How's the IS RWD in snow?
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: IN
How's the IS RWD in snow?
Hey all,
How would you guys rate the handling of the 250 RWD IS in light (0-2") snow? I'm thinking of buying one but I'm a little wary of how well it holds up in the winter.
Previously I've owned a Rx7 and I'm currently selling my 97 TT 6sp Supra: http://www.autotrader.com/ATCarID/AT-fe166e5 so I know how to drive a RWD in crappy conditions. I'm just wondering how reliable it is in light to moderate snow.
How would you guys rate the handling of the 250 RWD IS in light (0-2") snow? I'm thinking of buying one but I'm a little wary of how well it holds up in the winter.
Previously I've owned a Rx7 and I'm currently selling my 97 TT 6sp Supra: http://www.autotrader.com/ATCarID/AT-fe166e5 so I know how to drive a RWD in crappy conditions. I'm just wondering how reliable it is in light to moderate snow.
Last edited by Madsci625; Aug 12, 2009 at 12:13 PM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 491
Likes: 3
From: North Jersey
Hey all,
How would you guys rate the handling of the RWD IS in light (0-2") snow? I'm thinking of buying one but I'm a little wary of how well it holds up in the winter.
Previously I've owned a Rx7 and I'm currently selling my 97 TT 6sp Supra: http://www.autotrader.com/ATCarID/AT-fe166e5 so I know how to drive a RWD in crappy conditions. I'm just wondering how reliable it is in light to moderate snow.
How would you guys rate the handling of the RWD IS in light (0-2") snow? I'm thinking of buying one but I'm a little wary of how well it holds up in the winter.
Previously I've owned a Rx7 and I'm currently selling my 97 TT 6sp Supra: http://www.autotrader.com/ATCarID/AT-fe166e5 so I know how to drive a RWD in crappy conditions. I'm just wondering how reliable it is in light to moderate snow.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: IN
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, jk. Good luck! I had a 98 Supra TT, which I was lucky enought to have access to a second car. That car would get stuck in a centimeter of snow. As for the IS, I am not sure if you mean the 250 or the 350. As for the 350, GOOD LUCK. You are risking your life if you drive in the snow, I had to have my car pushed out of the driveway with less than 2". I had the luxury of being able to go to work late or work from home. Im sorry, nothing is worth dying or crashing my car. If youre ok with your Supra in the snow than I imagine you would be ok with the IS too....me on the other hand.....
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: NJ
I don't know why people have issues with RWD and snow. Yes, stock tire size is a bit much, but if you throw winter tires on (narrower than stock), a RWD car will be fine.
Stock IS 350, wide SUMMER tires = bad news.
Stock IS 25, wide A/S tires = doable. I have this setup and was fine in up to 6 inches. I slid a bit, but if you know how to handle yourself in the snow, you can get around in basically any car.
Stock IS 350, wide SUMMER tires = bad news.
Stock IS 25, wide A/S tires = doable. I have this setup and was fine in up to 6 inches. I slid a bit, but if you know how to handle yourself in the snow, you can get around in basically any car.
^^^exactly. Get good winter tires at a narrower size and you should be fine. Just take it easy. I haven't experienced snow yet in my Sportx but have had a Nissan 240 and it was money with a set of solid winter tires.
Even a 350 will be -perfectly fine- in the snow if you invest in some good SNOW tires (not all-seasons)...you can mount em on cheap winter-only wheels.
There's folks with 350s on here who get a lot worse than 0-2 inches and have no issues....so a 250 will be just fine.
People drove with RWD for most of the last century, in worse snow, with no problem... sadly how to drive a RWD car properly (and knowing the value of good SNOW tires) seems to be a lost art.
There's folks with 350s on here who get a lot worse than 0-2 inches and have no issues....so a 250 will be just fine.
People drove with RWD for most of the last century, in worse snow, with no problem... sadly how to drive a RWD car properly (and knowing the value of good SNOW tires) seems to be a lost art.
my is250 manual did fine in the winter..i actually ran it with all-seasons but i'm going to definitely switch that up this year for better traction if i don't get a beater. i would think an is350 would be fine too, just make sure u know how to drive in snow and your cars limits, the manual trans. actually seems better to have running low RPMs for traction and even better is the SNOW control lol but w/ manual your in total control...and have good winter tires to top it off. GL! haha
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Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: IN
I don't know why people have issues with RWD and snow. Yes, stock tire size is a bit much, but if you throw winter tires on (narrower than stock), a RWD car will be fine.
Stock IS 350, wide SUMMER tires = bad news.
Stock IS 25, wide A/S tires = doable. I have this setup and was fine in up to 6 inches. I slid a bit, but if you know how to handle yourself in the snow, you can get around in basically any car.
Stock IS 350, wide SUMMER tires = bad news.
Stock IS 25, wide A/S tires = doable. I have this setup and was fine in up to 6 inches. I slid a bit, but if you know how to handle yourself in the snow, you can get around in basically any car.
