Lexus aims for "Pure Driving Enjoyment" with the RC-F

"BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather" (bugeyedacura) 01/08/2014 at 17:15 • Filed to: None

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Makes it auto only, and misses the point. Again.

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2015-lexu…

EL_ULY > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 01/08/2014 at 17:17

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Japanese Luxury V8 RWD Coupe, I'd take it if it was a column shifted automatic 4 speed :]

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > EL_ULY 01/08/2014 at 17:19

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So a Lexus SC400 circa ~1999?

Klaus Schmoll > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 01/08/2014 at 17:19

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And still the sheeple will buy it.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 01/08/2014 at 17:20

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Because we've all driven it already and can totally judge.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 01/08/2014 at 17:21

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If the GS F sport is anything to go by....it will be amazing.

Manuél Ferrari > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 01/08/2014 at 17:22

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I know :(

They could have at least offered a DCT

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 01/08/2014 at 17:23

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Typical Lexus clientele have better things to do while they are driving than changing their own gears, or, paying much attention to the whole "driving" thing for that matter...

Normalaatsra > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 01/08/2014 at 17:26

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Maybe if it was sold elsewhere a manual transmission RC F will show soon?

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 01/08/2014 at 17:27

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I'll probably face public ridicule for this, but.. the 2013 GS450h f-sport is a pretty damn enjoyable car to drive, it's way more nimble than one would think, and it's quick as fuck.

And that is a HYBRID, and very much not a manual.

Would I be happier if the RC-F could be had as a manual? Sure. Do I think it will be quite awesome as an auto? Damn right I do.

Talk smack about Toyota and Lexus all you want, but you can't say they ONLY make boring cars.

(PS. I'm not saying that you do that Mr. Bugeye, it's just that some of the people here on Oppo seems to have gotten into their heads that if it's made by Toyota/Lexus it will be boring)

GhostZ > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 01/08/2014 at 17:30

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That's because words are a lot cheaper than a stick shift.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/08/2014 at 17:30

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You know what? You're right! I should totally test drive it! Then my weird urge to have a manual transmission in a "fun" sports car will magically go away! Thanks for showing me the way :D

EL_ULY > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 01/08/2014 at 17:35

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that also :] What a legendary bulletproof mow-tah!

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur 01/08/2014 at 17:37

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And how many Opponauts have ever driven one you think? Seems like most people here have decided that the GS is a BBGC (Boring Beige Granddads Car).

I'm lucky enough to have driven the GS 450h F-sport, the IS 300h F-sport, the LS 600h and the CT 200h. The GS was a blast, the IS even more so, the LS was not the most exciting car I've driven, but it was far from boring. Heck, even the CT had it's moments.

Textured Soy Protein > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 01/08/2014 at 17:41

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Everything I've seen about the ZF 8-speed auto says it's pretty damn great for an automatic. Might not be quite as lightning fast as a double clutch but not very far behind at all.

The number of high end performance cars that offer a manual transmission is shrinking.

I drove nothing but manuals for 12 years. Now I have a DCT. I still like manuals. But a car can still be exciting even if it doesn't have a clutch pedal. Sure, having a manual transmission is more involving but manual transmissions don't have a monopoly on fun anymore.

m2m, apex detective > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 01/08/2014 at 17:43

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Not here to troll ... but by that measure, many a supercar would not be fun to drive these days. No GT-R, no 458, no P1, no 918 Spyder, no nothing.

Enjoyable driving does not always necessitate handling a gated shifter; in my opinion, this depends on how much you are involved when driving a car, and how busy and entertained these tasks can keep you. As long as it gets a proper manual mode (no forced upshifts etc.), I can still see it being a hoot. We'll see, I guess.

j.davism5 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 01/08/2014 at 19:09

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Show me a manual AMG, and I'd be willing to bet it's over 15 years old. And you do realize that the U.S is the ONLY market in which the F10 M5 comes in manual. If we get a manual m3/m4 down here in Australia, we'll be lucky. Point is, The people that have the funds to buy these cars, are less interested in rowing their own than you are, and the small percentage that can afford/do want to row their own don't necessitate production vs return. Don't get me wrong, I love manual. I bought a Boss 302 and had it converted to RHD for more than what an M3/CLK63 costs here, purely because I wanted manual. I bought an e39 M5 because it's the last manual one sold here. But the numbers don't lie. According to the sales breakdowns and the market research, in that market space I am too unique in my requirements to necessitate production. And having had an IS-F as a company car, that 8 speed is actually a pretty good box. Does it beat a clutch? No, but that doesn't mean it's not fun.

j.davism5 > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/08/2014 at 19:12

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I have a 12' Boss 302 and an e39 M5 as weekenders. I have a GRS190 Gs300 for my daily. I guess I'm boring as fuck and don't like driving. Don't know why I bought that go pro and a set of slicks. Must have been drunk.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > j.davism5 01/08/2014 at 19:17

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Calm down. Don't take things so personal.

