2 months in - new owner impression

[Etyw]

So 2 months in with my 2020 RC300h F-Sport Takumi, enough time to get to know it and find the things it does well and the few little things I’d want to change.

For context my comparisons/previous cars were:

- ‘08 Alfa Brera 2.2 Prodrive.  Fantastic car, lovely to drive, felt special inside and incredibly reliable, zero real trouble over 5 years, right up to 14 years old and 150k miles (moisture in one rear light was the worst it ever did).  Post-covid return to office had me wanting more creature comforts and tech for the motorway commute, especially in winter.

- ‘15 Merc E400 convertible - bought in spring 2023 with 38k miles to replace the Alfa - gave me the creature comforts and tech I wanted plus a taste of a bigger engine.  Ultimately a reliability nightmare and a disappointment.  Off the road for 7 weeks in 1 year with almost £2k of warranty work required.  Mechanical breakdown and constant sensor/electrical issues.  Lovely engine (when it worked) in an uncharismatic and dull car.  Lost all confidence in it and wanted rid.
 

After the Merc, reliability was a major consideration, hence the Lexus.  Many said I’d be frustrated at the downgrade in performance but actually having all that power in the Merc caused more frustration at how few opportunities you’d get the stretch its legs and you could never thrash it without doing silly speeds.  You’d get so frustrated stuck behind dawdlers, knowing you had all that power, so it probably made me a more aggressive driver too.  The Lexus has the right amount of performance to keep up on normal roads and leave you happy to chill when things are busy and congested.

so, 2 months in:

Positives

- Great ride and very well judged sport/Sport mode that firms things up but still useable on badly surfaced British roads.  The Merc sport mode was far too firm and almost unusable on backroads.

- Enjoy the steering and general feeling of solidity when on a nice winding road - maybe something amplified by coming from a soft top that had developed a couple of rattles.

- Happy to be back in something different with a bit of style but not ostentatious.  
- After the last couple of cars I’m loving how rarely I need to fill up!

What I’m not loving:

- Auto high beam is totally feckless.  The Merc had fantastic full matrix and cornering LEDs so this does feel a big step back (although better than the halogen tealights of the old Alfa).

- Heated seats are anemic, even in September.  Highest level should be borderline scalding for those grim winter mornings that’ll be coming.

- Missing a couple of little perceived quality niceties.  I know that perceived quality ≠ real quality but some really easy things could go a long way.  The key is the cheapest nastiest one I’ve ever known, the door close lacks that good solid thud, some of the plastics around the cabin and things like unlined (and tiny) door pockets.  I know in the grand scheme of things these are negligible but they’d also be a very easy thing for Lexus to have given a little more quality feel.

- The only time I miss the E400s power is when trying to overtake on an A road, if Lexus had sold the RC350 in the UK I really do think that would be the perfect car for me.

Overall really enjoying the car, love how smooth and easy it is, but in Sport plus it feels nice and tight on a good road without the temptation to do licence losing speeds.  Very happy to be back in something a little bit different and in some ways the steering/suspension in Sport + reminds me of my beloved Brera which I still miss.

Already toying with the idea of a late RCF as a next move in a couple of years…

[YvesD]

Lovely looking car😊

[Vlady]

Great wrap up.

I totally agree with you on heated seats! When I got my GS, after BMW seats felt barely warm, I actually had to take car to a dealership to check them - they said all works as it should.

Good looking car you have too.

[Rabbers]

I have very little to add to your assessment, Ewan, and it was good to read opinions based on what the RC is, which is an eminently driveable and pleasing car in its various modes, rather than what it isn’t, which is  a car designed to stretch everyday practicalities.  I always switch to SPORT mode when outside of towns, and SPORT+ for fast roads and motorways.  Have you tried CUSTOM settings?  
 

I share most of your quality niggles, though the 2019 facelift was an improvement over the 2016 version in several features.   I personally find the auto high-beam more than adequate, but then again, I’ve not had it on other cars and therefore have no points of comparison.  As regards the seat heating, I would recommend keeping it on the maximum 3-led setting if you feel the need and are driving for any length of time.  The heating effect seems to be more cumulative than immediate, and although the system is therefore pretty useless for short drives, I find it acceptable for longer ones.

