Lexus RC-F, GS-F, IS-F, LC 500, IS 500

[Galerion]

I have noticed there hasn't been thread about the Lexus performance car line-up so I thought it was time for that. Feel to talk and share your experiences about them here.


But there is some self-interest involved too since Im currently contemplating on buying one. I have been watching a good RC-F for quite a while and the price has come to a level that makes it interesting.

https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id=386019797

48K Euros for a 477hp 5L V8 RWD coupe. One that's pretty much overbuilt and bulletproof too as you would expect from Toyota/Lexus. I did some math and financially it would be a good deal.

Obviously it's a very different car from a GR Yaris. For one it's almost 600kg heavier. That's a lot and certainly makes it more GT than back road carver. So as a platform for performance driving the GR Yaris is actually better. Being a powerful RWD car also means that it's bad weather capabilities are greatly reduced. But you aren't driving a spec sheet and Im not track rat either. For some it might be juvenile but I must admit that since owning a Lexus IS-F for a time I have come to enjoy some of the traits and qualities that only a good V8 can offer.

 

[Ecsrobin]

always liked these. What’s the running costs like?

 

[Galerion]

always liked these. What’s the running costs like?

It's not really cheap to be fair.

• Insurance with full coverage is very expensive for these for some reason. Even more expensive than for a LC 500. Im currently paying 671€ per year for the Yaris. The RC-F would be 1786€.
• Yearly taxes for the Yaris are 216€. For the RC-F they would be 414€.
• Fuel wise Im around 8-9L/100km with the Yaris. It's hard to say for certain but from my research the RC-F should be around 12-13L doing the same kind of driving. If you are mainly cruising on motorways the RC-F could possibly be even more fuel efficient than the Yaris but if you are constantly stuck in stop and go traffic, you only drive short distances or you have a heavy foot 16L or more are possible too. The gap in possible fuel consumption is huge and therefore really depends on your personal driving.
• Maintenance wise it's pretty much yearly oil changes so nothing special there.

 

[Galerion]

I just remembered this video which is the perfect advertisement for the durability of the Lexus F cars. This is a Lexus IS-F with almost half a million kilometers being driven hard on the Nürburgring.

 

[TigerJim]

RC F is very much on my watch list, there’s so much to admire in my opinion - the looks, build quality and ‘luxury’, performance, the engine, etc, etc. It’s the big brother to the GR86 in so many ways. I’d always written it off because of the auto box which, along with the weight, I thought would make it a no-no. Having recently test driven one though I was seriously impressed by it! Having been prepared to be disappointed it really did turn my head!

 

[Galerion]

RC F is very much on my watch list, there’s so much to admire in my opinion - the looks, build quality and ‘luxury’, performance, the engine, etc, etc. It’s the big brother to the GR86 in so many ways. I’d always written it off because of the auto box which, along with the weight, I thought would make it a no-no. Having recently test driven one though I was seriously impressed by it! Having been prepared to be disappointed it really did turn my head!

I have a test drive booked for the next weekend. A bit of travel involved but it's OK.
We will see if I come to the same conclusion as you. I recently had a test drive in a Chevrolet Camaro and I wasn't blown away by it despite everybody saying that it's the best driving car in its class. It might very well be true but if you are coming from a lightweight car, you just feel the difference. I guess it's just a matter of getting used to it. The RC-F should be a nicer place to be in than a Camaro and I know that the 2UR-GSE is just a gem of an engine.

What spec did you test drive? One with the torque vectoring differential or with the normal Torsen one?

 

[jash19]

GSF or LC500 are on my medium term as a daily. The newer LC500 also benefits from much smaller uk road tax than the older v8 banding of 710 on the GS/IS/RC

 

[TigerJim]

I have a test drive booked for the next weekend. A bit of travel involved but it's OK.
We will see if I come to the same conclusion as you. I recently had a test drive in a Chevrolet Camaro and I wasn't blown away by it despite everybody saying that it's the best driving car in its class. It might very well be true but if you are coming from a lightweight car, you just feel the difference. I guess it's just a matter of getting used to it. The RC-F should be a nicer place to be in than a Camaro and I know that the 2UR-GSE is just a gem of an engine.

What spec did you test drive? One with the torque vectoring differential or with the normal Torsen one?