Also, you do not mention owning a Lexus. So why exactly are you so upset?

I work for a Lexus dealer. I can attest to my statements.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > j.davism5 01/08/2014 at 19:28

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And that's why the true enthusaists wil continue to buy Corvettes, 911s, and muscle cars. Everyone I've ever met with a new AMG thinks it's a "gentleman's sausage extender".

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 01/08/2014 at 19:31

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To me, a car has to be something quite special to still be engaging with an Auto transmission.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 01/08/2014 at 19:38

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Fair enough. I just get somewhat fed up with all the hate some car makers get here on Oppo. Nothing personal against you or anyone else :)

j.davism5 > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/08/2014 at 19:39

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Err, said GRS190. As in, 2008 Lexus GS300. So yes, I do own a Lexus. The U.S got the GS350, the rest of us got the 300. 2nd, I spent 6 years selling Lexus, and now work for Lexus/Toyota Aus teaching people how to sell them. Your attitude towards the product (edit: and it's clientele) is one of the most common obstacles I have to overcome in my training sessions. I've sold quite a few IS-F's one of which I sold to a Team manger of a V8 supercar team. Wanted something better than his company VE GTS, and thoroughly enjoyed belting the IS-F around the Aus circuit. I find it annoying when people make poor assumptions about a product and it's clientele. By your logic, R35 owners are all I.T nerds that will never see a track day. You trolled, I bit. My bad.

j.davism5 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 01/08/2014 at 19:46

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You realize that the best driver's car in the Porsche range, The GT3, is now dual clutch only right? As for the muscle, I'm grateful they stay 3 pedal, but for how much longer? We have to find a way to still get fun out of these things. When it arrives, drive it. I'm sure it wont leave you too disappointed. I drove a 991 with a DCT at a track day when they were launched, and was surprised at how much fun I had. I'd still tick the manual box. But I still had fun.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 01/08/2014 at 19:46

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I mean I get it. I think people are more hurt than anything about Lexus though. They used to make some great enthusiast-focused rides. The SC300 and IS300 were amazing. And Lexus just turned their back on us for several years. It breeds some serious butthurt.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > j.davism5 01/08/2014 at 19:49

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My initial post should be read with heavy sarcasm.

Not all of us are cool enough to know chassis numbers. I had no idea the GS had any other identifiers.

Again, I was making a joke. I don't actually believe all Lexus drivers are incompetent. But, at my dealership, we do get many older clientele who probably have a hard enough time keeping up with the rapid pace of their environment while driving, and then they buy a car with an improbable number of distractions on top of that.

I also did not make any comments or judgements on how the RC or other Sporty Lexus vehicles feel to drive.

I have only driven an IS250 AWD and GS350 AWD. Both I could tell would be fun to toss around. My biggest complaint is Lexus terrible throttle tip-in. I despise that I can only have part throttle even though I've pushed the pedal beyond half-way.

A much more linear response would suit those cars better.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 01/08/2014 at 19:50

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I guess it does, it's probably the same thing I feel when it comes to music. One of my favourite bands went from Death/Doom to Electropop.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 01/08/2014 at 20:02

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Linkin Park syndrome man.

j.davism5 > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/08/2014 at 20:33

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I picked up on the sarcasm, but it seems a fairly typical response to any Lexus/Toyota product on this site. Your not helping, you're only perpetuating a stereotype.

You need to ask your boss to get your hands on an IS-F. As for the criticism leveled at the throttle response, I can remark that the differences in localized 'tune' are quite amazing. I drove a GS250 last time I was in the states. Felt softer and less eager than I expected. Got home, got in the same car, found that the suspension was much firmer, throttle was sharper, but more road noise. Local tuning here is a little more 'european' when it comes down to it. Manufacturers panic about suspension tune down here as our road conditions are quite diverse, and we have come to expect decent handling on dirt. If You drove an 05 RX330, you got that throttle response you were talking about. didn't go over well with the natives. They fixed it on RX350, and re-introduced it on RX450h with the atkinson cycle, which hasn't helped sales.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > j.davism5 01/08/2014 at 21:04

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I still think you are reading far more into my joke than is there.

I don't have a preference when it comes to who builds a car, so long as it is 'good.'

Will I complain when I notice faults? Always. But that is because I just want a car to be better.

I realize 'good' and 'better' are entirely subjective terms. And not everyone will share the same definition for either. However, I know that somewhere, someone from a given automaker is reading blogs like Oppo/Jalopnik and I choose to provide honest feedback about what I perceive as areas that can be improved. If enough people comment on how lazy the throttle tip-in is in Lexus vehicles, maybe they will address it.

Clearly you are sold on the Lexus brand. There is nothing wrong with that. They make very good cars.

I'm not really a brand or country purist, apart from really liking what Ford is doing with the Focus and Fiesta ST models. That Ford...he's so hot right now. So hot...

My comment was a joke. Just humor. Not underlying attempt to perpetuate a stereotype about the perceived inferiority of Lexus/Toyota/Japanese/Asian/Martian products.