in 20015 having 467 hp was a decent number but today you can buy 700-1,000 hp production cars or super fast electric crappers. so being top tog isnt easy anymore. the lexus rcf is a well built, comfortable, reliable, gt car, and i love mine to pieces.
Nice! You are absolutely correct, the only thing Lexus owners need to think about are the consumables. Get the regular maintenance done and the car will last you for 10+ years. I am an aggressive driver, so I personally drive my IS500 in manual and sport+ 100% of the time. There are times when I've caught the transmission (same one as in the RC F) sleeping, but in manual I can keep the RPMs in the powerband and not have that issue. My gas mileage sucks, but I didn't buy it for efficiency. 😀 Lexus makes great cars and the steady value over its competitors is evident year after year. Thanks for posting!
Lexus and Toyotas are the only cars that will last even when driving the piss out of them consistently. You should see the Uber drivers around here with 300,000+ mile Priuses they beat them to hell and they just don’t die.
Great video! I actually just purchased a 2015 RC-F, waiting for it to be delivered. Coming from the 350, I'm excited to have upgraded to an F. Appreciate your insights!
Nice video and welcome to the F club! I have a 2015 w/ the performance pack, so it has all the good stuff. The car is awesome and a blast to drive. You have done your due diligence so you are somewhat ahead of the game and that’s a good thing. The more you drive it, the more you will love it.
Good review. I have a 201 RCF CF/TVD version. You hit the nail right on the head when you said the engine, suspension and brakes are the three highlights of the RCF. I would also say the chassis is amazing as well. Regarding your cross shopping of GSF vs RCF, they both have trade-offs. RCF is smaller, lighter, lower, stiffer while the GSF is about 1-foot longer so it gains in practicality with 2 extra doors. You have to use MANUAL mode with SPORT+ for the best performance. The downshifts and upshifts are way faster in manual mode. You did not seem to experience those savage downshifts in manual mode. The OEM Pilot Super Sport tires were a huge let down. Simply did not have stiff enough sidewalls to handle the weight so I went with Pilot Sport 4S with Extra Load sidewalls meant for performance cars a lot heavier than the RCF and it made the car super responsive to rapid transitions. I own a 2016 RCF Carbon Fiber/TVD and have had it for 7+ years. Been modding and enjoying it.
I feel the sport + in auto has just as savage shifts on the down shift and is “loaded” just right with the chassis dynamics taken into consideration. Maybe I am missing something with the manual mode. I love driving manual, but I just feel when I am going full bore with this car the auto is much better. I agree about needing the maximum tire setup, it makes a huge difference. The grip difference after getting heat into the tires is noticeable. Thanks for leaving a comment, love your thumbnail!
@@joeylopezphd Regarding chassis, the focus on rigidity and short wheelbase are the two key highlights. Short wheelbase gives a very responsive and compact feel while the high rigidity makes the car put down the power really well due to lack of torsional or lateral flex especially reduction in terms of body roll. The manual mode was made for track driving and for dynamic driving conditions. One of the biggest advantages is, faster shift speeds in manual mode because the torque converter is fully locked up in manual mode. Basically, no loss through slippage during shifts. That results in a very head snapping and mechanical shift engagement in manual mode with shifts in only 100 ms. In my Dragy GPS runs, the manual mode gives slightly better performance numbers. Also, I notice the auto mode does not let you rev out all the way to 7300+ rpm (peak 472 HP is at 7100 rpm). Manual mode allows to go all the way to rev limiter. AUTO always seems to shift at 7000 rpm. In manual mode, it allows me to rev out to redline making use of the full powerband. If I want to downshift quickly (say at 50 mph I can go down to 2nd gear), manual mode is the best way as the auto mode sometimes takes 1 full second to downshift and does not go to the lowest gear (for example, at 50 mph it will go down to 3rd gear and not the ideal 2nd). Lastly, the throttle-blips in the downshifts for manual mode, are incredible both for listening and also while approaching a turn fast. Anyway, these are my two cents. Cheers!
I agree with manual expect for when driving spirited full on, the auto sport + is all around on point, especially on the downshifts, its compliments the way the car gets loaded nicely. But maybe I am missing something.