It was the Carbon with TVD. I was expecting some big wallowing thing but found it surprisingly agile going around a few roundabouts and twisties. Once you understand that it is a different creature to the GR86 you appreciate how good it is at what it does. Despite coming straight out of the 86 I found I wasn’t making direct comparisons - power, quality, looks make up for an auto box and less ‘sporty’ feel. The exclusivity of these is really appealing too. The one I drove was the first I’d seen in the flesh and it certainly has presence!

 

[Galerion]

GSF or LC500 are on my medium term as a daily. The newer LC500 also benefits from much smaller uk road tax than the older v8 banding of 710 on the GS/IS/RC

Do you even find GSFs in the UK?
Here in Germany they are unicorns. There are zero for sale for months and if one is up for sale it's not for long. For some reason it's by far the most rare car of them all. You will constantly find all the others for sale but not that one. It's certainly the most practical of them all. Maybe that's why nobody wants to part with them?

It was the Carbon with TVD. I was expecting some big wallowing thing but found it surprisingly agile going around a few roundabouts and twisties. Once you understand that it is a different creature to the GR86 you appreciate how good it is at what it does. Despite coming straight out of the 86 I found I wasn’t making direct comparisons - power, quality, looks make up for an auto box and less ‘sporty’ feel. The exclusivity of these is really appealing too. The one I drove was the first I’d seen in the flesh and it certainly has presence!

That's why I asked if it was one with the TVD. I have already read that it makes the car really agile. Definitely more then you would expect since it can actively send more power to the outer wheel to swing you around. So it's nice to hear that it was your experience too.
It's odd that Toyota never used that tech in more cars. Even the LC doesn't have it.

I really like them too and they are certainly exclusive but I would say the same about all the GR cars. Your own experience can vary but I can say that none of them are a common sight on the streets. But yeah an RCF definitely looks and feels as expensive as it is. But nothing tops the LC 500 in that regard. Unfortunately the ones that I would be interested in cost over 30K more then a comparable RCF.

 

[Galerion]

This was my IS-F by the way. Honestly still to this day the only car I regret selling but at the time it was probably the best decision to do so. It was a facelift model from 2010 with around 50.000 km on it. Basically the holy grail that you will never find again and nowadays it would be worth more than I paid for it. But that's just how life is sometimes.

 

[jash19]

Do you even find GSFs in the UK?
Here in Germany they are unicorns. There are zero for sale for months and if one is up for sale it's not for long. For some reason it's by far the most rare car of them all. You will constantly find all the others for sale but not that one. It's certainly the most practical of them all. Maybe that's why nobody wants to part with them?

That's why I asked if it was one with the TVD. I have already read that it makes the car really agile. Definitely more then you would expect since it can actively send more power to the outer wheel to swing you around. So it's nice to hear that it was your experience too.
It's odd that Toyota never used that tech in more cars. Even the LC doesn't have it.

I really like them too and they are certainly exclusive but I would say the same about all the GR cars. Your own experience can vary but I can say that none of them are a common sight on the streets. But yeah an RCF definitely looks and feels as expensive as it is. But nothing tops the LC 500 in that regard. Unfortunately the ones that I would be interested in cost over 30K more then a comparable RCF.

Oh absolutely gsfs are rare and generally sold either into a dealership/prestige motor place or exchange hands very quickly on the loc forum. However their value is probably as low as they ever will be currently.
It's medium term for me as mentioned. I quite like the 57mpg and not worrying about minor scratches, using the car wash etc of my hybrid corolla as a daily for the next few years, at least until my son is grown up, dogs are gone, and I'm just doing the day job instead of running a business and therefore a van too.

Would certainly be between those two though, rcf doesn't do much for me.

 

[Galerion]

Oh absolutely gsfs are rare and generally sold either into a dealership/prestige motor place or exchange hands very quickly on the loc forum. However their value is probably as low as they ever will be currently.
It's medium term for me as mentioned. I quite like the 57mpg and not worrying about minor scratches, using the car wash etc of my hybrid corolla as a daily for the next few years, at least until my son is grown up, dogs are gone, and I'm just doing the day job instead of running a business and therefore a van too.

Would certainly be between those two though, rcf doesn't do much for me.

The GSF is certainly the most practical one and does the sporty driving part well too if reviews are to believed. As a do-it-all car it's perfect but unfortunately even a country-wide search gives me 0 results so it has to be one of the others. But I like coupes so no deal breaker for me.

After driving the RCF yesterday I do find myself now at a crossroads to be honest. Unlike my experiences with the GR Supra, 86 and the Camaro, sleeping a night and taking a drive in the Yaris in the morning has not fully erased the RCF from my mind. It's damn good car.

