Downsides of AWD
05-20-14, 03:07 PM
#16
Like others have said, tires make a bigger difference than drivetrain in the winter. I have had multiple Miatas and RX7s while living in Boston and had no problem driving them year round. I'd buy a set of cheap wheels for the winter, have snow tires mounted to them, and then I could do the swaps every fall/spring myself in about 30 minutes.
In all my years of winter driving, with snow tires on RWD, I've never had a problem getting somewhere.
In all my years of winter driving, with snow tires on RWD, I've never had a problem getting somewhere.
05-20-14, 03:45 PM
#17
The pursuit of F
Everyone listed the differences with AWD so nothing much else to add from a technical standpoint. An advantage you may have is knowing the dealers have AWDs in stock but no RWDs. Use that to negotiate you really want the RWD but would "settle" for AWD provided the deal is right. Dealers want to move their stock so you may actually get one similarly priced to a RWD.
05-20-14, 05:50 PM
#19
You also can't get power tilt and telescopic steering wheels on the F-Sport unless you go with RWD. Even without memory feature when you power off the car steering wheel retracts and comes back to your set position when you start the car again.
05-20-14, 08:14 PM
#20
Same here.
Also interesting that a few comments in this thread suggest tires are better than AWD in the snow. If this is the case then why does my AWD IS make it up my driveway in the snow, but the Mrs. can't with FWD and snow tires? I'll take the AWD over the snow tires.
Also interesting that a few comments in this thread suggest tires are better than AWD in the snow. If this is the case then why does my AWD IS make it up my driveway in the snow, but the Mrs. can't with FWD and snow tires? I'll take the AWD over the snow tires.
05-20-14, 09:19 PM
#21
Pole Position
No one said tires are better. They just matter more because they're your only contact to the ground... Not only winter tires are important, but the kind of tire is important too. What tires does your AWD have during winter?
On the other hand if someone lives in a mountainous area then AWD is a nobrainer. This is what your example shows. NYC however (just like Montreal) is mostly flat (correct me if I'm wrong).
On the other hand if someone lives in a mountainous area then AWD is a nobrainer. This is what your example shows. NYC however (just like Montreal) is mostly flat (correct me if I'm wrong).
05-21-14, 05:46 AM
#22
Not to harp too much on tires vs drivetrain, but a great example of AWD meaning nothing in the winter is Subaru pushing WRX STI's out of the factory on summer tires. A RWD IS with winter tires would handle winter precipitation better than that STI. Put some winter tires or good all seasons on that Subaru, though, and you've got the IS beat.
05-21-14, 06:47 AM
#23
I live in NY and would not have made it through winter without my AWD F-Sport. The biggest drawbacks I'd say is that you would get a lower mpg and a 6 speed trans vs an 8 speed. Not sure where in NY you live, but there are plenty by me. Depends which model you're looking for, I had to settle for a nonML package IS350 as there are few to be found and the once that can be found have a red interior. If you're ok with a regular F Sport with a cross blindspot monitor and navigation, you'll be fine. If you can wait, I'd get the ML package though.
Last edited by theoryguy3; 05-21-14 at 06:51 AM.
05-21-14, 07:07 AM
#24
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Inferior to maybe subaru audi but I think the toyota AWD is pretty decent IMO. I was driving in mounds of snowstorms with no problem this past winter getting to work when no one else could. The only thing that gets annoying is traction control which corrects alot harder than I thought. I lose traction, it quickly snaps it back into line almost jerking the car
Regardless of modifications to the car, the AWD 3IS has significantly better grip and handling than the RWD. The 8spd vs the 6spd is both a pro and con since alot of people complain that it shifts to quickly. The 6speed has been around for sometime and I actually like it. If your living in NY, the AWD is a no brainier after this past winter and the interior amenities are almost identical so that shouldn't be an issue. Just choose a path you want to go, More performance oriented or More Year Round reliability? Performance, I say keep looking for a RWD but year round reliability i would say AWD
Regardless of modifications to the car, the AWD 3IS has significantly better grip and handling than the RWD. The 8spd vs the 6spd is both a pro and con since alot of people complain that it shifts to quickly. The 6speed has been around for sometime and I actually like it. If your living in NY, the AWD is a no brainier after this past winter and the interior amenities are almost identical so that shouldn't be an issue. Just choose a path you want to go, More performance oriented or More Year Round reliability? Performance, I say keep looking for a RWD but year round reliability i would say AWD
05-21-14, 07:29 AM
#25
Lexus Champion
This thread, from the GS forum, explains the various AWD systems available today:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...e-germans.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...e-germans.html
05-21-14, 08:42 AM
#26
Same here.
Also interesting that a few comments in this thread suggest tires are better than AWD in the snow. If this is the case then why does my AWD IS make it up my driveway in the snow, but the Mrs. can't with FWD and snow tires? I'll take the AWD over the snow tires.
Also interesting that a few comments in this thread suggest tires are better than AWD in the snow. If this is the case then why does my AWD IS make it up my driveway in the snow, but the Mrs. can't with FWD and snow tires? I'll take the AWD over the snow tires.
This is why I'll never own a FWD car (among other reasons). It was done as a cost-savings thing by car manufacturers as well as to dumb down handling for all the idiot drivers out there, essentially forcing you to understeer if you blow a corner rather than oversteer, which is far harder to recover from.
05-21-14, 12:55 PM
#27
Lexus Test Driver
Because FWD is crap, too. When you're trying to accelerate (whether flat, but especially on a hill) all the weight of the car shifts to the rear wheels. If only the fronts are being driven, you basically have no weight on them and thus can't get any good traction.
This is why I'll never own a FWD car (among other reasons). It was done as a cost-savings thing by car manufacturers as well as to dumb down handling for all the idiot drivers out there, essentially forcing you to understeer if you blow a corner rather than oversteer, which is far harder to recover from.
This is why I'll never own a FWD car (among other reasons). It was done as a cost-savings thing by car manufacturers as well as to dumb down handling for all the idiot drivers out there, essentially forcing you to understeer if you blow a corner rather than oversteer, which is far harder to recover from.
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