I am currently thinking of moving from the RCF to a CT5 V Blackwing. Everything I have read about the car has been outstanding. Problem is, they are hard to find and I don't know anyone who has one for me to look at (dealers included). Also, I'm told that if found, test drives are out of the question. My local dealer has an allocation and sells at MSRP but ordering could take a while. Does anyone here have any real world info on the car? Admittedly, I don't drive that much any more (less than 11,000 miles on my 2019), but the paddles and tranny in the RCF are just not that satisfying. Any insight would be appreciated.

 

Jay Leno has a 1/2-hour video on this car which was very revealing. After watching it, makes me want one, only wish they had a 2-door version.

Still keeping my RCF and have my motorcycle around to satisfy myself with a manual transmission. Since I'm in my 70"s, thinking about trading in the bike for a manual transmission Miata.

 

Will check out Jay Leno video
hahahaha, I am 72 but done with 2 seaters.

 

Good luck, those things look serious and I bet they're a blast to drive. Caddy really knocked it out of the park.

 

Ha. Will be 72 this year and got the RCF for fun last year. Keep my BMW C600 (CVT scooter) for rides around the region so no manual transmissions in my future. I find the RCF Sport mode is very similar to how I would shift had I had a manual; so I'm happy with my toys. Nephew has a manual Miata that he let me drive a couple times...not as much fun as the RCF for me even though you are more active with pedals. I guess I miss the 60-100 mph in a couple seconds.

 

I second that being someone who drover 6 speed manual for 20 years doing his own heel-toe and rev-matching and fast upshifting. Luckily RCF maintains the goods as it offers head-snapping upshifts in manual mode and really crisp rev-matched downshifts. However, I do feel the "drama, physicality and labor" aspect of the manual is not there as building speed is a very effortless exercise or getting away from a stop light. Everything just seems too easy and I vaguely can recollect what happened during a certain merge on freeway everything seems less memorable other than the engine sound blasting through the cabin.

However, a car with this much power needs to use all its power to be put down as efficiently as possible and manuals while engaging, simply cannot come close. On the streets, a manual car with a mortal driver cannot come close to how quickly I can get away from a stop light. A C6 Corvette following me and getting next to me on a light was where I came to this realization. By the time I was 50 feet away from the stop light, I heard him drop the clutch and try launch. I was in the next dimension by the time he actually started accelerating and I was cruising at traffic speeds by the time he came roaring behind me. I was snickering while he did a ricer fly-by. In those moments, I forget I don't have that level of interaction/usage of limbs simply because I appreciate how difficult it is for any manual to match the efficiency in the real world.

 

Agreed, I miss driving a manual so much. The F is ok but doesn’t really scratch the itch.

I had a V car back in 2006 and it was the single most worst decision I’ve made regarding my addiction to burning fuel. I’m obsessed with keeping my vehicles well maintained so I can sell them like new when I’m done. Stay away is my advice. Engine was strong but it had the weirdest things go wrong with it. Of the those almost killed me and a dozen other drivers merging onto the freeway in cape cod. The disable trac, esc, and abs light came on while I was pulling into the highway and when I was about to merge onto the highway the car went into limp mode and the steering column locked at 75 mph mid corner. It was like a scene from wildest moments caught in video with cars locking up the tires in the freeway trying to avoid me shooting across lanes of traffic. The car stalled when I came to a stop without power brakes. I started the car and because it was in limp mode it would only do a few mph so I put it in reverse, got out of the car, and ran to the highway shoulder and let the car limp itself off the highway down the embankment. The car then spent 6 months at the dealer where they had to replace a nationally backordered wiring loom that was folded the wrong way during a recall before I bought the car. I bought it with 35k had electrical issues up to 100k platinum warranty expired and by 110k the car cast me 10k with a leaking magnetic suspension, blown rear end, wheel bearings and a coil pack rail. I’ve always loved V cars and still do, I just would never even get close to one anymore after my experience.
Just think about how many you used see when the first come out…where all they all now?? Don’t say someone didn’t warn you.

 

Exactly why I chose lexus for my first ever (and likely last) performance car. Reliability in Lexus is Legend. Plus, the RCF doesn't attract unwanted (police) attention since there isn't that much difference in looks between it and an RC300. Who needs a ticket? Who needs a car in the shop? Who needs an accident caused by poor QC in the factory (or on the drawing board)?

 

Ordered CT5 V BW today.

 

Congratulations! I love manuals. Sadly I have degenerative disc disease and my manual days are over due to sciatic back pain. I can barely walk after an hour of shifting. I still think a manual Miata is the most fun car ever made. I have owned 3 of them over the years. I also drove a manual Boxster for a week and that car was even more fun than the Miata.

 

For real world every day use, a miata, VW Golf R or civic type R are perfect choices. I came to the RCF from a 2017 7M 911 S (the most fun car I have ever owned). I listened to the PDK vs manual stories way too much. Yep the PDK shifts faster which is great if it's your only metric. I am not a street racer so pulling on cars from light to light is not of any interest to me. I just enjoy having copius amounts of power/torque when you call on it and a 3 pedal car to put the power down. Out of my last 12 cars, 10 have been manual. The 2 auto cars I've owned were great cars (Q 60 vert and RCF), just not as much fun to drive for me. I am at an age where I have more money than time left so I want to enjoy every moment.
Everyone has their own story, this is mine. Cheers