The car always starts in Normal mode. Doesn't everyone drive this car in Sport S+ mode? This car was made for a purpose, it is so much more fun driving it in Sport S+ mode. I wish you could select the mode it defaults to every time you start the car or it remembers the previous mode and starts in that mode the next time. It gets annoying having to turn the **** twice every time I get into the car.

Couldn't that be a simple software update? If you agree, please share that feedback with Lexus mfg and maybe they will listen and come out with a software update so we can all benefit.

 

As with other Lexus, I believe it has to do with meeting CAFE fuel economy standards. Eco mode will remain in Eco mode, but the Sport and S+ modes will always revert back to Normal.

 

it will start in Normal or ECO mode (if you shut it down in ECO mode), as stated EPA/CAFE requirements, all 2012 and newer cars will revert out of their track/sport modes upon shutdown. oh and I have noticed it will warm up faster in ECO mode for some reason.

the freeway I get on to go to work is 1.9 miles from my house, in normal or sport, it takes well after I am on the freeway for the oil temp to center, in ECO mode it is centered before the onramp.

however Sport+ mode has the oil warm before I get to the first stop light 3/4 mile away.

 

I noticed the warm-up delay as well. Good to know info...thx!

 

I always let my engines get to proper running temp before I make the switch to Sport Mode. I've never ever used Eco mode once and I put mostly highway miles on my RCF. I figure at ~ 80 mph and I'm getting 26-27 mpg I'm pretty ecstatic at getting that. Car gets exceptional mileage for what it is.

 

mjeds - Good tid-bit on the Eco-mode quicker warmup. I'll be paying attention.

Carnevino - Not that this is a fuel economy thread, but man, I'm so impressed I get the same highway fuel economy on the RC F as I do the IS 250 AWD !! That Atkinson cycle in the V8 surely has a lot to do with it.

 

Thanks for the replies.

The red line is electronically controlled and gets raised as the car warms up. This is my first real sports car, is this normal on most of them these days now, Corvettes, Mustangs, etc? My last sports car was a Celica. I don't remember it doing that. Which I think is great as it prevents you from red lining it too high when the car isn't warmed up yet.

With that said, do you think it matters how hard you drive it before it is completely warm? I figured the red line is electronically controlled for a reason, preventing you from damaging it.

MPG - I'm jealous! I do a lot of city driving and I think I'm getting around 14-16 mpg so far. But I'm always punching it when I get a chance.

 

My 2012 Camaro nor my 2005 300c didn't display the difference both had analog gauges, however during warm up they were limited, it would force shifts around 3,500 rpm if you went WOT before the oil was warm.

it was new to me how the RCF shows you the limitation, and I made a post about it, several people chimed in that BMW and others have been doing RPM notifications like this for the past dozen years.
as for MPG here is some info I posted last week:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rc-...m-testing.html

In stop and go traffic/city driving you are better off in ECO mode if you want to improve MPG, it will force the car into high gear faster and it keeps the Atkinson cycle running longer. Yeah acceleration lags, because you are in higher gears at lower speeds, but in stop and go light to light driving acceleration doesn't matter (unless you are the kind of driver that has to beat everyone to the next red light).

I shift between the modes as I drive depending on the traffic and where I am driving, since my morning commute is part highway, part city, and part back road, I go from ECO to Normal to ECO to Sport + in that 30 mile drive, to make the most of the cars features for the given conditions, I am averaging 19.8mpg on California cr@p gas.