Questions about RC (and maintenance)
06-17-15, 03:27 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2015
Location: California
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Questions about RC (and maintenance)
Hi all,
Currently in camp BMW - lease is approaching its end soon (year-ish) and I am thinking for my next car....
Had the pleasure of doing an extended test drive of the RCF and took a small test drive on RC-FSport.
Personally, F is out of budget and .... if I was buying I would go M instead.
But I really like the Fsport and have some questions I am hoping some of you folks can answer?
1) I currently pay $0 to maintain my Car. How much have you guys paid in scheduled maintenance over the 1st year of ownership?
If anyone has the maintenance schedule + associated costs, I would love to see - I did a quick google search but couldn't find much!
2) Is there a significant driving difference between regular and F-Sport? I am interested in things such as steering wheel, seat design, driving feel, etc.
The renders online don't show much difference between the two.
F-Sport gives up leather, which I would love to have. Though the moving gauges are pretty damn cool!
. But a big deal for me is that F-Sport gets faux cf trim instead of wood (correct?)
Debating between this car and a 4 series.... the 4 series as I would spec it is more expensive, but would include that free maintenance so .....
Also thinking about a 2 series.... but those are rare cars with little discounts, and even though it would be cheaper than both, I think I would prefer a luxury coupe over a sports coupe.
Currently in camp BMW - lease is approaching its end soon (year-ish) and I am thinking for my next car....
Had the pleasure of doing an extended test drive of the RCF and took a small test drive on RC-FSport.
Personally, F is out of budget and .... if I was buying I would go M instead.
But I really like the Fsport and have some questions I am hoping some of you folks can answer?
1) I currently pay $0 to maintain my Car. How much have you guys paid in scheduled maintenance over the 1st year of ownership?
If anyone has the maintenance schedule + associated costs, I would love to see - I did a quick google search but couldn't find much!
2) Is there a significant driving difference between regular and F-Sport? I am interested in things such as steering wheel, seat design, driving feel, etc.
The renders online don't show much difference between the two.
F-Sport gives up leather, which I would love to have. Though the moving gauges are pretty damn cool!
. But a big deal for me is that F-Sport gets faux cf trim instead of wood (correct?)Debating between this car and a 4 series.... the 4 series as I would spec it is more expensive, but would include that free maintenance so .....
Also thinking about a 2 series.... but those are rare cars with little discounts, and even though it would be cheaper than both, I think I would prefer a luxury coupe over a sports coupe.
06-17-15, 03:52 PM
#2
My RC F-sport came with free maintenance for 4 year 50k.(I think) So I hope that you should not have to pay for anything out of pocket when it comes to regular maintenance. I came from an Audi, and they were expensive as heck to maintain after the warranty was gone, as well as my car only lasted to get to 135k miles. I was took care of it but I ran into too many problems with it once it hit 100k.
I believe the difference between the RC and the RC F sport would be the aesthetics. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
I believe the difference between the RC and the RC F sport would be the aesthetics. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
06-17-15, 09:24 PM
#3
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2015
Location: California
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From Edmonds.com
http://www.edmunds.com/auto-shows/ge...sport-faq.html
What's the Difference Between the RC 350 and RC 350 F Sport?
The F Sport can be identified by the black mesh in the RC's enormous grille and its unique 19-inch F Sport dark-finished alloy wheels. Inside it gets a special sport steering wheel with perforated leather, special silver trim and the option of F-Sport-specific Rioja Red leather.
Mechanically, the F Sport includes Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), which automatically adjusts suspension damping at all four wheels based on driving inputs, vehicle body motions and road surface conditions. Lexus says that engaging the car's Sport+ driving mode alters the suspension for even better body control and precise responses based on steering input.
The optional Lexus Dynamic Handling (LDG) system includes variable steering gear ratios and rear wheel steering. Based on speed, steering direction and driver inputs, the car automatically manages the turning angle of the front and rear wheels. Similar to BMW's four-wheel-steering system, the front and rear wheels turn in opposite directions at lower speeds and in the same direction at higher speeds.
Engine:
There is no difference in the F Sport version's engine. Like the regular RC 350, it has a 3.5-liter V6 that sends 306 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. There are paddle shifters for changing gears yourself.
Cost:*
RC 350 starts around $42,000, the RC 350 F Sport around $48,000.
*Poster's editorial - Good luck finding an RC 350 F Sport for less than $50,000.
For more details on what's featured on each, I'd recommend the Lexus site:
http://www.lexus.com/models/RC
Hope this helped.
ZeroG
http://www.edmunds.com/auto-shows/ge...sport-faq.html
What's the Difference Between the RC 350 and RC 350 F Sport?
The F Sport can be identified by the black mesh in the RC's enormous grille and its unique 19-inch F Sport dark-finished alloy wheels. Inside it gets a special sport steering wheel with perforated leather, special silver trim and the option of F-Sport-specific Rioja Red leather.
Mechanically, the F Sport includes Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), which automatically adjusts suspension damping at all four wheels based on driving inputs, vehicle body motions and road surface conditions. Lexus says that engaging the car's Sport+ driving mode alters the suspension for even better body control and precise responses based on steering input.
The optional Lexus Dynamic Handling (LDG) system includes variable steering gear ratios and rear wheel steering. Based on speed, steering direction and driver inputs, the car automatically manages the turning angle of the front and rear wheels. Similar to BMW's four-wheel-steering system, the front and rear wheels turn in opposite directions at lower speeds and in the same direction at higher speeds.
Engine:
There is no difference in the F Sport version's engine. Like the regular RC 350, it has a 3.5-liter V6 that sends 306 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. There are paddle shifters for changing gears yourself.
Cost:*
RC 350 starts around $42,000, the RC 350 F Sport around $48,000.
*Poster's editorial - Good luck finding an RC 350 F Sport for less than $50,000.
For more details on what's featured on each, I'd recommend the Lexus site:
http://www.lexus.com/models/RC
Hope this helped.
ZeroG
AVS sounds like something I need to investigate with back to back test drives, but LDG is useless to me and I would never put the car in performance situations where it would benefit from this.
Seems to me that I might like the non-Fsport version more. Leather + wood trim are important to me.
Thank you for the info!
Still looking for information on the maintenance though
.
06-18-15, 05:05 AM
#4
Driver School Candidate
As far as the seats the f sports have a more intricate stitch pattern. As for bolstering, I have driven both, and the f sports are more tightly bolstered some find this to be too tight but if that's what your looking for than it should be perfect. Personally I prefer everything on the f sport and am looking to order a 16 this August.
06-18-15, 06:59 AM
#6
Moderator
I have an RC with just about all the options (Flaxen interior, shown in the photo above), and much prefer it to the F-Sport for appearance, and if you are as superficial as me, then this is the way to go. As for your other big concern, there is no such thing as "free maintenance." There is a thing called pre-paid maintenance - this is a mandatory option with some manufacturers that they do not separately itemize, but you do pay for it. ("Free maintenance" is a self-contradictory expression, much like "mandatory option.")
06-18-15, 07:20 AM
#7
Driver School Candidate
I have an RC with just about all the options (Flaxen interior, shown in the photo above), and much prefer it to the F-Sport for appearance, and if you are as superficial as me, then this is the way to go. As for your other big concern, there is no such thing as "free maintenance." There is a thing called pre-paid maintenance - this is a mandatory option with some manufacturers that they do not separately itemize, but you do pay for it. ("Free maintenance" is a self-contradictory expression, much like "mandatory option.")
Trending Topics
06-18-15, 08:20 AM
#8
Moderator
Flaxen and Playa are similar tan interiors. I have seen them both and the playa is much lighter and has a distinctly yellowish cast, and did not seem like a good match to the red, which was the color of the car in which I saw the playa. The flaxen is what is generally described as tan, and goes very well with the red (ask the Ferrari people about that combo). The playa would go well with the darker colors, I would think.
