IS 350 F-Sport vs RC 350 F-Sport / Which one would you buy and why?
04-03-15, 12:25 PM
#77
Lexus Test Driver
The RC is such a porker though. How is it 150-200 lbs heavier than the already beefy IS?
04-03-15, 01:23 PM
#79
Lexus Test Driver
The interior volume is a joke though. Even smaller backseats than my G35 coupe. They should have tweaked the engine a little to offset the weight increase.
04-06-15, 09:37 AM
#80
I think the font of RCF is much better
04-06-15, 04:55 PM
#81
Driver School Candidate
I had a chance to thoroughly drive both RC350 F-Sport and IS350 F-Sport again. A new RC350 and a new IS350.
For fun factor, the RC350 leads by a good margin. Even though that car is heavier and wider, it feels so much smaller when driven spiritedly. It does definitely handle better than the IS. And brakes work wonderfully in this car. I braked hard a few times, and every time the brakes felt more than adequate.
Well, my assumption about the IS350 that I previously drove was correct, that was a bad batch... or the dealer did something to screw with it. The new IS350 F-Sport that I drove was a lot of fun. Felt lighter, quicker, more nimble than the other IS350 F-Sport that I drove.
Why? Doesn't matter. The point is that I got to play with a "good" IS350.
This time, the IS350 was fun to drive. The other IS350 that I drove was not.
So the IS350 is lighter, a fraction of a second quicker.. but it still does not "feel" as quick as the RC350. The RC350 feels as if it gets up and goes much faster. As in.. I put my foot on the floor, and the RC350 moves. I put my foot on the floor with the IS350, and it takes half a second to respond to that. (Both were in Sports+ mode)
The braking is not as confidence-inspiring as the RC350. During my spirited driving, there was maybe one or two times where the brakes didn't fail me, but the thought "uh oh.. I need to press the brake harder" crossed my mind. Yes, it's a lighter card compared to the RC, but the RC350 F-Sport does have a different braking system and larger brake discs compared to the IS350 F-Sport (Japanese and US specs are not the same)
The RC350 was more fun to drive. It felt smaller, lighter, quicker. However, in terms of driving, where I found the IS350 to be superior was your eye's confidence. To my hands, butt, and legs... the RC350 felt more confident. It felt like I could push it more and more. With the IS350, I didn't feel AS confident. However, with the IS350, my front, side, and rear visibility was much clearer compared to the RC350. So even though the mechanical part of the car was not as confident inspiring, I felt that I knew my limits because I could see exactly where the car was. With the RC350, I did have a bit of a visibility limit, but I felt confident because I felt I could trust the car more. Does that make sense?
Both are fun cars. The RC350 was more fun. But because of the difference in trust (trust the car vs trust your eyes), I feel the RC350 would be more fun in a track and the IS350 would be more fun in an unexplored curvy mountain road.
So that's my conclusion on the driving experience.
Just a few things I'd like to point out about the interior.
Seats, navi, and stereo.
I still prefer the front seats in the RC350. For me, those seats are just perfect. They hold me just right, they're extremely comfortable, and no part of my body felt "forced". The small difference that I found with the IS350 front seats are the shoulder support. My shoulder felt a little uncomfortable with the IS350 front seats. I have a bad shoulder, so maybe that is why I was a little sensitive with that part. Overall, both have great front seats, but I give the edge to the RC350.
Rear seat though, IS350 by wide margin. The back seat is soooooooo comfortable! You could sleep back there. Can't do that in the RC.
And that pointless plastic center part in the back of the RC really bothers me. You can't do anything with that. That little cup holder in the back of the IS makes a world of a difference to me.
Navigation system.
I played a lot with both cars because I wanted to get used to the RC's trackpad-like control. Really, the only thing that I found favorable to the RC's control was that you can pinch in and out to zoom in and out of the map. But really, as much as I tried, I really didn't like the trackpad control. It felt to intrusive while driving.
