RI-Lex

iTrader: (4)

looking into getting a AWD 350, now I live in the northeast some winter are better than others, I read the the awd is a 30/70 split, or should I just stick to a rear wheel drive with winter tires? pros and cons of the AWD from experience, thanks

verly6565

awd in the northeast is almost mandatory,rear wheal is for those who have a winter beater

XxGoKoUxX

It's personal preference, if you can survive without AWD I'd recommend it, for the fact that if you mod the car, AWD will not enjoy it too much.

If you really need/want AWD, plan to keep it 100% stock, i'd totally recommend it, as it's a great choice.

promethus7

What verly said

SNiiP3R

iTrader: (3)

I don't see the point of getting an AWD, when winter usually lasts no more than 2 months. The remaining 10 months you are driving with 0 benefits. The RWD with winter tires is like a tank in snow. When I had my RWD, I used to drive in deep snow and even blizzard conditions, never got stuck.

BinaryJay

I would take the utility of my AWD over fast and furious styles any day.
Wow, so this AWD business is basically useless because you never got stuck and you drove in deep snow and blizzards in this place where winter lasts 2 months. Don't know where winter only lasts 2 months, it has been going for 5 months here and just today got a boatload of snow dumped on me again.

SNiiP3R

iTrader: (3)

Yes, if a person does not know how to drive a RWD in snow, then AWD is what he needs.
I'm in New York by the way. The first big snows we get are in January and by end of February the winter is over.

verly6565

the thing is the gs is a beutiful car and to keep it that way keep it out of the snow, in ct we get hamered every year ,i also have a rear wheal rx7 twin turbo but i would not try driving it in the snow wheather i had tank tires on ,but im not going to get into a bashing match ,what ever your preferance you like go for it , if your a little weary of the snow in new england i would go for awd,if you like power go for rear wheal

YaMomma

If you plan on lowering the car then you may not want AWD, it can be done but if you go to low it will vibrate. I have an AWD and love it but I live in a hilly area that gets snow for more than two months (It's snowing right now).

I don't care what type of tires you have, if you have to stop on a step hill because some idiot gets stuck you will wish you had AWD. At the end of the day its a personal choice but consider the type of roads you typically drive on.

RYKR

I live in Toronto as well, but my GS460 with MIchelin x-ice xi3 winter tires did fine in the snow today. All you need is some common sense, drive at a comfortable pace with plenty of space in front and pay attention to other drivers around you. For the 4-5 months we do get heavy snow once in a while, but most of the time the roads are fairly dry, so for me it's not worth it. IMO a GS doesn't feel like a GS if it's not RWD.

BinaryJay

The AWD puts 70% (+?) of the power to the rear wheels unless there is a loss of traction, it still drives mostly like RWD.

AWD does nothing for stopping.

IXI187IXI

iTrader: (3)

whether you have awd or rwd, that doesnt negate the fact that you still need to know how to drive in snow. i had an awd version and i live in the northeast, though my part of the northeast does not see snow as bad as north of NY does (except maybe this year) and i barely saw any benefit to my awd. the rare occasions that i needed it, it did help but then again it was maybe 5-7 times out of the whole year. think of it this way, if it snows that bad, would you really be out driving in it?

knowing what i know now about the rwd vs awd (as far as modifying), i would pick rwd

Aron9000

I can't remember if it was an AWD GS or IS, but the transmission tunnel and floor bulged out at the bottom siginficantly. Enough to where I had to kind of **** my right foot at a weird angle and rest it on the bulge to hit the accelerator. Anyways I found the intrusion really weird/awkward, enough to where I wouldn't buy one with AWD(of course I live in the south so AWD is dubious except maybe once or twice a year).

IXI187IXI

iTrader: (3)

The GS has that hump as well

uberEJ

iTrader: (2)

its the preference... I just got mine last week too.

I love my AWD handles pretty crazy. I mean I was only planning on bagging it, wheels, exhaust, and intake. You'll run into the mid-pipe problems where nobody makes one and just have to custom it (which is what I'm going to do). They do sell axle-backs for the AWD though .

so as far as mods the mid-pipe is my only issue. again its preference and your plans for mods.