06-18-15, 08:29 AM
#9
Driver School Candidate
Flaxen and Playa are similar tan interiors. I have seen them both and the playa is much lighter and has a distinctly yellowish cast, and did not seem like a good match to the red, which was the color of the car in which I saw the playa. The flaxen is what is generally described as tan, and goes very well with the red (ask the Ferrari people about that combo). The playa would go well with the darker colors, I would think.
06-18-15, 09:22 AM
#10
Lexus Champion
Like mentioned above, "free maintenance" really means that it has already been added to your car's price. It's just a way for BMW to make you feel like you're getting more, but you are paying for it. So if you lease a car and return it before 50K miles, then you're paying for services that you'll never use.
In regards to Lexus maintenance, the first 2 services are included (5K and 10K miles). The 5K is just inspections and tire rotations, while the 10K is oil change, filters change, fluids, inspections, and tire rotations. After that, unless you buy the maintenance plan, you'll be paying out of pocket. But you can skip the ones in-between oil changes (15K, 25K, 35K, 45K) without voiding warranty since they are basically just inspections, so that will save you some money. It's difficult to tell you the cost of the real services (20K, 30K, 40K, 50K) since they have different things being replaced, so prices will vary between $120-400.
In regards to Lexus maintenance, the first 2 services are included (5K and 10K miles). The 5K is just inspections and tire rotations, while the 10K is oil change, filters change, fluids, inspections, and tire rotations. After that, unless you buy the maintenance plan, you'll be paying out of pocket. But you can skip the ones in-between oil changes (15K, 25K, 35K, 45K) without voiding warranty since they are basically just inspections, so that will save you some money. It's difficult to tell you the cost of the real services (20K, 30K, 40K, 50K) since they have different things being replaced, so prices will vary between $120-400.
Last edited by dchar; 06-18-15 at 09:26 AM.
06-18-15, 09:26 AM
#11
Moderator
Sig:
That's correct: flaxen is not available with the blue F-Sport exterior, and too bad. If I were getting an RC in the blue, I'd skip the playa and go with the gray interior.
That's correct: flaxen is not available with the blue F-Sport exterior, and too bad. If I were getting an RC in the blue, I'd skip the playa and go with the gray interior.
06-18-15, 09:27 AM
#12
06-18-15, 09:39 AM
#13
Driver School Candidate
Interesting combination. I had not even considered the gray as I was between the red and the playa.
06-18-15, 11:13 AM
#15
Like mentioned above, "free maintenance" really means that it has already been added to your car's price. It's just a way for BMW to make you feel like you're getting more, but you are paying for it. So if you lease a car and return it before 50K miles, then you're paying for services that you'll never use.
In regards to Lexus maintenance, the first 2 services are included (5K and 10K miles). The 5K is just inspections and tire rotations, while the 10K is oil change, filters change, fluids, inspections, and tire rotations. After that, unless you buy the maintenance plan, you'll be paying out of pocket. But you can skip the ones in-between oil changes (15K, 25K, 35K, 45K) without voiding warranty since they are basically just inspections, so that will save you some money. It's difficult to tell you the cost of the real services (20K, 30K, 40K, 50K) since they have different things being replaced, so prices will vary between $120-400.
In regards to Lexus maintenance, the first 2 services are included (5K and 10K miles). The 5K is just inspections and tire rotations, while the 10K is oil change, filters change, fluids, inspections, and tire rotations. After that, unless you buy the maintenance plan, you'll be paying out of pocket. But you can skip the ones in-between oil changes (15K, 25K, 35K, 45K) without voiding warranty since they are basically just inspections, so that will save you some money. It's difficult to tell you the cost of the real services (20K, 30K, 40K, 50K) since they have different things being replaced, so prices will vary between $120-400.
No tire rotation of the F-Sport since they have staggered wheels. Have Lexus do the oil changes as it is good for trade in or selling it yourself. Want to save more then do some of the maintenance yourself like changing out the Air Filter and Cabin air filter when it is supposed to be done. Don't worry Lexus will tell you when it's due.