I don't know about newer 4x4 offerings but in the past it was a no no to always run in 4x4.

It cuts into the mpgs and adds a lot of extra wear on the 4x4 drivetrain.

 

Modern AWD systems are designed to always run in AWD

 

if i had to go into the office everyday i might feel differently, but i'll take RWD 10 times out of 10 which is better for like 99% of the time than AWD/4x4... less weight, sharper turn in, less complexity, better mpgs, and in the case of the LS 460 actually more power too haha (never knew why that was)

having AWD also means you can't do sick peel outs and make your passengers crack up!

 

I prefer RWD too except in rain and snow

 

Yup that’s the reason I chose RWD. And I live in Tennessee.

Yes, but funnily enough my GS actually does better in the rain than my FWD SUVs did. They would always spin the front tires in the rain when trying to pull away from a stop quickly or driving up a hill.

 

That doesn't surprise me. Its a fallacy that FWD is always better in the snow. I hate FWD in all weather conditions.

 

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I only like my FT4WD is because it's in a truck. Perfect for it.

In a sedan I wouldn't want it at all.

 

limited slip diff + snow tires is like basically the entire formula

the diff is so important! when i had the crown vic i had the axle swapped with a limited slip one and it really transformed the car, thing was actually a complete beast in the snow... probably could've driven it around the beach too haha

 

Full time 4WD vs part time doesn’t affect mpg like you might think it does. There is no penalty in some circumstances

In the past awd, always ran in awd too. GM had part time 4WD and extra cost full time 4WD with their pick ups in the past.

 

The AWD is great because it makes the sedan always drivable. I would get in my car and drive it to Albany in the dead of winter with snow forecasted with no worries. Wouldn’t do that in a RWD sedan (I’ve had the pleasure of RWD on a mountain highway trip in a blizzard, once is enough lol)

I like having one AWD vehicle in the house and the sedan is it at least right now. All modern sedans don’t come in RWD so AWD it is. No more RWD S Classes in the US.

 

The modern traction aids help a lot too. My LS400 and LS430 were un drivable in the snow. My LS460L was shockingly better. Not as sure footed as the AWD 460 I had but probably 80% which is really saying something.

 

yea a well calibrated ESP/VSC can use the brakes to replicate a limited slip... the LS 400 VSC is definitely only meant to stop a crash at ALL costs but doesn't really have the finesse needed for snow use

 

*drifts in snow with TVD doing magic things*

 

Do you think tire technology may have played a role in that? What kind of tires did you run on those old LS’s?

 

Your first Pacifica was FWD, and seemed to have done pretty well with it. As I understand it, though, the Pacifica Hybrid is AWD.

Your Lexus ES was also FWD....I never heard you complain about it on slick roads.