If I wanted fun, i wouldn't get Lexus.. period

 

So true, whlkev . The GS is a great car is a great car if you are looking for luxury and reliability with performance being low on priority.

 

If you want fun factor, forget about the LS!!! I'd go with the GS350 AWD. And then go buy a beater 4X4 or something for them heavy snow days!!!

 

I bought the GS350AWD for the snow and it is no where near as bad as it is in WI. I love it, it does not has the umpf of any of the V8's but it is lots of fun with the PWR mode on.

You will not regret it!

 

Oh I beg to differ, my IS350 was a blast. At the time I bought it (early 06), it was clearly more fun than the 330i or C350. Now since then Bmw upped the ante with the 335i, but MB still missed with the new C350. There are some days that I miss the ol' GSE21 . . .

 

Yep, I'm leaning that way, points above making the case.... in fact, the 460 is out...

Thanks again all for the feedback!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

that's why you get the ci, not i

and plus the 330i performance package is light year ahead of lexus IS in pretty much all performance category.

sorry, before the IS-F, performance/fun and lexus just don't seem to come together in the same sentence, doesn't matter which model i drive, it gets scary above 95mph, i can easily do 120 on the x5 without breaking a sweat.

that of course, is just my opinion and I am driving a lexus now

 

Yeah except 0-60. Acceleration in the IS350 > 330i.

 

I disagree with all this here. Most of you don't see the weather that we do. He needs more people that drive both in the weather that we see compared to most of the CA guys here.

Being all of an hour away from you get the RWD car with the power that you are craving! Not one person here has mentioned SNOW tires. AWD is not the cure to snow and bad weather If I recall correctly you are looking at the RX for your wife and even if not you have a SUV with AWD or 4x4.

I drove the IS350 the first winter on the OEM summer tires and I had one spot that was hard for the car by my office. When I got the car it was too late to find snow tires and I drove it with out any problems. The next winter with the addition of Rims and Snow tires that car went through the snow just as good as the FWD Acura my wife was driving at the time. NO car is perfect in the snow!

IMO get the RWD car with a set of Snow Tires & Rims. You wont be disappointed in the power of the 460 and it will offer more room for your family then the ISF. I wasn't sold on the GS at first. I wanted a BMW or an Audi....Still would rather one of the two for more performance but I must say now that its been a month I am enjoying this car much more. Few things could have a better design for drive convenience but no biggie.

Hit me up after the winter and I can give you a review of the car RWD in the snow compared to the IS and then you will now if its worth it or not. I will be honest with you if I have any problems. We have a AWD suv as a back up so if there are maybe 3 days in all that I couldn't drive my car I would take the RWD all day long then to sacrifice the performance and fun factor for a lousy 3 days. You also live in a state that they are prepared for snow. I now the winter takes a toll on the roads but that is not going to make a difference with any car you drive. that is just something that we have to deal with in the midwest. I would even allow you to come down and drive my car in the snow if you want to since we are not that far from each other.

Good Luck in your decisions!

 

hehe of course, but for a 235hp car, 0-60 is 5.9 is hardly considered slow

 

0-60, 0-100, 1/4 mile, 15-60, you name it, the IS350 owned the 330i in any acceleration test - the 330i was clearly underpowered, hence the 335i was launched less then 12 mos after the 3 series redesign. Sure the 330i with perf pkg owned the twisties, but for everyday stoplight to stoplight or freeway driving, the IS350 was a blast...

 

i have the 07 GS450h traded with 06 GS300AWD, i will post some pix very soon with all mods details, added the optional stabilizer bar on it, it leans flat in high speed cornering, GS450h is the quickest of them, also very quite and smooth. Unbelieveble gas mileage comparing with my old 06 GS300 AWD with almost 100+ hp. But of course it's the most expensive of all.

 

I'm would go with the 350AWD, i live in Anchorage AK where 6months out of the year there is snow and ice! I see a lot of rear wheel drive car spin out during the winter time or get into accidents! That is why i wouldn't ever get a rear wheel drive car unless i moved to AZ like whlkev.
The only thing i wish is that the 350AWD had more horsepower, but the Power switch does give it more of a push in the summer time. I love the 350AWD!

 

AWD system is more reliable on snow, but as i said i had the 300AWD b4 with Ultrahigh A/S performance tires on it, i still had the spinning wheels happened and skidded sometimes, you just shouldn't rely on that, as a high end luxury sport sedan, just try to prevent driving on the snow all i could say.

 

450H yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh