jeremyp111

I think one of the reasons they aren't selling very well is that no one knows about them. I hadn't heard a single word of the RC until I visited a Lexus dealer and saw one for myself. I owned two SC400s back in the day and LOVED the ride, looks and smoothness of the Lexus coupe. I went Infinti (G35) and BMW (540i M Sport, 545i Sport) when Lexus came out with the SC430. I HATED the SC430...great chick car, but not for me at all. Lexus is really making huge strides in building sexy cars again after nearly a decade of boring, generic looking cars. I get head stares like you wouldn't believe and have had more compliments on this car in only two weeks than I have with any of my other cars, except maybe for the Infinit G35...I used to get lots of compliments on that one too but still not as much as the RC!

With the RC I find that it's not only a much better looking car but it has a more luxurious ride than the BMW 4 series and Audi A5/S5 but I will certainly give the performance nod to the german cars. The 3.5l V6 engine and the heavy weight of the RC just doesn't cut it compared to the BMW & Audis. The 0-60 times are very disappointing but let's face it, that's not how we drive our daily drivers in the real world. The performance on the street under normal driving conditions is fine and in sport and sport+ modes is very spirited. I love the quick and firm shifts of the RC in manual mode and smooth curvy roads are a blast!

Where the BMW and Audi falls apart is in the reliability. My 545i has constantly been at the dealer to the tune of over $15k over the past two years and if it wasn't for the warranty covering $11k+ I'd have jettisoned that car long ago. My Lexus cars have all been unbelievably reliable. I kept my two SC400s until over 180k miles and my RX300 to over 190k (my wife wouldn't let it go). All three of those cars combined cost me less to maintain than any one of the BMWs I've owned (two 525s, 328is, 540, 545). That is something you just cannot overlook. I don't care if its warrantied to 200k miles bumper to bumper...I still can't stand the constant visits to the dealer and being without my car for 1-2 days every time something goes wrong. Although, the loaner cars can be a nice way to get an extended test drive when you're thinking about your next new one...

Overall, I'm very happy with my RC350 F Sport and the addition of a custom axle back exhaust and Takeda cold air intake have helped wake it up a bit. Nothing huge but definitely noticeable. Love the sound too.
I will say that if I had to do it over again I might have just gone for the RCF and just planned to keep it for a longer period of time. Now THAT car is a BEAST!