Even a 350 will be -perfectly fine- in the snow if you invest in some good SNOW tires (not all-seasons)...you can mount em on cheap winter-only wheels.
There's folks with 350s on here who get a lot worse than 0-2 inches and have no issues....so a 250 will be just fine.
People drove with RWD for most of the last century, in worse snow, with no problem... sadly how to drive a RWD car properly (and knowing the value of good SNOW tires) seems to be a lost art.
There's folks with 350s on here who get a lot worse than 0-2 inches and have no issues....so a 250 will be just fine.
People drove with RWD for most of the last century, in worse snow, with no problem... sadly how to drive a RWD car properly (and knowing the value of good SNOW tires) seems to be a lost art.
I've driven RWD manual cars for 11 years so I feel very confident that I know how to handle a RWD. I'm just tired of white knuckle driving every time snow is on the ground. With the Supra, there really wasn't an option for putting snow tires on it so I just didn't drive when it snowed and got rides from friends. The few times I did have to drive it in ~2" snow, it was pretty horrific. But then again, what do you expect when you're riding on 255/45/17 summer tires.
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Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
From: PA
I'm asking about the 250. Where I live now, the snow isn't bad at all, but I may move somewhere where it could be a problem. Yes, Supras blow in the snow. It seems to me the 250 shouldn't be too bad if I got snow tires. I'd consider the AWD but I'm pretty stuck on getting a manual...
I have the X-package with the summer tires. Absolutely horrible in the snow. My driveway has a slop of only 2 or 3 feet over about 30 feet long. I could not make it up the driveway in 3 inches of snow.
Yes, they are summer tires, but still bad
Yes, they are summer tires, but still bad
Hey Madsci625,
Say hello to Indiana for me, I grew up there. Sounds like you have enough experience with driving in the snow. I live in Minneapolis and drive an IS350. Just purchase a good set of winter wheels and you will have no problems. The onboard technology that the IS is equipped with makes it almost impossible for this car to get into trouble... and if you do, it certainly ain't the car, it's the driver. That said, with summer tires any rwd car is useless in 2+ inches of snow. I drive Bridgestone Blizzaks (225/40/18 front 255/40/18 rear) and love them! You could change tires alone, but that gets costly remounting twice a year. Having a winter set costs a little more, but saves a tone of hassle. It's money well spent. Hope that helps, good luck!
Say hello to Indiana for me, I grew up there. Sounds like you have enough experience with driving in the snow. I live in Minneapolis and drive an IS350. Just purchase a good set of winter wheels and you will have no problems. The onboard technology that the IS is equipped with makes it almost impossible for this car to get into trouble... and if you do, it certainly ain't the car, it's the driver. That said, with summer tires any rwd car is useless in 2+ inches of snow. I drive Bridgestone Blizzaks (225/40/18 front 255/40/18 rear) and love them! You could change tires alone, but that gets costly remounting twice a year. Having a winter set costs a little more, but saves a tone of hassle. It's money well spent. Hope that helps, good luck!
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: IN
Get the 250 AWD there very nice cars and better handiling to DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT get a manual IS250 I own and I regret it every day the transmission in 250 is out of a tacoma truck! It shifts really hard makes weird noises and is to miss gears if trying to shift fast nothing like the IS300 with the w56 tranny which was great.
The problem is that I don't know where I'll be in a year. Indiana winters are not a big deal but I could end up in the northeast or Houston TX so I want a car that could at least get by in either place.
I've considered the WRX but the IS series is so dreamy
Other than that, there aren't too many other front wheel drive cars that match up to the IS in terms of styling and fit/finish. I'm also looking at the TSX or used TL, used G35 or new Altima coupe, maybe the A4... Hey Madsci625,
Say hello to Indiana for me, I grew up there. Sounds like you have enough experience with driving in the snow. I live in Minneapolis and drive an IS350. Just purchase a good set of winter wheels and you will have no problems. The onboard technology that the IS is equipped with makes it almost impossible for this car to get into trouble... and if you do, it certainly ain't the car, it's the driver. That said, with summer tires any rwd car is useless in 2+ inches of snow. I drive Bridgestone Blizzaks (225/40/18 front 255/40/18 rear) and love them! You could change tires alone, but that gets costly remounting twice a year. Having a winter set costs a little more, but saves a tone of hassle. It's money well spent. Hope that helps, good luck!
Say hello to Indiana for me, I grew up there. Sounds like you have enough experience with driving in the snow. I live in Minneapolis and drive an IS350. Just purchase a good set of winter wheels and you will have no problems. The onboard technology that the IS is equipped with makes it almost impossible for this car to get into trouble... and if you do, it certainly ain't the car, it's the driver. That said, with summer tires any rwd car is useless in 2+ inches of snow. I drive Bridgestone Blizzaks (225/40/18 front 255/40/18 rear) and love them! You could change tires alone, but that gets costly remounting twice a year. Having a winter set costs a little more, but saves a tone of hassle. It's money well spent. Hope that helps, good luck!
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,902
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From: Baltimore