@@joeylopezphd I see. Auto mode is fine for driving leisurely. For me, I just do my own downshifts in manual mode and the rev matches are more crisp even while cruising around compared to auto mode. I guess, I had driven 6 speed manual for 18 years and did my own heel-toe and rev matches. The manual mode makes me feel closer to that with the torque converter lock up and the throttle blips on downshifts. Anyways, just my own two cents. Great video, once again
I have a fbo carbon/tvd , swift springs, 265 and 295 tires, f & r bracing ,AOS, Cf Intake, Loi Tunes for 93 and e30, motor and trans mounts, car is a beast on the track, zero issues, regular maintenance you will be happy camper. Do the procedure to get in “test” mode when you go to the track to really have some fun. 😉
The reason people struggle with the transmission is because most people don't understand the power delivery in a naturally aspirated engine. Gear ratios also matter, but the power delivery is what really affects the car's input. I assume this model has the AISN Toyota 8 Speed. The 5.0 has a large linear band that sits at the top of 3000RPM. You'd have to go all the way to redline to put the next gear at the bottom of the power band(3k). The sport mode calculates this automatically for the driver, but it's much more efficient and fun to know your power band and manually shift it yourself. That's what separates good drivers from ordinary drivers. It's not like a turbo where the band can be started very low from idle/launch which is why a lot of sporty cars have turbo engines now. Most people prefer that instant/accessible power even if it makes the engine less reliable and more expensive to maintain. The RCF is a great car for the money. Lexus kept the low maintenance, comfort, and reliability strengths in all of their vehicles which is why they depreciate slowly. Sadly, most luxury consumers don't understand that which is why you often hear the endless amount of negative connotations about the RCF. To be fair though, I think Lexus should take direction from Chevrolet and the design of the LS6. A small heavy hitting V8 in a lightweight chassis. All of Lexus's sports cars suffer from weight which is it's biggest weakness.
Welcome to the F club, i have an FBO rcf and got some brace kits on it with the TVD, being NA i kept up with a 720s on the dragon which is one of the most curviest roads in the states. I love my rcf after owning for 7 years still drives and pulls hard, the only complaint i have is the weight being 4000 pounds, had it been 3500-3700 itd have easily been on top.
Which bolt ons you do? In the coming years I will do some. Also I have some friends developing a supercharger kit, we will see if it ever all comes together.
Kinda crazy that the IS500 weighs less than the RCF. 3,700 pounds wouldn't have been unreasonable and most likely achievable if it weren't a mish mash of platforms, GS/SC/IS. The RCF though looks better and I'm sure it handles much better.
Yeah I couldn’t believe. At a normal dealership. No hook up, I just negotiated for a bit, went through one rude manager and when I said I am having my wife come get me the GM came and gave me the price I wanted. Car buying is a video I should make sometime.
Lightly used with apple car play might be some savings. I am not sure what years had Apple CarPlay. Other than that, new would be nice in terms of knowing its history. For me I bought this in 2023, it’s a 2015 and I bought a six year/100,000 mile warranty. Mine came with two issues I am in the process of addressing, minor curb rash, I got a quote of $750 to refinish all 4 rims back to the factory color. The other is a common issue, my carbon fiber window switch inserts laminates are separating so I will either repair it myself or buy some used ones. I paid $41,000 with 40k’ish miles on it. Hope this helps.
It’s from my track driving experience. Most people sit very far back and arms extended when driving. It’s more relaxed that way, just less control. By sitting the way I am sitting my body is more evenly distributed on the seat, which means in the corners I am not sliding around as much. But yeah, it looks funny.
Yeah they really are fun cars. Doing research and driving a bunch of different cars can give ya some good reference as to why the F series is such a good Lexus sports car. Whether IS, RC or GS, they are built to be driven hard and be reliable. Their interiors also hold up nicely.
Of all places, cavander Audi. I was shocked they were ready to deal, but boy did they. After a hiccup with one sales manager, I got another and he sealed the deal. I had to “walk” just once hahaha.
Hahaha, just how I learned to drive on the track. Proper seat setup. Gotta have your body evenly distributed so you got good contact with the seat and wheel.
in 20015 having 467 hp was a decent number but today you can buy 700-1,000 hp production cars or super fast electric crappers. so being top tog isnt easy anymore. the lexus rcf is a well built, comfortable, reliable, gt car, and i love mine to pieces.
Nice! You are absolutely correct, the only thing Lexus owners need to think about are the consumables. Get the regular maintenance done and the car will last you for 10+ years. I am an aggressive driver, so I personally drive my IS500 in manual and sport+ 100% of the time. There are times when I've caught the transmission (same one as in the RC F) sleeping, but in manual I can keep the RPMs in the powerband and not have that issue. My gas mileage sucks, but I didn't buy it for efficiency. 😀 Lexus makes great cars and the steady value over its competitors is evident year after year. Thanks for posting!
