RC F - Performance

[X100]

I shall be taking delivery of my new (standard) RC F in a few days and I am curious about its 0-62 mph time.  Not because I intend to "track" it (I won't) but because it seems almost impossible to get a meaningful figure for my car.  I intend to run it in, as recommended by Lexus, so it will be a while before I can find out for myself.

Whereas most manufacturers quote times for all of their models, the RC F brochure only shows performance for the track edition (4.3 seconds).  There seems to be no consistency of results between different You Tube tests, so I wondered if any RC F owner had undertaken their own tests.  If you are one such person, I would really appreciate hearing how your car went.

Based on what I have seen and read, I would guess that the current 472 hp standard model should arrive at 62 mph in about 4.9 seconds, which is the same as a base Porsche Cayman with a PDK (dual clutch) gearbox, but I would really like to know ...

[ColinBarber]

Current spec for the UK RC F is 457 bhp / 464 PS. 0-62 mph in 4.3 seconds using launch control, 4.5 seconds without.

[BillNick]

I was going to say 4.5s is the general headline figure

[mrfunex]

Do a track day in one. All the F cars are really rather good…

[BillNick]

Been looking to get a track day in mine WITH tuition.....but all of these seem to be cancelled due to covid

[mrfunex]

I did a day at Goodwood a fortnight ago - tuition was available. Most TDOs are offering tuition now. Go for it! 
 

A quick video of the GSF in full flight… 

[B1RMA]

1 hour ago, BillNick said:

Been looking to get a track day in mine WITH tuition.....but all of these seem to be cancelled due to covid

Check out Brands Hatch when things return to some sort of normality, if it's your first foray on track I'd be tempted to do a package to start with using one of the companies track cars. Then try a trackday package, I expect if you go for it in a fast way you'll boil the brake fluid in an RCF as it's quite a heavy car

[BillNick]

I have driven Brands Hatch with tuition in an M4 and then got in an F4 single seater afterwards, great fun.

In my own car, I am looking for somewhere with larger run offs.......

Bovingdon Aerodrom would be perfect to take tuition but as said, they are not doing tuition there anymore 😞

 

[mrfunex]

33 minutes ago, B1RMA said:

I expect if you go for it in a fast way you'll boil the brake fluid in an RCF as it's quite a heavy car

The brakes on the GSF were fine. Repeated hard braking from 140 at the end of the Lavant Straight in 23-24C heat and no sign of fade. Very impressive from stock brakes!

 

2 minutes ago, BillNick said:

I have driven Brands Hatch with tuition in an M4 and then got in an F4 single seater afterwards, great fun.

In my own car, I am looking for somewhere with larger run offs.......

Bovingdon Aerodrom would be perfect to take tuition but as said, they are not doing tuition there anymore 😞

 

Maybe give Bedford a thought - most corners have concrete straight ahead if you have a ‘moment’! 😁

[BillNick]

3 minutes ago, mrfunex said:

The brakes on the GSF were fine. Repeated hard braking from 140 at the end of the Lavant Straight in 23-24C heat and no sign of fade. Very impressive from stock brakes!

That's good to know, any other mods on yours? Do you have TVD?

[Arnett]

43 minutes ago, mrfunex said:

I did a day at Goodwood a fortnight ago - tuition was available. Most TDOs are offering tuition now. Go for it! 
 

A quick video of the GSF in full flight… 

 

FullSizeRender.mov 2.27 MB · 1 download

Tad arousing.

[Arnett]

5 minutes ago, BillNick said:

That's good to know, any other mods on yours? Do you have TVD?

I may be wrong but I think every GSF has TVD it was only optional on the RCF

 

The only extras when speccin a GSF are if you want a sunroof or not.

 

 

[mrfunex]

It’s totally standard. Tyres are Pilot Sport 4S.
 

Mine has the TVD (do all GSFs?) I used it in track mode when I remembered, half the time it was left in normal. 
 

Drive mode was always set to Sport - I find Sport+ too jumpy for smooth throttle inputs. 

[mrfunex]

2 minutes ago, Arnett said:

Tad arousing.

One more for you then - the difference between a GSF and a McLaren 720s… I may as well have had the handbrake on…

[BillNick]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

The run offs don't look too menacing there....

[F.A.]

Yes all GSF’s are fitted with the TVD. 

Nice footage @mrfunex

[hockeyedwards]

Palmer days at Bedford are superb, I've never fancied buying a track based car or tracking a road car, so to try a host of different cars with tuition over a day was mega, my dad loved it as well, felt safe but could push it hard 😄

[hockeyedwards]

Also @mrfunex I am dead certain I've seen your GSF on my previous route to work, somewhere between Reading and Heckfield? Your plate feels awfully familiar...

[ColinBarber]

10 hours ago, BillNick said:

Bovingdon Aerodrom

2nd year of 6th form a few of us used to sneak over there at lunch time and drag race each other down the runway. Our 1.0 and 1.1 cars always got smoked by our mate's 1.3 Escort.

Back then it was completely unused, except for the Market on Saturday.

[mrfunex]

3 hours ago, hockeyedwards said:

Also @mrfunex I am dead certain I've seen your GSF on my previous route to work, somewhere between Reading and Heckfield? Your plate feels awfully familiar...

I’m afraid it wasn’t me - used to live in Reading, but haven’t been back recently! 

[hockeyedwards]

15 hours ago, mrfunex said:

I’m afraid it wasn’t me - used to live in Reading, but haven’t been back recently! 

Haven't worked in Reading for a long time, so small possibility it was you a long while back. Don't exactly see floods of GSF's on the road 🤣

[X100]

Sorry for the late reply - I receive email notification of responses on the MX-5 site, but not here, so I assumed that no-one had responded.

Thank you for the early responses - It looks like we are in Porsche Cayman S territory!

Excellent!

Thanks again.

Chris.

[B1RMA]

On 7/2/2021 at 9:49 PM, X100 said:

Sorry for the late reply - I receive email notification of responses on the MX-5 site, but not here, so I assumed that no-one had responded.

Thank you for the early responses - It looks like we are in Porsche Cayman S territory!

Excellent!

Thanks again.

Chris.

I've always considered the RCF adequate enough for road use

[X100]

On 7/4/2021 at 10:41 AM, B1RMA said:

I've always considered the RCF adequate enough for road use

Agreed.  That's why I bought one!

I've had mine for a couple of weeks now.  I love it!

I was only using the Cayman as a performance benchmark.  Before I bought the RC F, I was considering a Cayman S but ordered a 911 instead - 6 cylinder engine, sunroof etc.

Three months after ordering the 911, I took objection to the EU's treatment of the UK, and cancelled my order.  Instead, I bought 2 Japanese cars - an MX-5 RF and the RC F.  The best decision I have ever made!

 

[B1RMA]

26 minutes ago, X100 said:

Agreed.  That's why I bought one!

I've had mine for a couple of weeks now.  I love it!

I was only using the Cayman as a performance benchmark.  Before I bought the RC F, I was considering a Cayman S but ordered a 911 instead - 6 cylinder engine, sunroof etc.

Three months after ordering the 911, I took objection to the EU's treatment of the UK, and cancelled my order.  Instead, I bought 2 Japanese cars - an MX-5 RF and the RC F.  The best decision I have ever made!

 

Glad you like it, I have to say it is a car that grows on you even more after a few months ownership. I suppose it's a combination of being well put together and an enormous engine that just loves to be revved. I have over-revved mine quite a few times when I'm caught up in the moment. Thinking about that perhaps I shouldn't say that on a public forum as any potential owner will think I've thrashed it.