For $80k USD you can practically get a new 23 RCF (unless you really need the 4 doors)

 

This is the RCF sub-forum so I vote RCF.

 

I'm in toronto
Higher taxes. Costs more here

 

Would not take an IS if free. Just does not warrant being in the brand. Felt cheap both times I drove one. Reminded me of my first car, a 1967 Toyota corona...tinny.

 

If you have the VIN, your local Lexus dealer can download Lexus service records (every time it was brought to a Lexus dealer)

 

Unconventional advice, if you have budget and want the best of 2UR-GSE then shoot for the LC 500, but the depreciation on them is way worse than RC F and IS 500, perhaps LC 500 is too rich for any used market and any buyers who want the best will opt for the brand new. If you are not able to extend that far for the cash. Then here's my breakdown of both cars. I'm still researching and thinking over my own trade-in.

IS 500 Advantages - Extra rear seats even if tight they are usable, Better looking (subjective, as I like pre facelifed RC F than the current one and IS 500 looks better to me), Spare Tire, Illuminated Entry system (lights up the interior, both front footbox and pedal box, whenever you open door or near the car with key in your pocket), Lexus memory (Memory profiles for driver seat / steering) both these last options were removed by Lexus on the 2023 MY onwards for RC F. 17 Speakers 1800W Mark Levinson Audio system vs 17 speakers 800W Mark Levinson in the RC F, it's not an advantage per-se but the DF Sound review on IS and RC F impressions I think IS had better audio, no personal experience and since it's a 2 door coupe it does not need more wattage.

IS 500 Disadvantages - Bumper sag. It's a thing and the TSB is complete BS (TL;DR - glue fix by Toyota motor corp, this happens on IS 350 too and they are SOL) you can read it on the IS 500 subforum here's the thread (read the last 2 pages for the TSB details) we do not know if 2025 IS 500 exists and if it does Lexus has to redesign the bumper (big doubt, they will just update the current cheap fix for such an expensive car). Premature inner tire wear due to softer LCA bushings for NVH / Ride quality comfortness, No Leather option it's all Nuluxe. Chassis is not as strong as RC F, the front end is from GS though so it's all AL double wishbone like RC F.

RC F Advantages - Headlamp Washer (I think IS 500 in Canada has unlike US market), Trans and Engine Oil coolers, Bigger 6 piston Brembo brakes vs 4 Piston on the IS 500, Wider tires RC F - 255/275 vs IS 500 - 235/265, Higher speed limit 180Mph vs IS 500 150Mph. Chassis far more rigid than the IS 500 which is not revised or reinforced for the 2UR-GSE. Premium Package gets you Leather. Michelin Pilot Sport from factory. True F car and last of F cars from Toyota and Lexus. Rear Suspension is full AL unlike Steel / AL in the IS 500, it will add cost for servicing for the RC F.

RC F Disadvantages - Loss of Engine bracing from the 2023 MY+ they removed the provision altogether which connects the firewall to the shock towers (I do not know how it will impact the latest RC F 2023+, I mentioned it one of the thread here). No Illuminated entry system, No Lexus Memory. Torque Vectoring Diff is gone from newer RC F cars. More expensive in price, Premium Package is $80K USD vs IS 500 $68K USD in US market and repairs will be expensive as-well, no spare tire option, Only 2 door coupe. Chassis is a Franken-design from SC coupe, IS and GS F, not sure if it's a disadvantage but it's not an original 100% from scratch design, although they use it with heavy modifications for RC F GT3 Racecar.

LC gets you far better Aisin 10 speed transmission which shifts way faster than the Aisin AA80E in the RC F / GS F / IS 500 / IS F. Far more structural rigidity they have Carbon Fiber chassis components on the LC, *more rigid than the LFA as Lexus claims in their press. Exotic machine that turns every eye, Bespoke option to build whatever you want from colors and options (they added Trans cooler on the Inspiration and LC 500 S in Japan, no idea if Bespoke or 2024 MY has that built in), Really special vehicle from Lexus and perhaps last of its type. Ultimate looks and best of the Lexus, they won't make such cars anymore. But far more impractical for daily as RC F or IS 500 due to it's nature and far more expensive down the line to maintain.

2UR-GSE will be going out soon it's on the last legs and Lexus discontinued all of the V8s from LS and GX only left are LC 500, RC F and IS 500, The newer RC F GT3 successor is coming 2026 for European Racing debut. That will mark the end of RC F homologation requirement and end of RC F, as Lexus barely sells any RC F cars thus they cut down some costs too as I mentioned above. With that LC 500 and IS 500 will also retire by 2026 is my rough guess.