Sounds like you are having a great time with the car!
Lexus and Toyotas are the only cars that will last even when driving the piss out of them consistently. You should see the Uber drivers around here with 300,000+ mile Priuses they beat them to hell and they just don’t die.
I have a 2015 RC F with 152,000KM. Absolutely zero issues! Always puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.
Great video! I actually just purchased a 2015 RC-F, waiting for it to be delivered. Coming from the 350, I'm excited to have upgraded to an F. Appreciate your insights!
Let us know how ya like it!
Nice video and welcome to the F club! I have a 2015 w/ the performance pack, so it has all the good stuff. The car is awesome and a blast to drive. You have done your due diligence so you are somewhat ahead of the game and that’s a good thing. The more you drive it, the more you will love it.
Thanks! I am enjoying it a lot.
Good review. I have a 201 RCF CF/TVD version. You hit the nail right on the head when you said the engine, suspension and brakes are the three highlights of the RCF. I would also say the chassis is amazing as well. Regarding your cross shopping of GSF vs RCF, they both have trade-offs. RCF is smaller, lighter, lower, stiffer while the GSF is about 1-foot longer so it gains in practicality with 2 extra doors. You have to use MANUAL mode with SPORT+ for the best performance. The downshifts and upshifts are way faster in manual mode. You did not seem to experience those savage downshifts in manual mode. The OEM Pilot Super Sport tires were a huge let down. Simply did not have stiff enough sidewalls to handle the weight so I went with Pilot Sport 4S with Extra Load sidewalls meant for performance cars a lot heavier than the RCF and it made the car super responsive to rapid transitions. I own a 2016 RCF Carbon Fiber/TVD and have had it for 7+ years. Been modding and enjoying it.
I feel the sport + in auto has just as savage shifts on the down shift and is “loaded” just right with the chassis dynamics taken into consideration. Maybe I am missing something with the manual mode. I love driving manual, but I just feel when I am going full bore with this car the auto is much better.
I agree about needing the maximum tire setup, it makes a huge difference. The grip difference after getting heat into the tires is noticeable. Thanks for leaving a comment, love your thumbnail!
@@joeylopezphd Regarding chassis, the focus on rigidity and short wheelbase are the two key highlights. Short wheelbase gives a very responsive and compact feel while the high rigidity makes the car put down the power really well due to lack of torsional or lateral flex especially reduction in terms of body roll. The manual mode was made for track driving and for dynamic driving conditions. One of the biggest advantages is, faster shift speeds in manual mode because the torque converter is fully locked up in manual mode. Basically, no loss through slippage during shifts. That results in a very head snapping and mechanical shift engagement in manual mode with shifts in only 100 ms. In my Dragy GPS runs, the manual mode gives slightly better performance numbers. Also, I notice the auto mode does not let you rev out all the way to 7300+ rpm (peak 472 HP is at 7100 rpm). Manual mode allows to go all the way to rev limiter. AUTO always seems to shift at 7000 rpm. In manual mode, it allows me to rev out to redline making use of the full powerband. If I want to downshift quickly (say at 50 mph I can go down to 2nd gear), manual mode is the best way as the auto mode sometimes takes 1 full second to downshift and does not go to the lowest gear (for example, at 50 mph it will go down to 3rd gear and not the ideal 2nd). Lastly, the throttle-blips in the downshifts for manual mode, are incredible both for listening and also while approaching a turn fast. Anyway, these are my two cents. Cheers!
I agree with manual expect for when driving spirited full on, the auto sport + is all around on point, especially on the downshifts, its compliments the way the car gets loaded nicely. But maybe I am missing something.
