[ossi1]

I'm wavering here despite only 7 months ownership on an 18 plate

Previous recent history back to 2007

LEXUS IS200
BMW 135i
Lexus IS200T
BMW 340i

Always lusted after the F and suddenly prices here have dipped to way below comparable M4 territory . That said I've never lusted after an M3/4 due to the costs involved in maintaining the things.

For £10K ($13k) and mine I can get in a 67 plate RCF. A bomb proof 5 litre.

The problem I see it as soon as the M340i is released here in the UK, F30 prices in the segment will drop like a stone and that gap will widen.

I'm trying desperately to find an affinity with the 340i, a lovely car but bloody hell in the last week I've probably seen 20 mineral grey F30's .

I feel almost embarrassed at even thinking of binning it.

[MT4life]

RCF is a great car. I wish Lexus made 6MT cars.

[MmmmmM2]

The problem with the RCF is it is not much faster than a 340i, even with the V8. 0-60 on the RCF is tested at 4.3 seconds and I'm pretty sure a 340i with MPPSK installed can come close to that.

Plus, check out this Youtube video of the RCF:

Chris Harris knows his stuff, so if he doesn't like it, that should tell you something.

[jmg]

I'm one of the few that likes the styling, but honestly I'm not impressed with the RCF whatsoever. Too heavy. Wasted potential.

[Zanity]

Originally Posted by jmg

I'm one of the few that likes the styling, but honestly I'm not impressed with the RCF whatsoever. Too heavy. Wasted potential.

I agree, I like the styling too, atleast toyota takes chances, unlike BMW, the only chance they took is seeing how big the kidney grill can get. But toyota has been making corollas for too long, they're out of touch for sports cars, FRS is a subaru, supra is a Z4. My 2 cents for the OP is, if you love driving, you'll eventually regret getting the RCF, because other than LFA, no other Lexus deserves the F badge.

[MmmmmM2]

Originally Posted by Zanity

I agree, I like the styling too, atleast toyota takes chances, unlike BMW, the only chance they took is seeing how big the kidney grill can get. But toyota has been making corollas for too long, they're out of touch for sports cars, FRS is a subaru, supra is a Z4. My 2 cents for the OP is, if you love driving, you'll eventually regret getting the RCF, because other than LFA, no other Lexus deserves the F badge.

Well said! I regretted getting my 17 IS350 F Sport about 3 months after leasing it. Besides the LFA, Lexus sports cars have no soul.

[bimmer456]

The Lexus products in the list are all 4 bangers while the BMW's are straight 6's. I would imagine the difference in power and exhaust note would be noticeable.

[track.n.trail]

I agree, the RCF has so much wasted potential. Needs significantly less weight, more grip and more torque to compete with a tuned 340i or M3/4.
If you want one for reasons other than performance, then they are great cars: reliable, good sound, nice interior quality.

[ooshnoo]

Check out Doug's video...

[upsidedownfunnel]

If you can get the RCF for only a little more than a 340i, I think it's well worth it. The interior is much better, the exterior styling is beautiful, IMO, it's got a naturally aspirated V8, and a torque vectoring differential like the M4. If you don't need a manual transmission, it's a good car.

Also, loaded up with options (like the RCF is) the weight difference isn't actually as big. The reason the M3/M4 are advertised with such low curb weights is because BMW makes a stripper version that no one actually buys. The M4 is still lighter than a comparable RCF, but not actually by 500 lbs. The difference with comparably optioned cars is probably closer to 2-300 lbs.

[ossi1]

Originally Posted by F30ZHP

The problem with the RCF is it is not much faster than a 340i, even with the V8. 0-60 on the RCF is tested at 4.3 seconds and I'm pretty sure a 340i with MPPSK installed can come close to that.

Plus, check out this Youtube video of the RCF:

Chris Harris knows his stuff, so if he doesn't like it, that should tell you something.

Thanks for that. To be fair he didn't rate it as a track car but was more complimentary about its general road ability towards the end of the video which is more my intended use.

It was actually the MPPSK issue that made me think. Do I stick another couple of grand into the car or go for the V8 now when I've still got the equity in my 340i (no finance)

Thanks for the replies (yep I'd seen Dougs vid) all food for thought I guess.

[MmmmmM2]

Originally Posted by ossi1

Thanks for that. To be fair he didn't rate it as a track car but was more complimentary about its general road ability towards the end of the video which is more my intended use.

It was actually the MPPSK issue that made me think. Do I stick another couple of grand into the car or go for the V8 now when I've still got the equity in my 340i (no finance)

Thanks for the replies (yep I'd seen Dougs vid) all food for thought I guess.

I get that you want the V8, but it's down on torque and will guzzle gas. I just never bonded with my Lexus. It never felt special to me and the infotainment system was a joke.

[Gen13 F36]

I really want to buy Toyota but they don't have fun cars... Does Toyota Supra counts as toyota . Don't think so...they don't even believe on there product Lexus🤔

+1 340i

BMW making them cars now

[upsidedownfunnel]

Originally Posted by F30ZHP

I get that you want the V8, but it's down on torque and will guzzle gas. I just never bonded with my Lexus. It never felt special to me and the infotainment system was a joke.

To be fair, there's a big difference between an IS350 F Sport and an RCF. Also, most people shouldn't care too much about Harris's track review unless you plan on tracking your brand new RCF or M4.

If the RCF was about the same price as the M4, I would find it difficult to recommend the RCF. But if the RCF is coming closer to the price of the 440i, the it becomes more interesting. The RCF is still faster than even the MPPSK 440i and also has that awesome V8 engine which just sounds better. As a commuter, it's also just better with its much nicer interior although the infotainment UI is a big letdown.