Okay made some time early this morning. And this is the second writer and auto enthusiast I
HIGHLY admire that has throw Lexus in the garbage can after putting it on fire and shooting and stabbing it. Clarkson was the first (who I still love and am still drained he got fired) and now Chris Harris who I followed around from magazine to magazine until he went to the troll haven of Jalopnik. Make no mistake about it, I think Chris Harris is amazing and I am a fan though I am very disappointed in this rather short sighted view on Lexus F. I will chalk it up to him hanging around Jalopnik and losing some brain cells in the process.
.... It is quite easy to just point the finger at Lexus and the "F" marque and insult it in the day and age where writers seem to write about today totally overlooking the past. They also seem to move goalposts more than some other forum Admins. So let's discuss this in detail:
First, I would think an enthusiast, ANY Enthusiast, would be very happy that the Lexus F marque is around. Who doesn't love high power RWD cars? Lexus out of nowhere has created a credible performance brand and are the only ones from Asia trying to compete. This is NO easy task considering the Germans have been the only force here for decades until maybe Caddy and the V brand and Jaguar and R which was launched before F.
So lets go back in time...and my post isn't at all to insult or bash the Germans. If it was not for them, there would be no Lexus and if they didn't have their performance brands, there would be no F. I highly HIGHLY respect what they have done even if I don't own one.
Audi
Currently sell some RS vehicles. Let's be crystal clear that their "S" brand does not compete with M and AMG. In the states we have RS5, RS7, R8. The rest of the cars are S cars. Before these cars were here we got the RS4. Well we don't get the new RS4. Before that, we got no RS cars. We got S cars. So basically until about ten years ago, we got no AMG/M competitors in the states. I don't recall any articles saying how confusing that is to an American. No, we just revere and love the cars and hope they make it over the pond, every last one of them. So in Europe it might be crystal clear but in the states, of its confusing.
BMW
Currently sell quite a bit of M cars, including SUVs which they scoffed at years ago saying it would never happen. They also said turbos would never happen but that happened too. In reviews outside of the M3/M4 they fare okay as they have gotten heavier and less involving. In the past they were BY FAR the pinnacle of high performance luxury sport cars. The E60 is the only sedan V-10 in recent memory. Before then the E39 M5 might be one of the greatest saloons of all time. The E34 before it was the class leader. The E46 was a marvel, the E36 we actually didn't get the high output engine but the 240hp one. I don't recall it getting blasted for that, instead it won every compare by a landslide. Note there is no mention of the other M cars since they just don't do that well in reviews though I would drive a M6 if I had 130k laying around because I just think its tits.
Oh, and they stared with a M1. I don't recall seeing a follow up. In over 30 years. I recall a concept a few years ago but I don't recall BMW getting blasted online for never having a new M1. I do recall seeing Honda get ripped for no NSX follow up, every month the last few years. Funny how that works.
Mercedes
AMG wasn't an official part of the company until I believe the late 80s early 90s. They had one car for about 6-7 years, the C36 then C43. I don't recall any articles blasting AMG for only having one car for that long. I do recall solid reviews for it and welcoming a car to fight the M3. I remember the E55 AMG which came in 1999 or so which always lost to the M5. I then recall the current AMG explosion where there are even AMG blenders. Then they have the black series cars which IMO are as desirable as it gets. The SLR was a full blown exotic, the SLS was a follow up though less exotic and the AMG GT is one of the best cars I have ever driven. AMG doesn't even have competitors from most of its German competition. I don't recall any articles blasting BMW or Audi for not competing with AMG at every place in the market.
Chris Harris doesn't seem to be confused about Jaguar F or Cadillac V, which are both also in their infancy. They wouldn't make as good troll bait I assure you.
So as you can see its taken
DECADES for the Germans to get where they are, with varying results. They didn't suddenly have these vast expanded lineups. The AMG and RS marques also didn't fare that well to BMW M until recently.
Lexus
The LFA was supposed to be the launching pad for the F brand but the IS F came first as an approved skunkworks model. I remember it debuting in 2007 like many of you and was amazed Lexus would go such a route, to this day I still am. I remember driving it and being driven in it in Moroso at a Lexus track event, from 9-5. I remember not one IS F breaking down. The only issue out of all the cars was one tire blew, which is a tire blowing and not a mechanical failure. I remember initially in reviews the IS F didn't win any here but Top Gear loved it for being the dark horse. Amazingly the RS5 never fared well in reviews but that is glossed over (mind you that wouldn't stop me from getting in bed with it lol).
Then I remember Lexus doing something very rare, they improved the IS F EVERY year. They didn't just let it rot and wither to die. In 2010, it got a real LSD. In 2011 the new driver's oriented gauges and I believe the updated suspension which made a huge difference road and track, cutting lap times and also giving it a more compliant ride. How good? It was lapping like a M3 in some comparo's. To me that should be commended but you will never see an article praising Lexus for continuous improvement. No, instead we read the same hyperbole.
The LFA, I remember the initial reviews. They basically could be summed up with three letters "WTF". Until they drove it, again and again, and it became crystal clear this was one of the greatest cars ever made. I believe Chris Harris himself was one that loved it and stated they need to let the Toyota engineers go mad more often. The Lexus name and price point did confuse those that didn't understand or refused to acknowledge the construction of the car and why it was on par with a 599 GTO instead of a 458. Lexus went for the gusto, something we might not see for decades again. Audi with the R8 isn't in the same ballpark. BMW never even made a car like the LFA or even the R8. Only Mercedes competed here with the SLS at the time. I don't recall any articles blasting BMW for not competing.
So now we have the RC F and the coming GS F and rumors are the IS F and LS F are coming. The RC F reviews have been all over the map thus far with a lot of focus on its weight. Clarkson ripped it to shreds and it seems that might sadly be the official memo for the car (I see his view on the car regurgitated so often its amazing). But you know what, Lexus will improve it, like they did the IS F. I am sure of it. And they won't give up, they will continue to make the F marque better and better.
In retrospect these kind of articles just gives us here additional focus to help promote our love for the Lexus brand and bring people together that also love the brand and helping to educate those that are confused. Like Mr. Harris.
