clunky 6 speed just like from the Camry V6. You can't redline it and will cut power often
Had this same spec in 4 door form. While I really loved IS350F, the performance just doesn't hold up by today's standards.
They made a yellow IS?
@@tlf361 same spec meaning IS350, F Sport, AWD, same transmission, etc. Mine was white with rioja red interior.
@@anthonykiedis1765 Ohh gotcha.
My Dream Car! ❤
Hello from lakeland florida.i love Lexus no matter what year is the best brand out there because they drive for ever
solar flare , cool name for a colour
I thought so as well.
I don't understand why they won't turbocharge the v6 in this car. If they put an extra 100, hell, even 50 horsepower in this car it would be much more appealing but a naturally aspirated v6 making only 311 horsepower is not cutting it at the $55,000 price range.
You don't see a yellow car every day of the week so this is my lucky day. Now all I need is $60,000 and I am ready to rock and roll. Since it is twice the price of the GR86 I wonder if the extra cash is worth it.
To much tbh
I don't mind a CD player. Classic feel
Heck yeah!
Still looks good…. I like the color……..and it looks like you got yourself a nice haircut Joe…….👍😁
Thank youuuu!! I’ve been waiting for you to review this one!!! ❤❤❤
For the life of me idk WHYYYYYY they don't make this in manual transmission...it would be PERFECT!!!
Zonk for the interior as well!!
I do love Lexi (plural). They're like the Japanese Mercedes.
M440i would smoke this RC any day
I have a 2023 NX 350 with the 14.0 inch display. I traded in a 16 NX f sport. It’s crazy how “old” this RC looks in comparison.
I’d say both are really special and cool in a unique way, but with that being said I’m more of a BMW guy but again this Lexus is also really sexy.
I can't fathom they are still putting a CD player in a 2023 car. CMON Lexus!? what are they doing? The exterior looks amazing, the interior looks like it was made for 2013.
M440I all day ....deutsch tech....Always😎😎
Reminds me of a Infiniti q60…….but this is better ! 😊
You nailed it!
How??? When q60 base model is pumping out more hp..& exterior is more sleek & sexier...ijs...