Mark Levingston stereo.
I did not get a chance to listen to the Mark Levingston system in the IS. I listened to it in the RC and the GS (same components as the IS). I will say, I think the stock stereo system sucks. My Honda's stereo sounds so much nicer than Lexus' base stereo. Honestly, for a car in this price range, I would expect something decent. I honestly did not find it to be decent.
So moving on to the Mark Levingston. In the GS, the ML was pretty nice. In the RC, it sounded a lot better to me. And the bass actually had good presence in the RC, and the separation in music felt more.. controlled in the RC. The bass could have been attributed to the two extra inches in the sub. The separation being controlled though... I felt that the RC was better tuned than the GS. Either way, nice stereo.
It is worth the price? No way. I used to install stereos way back, and a $1k~$1.5k in speakers would get you a much nicer system. But in Japan, it would cost $2k to get a similar stereo installed.. plus installation. Plus the fact that Lexus warranty is very strict here, it may be worth it to just pay the $2400 for the Mark Levingston stereo if you want nice sound.
As a pure fun car, I have to give it to the RC350 F-Sport. However, this last test drive that I did really showed me that the IS350 F-Sport is fun as well. Is it as much fun as the RC350? No. I would say it's about 85-90% the fun of the RC350 F-Sport.
But when I think about the interior part of the car, the IS350 wins for me.
For fun factor, the RC350 leads by a good margin. Even though that car is heavier and wider, it feels so much smaller when driven spiritedly. It does definitely handle better than the IS. And brakes work wonderfully in this car. I braked hard a few times, and every time the brakes felt more than adequate.
Well, my assumption about the IS350 that I previously drove was correct, that was a bad batch... or the dealer did something to screw with it. The new IS350 F-Sport that I drove was a lot of fun. Felt lighter, quicker, more nimble than the other IS350 F-Sport that I drove.
Why? Doesn't matter. The point is that I got to play with a "good" IS350.
This time, the IS350 was fun to drive. The other IS350 that I drove was not.
So the IS350 is lighter, a fraction of a second quicker.. but it still does not "feel" as quick as the RC350. The RC350 feels as if it gets up and goes much faster. As in.. I put my foot on the floor, and the RC350 moves. I put my foot on the floor with the IS350, and it takes half a second to respond to that. (Both were in Sports+ mode)
The braking is not as confidence-inspiring as the RC350. During my spirited driving, there was maybe one or two times where the brakes didn't fail me, but the thought "uh oh.. I need to press the brake harder" crossed my mind. Yes, it's a lighter card compared to the RC, but the RC350 F-Sport does have a different braking system and larger brake discs compared to the IS350 F-Sport (Japanese and US specs are not the same)
The RC350 was more fun to drive. It felt smaller, lighter, quicker. However, in terms of driving, where I found the IS350 to be superior was your eye's confidence. To my hands, butt, and legs... the RC350 felt more confident. It felt like I could push it more and more. With the IS350, I didn't feel AS confident. However, with the IS350, my front, side, and rear visibility was much clearer compared to the RC350. So even though the mechanical part of the car was not as confident inspiring, I felt that I knew my limits because I could see exactly where the car was. With the RC350, I did have a bit of a visibility limit, but I felt confident because I felt I could trust the car more. Does that make sense?
Both are fun cars. The RC350 was more fun. But because of the difference in trust (trust the car vs trust your eyes), I feel the RC350 would be more fun in a track and the IS350 would be more fun in an unexplored curvy mountain road.
So that's my conclusion on the driving experience.
Just a few things I'd like to point out about the interior.
Seats, navi, and stereo.
I still prefer the front seats in the RC350. For me, those seats are just perfect. They hold me just right, they're extremely comfortable, and no part of my body felt "forced". The small difference that I found with the IS350 front seats are the shoulder support. My shoulder felt a little uncomfortable with the IS350 front seats. I have a bad shoulder, so maybe that is why I was a little sensitive with that part. Overall, both have great front seats, but I give the edge to the RC350.
Rear seat though, IS350 by wide margin. The back seat is soooooooo comfortable! You could sleep back there. Can't do that in the RC.
And that pointless plastic center part in the back of the RC really bothers me. You can't do anything with that. That little cup holder in the back of the IS makes a world of a difference to me.
Navigation system.
I played a lot with both cars because I wanted to get used to the RC's trackpad-like control. Really, the only thing that I found favorable to the RC's control was that you can pinch in and out to zoom in and out of the map. But really, as much as I tried, I really didn't like the trackpad control. It felt to intrusive while driving.
Mark Levingston stereo.
I did not get a chance to listen to the Mark Levingston system in the IS. I listened to it in the RC and the GS (same components as the IS). I will say, I think the stock stereo system sucks. My Honda's stereo sounds so much nicer than Lexus' base stereo. Honestly, for a car in this price range, I would expect something decent. I honestly did not find it to be decent.
So moving on to the Mark Levingston. In the GS, the ML was pretty nice. In the RC, it sounded a lot better to me. And the bass actually had good presence in the RC, and the separation in music felt more.. controlled in the RC. The bass could have been attributed to the two extra inches in the sub. The separation being controlled though... I felt that the RC was better tuned than the GS. Either way, nice stereo.
It is worth the price? No way. I used to install stereos way back, and a $1k~$1.5k in speakers would get you a much nicer system. But in Japan, it would cost $2k to get a similar stereo installed.. plus installation. Plus the fact that Lexus warranty is very strict here, it may be worth it to just pay the $2400 for the Mark Levingston stereo if you want nice sound.
As a pure fun car, I have to give it to the RC350 F-Sport. However, this last test drive that I did really showed me that the IS350 F-Sport is fun as well. Is it as much fun as the RC350? No. I would say it's about 85-90% the fun of the RC350 F-Sport.
But when I think about the interior part of the car, the IS350 wins for me.
04-07-15, 06:15 PM
#83
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
I had a chance to thoroughly drive both RC350 F-Sport and IS350 F-Sport again. A new RC350 and a new IS350.
For fun factor, the RC350 leads by a good margin. Even though that car is heavier and wider, it feels so much smaller when driven spiritedly. It does definitely handle better than the IS. And brakes work wonderfully in this car. I braked hard a few times, and every time the brakes felt more than adequate.
Well, my assumption about the IS350 that I previously drove was correct, that was a bad batch... or the dealer did something to screw with it. The new IS350 F-Sport that I drove was a lot of fun. Felt lighter, quicker, more nimble than the other IS350 F-Sport that I drove.
Why? Doesn't matter. The point is that I got to play with a "good" IS350.
This time, the IS350 was fun to drive. The other IS350 that I drove was not.
So the IS350 is lighter, a fraction of a second quicker.. but it still does not "feel" as quick as the RC350. The RC350 feels as if it gets up and goes much faster. As in.. I put my foot on the floor, and the RC350 moves. I put my foot on the floor with the IS350, and it takes half a second to respond to that. (Both were in Sports+ mode)
The braking is not as confidence-inspiring as the RC350. During my spirited driving, there was maybe one or two times where the brakes didn't fail me, but the thought "uh oh.. I need to press the brake harder" crossed my mind. Yes, it's a lighter card compared to the RC, but the RC350 F-Sport does have a different braking system and larger brake discs compared to the IS350 F-Sport (Japanese and US specs are not the same)
The RC350 was more fun to drive. It felt smaller, lighter, quicker. However, in terms of driving, where I found the IS350 to be superior was your eye's confidence. To my hands, butt, and legs... the RC350 felt more confident. It felt like I could push it more and more. With the IS350, I didn't feel AS confident. However, with the IS350, my front, side, and rear visibility was much clearer compared to the RC350. So even though the mechanical part of the car was not as confident inspiring, I felt that I knew my limits because I could see exactly where the car was. With the RC350, I did have a bit of a visibility limit, but I felt confident because I felt I could trust the car more. Does that make sense?
