Hello, I'm not yet a GS owner but hope to be within a week or 2. I was wondering what everyone's opinion is about the AWD. I live in central FL so obviously there's no snow to worry about (at least there better not be!) though we do get some incredible downpours. I haven't been able to find much of anything in AWD or RWD in the colors I want (either dark blue or black cherry). I currently have a black Q45 & would settle for a black onyx GS if I had to. I found a blue GS AWD in Kentucky, though I'm not sure how I'd get it. Seems all that's available around here is white or silver.
Thanks

 

IMO, you should get RWD since AWD is really for snow( and it has an extra wheelwell gap), and then get A/S tires.

 

I would go with the RWD... They don't make specific springs for AWD (you can still lower it using RWD springs but vibrations might occur) Gas mileage is a little bit better for RWD from what I hear. If you don't care about those 2 things than get whatever is a good deal for you...

And no, there is no snow in central Florida.. only Hurricanes ( I know, since I from Orlando.. I was there 3 years ago when there was 3 hurricanes in 4 weeks!)

 

Thanks for the quick replies. I kind of figured RWD would be the way to go but since I've never owned a Lexus I wanted to be sure there wasn't some benefit to the AWD for me. Right now, the only benefit to it is that the car I was drooling over is the only certified one that I've found that's pretty much loaded that's not white or silver. Oh well, back to hunting.

 

if youre in FLORIDA... def go with RWD.

 

AWD does you nothing in warm climates...RWD will save you $$ on MPG as well.

 

awd has incredible traction...

even with bad roads and rain, awd will help a lot...

We dont have much snow here, but we have dirty roads and lots of rain so AWD definetly helps... you can kick it to the metal and it will still have traction...

 

Thanks again for the additional input, maybe I'll leave that option open as long as I get everything else I'm looking for. Now, all I have to do is get a dealer to reply to my inquiries! I've emailed &/or filled out a webform for 3 seaparate dealers & no one has repled yet. I like to email first, it's sort of a test. Would any of you recommend buying 1 outside of Lexus? I've found 2 that I'd grab in a heartbeat if they were certified, 1 2006 has 18k miles.