BMW or Lexus Coupe?

"MrDakka" (mrdakka)
06/27/2019 at 11:13 • Filed to: None

Hey Oppo,

Any of you peeps have any ownership/driving experience with the BMW 440i (F32) or the Lexus RC series?

How do they drive and what sort of quirks if any do they have?

Do they cradle your butt and what’s the head/legroom situation like for the driver?

How's the nav system for the Lexus?

DISCUSSION (29)

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > MrDakka
06/27/2019 at 11:17

Which RC trim level are you looking at?

I work at a Lexus dealership. AMA about the RC.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > MrDakka
06/27/2019 at 11:17

I’ve had plenty of seat time in a 2017 440i.

How can I be of assistance?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > MrDakka
06/27/2019 at 11:22

I have nothing to add, just sitting here looking at the first two comments and loving OPPO.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > MrDakka
06/27/2019 at 11:23

IMHO the new Supra should have been based on the RC.

MrDakka > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
06/27/2019 at 11:27

Thinking about a CPO 300/ 350. How’s the slushbox shift? And whats the nav/audio situation like? Android Auto or is there a Lexus system

MrDakka > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
06/27/2019 at 11:27

Indeed, despite all the shitposts, the community here is genuinely helpful.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > MrDakka
06/27/2019 at 11:28

I have a couple miles of seat time in a 6 speed 440ix. What do you want to know?

WilliamsSW > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/27/2019 at 11:30

The RC weighs some 500 lb more than the Supra. Unless they can get all of that out, nah.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/27/2019 at 11:31

No. The RC chassis, while extremely rigid, is incredibly heavy. It makes for a decent GT car. But it sucks as a sports car.

MrDakka > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
06/27/2019 at 11:33

First off, why is the gran coupe a thing?

S hould I be scared of the reliability of the engine several years down the line ? Any pieces that may be susceptible to premature wear? I have nightmares about VANOS chains snapping the chain guides off and the car grenading itself or something similar.

Also what's the steering feel? Is there enough soundproofing that I don't have to shout when I'm doing 70-80mph?

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > MrDakka
06/27/2019 at 11:42

1. Because it gives you the 4-Series looks with added liftback convenience. It’s certainly sleeker than an F30.

2. The B58 in the 340i and 440i has proven remarkably sturdy and reliable. I know multiple people with 40i models that have had no problems for up to 60k miles to date. Just keep up with maintenance and change the oil every 5k or so.

3. I really don’t care what most people say. I love the steering feel in them. It’s relatively sporty for electric power steering, but is by no means anywhere near as nice as something in an M or in a Porsche with a similar system. It’s pretty quiet and comfortable at high speeds.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > MrDakka
06/27/2019 at 11:43

Lexus only just got CarPlay. Android Auto support arrives with the 2020 RX refresh this fall. So anything CPO will only get CarPlay with a ~$200 dealer-only update at best; and only if it is a 2018 model. (BeatSonicUSA might have kits that will retrofit CarPlay or AA, but you’d either have to install them yourself or befriend someone who knows how to do it)

The 2015-2017 RC Nav is okay. The press hates our system. I do not think it’s as bad as people complain it is, if one is willing to spend the time to learn how it works. Is it perfect? No. But no one else has a perfect system either. There is a fairly robust voice command system that will allow for hands-free functionality while driving. Lexus also still uses actual buttons for things like CC and the radio.

The auto in the RC shifts decently. In the 350 F-Sport after 1st it is a direct-shift transmission which will bypass the torque converter. So using the paddles is pretty quick and it will engine brake when asked.

If you live in an area where AWD isn’t needed or desired, the RWD cars feels better to drive as t he steering is more alive.

The RC will be easier to live with, once you get used to quirks of the Nav. The BMW is a better car to drive - I’ve never driven one and I’d still bet money on it. But BMW maintenance can be a wallet killer. The Lexus is unlikely to have major issues for many years.

superdave847 > MrDakka
06/27/2019 at 11:47

Autohaus BMW in St. Louis gave me a loaner 435i M-Sport in estoril blue when my 335i was being repaired. It was awesome to drive. I’m sure the 440i is even better.

Personally, I would not cross shop these because of the grill on a Lexus. If I were buying a non-German car it would probably be an Infiniti.

superdave847 > MrDakka
06/27/2019 at 11:48

The steering on my F30 is no where near the sensation of the heavy, responsive steering of my E90. It is a huge deficit for these, although the newer models are probably better than my 2013.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > WilliamsSW
06/27/2019 at 11:49

So it weighs as much as the old supra.

