CAR Magazine Review: The Lexus LC 500h

Levi

It still is the best perfectly proportioned 4 seat coupe. It has real useful back seats. Still more desirable than any other GT, and only now upped by the LC.

Yeah. Assuming the coming update gives it a more modern roofline, the question becomes if it maintains those useful back seats.

I'd love to drive one sometime but Maserati pulled completely out of the Baltimore area a few years ago so owning one's off the table anyway.

Faisal Sheikh

I feel very happy for the LC500 that it is getting the appreciation it deserves.

On the flip side, I am an RCF owner as well, which makes me bitter because it was so incredibly underrated by the media. Considering, it put down lap times that were barely 1 second or less slower than the M4 (and in some cases matched them), yet it was dismissed as "too heavy" by reviews. Well, it is close to 350 lbs lighter than the LC500 so experience wise weight should be even less of an issue (does not seem to be an issue with the LC500) and driving dynamics wise, it is the most incredible driving experience I have had. It shrinks around the driver, the harder it is pushed. I feel lucky to own this car (I have driven many other sports cars over the years like E90 M3, AMGs, G37 coupe).

My rant notwithstanding, LC500 is an incredible car and glad it is getting all the recognition it should.​

I agree, the RC F has got a bad rap from the media. It seems like the media often grab onto one issue (like being on the heavier side, or the famous complaint about Lexus' infotainment system) and they can't get by it. The media just like to complain. In the process they miss many of the strengths of the RC F; that engine is quick and it sounds great; you just can't beat the sound of an NA engine. Sure it's a little heavier, but when you look at lap times (when driven by expert track drivers) they are competitive and pretty damn good. As you know, a difference of a second is simply imperceptible even to regular lap driving enthusiasts. What's really important is that you love your RC F and that enthusiasm is likely to rub off on others. The RC F beats the LC on the track; actually, as I have stated before, the LC cannot sustain fast lap driving in S+ mode

Agreed. The high-revving engine was what made it a no-brainer for me. It revs so freely that it seems like there is no internal inertia in the engine despite being a 5.0 Liter. Many people said, I should seriously consider the M4, but it was not on the table for me because the engine/exhaust noise. I was actually in the market initially for a '13 E90 M3 sedan, but then switched to the RCF.

You hit the nail right on the head. RCF was putting good lap times down against the M4. There were a few reviews that declared RCF the winner over the M4 saying the driving experience really makes the performance difference insignificant. Yet, subjectively 4000 lbs weight was used as an excuse to put it down. By the same token, Alpha Romeo, Camaro, C63 AMG, Mustang GT, RS5 all weigh 3800+ lbs.

I must admit, despite having the same engine, LC500 exhaust noise really makes me feel jealous of the LC500. The exhaust is so well tuned on the LC500. I wish we had the same exhaust system on RCF. Lots of induction/engine noise, but very little exhaust noise especially at high rpms.

PeterF

I agree, the RC F has got a bad rap from the media. It seems like the media often grab onto one issue (like being on the heavier side, or the famous complaint about Lexus' infotainment system) and they can't get by it. The media just like to complain. In the process they miss many of the strengths of the RC F; that engine is quick and it sounds great; you just can't beat the sound of an NA engine. Sure it's a little heavier, but when you look at lap times (when driven by expert track drivers) they are competitive and pretty damn good. As you know, a difference of a second is simply imperceptible even to regular lap driving enthusiasts. What's really important is that you love your RC F and that enthusiasm is likely to rub off on others. The RC F beats the LC on the track; actually, as I have stated before, the LC cannot sustain fast lap driving in S+ mode

Faisal Sheikh

I must admit, despite having the same engine, LC500 exhaust noise really makes me feel jealous of the LC500. The exhaust is so well tuned on the LC500. I wish we had the same exhaust system on RCF. Lots of induction/engine noise, but very little exhaust noise especially at high rpms.

You're right about the exhaust sound in the LC500; it's intoxicating. I happen to like the E92 M3 as well, but I think the RC F sounds better. The M3 is not nearly as reliable as well. I've driven the RC F but not too far. I loved the feel of the cabin and don't like the feel of the M3. a lot of complex things to consider

PeterF

You're right about the exhaust sound in the LC500; it's intoxicating. I happen to like the E92 M3 as well, but I think the RC F sounds better. The M3 is not nearly as reliable as well. I've driven the RC F but not too far. I loved the feel of the cabin and don't like the feel of the M3. a lot of complex things to consider

Yeah, the exhaust system on LC500 truly makes it sound like a million dollars. I was mostly serious about buying a 2013 E90 M3 because of the 4 doors and the high-revving V8. Once I saw a baby seat in the back of the RCF, I switched to RCF.

Having driven both, RCF handled (especially with my TVD version) better than the E90 m3, felt quicker and had more usable midrange torque. At high rpms, both felt equally dramatic and thrilling. Exterior and interior are more modern on the RCF so RCF was worth spending the extra $15K on.

wow
Finally amazing fair comparison

CAR Magazine Review: The Lexus LC 500h

Learning the transmission.

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& again the 500h problematic reviews either here in the LC or in the LS

I'm a little surprised they haven't picked up on the transmission learning-about-the-driver thing before; that's been around since the debut of the 4LS I think. My 460es all have driven a little weirdly at first until they picked up how I want the car to drive.