Both are fun cars. The RC350 was more fun. But because of the difference in trust (trust the car vs trust your eyes), I feel the RC350 would be more fun in a track and the IS350 would be more fun in an unexplored curvy mountain road.
So that's my conclusion on the driving experience.
Just a few things I'd like to point out about the interior.
Seats, navi, and stereo.
I still prefer the front seats in the RC350. For me, those seats are just perfect. They hold me just right, they're extremely comfortable, and no part of my body felt "forced". The small difference that I found with the IS350 front seats are the shoulder support. My shoulder felt a little uncomfortable with the IS350 front seats. I have a bad shoulder, so maybe that is why I was a little sensitive with that part. Overall, both have great front seats, but I give the edge to the RC350.
Rear seat though, IS350 by wide margin. The back seat is soooooooo comfortable! You could sleep back there. Can't do that in the RC.
And that pointless plastic center part in the back of the RC really bothers me. You can't do anything with that. That little cup holder in the back of the IS makes a world of a difference to me.
Navigation system.
I played a lot with both cars because I wanted to get used to the RC's trackpad-like control. Really, the only thing that I found favorable to the RC's control was that you can pinch in and out to zoom in and out of the map. But really, as much as I tried, I really didn't like the trackpad control. It felt to intrusive while driving.
Mark Levingston stereo.
I did not get a chance to listen to the Mark Levingston system in the IS. I listened to it in the RC and the GS (same components as the IS). I will say, I think the stock stereo system sucks. My Honda's stereo sounds so much nicer than Lexus' base stereo. Honestly, for a car in this price range, I would expect something decent. I honestly did not find it to be decent.
So moving on to the Mark Levingston. In the GS, the ML was pretty nice. In the RC, it sounded a lot better to me. And the bass actually had good presence in the RC, and the separation in music felt more.. controlled in the RC. The bass could have been attributed to the two extra inches in the sub. The separation being controlled though... I felt that the RC was better tuned than the GS. Either way, nice stereo.
It is worth the price? No way. I used to install stereos way back, and a $1k~$1.5k in speakers would get you a much nicer system. But in Japan, it would cost $2k to get a similar stereo installed.. plus installation. Plus the fact that Lexus warranty is very strict here, it may be worth it to just pay the $2400 for the Mark Levingston stereo if you want nice sound.
As a pure fun car, I have to give it to the RC350 F-Sport. However, this last test drive that I did really showed me that the IS350 F-Sport is fun as well. Is it as much fun as the RC350? No. I would say it's about 85-90% the fun of the RC350 F-Sport.
But when I think about the interior part of the car, the IS350 wins for me.
For fun factor, the RC350 leads by a good margin. Even though that car is heavier and wider, it feels so much smaller when driven spiritedly. It does definitely handle better than the IS. And brakes work wonderfully in this car. I braked hard a few times, and every time the brakes felt more than adequate.
Well, my assumption about the IS350 that I previously drove was correct, that was a bad batch... or the dealer did something to screw with it. The new IS350 F-Sport that I drove was a lot of fun. Felt lighter, quicker, more nimble than the other IS350 F-Sport that I drove.
Why? Doesn't matter. The point is that I got to play with a "good" IS350.
This time, the IS350 was fun to drive. The other IS350 that I drove was not.
