10 Worst Things about the LC

[Rydo]

I can only imagine the attention it is getting Peter, and please see my original post, idiotic and restrictive option packs are number 6 on the list!

 

[Ian Schmidt]

Even the Germans are going more option-packy, and it sucks.

 

[PeterF]

Here is what I think is thee worst thing about the LC 500. You cannot drive it on a track in Sport+ Mode for longer than 5 minutes without the engine oil over heating (getting right up close to the red line), and then a little longer, like 8 minutes, max, you get a warning that the transmission fluid is overheated.
I've driven it on a track numerous times. when the oil overheats, if you change it to NORMAL mode, the oil cools off to the normal mid range. this has happened to me numerous times. I only pushed it twice until the transmission fluid overheating warning light came on (then I take it off the track).

My dealership has no idea (they ran some diagnostics but no error code). I was promised that Lexus would address this, but I have not heard a word from Lexus midwest. They just ignored me. Anyway, I expected more from Lexus. The LC is still a fantastic grand touring car, stunning, comfortable, and high tech, but HIGH PERFORMANCE it is NOT! So Lexus should not pretend it is. Maybe the LC F will be.

 

[PeterF]

Even the Germans are going more option-packy, and it sucks.

Speaking of the Germans, they do high performance sedans and coupes much better than Lexus. The M series (3 and 4) are especially good on a track and very comfortable on the road. The 911s and Caymans, and even the new versions of the Panamera are outstanding high performance cars with substantial comfort. The new Panamera will completely out do the GS F in all ways, except it's pricier. Clearly I'm not happy with Lexus when they completely ignored my complaints and problems with the LC500 performance on the track in Sport+. You can drive it in Sport+ continually on the road, but you see the problems when track driving, which involves high engine revs, and sharp acceleration and downshifting decelleration. The LC cannot take that in Sport+

 

[ssun30]

Here is what I think is thee worst thing about the LC 500. You cannot drive it on a track in Sport+ Mode for longer than 5 minutes without the engine oil over heating (getting right up close to the red line), and then a little longer, like 8 minutes, max, you get a warning that the transmission fluid is overheated.
I've driven it on a track numerous times. when the oil overheats, if you change it to NORMAL mode, the oil cools off to the normal mid range. this has happened to me numerous times. I only pushed it twice until the transmission fluid overheating warning light came on (then I take it off the track).

My dealership has no idea (they ran some diagnostics but no error code). I was promised that Lexus would address this, but I have not heard a word from Lexus midwest. They just blew me off. LEXUS THIS IS VERY POOR. I see these videos of the LC racing at Laguna Seca and I don't think they are running in Sport+. Lexus knows this is a problem and my service tech (who is fantastic) speculates that it just doesn't have the venting to cool the engine. BTW: the engine coolant never heats up. Anyway, I expected more from Lexus. The LC is still a fantastic grand touring car, stunning, comfortable, and high tech, but HIGH PERFORMANCE it is NOT! So Lexus should not pretend it is. Maybe the LC F will be, but I'm likely to spend the money to risk it.

IIRC automotive press also reported the RC-F with the engine oil/transmission fluid overheating problem when tracked. It seems both cars are underengineered in the cooling department since Lexus does not expect them to be tracked a lot. By saving on cooling they improve the aerodynamics and result in higher MPG. It's a tradeoff Lexus often makes on its mass market vehicles. This makes some sense on LC500, but definitely zero sense on the RC-F.

This is an inherent design problem, and the dealership really could do nothing to resolve this for you. Well you just have to admit it sucks to be one of the few to drive the LC on tracks.

 

[PeterF]

IIRC automotive press also reported the RC-F with the engine oil/transmission fluid overheating problem when tracked. It seems both cars are underengineered in the cooling department since Lexus does not expect them to be tracked a lot. By saving on cooling they improve the aerodynamics and result in higher MPG. It's a tradeoff Lexus often makes on its mass market vehicles. This makes some sense on LC500, but definitely zero sense on the RC-F.

This is an inherent design problem, and the dealership really could do nothing to resolve this for you. Well you just have to admit it sucks to be one of the few to drive the LC on tracks.

First, I should say that the LC 500 is a truly remarkable car and, to me, the very best luxury sports coupe out there. It combines stunning beauty, high interior luxury, including high tech, a very smooth ride with a powerful engine. The car can and does accelerate easily on the road and is a superb grand touring car.

I also recognize that I might be the only one to seriously take it and test it out on a track. Driving on the National Corvette Museum track (an extremely demanding, but fun track) and the Indianapolis motor speedway, driving it as best I can to it's limits (which I am not really yet capable of doing since I am a real novice in these HPDE - High Performance Drivers Education experiences). Indeed its not a track car. It also is way too heavy which makes it harder to maneuver deftly around corners. My complaint is two fold: 1. Lexus markets it (in videos and by its social media arms, like F track) as a high performance car. It is not! (evidenced by the oil overheating in sport+). 2. Lexus corporate did not respond to the dealer when they sent the data and notified Lexus of this issue. I don't blame the dealership; in fact, the service guy in charge of my car is absolutely fantastic! they did all they could do.

