On its website, Lexus states the RC F was “developed to satisfy the most demanding driving enthusiasts.” Apparently, they didn’t know who Chris Harris, a man who has driven dozens of high-performance cars, is when they went to the engineering lab and test track…or did they?
Harris recently drove an RC F at the Monticello Motor Club in southeast New York. To say the least, he was not happy with its performance there. He complained about the coupe’s weight (3,958 pounds), palpable lack of torque (389 lb.-ft. from a 5-liter V8), and its unwillingness to change directions.
That’s not to say he hated the 467-horsepower BMW M4 fighter. Once Harris took the RC F out on the road, he enjoyed its “Japanese, technical, funky” interior, its ride quality, the directness of its steering, and the sound of its engine.
It ultimately comes down to which type of driving you consider. If it’s the track kind, then Harris, a demanding enthusiast, was not satisfied. However, if you’re thinking about everyday driving, then he definitely was, despite the naturally aspirated Lexus feeling as if it’s half a generation behind its turbocharged European competition.
Now that we know Harris’ take on the F, let’s hear your thoughts about it. Does it satisfy you?
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
Where do you go for answers when you have a Lexus with a gorgeous leather interior but are not sure about how to maintain that luxurious look? The "Club Lexus" forums, of course.
