I remember reading a posting just a few weeks ago from a guy in Texas that got out in the snow around Dallas. He had a bad time handling his GS in the snow and it was not AWD. Of course, the chorus of people telling him to get good tires was rather loud. Long story short, his posting then explains that he's in for a transfer to Chicago. If there's any possibility that you'll be caught in snow country then you need AWD. I have it and it's very nice but I really wish I didn't need it so badly. If you don't keep good tires on the car, even an AWD can turn into a sled in the snow.

 

RWD, no doubt


Indeed ...unless....


But even with some snow, with correct tires, the RWD GS is just fine. Problems start to emerge with unploughed roads after heavy snow fall. RWD may get stuck...


....plus unless if you drive a lot on gravel roads. AWD is much easier to handle also on gravel.

 

^^^What he said. But I also need to add that if you're in tough geography such as western pennsylvania, upstate new york or anywhere in the rockies, just winter tires on a RWD isn't going to cut it and you might be disappointed.

 

If I lived in Texas I'd get RWD without a doubt. You don't get the vibration at idle (transmission in D, foot on brake) with the RWD from what I understand. Also, you can be a bit more liberal with tire selection, especially if you want to do a staggered setup, not to mention a plethora of suspension options.

Even if you don't plan to mod your car, if you don't plan to find yourself in an area where it snows regularly, get the RWD just for the vibration at idle thing.

If only it didn't snow for six months of the year here...

 

I dont have any vibration at idle

 

^ i do, enough to put it in neutral at stoplights. i am low though.
RWD definitely, if i had to do it again, thought the AWD was quite helpful this winter. lol.

 

I would go with RWD if you do not get any snow.......and if you plan on doing some modification to your car RWD is the way to go.

 

+1, although with bc coilovers now available for awd, lowering awd isn't a problem like it was in the past.

 

You live in Texas. Hands down RWD. No brainer. why get the higher stance , lack of ability to mount staggered wheels, and understeer at the limit ( but not likely to ever reach with this fat girl)

 

its still a problem. you can only go so low before you start to get terrible vibrations from the suspension.

 

Rwd ftw !!!

 

I live in Chicago area with GS430 RWD with BF Goodrich Super Sport AS tires and have had no problems as long as I put it in Snow mode. Snow mode works very well and wouldn't even consider AWD after giving the RWD a go in Snow mode.

 

get '07 or later and RWD . . . unless you like the "suburu" stance of the stock AWD or the lowered AWD with the massaging seats mod - I mean vibrations. You can live without the AWD in TX. Even if you get teh freak snow or ice storm once or twice per year, just take it easy on the roads.