When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Went to the Lexus Performance Driving School yesterday and thought to share my experience. It was in Austin, TX at the iconic Formula 1 race track - COTA (Circuit of the Americas). It was an absolute pleasure driving the LCs (on the main track), IS 500 (on the auto-cross), RC-F (drifting), and meeting Scott Pruett and fellow Lexus enthusiast!
LCs up-shifts and down-shifts (in Sport S+ mode) is just so musical! I could do this all day long and not get bored. And in manual mode, it bounces off the rev-limiter in the most dramatic way... Clocked 135 mph!
Great staff with hot breakfast, lunch, refreshments though-out the day, and driving lessons from the pro was totally worth the price. If someone is on the fence, I would highly recommend it. Plus, you can legally pushing these cars (not yours) to their limit officially!!!
There was a fleet of LCs. We drove solo with instructor in the lead car and giving us instructions over the radio. On the main track, we were broken into groups of 3 drivers. In the first lap, they got us used to of the LCs speed and braking, followed by familiarizing with track and driving line, and then it was just sheer joy...
Don't know if any over heated. We were doing 2 laps at a time, come back to pit so another group can go, when they come back, you go on a lap again.
I think it was around $1100, registed in December so don't recall the exact. For Masters class, it was $2000 (you get 1:1 with instructor on this one).
I was there on Friday for the Masterclass. It was H O T. Several differences from the performance class (that I've done twice) to the masterclass:
a lot more main track time
nearly all of that track time is in RC-F's rather than LC500's
a thorough review of all of your deficiencies as a driver :-) using cameras and telemetry
a ton ton ton of interaction with the instructors. My buddy Jaime and I pretty much had Roberto Guerrero to ourselves all day.
After lunch we came back to our cars and they were fully refueled, before the end of the day they needed to be refueled again. We were using roughly a gallon of gas a lap (~3.4 MPG).
Performance (base) class is $1195, Masterclass is $2150. I would do both at least once to see which one you like better.
The LC500's we did our familiarity laps in had under a thousand miles and were all on the upgraded black OEM wheels, I think mine had Michelins.
I had read somewhere the cars they use are right from the factory with no break-in miles. A lot of new owners are concerned about engine mistreatment when new. Looks like Lexus isn't too worried about their product.
Wondered if they were run flats or conventional tires. Would be interesting to compare both in this instance.
A question for those that attended, is there a discount voucher for the purchase of a new LC 500 awarded upon completion of the class? I've read around on the forums participants receive a $5,000 voucher, which can be combined/stacked with other incentives, towards the purchase of a new LC. Can someone confirm if that is applicable for both Base and Masterclass participation?
A question for those that attended, is there a discount voucher for the purchase of a new LC 500 awarded upon completion of the class? I've read around on the forums participants receive a $5,000 voucher, which can be combined/stacked with other incentives, towards the purchase of a new LC. Can someone confirm if that is applicable for both Base and Masterclass participation?
I went to COTA in 2022 for the base/performance class, they gave us a $1500 voucher. 2023 (base class, Atlanta) and 2024 (masterclass, Austin), no voucher. I don't think they're doing them anymore.
Didn't occur to me to check the miles. Tires were Michelin. Not sure if they were RF or normal. I can't figure out out from the pics (see attached).
Three LCs that I drove were all Bespoke build with carbon fiber roof and scuff plate, speed activated spoiler. I checked window sticker on one of the cars and it was $121k.
Well, for the first couple laps, I didn't check how fast I was because I was so focused on maintaining the driving line and distance between the car... Haha
Originally Posted by Reinvention
A question for those that attended, is there a discount voucher for the purchase of a new LC 500 awarded upon completion of the class? I've read around on the forums participants receive a $5,000 voucher, which can be combined/stacked with other incentives, towards the purchase of a new LC. Can someone confirm if that is applicable for both Base and Masterclass participation?
Wish they handed the keys at the end... No vouchers for us. Gave us a nice water bottle and photo frame (certificate of driving school). That was a nice touch.
06-16-24, 06:44 PM
Drove LC500 on the F1 race track in Austin, TX
) to their limit officially!!!