@@joeylopezphd I see. Auto mode is fine for driving leisurely. For me, I just do my own downshifts in manual mode and the rev matches are more crisp even while cruising around compared to auto mode. I guess, I had driven 6 speed manual for 18 years and did my own heel-toe and rev matches. The manual mode makes me feel closer to that with the torque converter lock up and the throttle blips on downshifts. Anyways, just my own two cents. Great video, once again
I have a fbo carbon/tvd , swift springs, 265 and 295 tires, f & r bracing ,AOS, Cf Intake, Loi Tunes for 93 and e30, motor and trans mounts, car is a beast on the track, zero issues, regular maintenance you will be happy camper. Do the procedure to get in “test” mode when you go to the track to really have some fun. 😉
The reason people struggle with the transmission is because most people don't understand the power delivery in a naturally aspirated engine. Gear ratios also matter, but the power delivery is what really affects the car's input. I assume this model has the AISN Toyota 8 Speed. The 5.0 has a large linear band that sits at the top of 3000RPM. You'd have to go all the way to redline to put the next gear at the bottom of the power band(3k). The sport mode calculates this automatically for the driver, but it's much more efficient and fun to know your power band and manually shift it yourself. That's what separates good drivers from ordinary drivers. It's not like a turbo where the band can be started very low from idle/launch which is why a lot of sporty cars have turbo engines now. Most people prefer that instant/accessible power even if it makes the engine less reliable and more expensive to maintain. The RCF is a great car for the money. Lexus kept the low maintenance, comfort, and reliability strengths in all of their vehicles which is why they depreciate slowly. Sadly, most luxury consumers don't understand that which is why you often hear the endless amount of negative connotations about the RCF. To be fair though, I think Lexus should take direction from Chevrolet and the design of the LS6. A small heavy hitting V8 in a lightweight chassis. All of Lexus's sports cars suffer from weight which is it's biggest weakness.
Good points!
Welcome to the F club, i have an FBO rcf and got some brace kits on it with the TVD, being NA i kept up with a 720s on the dragon which is one of the most curviest roads in the states. I love my rcf after owning for 7 years still drives and pulls hard, the only complaint i have is the weight being 4000 pounds, had it been 3500-3700 itd have easily been on top.
Which bolt ons you do? In the coming years I will do some. Also I have some friends developing a supercharger kit, we will see if it ever all comes together.
Kinda crazy that the IS500 weighs less than the RCF. 3,700 pounds wouldn't have been unreasonable and most likely achievable if it weren't a mish mash of platforms, GS/SC/IS. The RCF though looks better and I'm sure it handles much better.
Nice car - nice video!
Thanks, what is your favorite ride these days?
Can’t wait to try and get one, insurance price is going to kill my possibly but hopefully the new job at Boeing can let me afford this
Yeah I try not to think about my premiums. I do daily my GTI and have this listed as my secondary driver.
Nice video man
Thanks!
You got a great price for that kind of mileage!
Yeah I couldn’t believe. At a normal dealership. No hook up, I just negotiated for a bit, went through one rude manager and when I said I am having my wife come get me the GM came and gave me the price I wanted. Car buying is a video I should make sometime.
Cant decide if i should buy mine used or new
Lightly used with apple car play might be some savings. I am not sure what years had Apple CarPlay.
Other than that, new would be nice in terms of knowing its history.
For me I bought this in 2023, it’s a 2015 and I bought a six year/100,000 mile warranty.
Mine came with two issues I am
in the process of addressing, minor curb rash, I got a quote of $750 to refinish all 4 rims back to the factory color. The other is a common issue, my carbon fiber window switch inserts laminates are separating so I will either repair it myself or buy some used ones. I paid $41,000 with 40k’ish miles on it. Hope this helps.
It’s hurting me to see how close to the steering wheel you are for such a big guy
It’s from my track driving experience. Most people sit very far back and arms extended when driving. It’s more relaxed that way, just less control. By sitting the way I am sitting my body is more evenly distributed on the seat, which means in the corners I am not sliding around as much. But yeah, it looks funny.
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY......................2018 GSF.................SATX
Thanks!
Wow a lot of F love in the comments, can't wait to get mines too.
Yeah they really are fun cars. Doing research and driving a bunch of different cars can give ya some good reference as to why the F series is such a good Lexus sports car. Whether IS, RC or GS, they are built to be driven hard and be reliable. Their interiors also hold up nicely.
Toward the ending I’m kinda the same just a car enthusiast n wanna record but don’t wanna be famous or anything
I’m waiting to graduate to get mine super pumped
It's worth the wait. I drove it when new and just waited for it to come down in price. I did the same for the IS F when I had one.
🌟 *promosm*
Cavender Audi ? Lol
Of all places, cavander Audi. I was shocked they were ready to deal, but boy did they. After a hiccup with one sales manager, I got another and he sealed the deal. I had to “walk” just once hahaha.
Bro move your seat back 😂
Hahaha, just how I learned to drive on the track. Proper seat setup. Gotta have your body evenly distributed so you got good contact with the seat and wheel.