[TheHairyBeast]

Looks nice

Park circus? could do a meet up and show you the RCF?

[Etyw]

2 hours ago, Rabbers said:

I have very little to add to your assessment, Ewan, and it was good to read opinions based on what the RC is, which is an eminently driveable and pleasing car in its various modes, rather than what it isn’t, which is  a car designed to stretch everyday practicalities.  I always switch to SPORT mode when outside of towns, and SPORT+ for fast roads and motorways.  Have you tried CUSTOM settings?  
 

I share most of your quality niggles, though the 2019 facelift was an improvement over the 2016 version in several features.   I personally find the auto high-beam more than adequate, but then again, I’ve not had it on other cars and therefore have no points of comparison.  As regards the seat heating, I would recommend keeping it on the maximum 3-led setting if you feel the need and are driving for any length of time.  The heating effect seems to be more cumulative than immediate, and although the system is therefore pretty useless for short drives, I find it acceptable for longer ones.

I’ve not bothered with custom settings as I find the standard modes so well judged.  Use normal for mooching about town or commuting, sport on freer flowing motorway and sport plus on a nicer road, all work well in those environments.

You’ve hit the nail on your head with the ‘what the car isn’t’ comment.  I like the style of a coupe and I rarely need any more practicality than occasional rear seats and a decent boot, yet I have a dull daily motorway commute, no Nurburgring escapades so I don’t need a 2.0 forced to 400+hp with rock hard suspension and pops and bangs every time you lift off - not much use at 25mph on a crawling motorway…

[Etyw]

17 minutes ago, TheHairyBeast said:

Looks nice

Park circus? could do a meet up and show you the RCF?

Sadly not living there - I’m southside based.  If I could afford Park Circus I’d have an LC. 
Definitely keen to get a nosey at an RCF and hear an owners thoughts.  I couldn’t justify a two car garage so it would need to handle the mundane daily stuff.

[DavidCM]

Snap,,,same age,same colour,same spec, similar impressions.

I'm more aligned with Rabbers on his impressions.I initially laughed myself silly about the heated steering wheel,but it's really good,if like me ,you suffer from slightly poor circulation on a cold morning.

The only other complaint is the rear view mirror vibrates in time with the Mark Levinson.

[Jgtcracer]

5 hours ago, Etyw said:

Sadly not living there - I’m southside based.  If I could afford Park Circus I’d have an LC. 
Definitely keen to get a nosey at an RCF and hear an owners thoughts.  I couldn’t justify a two car garage so it would need to handle the mundane daily stuff.

I’d add that having driven an RC300h a few times, an RCF retains all the positives you have mentioned (and some of the negatives) whilst having a truly special engine…. It’s even more characterful and soulful that you would think!

[TheHairyBeast]

6 hours ago, Etyw said:

Sadly not living there - I’m southside based.  If I could afford Park Circus I’d have an LC. 
Definitely keen to get a nosey at an RCF and hear an owners thoughts.  I couldn’t justify a two car garage so it would need to handle the mundane daily stuff.

Ah nice, still wouldnt mind meeting up and going for a drive!

Ive only owned my RCF for a month and absolutely loving it so far.

[Z900RS]

3 hours ago, DavidCM said:

Snap,,,same age,same colour,same spec, similar impressions.

I'm more aligned with Rabbers on his impressions.I initially laughed myself silly about the heated steering wheel,but it's really good,if like me ,you suffer from slightly poor circulation on a cold morning.

The only other complaint is the rear view mirror vibrates in time with the Mark Levinson.

Seriously ? the mirror ? I love you :-))

[Z900RS]

15 minutes ago, TheHairyBeast said:

Ah nice, still wouldnt mind meeting up and going for a drive!

Ive only owned my RCF for a month and absolutely loving it so far.

You're lucky guy...

[Linas.P]

19 hours ago, DavidCM said:

The only other complaint is the rear view mirror vibrates in time with the Mark Levinson.

It does... that said - what can't be done about it?! ML is good thought!