I have communicated with an RC F owner on another social media platform and this person says that he/she can drive that car in Sport+ continuously on a track. So I don't know about the RC F. Lexus claims to have engineered the RC F to be track ready. I believe this is correct


If Lexus wishes to be competitive with the Germans, then they must be more serious about their performance cars. I have been at plenty of track days and have seen and been a passenger in BMW M3s and M4s (street cars with no modifications) and these cars excel on the track. So do Porsches (now I own a 911 S, so I know first hand). I now own 2 incredible cars, the 911 S and the LC 500. The LC is far more comfortable than the 911, but there is no comparison between the two in performance.

Now with my experience my LC, I think that buying the Sport+ Performance package for about $8,000 is a waste of money. The car does as well on the road without that package

 

[ssun30]

First, I should say that the LC 500 is a truly remarkable car and, to me, the very best luxury sports coupe out there. It combines stunning beauty, high interior luxury, including high tech, a very smooth ride with a powerful engine. The car can and does accelerate easily on the road and is a superb grand touring car.

I also recognize that I might be the only one to seriously take it and test it out on a track. Driving on the National Corvette Museum track (an extremely demanding, but fun track) and the Indianapolis motor speedway, driving it as best I can to it's limits (which I am not really yet capable of doing since I am a real novice in these HPDE - High Performance Drivers Education experiences). Indeed its not a track car. It also is way too heavy which makes it harder to maneuver deftly around corners. My complaint is two fold: 1. Lexus markets it (in videos and by its social media arms, like F track) as a high performance car. It is not! (evidenced by the oil overheating in sport+). 2. Lexus corporate refused to respond to the dealer when they sent the data and notified Lexus of this issue. I don't blame the dealership; in fact, the service guy in charge of my car is absolutely fantastic! they did all they could do.

I didn't follow how the LC ended up being marketed as a performance vehicle in NA but if that's the case the marketing department really has mismanaged it, in a good way. It doesn't help that the automotive press hyped it up so much either (yeah, they just can't stop praising the naturally aspirated V8).

I tried very hard to recall where I read the RC-F overheating issue but I couldn't find any on the web now. It seems that the overheating issue was with the RC 350, probably from one of the press event articles. But I am very sure I've read about it because that was the reason I didn't buy the RC 350. It could be that the F cars are indeed properly designed to handle the amount of cooling needed for track driving. But alas, the LC 500 is not a F car.

 

[PeterF]

I didn't follow how the LC ended up being marketed as a performance vehicle in NA but if that's the case the marketing department really has mismanaged it, in a good way. It doesn't help that the automotive press hyped it up so much either (yeah, they just can't stop praising the naturally aspirated V8).

I tried very hard to recall where I read the RC-F overheating issue but I couldn't find any on the web now. It seems that the overheating issue was with the RC 350, probably from one of the press event articles. But I am very sure I've read about it because that was the reason I didn't buy the RC 350. It could be that the F cars are indeed properly designed to handle the amount of cooling needed for track driving. But alas, the LC 500 is not a F car.

nsofar as it is presented on different race tracks, it was marketed as HP, but it was not explict. The F-track, a social media arm of Lexus, has explicitly described it as a HP car. Other RC F owners (2 that I have heard from) claim that there are no overheating problems with that car on the track.

You are correct, the LC is not an F car, and I understand that it is not designed for the track. ON the other hand, some of the ways it has been marketed suggests that it can be run on the track. Whatever the case, it is an outstanding luxury grand touring car. I love the car, but still was very surprised that it could not run in Sport+ mode on a track. I also am naive to assume that Lexus would respond to my issues. thanks for your input. I do hope that the LC F is capable of running on a track, although I am not sure how well it will do unless they seriously shed weight

 

[Ian Schmidt]

I also am naive to assume that Lexus would respond to my issues. thanks for your input.

My guess is that any such response is going to be significantly delayed by the multiple translations it needs to go through. Not only English/Japanese, but also Real-World/Managerial/Engineering.

 

[PeterF]

My guess is that any such response is going to be significantly delayed by the multiple translations it needs to go through. Not only English/Japanese, but also Real-World/Managerial/Engineering.

good point, Ian. I've been known to be impatient.

 

[CIF]

Thank you very much for all that thorough information PeterF!

It's sad to hear that the car cannot be pushed too much on track, but I am not too surprised. The LC is a unique Lexus product, because it is the only non-F vehicle to have an F engine. Also given the relatively quick R&D process for the LC, hearing these details confirms suspicions that a couple of other members and myself here have had.

Despite Lexus marketing implying the car can handle occasional track use, it is clear the LC really can't under any heavy conditions. It was not built for continuous, demanding track conditions. The LC is a GT car with some fairly high performance, but it is still a GT car, not a sports car or high performance car.

Given that the LC has an F engine, but is not an F car, it all makes sense.

I would expect the LC F to rectify these problems and be able to handle demanding, continuous and extended track usage without problems.