WilliamsSW > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
06/27/2019 at 11:51

Yeah considering they married bits from the IS to bits from the relatively bigly GS to get that car, it’s not a shocker that it’s heavy.

Some of that extra weight is sound deadening because Lexus I’m sure, but not all of it.

WilliamsSW > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/27/2019 at 11:55

Back in the day, the last two gens of Supra got a fair amount of grief for being overweight (compared to the first 2 gens).

You could build a 3900 lb Supra and yeah it would be in keeping with the A80- but then what engine does it get? The 5.0? Now it’s going to cannibalize RC F sales.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > WilliamsSW
06/27/2019 at 11:58

GS+IS-C+IS. The IS-C center section added all the weight due to the extra strengthening for the even tual convertible that won’t happen now anyway.

WilliamsSW > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
06/27/2019 at 11:59

Oh yeah, I forgot about the IS-C bit.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > WilliamsSW
06/27/2019 at 12:00

Just build 50% of the chassis out of Carbon and aluminum to save weight. They we could have a $115,000 supra.

WilliamsSW > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/27/2019 at 12:05

Give us the A90, the RCF, and the car you describe (with twin turbos in the 5.0 pleeez). I want ALL of it

WilliamsSW > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/27/2019 at 12:12

I also think they could have built the Supra from the IS chassis, not the RC.

I bet they could get that one down to 3400 or so.

MrDakka > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
06/27/2019 at 12:21

Hows the bolstering of the driver's seat and would you be able to do long road trips in it?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > MrDakka
06/27/2019 at 12:32

The seats are typical BMW. Stiffer foam than most cars but more adjustment options than I know what to do with. It might take a bit of fiddling but you can totally get it set up exactly how you want it. My grandfather’s also had the seat memories that were associated with the keys so when you start the car it figures out who is driving based on the key and automatically adjusts the seat and wheel (and maybe side mirrors too?) to your preferred settings. Turn the car off and the seat slides back and the wheel moves up and away for easy exit and entry.

Based on my experience road trips would be a dream in the 440. Its definitely more of a GT car than a sports car, something that did bother my grandfather as he replaced his E46 M3 with the 440. It's quiet, the i6 is crazy smooth and has plenty of grunt, and it generally feels like it will just eat miles on the highway.

Textured Soy Protein > MrDakka
06/27/2019 at 13:36

Visibility, back seat room, and especially motor are way better with the BMW.

The infotainment is trash in both. BMW has CarPlay but not Android Auto, and starting with MY2019 cars they charge a subscription for it. Lexus has neither and has an infernal touchpad interface for the screen which is just terrible.

I’ve had both a 135is and a 335xi coupe (E92) and I’m not going back to BMW unless they add Android Auto.

Check out the Stinger GT!

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > MrDakka
06/27/2019 at 13:43

I don’t know/own BMW, but I have driven the RC and know people who own one.

1. Anything outside of the F is what I consider slow for the price, but the V8 in the RC-F makes a great noise and goes well. F-sport does not merit any HP improvements, just some suspension and cosmetic bits.

2. the RC is heavy. It’s a third IS-C, a third IS, and a third GS in terms of chassis, and you can feel the weight. It makes interior room just a bit cramped, but I know big guys who sit in it all the time without issue.

3. The 8 speed Aisin shifts ok but is not a DSG. Flappy paddles work well and shifts strongly but don’t expect super-shifting miracles , the interior looks like quality and 2019 added Apple Carplay, I don’t like the weird mouse toggle thing or touchpad controller you use the control the screen but it’s not the worst ever.

4. NVH is quite good and I’ve always liked the audio systems in them.

5. Used RC-Fs are starting to go down in price after holding at 70- 80% MSRP for a few years. I think 15s are now selling for under 40.

I like them, but they’re no faster than the IS-Fs they replaced OEM, even if they do have another 50 HP. Seriously, that v8 engine is a beaut.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
06/27/2019 at 14:00

Seconding this - completely on point. I do not think the 350 F sport has enough power for the chassis but I do like the gauge display and interior bits. Even the weird analog clock

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Textured Soy Protein
06/27/2019 at 14:11

The 2019 RCs have CarPlay now. An update is available for 2018s to retrofit that feature as well.

There is a fee for the update. But in either case once the Lexus has CarPlay, it’s free to use forever.

Textured Soy Protein > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
06/27/2019 at 15:55

Yeah that BMW CarPlay subscription nonsense is some Grade A 100% USDA Prime BS .