 

Suspension feels rather soft and squishy. Lots of roll, squat and dive. I know it is not an F-car, but still one would think Lexus would have put more into beefing up the suspension and chassis to make it feel more different than my 2019 3IS.

Also, RCF has a specifically developed suspension. Both RC and RCF were developed together rather than being an afterthought. They developed and tested RCF for thousands of miles around various tracks including Nurburgring over the course of 3 years. The F-seats as well. Better build quality as well since I own a 3IS as well and can tell a difference in build quality and materials etc. RCF is 70 percent different from a base RC. RCF has a lot of fender bulges to hide the wider track. Also, chassis rigidity enough to make a convertible without the need of any additional reinforcements etc.

That is no big deal. My RCF has it, but it forms a very small part of chassis rigidity and structural reinforcements. RCF inherently according to Lexus is more than 50 % stiffer than the IS and GS platform (IS platform is just a shortened version of the GS platform). I am sure no one can tell any difference with the absence of that 4-point chassis brace.

The middle section is from the IS convertible because floor pan is twice as stiff as the 3IS chassis. The front end with additional reinforcements including increased apron thickness is from the 4GS in order to get the long and wide hood for more engine placed behind the front axle and wider front track. To put it in perspective, 2UR is a long engine. Lexus had to elongate the 3IS nose by 2 inches for IS500 in order to make room for the 2UR engine fit. The rear of RCF is from the 3IS chassis for compact dimensions. It has a stronger subframe through additional reinforcement including a 10 point chassis brace for the rear subframe.

LC transmission at max attack all-out is rated at the same 100 ms according to AISIN. Again, that is going all-out. Though, LC 10 speed is much better in auto mode and also the gearing on the 10 speed is shorter in 2nd, 3rd and 4th, which helps the LC feel faster than it actually is as you are hitting redline more frequently in shorter intervals. I will say this, I have driven an IS500 and definitely I felt a difference with RCF shift programming at the software level of the AA80E transmission.

I would go out on a limb and say, I can easily afford LC500, but I never considered buying it having driven it. RCF CF and TVD suits my driving style much better since I have two other Lexus cars so I wanted the most aggressive 2UR I could get. That brings me to the gripes I have with the LC that seem to be the quite obvious ones.

- Apples to oranges with RCF. Completely for a different demographic and driving feel. LC is a luxury GT car through and through. I am a younger demographic and wanted a healthy balance between luxury and performance with the 2UR engine. If I wanted a luxury GT halo car then LC is the better choice. In my opinion, LC500 is also much slower relatively speaking as far as acceleration goes. RCF just checks more boxes.
- Somewhat related to the previous point, large size car and very heavy car at 4400 lbs. RCF or IS500 are heavy as well, but definitely at 400+ lbs lighter it works against it.
- What you wrote about the chassis is correct. However, chassis not developed to be a high-performance chassis. It is a shortened version of the LS500 platform with some tweaks, but it is one of the main reasons why the LCF was canned because the car was going to be around 4700 lbs and they could not figure out how to get the weight down,
- Suspension and steering are very soft and squishy. Definitely, feel some float when you start yanking it hard in the turns. Again, not the focus of the car, but that is why they are apples to oranges. A lot of RCF owners take their cars to the track or for spirited driving and all of this counts.
- Practicality is an issue. Rear seats and trunk are barely usable in the LC500, In the RCF you can put two baby seats in the back and a stroller etc. in the trunk.
- The transmission is meant for the streets and better than the AA80E there. Shorter gearing makes it more lively for short sprints on the streets, but without the transmission cooler and also the track requiring taller gearing for fast tracks where momentum and flow through turns requires holding gears, the AA80E 8 speed is better suited for the track given LC transmission is well known to have overheating issues on the track. LC transmission is the better transmission for the streets.

 

According to the literature online the base RC has a wider track than the RCF - I know it sounds odd. FWIW my brother has owned an LC for years, the transmission is differently better in the LC - however its not intended for track use. I would say both the lc500 and rcf lean more toward GT cars (the LC more so) than actual high performance cars, however the RCF is actually equipped to handle the track (additional coolers, bigger/stronger brakes, stiffer suspension, etc.)

Most of the reviews online for the is500 have been positive, fwiw.