• I found the seating position great and everything you touch on the car feels solid and durable. It makes you feel like you are in a comfortable and protected safe space. Like the world around you could go down in flames and it still wouldn't bother you.
• The dealer was unfortunately located in a very big city so I didn't get to take the car to some back roads or anything like that. It was mostly city driving with some Autobahn mixed in. I did manage take a wide sweeping Autobahn entrance at speed though and I was very surprised. I expected the weight to show itself and get some understeer but there was nothing. Even the Michelin tires made no noise or showed signs of being overworked. It's clear to me that the limits of the car can only be really revealed on a track and you would have to drive recklessly to feel them while street driving.
• And then there is the engine. Without a doubt the star of the show. When you are pushing it's a beast but if you are just cruising around it accelerates the car so smoothly and effortless. You just hear a faint V8 rumble in the background as you get up to speed. That comes at a price though. I reset the counter and at the end of my drive I got 17,4L/100km (16 mpg UK). Obviously I was driving a bit like a caveman but still in my todays driving with the Yaris I got 11L/100km (26 mpg UK) and I was driving full-throttle for way longer.

Like I said crossroads. I love the Yaris. I have owned only few cars I had such a strong attachment too. But I also like some of the traits these Lexus have and they are really rare too. The one Im looking at is the only one of it's kind in terms of trim, color and model year. If it's gone there is no guarantee you will ever get one like it again. There is a real danger of missing out and then later regretting it.

 

[TigerJim]

The GSF is certainly the most practical one and does the sporty driving part well too if reviews are to believed. As a do-it-all car it's perfect but unfortunately even a country-wide search gives me 0 results so it has to be one of the others. But I like coupes so no deal breaker for me.

After driving the RCF yesterday I do find myself now at a crossroads to be honest. Unlike my experiences with the GR Supra, 86 and the Camaro, sleeping a night and taking a drive in the Yaris in the morning has not fully erased the RCF from my mind. It's damn good car.

• I found the seating position great and everything you touch on the car feels solid and durable. It makes you feel like you are in a comfortable and protected safe space. Like the world around you could go down in flames and it still wouldn't bother you.
• The dealer was unfortunately located in a very big city so I didn't get to take the car to some back roads or anything like that. It was mostly city driving with some Autobahn mixed in. I did manage take a wide sweeping Autobahn entrance at speed though and I was very surprised. I expected the weight to show itself and get some understeer but there was nothing. Even the Michelin tires made no noise or showed signs of being overworked. It's clear to me that the limits of the car can only be really revealed on a track and you would have to drive recklessly to feel them while street driving.
• And then there is the engine. Without a doubt the star of the show. When you are pushing it's a beast but if you are just cruising around it accelerates the car so smoothly and effortless. You just hear a faint V8 rumble in the background as you get up to speed. That comes at a price though. I reset the counter and at the end of my drive I got 17,4L/100km (16 mpg UK). Obviously I was driving a bit like a caveman but still in my todays driving with the Yaris I got 11L/100km (26 mpg UK) and I was driving full-throttle for way longer.

Like I said crossroads. I love the Yaris. I have owned only few cars I had such a strong attachment too. But I also like some of the traits these Lexus have and they are really rare too. The one Im looking at is the only one of its kind in terms of trim, color and model year. If it's gone there is no guarantee you will ever get one like it again. There is a real danger of missing out and then later regretting it.

It is a hard car to ignore and I certainly haven’t shaken it off yet!

I keep wondering if it’s simply that it was better than I expected, rather than brilliant in its own right. After all, I was convinced it would be big, wallowing, unengaging, etc. But I am genuinely impressed by it (I came straight out of the GR86 into it too).

On the flip side, I test drove an I30N Fastback and was prepared to love it - I like the looks and every review says how brilliant it is - but I hated it and got back into the 86 and haven’t look back at an N since!

So why haven’t I made the switch? I’m not quite in the right place financially yet (it’s not so much the purchase price, rather the extra cost of consumables, etc over the 86) plus I’m still really enjoying the 86.

Perhaps go back for a second test drive and see if it still holds a wow factor for you?

 

[Galerion]

A dealer in my area just got a Lexus IS-F in and it looks pretty decent.

https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id=411356956

The price is good. Considering the age of the car you do see signs of wear on the interior but it's special in the fact that it's a single owner car and they have driven it a fair bit in their 14 years of ownership. So I assume it must have been looked after too.
Thinking about taking a look at it tomorrow.