Thinking about going back to an RCF (Track Edition)

[4everkidd]

I've been having the two year itch when I stumbled upon pics of the 2020 RCF Track Edition.
Picks up a couple TQ / HP, CF goodies and launch control; loses 172lbs of pure fat.
Yes the M3 is faster, easier to mod etc... but I did really enjoy my 2015 RCF.

I rarely track my F80 as I'm building a track / show dedicated E36 M3.

What do you guys think? Personally I think they did a great job with the refresh and would definitely consider taking one for a spin.

Edit: this is purely a speculative Vs. Thread. The F80 is definitely the best all around car I've ever purchased. Besides I already know they won't sell well and I'll be able to pick one up for a steal at end of year if I go that way.

[Jojipoji]

sounds great but thats about it. When I drove one the lack of torque and handling was pretty disappointing. i wanted to love it but couldnt especially on how much they were discounting them. But to each their own. Why not lease a CS?

[4everkidd]

Originally Posted by PureModelsOnly

Losing 176 lbs and it still weighs almost 3900 lbs lol. Great engine though. Lose another 300 lbs and give it a manual and it would be the true Supra.

Originally Posted by Jojipoji

sounds great but thats about it. When I drove one the lack of torque and handling was pretty disappointing. i wanted to love it but couldnt especially on how much they were discounting them. But to each their own. Why not lease a CS?

I loved my RCF (until a titanium fabricator crashed it and lied to me about it) as a GT / daily driver. The way the sound of the V8 reverberated off of buildings down town was addicting. This is probably the last of the NA V8's in this segment.

Lack of torque was amplified given the altitude I live at. NA cars struggle to breathe in Calgary.

The CS does nothing for me; it's not different enough from a moderately modified F80. Plus I hate alcantra...

I really wanted to get into a 997.1/.2 911 but they really have aged inside. I'm not sure I'd want to daily one regardless of the driving experience.

[nicknaz]

Track special. 4000lb weight.

GTFOH

My $0.02, if you want v8 sounds and a track special, pick up a modded c6z or LS3 swapped 986 boxster S

[blinkme323]

Drove one before I got my first F80 a few years ago and was incredibly disappointed. The only positives for me were some of the interior materials and the V8. Looks, ride, and performance were all awful for the price IMO.

[Clark_Kent]

Not a fan of the RCF. The only thing I like about it is the sound of the V8. Why, why, why must this thing weigh nearly 4,000 lbs?

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by PureModelsOnly

There's also 7 months of unsold Corvette inventory currently sitting on dealer lots

C7 GS with z07 pack looking very interesting, as is c7 z06 if the latest cooling changes really do resolve the heat related issues when tracked

[CanAutM3]

Everytime I see one, I see this

[F80Dreamer]

I like it OP, enjoy in good health. I get that it is not as focused as an M car but so what...it’s a great DD, killer V8, and bulletproof reliability.

[minn19]

This has got to be a first if you decide to go back to an RCF from a F80.

[4everkidd]

Originally Posted by minn19

This has got to be a first if you decide to go back to an RCF from a F80.

Haha it's not about not loving the M; it's a fantastic car.

I just wanted to bring up the refresh and see what thoughts were.

There is a supercharged RCF locally and it's an absolute monster.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by 4everkidd

Haha it's not about not loving the M; it's a fantastic car.

I just wanted to bring up the refresh and see what thoughts were.

There is a supercharged RCF locally and it's an absolute monster.

FWIW, it isn't about loving the M or not IMO. I just don't understand what Toyota/Lexus is doing here. They made a very nice GT car and then tried to market it as a part time track car capable of keeping up with its rivals. Which, as has been discussed to death it can't. It's underpowered, under braked and that isn't even mentioning the chassis/suspension.

If they wanted to build a track car they should've started to do so from the beginning and not released a frankensteined car from the parts bin that needed to go to the gym. I don't see many buying this for what they are asking for. Why would you for track duty when it is still behind many of its rivals for roughly similar or less pricing.

[ntg44]

Originally Posted by PureModelsOnly

I don't understand what Lexus is doing in general. Bedsides coming out with more SUVs like everyone else all their power trains are old and outdated. Very little turbo charging, heavy ass cars. They bank on the reliability and luxury reputation but to me they make very boring cars expect for the ones that have NA V8s but they're slow compared to the competition.

To be fair, for the most part, nobody buying a non-performance oriented Lexus gives a crap that their engine is turbocharged or not. They don't care how noncompetitive the driving dynamics or engine horsepower are, they just want their car to work. All the time. The best way to do that is have an engine in production for so long that it's basically bulletproof. I think Lexus has accomplished that objective.

The performance cars are another story, but to Lexus it's just play money compared to their bread and butter market. If you're looking for a car to take you to 300k+ without breaking a sweat, you buy Toyota/Lexus. I have yet to own one that hasn't made it there yet, and haven't spent a penny on repair bills aside from consumables over 4 Toyota/Lexus cars and a million miles between them. You just can't look at them through an enthusiast lens when the people who are buying them are cult followers, myself included.

I guess my point was, I understand Toyota/Lexus perfectly.

[Humdizzle]

they have a cool gauge cluster and the interior is nice... those are about the only positives with the RCF.

plenty of better options out there for a v8 if that's what you're after.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by ntgarage44

To be fair, for the most part, nobody buying a non-performance oriented Lexus gives a crap that their engine is turbocharged or not. They don't care how noncompetitive the driving dynamics or engine horsepower are, they just want their car to work. All the time. The best way to do that is have an engine in production for so long that it's basically bulletproof. I think Lexus has accomplished that objective.

The performance cars are another story, but to Lexus it's just play money compared to their bread and butter market. If you're looking for a car to take you to 300k+ without breaking a sweat, you buy Toyota/Lexus. I have yet to own one that hasn't made it there yet, and haven't spent a penny on repair bills aside from consumables over 4 Toyota/Lexus cars and a million miles between them. You just can't look at them through an enthusiast lens when the people who are buying them are cult followers, myself included.

I guess my point was, I understand Toyota/Lexus perfectly.

Nobody is disputing this. The part that confuses me is that Toyota/Lexus is trying to market themselves as something other than this. Such as the track car discussion etc.

You say all of this (cult follower etc), but yet here you are in an M3. Why didn't you go for the RCF?

[M3GymNut]

That's all you chief...

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by ntgarage44

If you're looking for a car to take you to 300k+ without breaking a sweat, you buy Toyota/Lexus. I have yet to own one that hasn't made it there yet, and haven't spent a penny on repair bills aside from consumables over 4 Toyota/Lexus cars and a million miles between them. You just can't look at them through an enthusiast lens when the people who are buying them are cult followers, myself included.

I guess my point was, I understand Toyota/Lexus perfectly.

That’s not very impressive to make it 300k miles given how underpowered their power train have been.

Current model year Corolla makes same HP as an early 90s Miata. Lol

Is250 f sport makes a tire scorching 204hp!! Wow

[ntg44]

Originally Posted by minn19

Nobody is disputing this. The part that confuses me is that Toyota/Lexus is trying to market themselves as something other than this. Such as the track car discussion etc.

You say all of this (cult follower etc), but yet here you are in an M3. Why didn't you go for the RCF?

Because I buy different cars for different reasons. I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford the M3 as a toy (and I LOVE it), but I drive a Toyota tundra as my daily, and my wife has an RX 350. I never said I would buy an rcf, but I was addressing an earlier point made of not understanding what Lexus is doing in general. I did say the performance cars are another story. I was just trying to make the argument that Toyota and Lexus know exactly what they're doing, whether we find them impressive or not. What I can say is regarding my tundra and wife's Lexus, neither of us care how class competitive the HP is. We bought them to have 300k+ headache free miles until we trade them in.

Idk, I really didn't think my comment was that controversial haha.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by ntgarage44

Because I buy different cars for different reasons. I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford the M3 as a toy (and I LOVE it), but I drive a Toyota tundra as my daily, and my wife has an RX 350. I never said I would buy an rcf, but I was addressing an earlier point made of not understanding what Lexus is doing in general. I did say the performance cars are another story. I was just trying to make the argument that Toyota and Lexus know exactly what they're doing, whether we find them impressive or not. What I can say is regarding my tundra and wife's Lexus, neither of us care how class competitive the HP is. We bought them to have 300k+ headache free miles until we trade them in.

Idk, I really didn't think my comment was that controversial haha.

Sorry, I didn’t mean it to sound that pointed, I was legitimately curious after your post why it doesn’t sound like you really considered the RCF.

[ntg44]

Originally Posted by minn19

Sorry, I didn’t mean it to sound that pointed, I was legitimately curious after your post why it doesn’t sound like you really considered the RCF.

Nah you have nothing to be sorry for . I didn't consider an rcf for multiple reasons, but I did consider a gsf. Think it's an awesome car, even if not very competitive performance wise, but I just couldn't get over the infotainment mouse thing. Otherwise it's an awesome car inside and out in my opinion.

[4everkidd]

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

they have a cool gauge cluster and the interior is nice... those are about the only positives with the RCF.

plenty of better options out there for a v8 if that's what you're after.

Have you driven one?

The engine response, the sound, the seats, the sound system, the reliability, the build quality.

Oh and take a look at the track times vs the M4; not bad for an underpowered pig

I'm not here to fan boy the RCF but some of you need to pull your head out of Car and driver.

My RCF on Ohlins felt very similar to my M3 on Bilsteins.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by 4everkidd

Have you driven one?

The engine response, the sound, the seats, the sound system, the reliability, the build quality.

Oh and take a look at the track times vs the M4; not bad for an underpowered pig

I'm not here to fan boy the RCF but some of you need to pull your head out of Car and driver.

My RCF on Ohlins felt very similar to my M3 on Bilsteins.

I'm not a huge lap time guy for many reasons, but I'm not sure how this helps your argument. Aside from in the wet (which especially civic M3/4s have trouble with) and whatever the Motown Mile is the RCF gets its ass kicked everywhere else. Some of those lap time differences are eternities in an actual race.