So the IS350 is lighter, a fraction of a second quicker.. but it still does not "feel" as quick as the RC350. The RC350 feels as if it gets up and goes much faster. As in.. I put my foot on the floor, and the RC350 moves. I put my foot on the floor with the IS350, and it takes half a second to respond to that. (Both were in Sports+ mode)
The braking is not as confidence-inspiring as the RC350. During my spirited driving, there was maybe one or two times where the brakes didn't fail me, but the thought "uh oh.. I need to press the brake harder" crossed my mind. Yes, it's a lighter card compared to the RC, but the RC350 F-Sport does have a different braking system and larger brake discs compared to the IS350 F-Sport (Japanese and US specs are not the same)
The RC350 was more fun to drive. It felt smaller, lighter, quicker. However, in terms of driving, where I found the IS350 to be superior was your eye's confidence. To my hands, butt, and legs... the RC350 felt more confident. It felt like I could push it more and more. With the IS350, I didn't feel AS confident. However, with the IS350, my front, side, and rear visibility was much clearer compared to the RC350. So even though the mechanical part of the car was not as confident inspiring, I felt that I knew my limits because I could see exactly where the car was. With the RC350, I did have a bit of a visibility limit, but I felt confident because I felt I could trust the car more. Does that make sense?
Both are fun cars. The RC350 was more fun. But because of the difference in trust (trust the car vs trust your eyes), I feel the RC350 would be more fun in a track and the IS350 would be more fun in an unexplored curvy mountain road.
So that's my conclusion on the driving experience.
Just a few things I'd like to point out about the interior.
Seats, navi, and stereo.
I still prefer the front seats in the RC350. For me, those seats are just perfect. They hold me just right, they're extremely comfortable, and no part of my body felt "forced". The small difference that I found with the IS350 front seats are the shoulder support. My shoulder felt a little uncomfortable with the IS350 front seats. I have a bad shoulder, so maybe that is why I was a little sensitive with that part. Overall, both have great front seats, but I give the edge to the RC350.
Rear seat though, IS350 by wide margin. The back seat is soooooooo comfortable! You could sleep back there. Can't do that in the RC.
And that pointless plastic center part in the back of the RC really bothers me. You can't do anything with that. That little cup holder in the back of the IS makes a world of a difference to me.
Navigation system.
I played a lot with both cars because I wanted to get used to the RC's trackpad-like control. Really, the only thing that I found favorable to the RC's control was that you can pinch in and out to zoom in and out of the map. But really, as much as I tried, I really didn't like the trackpad control. It felt to intrusive while driving.
Mark Levingston stereo.
I did not get a chance to listen to the Mark Levingston system in the IS. I listened to it in the RC and the GS (same components as the IS). I will say, I think the stock stereo system sucks. My Honda's stereo sounds so much nicer than Lexus' base stereo. Honestly, for a car in this price range, I would expect something decent. I honestly did not find it to be decent.
So moving on to the Mark Levingston. In the GS, the ML was pretty nice. In the RC, it sounded a lot better to me. And the bass actually had good presence in the RC, and the separation in music felt more.. controlled in the RC. The bass could have been attributed to the two extra inches in the sub. The separation being controlled though... I felt that the RC was better tuned than the GS. Either way, nice stereo.
It is worth the price? No way. I used to install stereos way back, and a $1k~$1.5k in speakers would get you a much nicer system. But in Japan, it would cost $2k to get a similar stereo installed.. plus installation. Plus the fact that Lexus warranty is very strict here, it may be worth it to just pay the $2400 for the Mark Levingston stereo if you want nice sound.
As a pure fun car, I have to give it to the RC350 F-Sport. However, this last test drive that I did really showed me that the IS350 F-Sport is fun as well. Is it as much fun as the RC350? No. I would say it's about 85-90% the fun of the RC350 F-Sport.
But when I think about the interior part of the car, the IS350 wins for me.
06-16-15, 07:26 PM
#87
Pole Position
All business lol. People would spend a few more grand on a stylish coupe. To be honest, I think my IS 350 F-Sport is sexy enough.
06-18-15, 05:22 PM
#88
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
06-18-15, 05:23 PM
#89
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB100014...26990550408124
All business lol. People would spend a few more grand on a stylish coupe. To be honest, I think my IS 350 F-Sport is sexy enough.
All business lol. People would spend a few more grand on a stylish coupe. To be honest, I think my IS 350 F-Sport is sexy enough.
