zc1

That sounds like Subaru logic, lol.

AWD is definitely going to perform better than RWD. Is RWD unsafe, though? Not in the least. Experience driving in snow goes a long way. I've been driving in snowy, icy winters for twenty years, now. Only four of those years were in AWD/4WD vehicles, and during only 5 of those years did my vehicle have winter tires. IMO, enough snow/ice time under your belt, *good* winter tires and a healthy respect for both the vehicle and the road conditions go a long way to compensate for two fewer driven wheels. I'm speaking of real-life, normal, day-to-day commuting (not racing on a track or light-to-light battles).

Droid13

More specific question on the RWD system on the GS450h. What does it have in terms of technology to make winter driving as tame as possible without making it suffer?

I grew up driving RWD in the winter and know its limitations, but with some skill it can be easily overcome. My last winter driving experience with RWD was my 89 Firebird but that was 25 (yikes) years ago now. I had become a master of fishtailing that thing and could get it to climb snowy hills going straight up with the rear end kicked out 30 degrees shooting snow at people on the sidewalk. It was a bit wild, it had no ABS, no traction control, no limited slip differential, it was only as good as the driver. But that was then, this is now. How much better could I expect the GS450h to react with current tech?

I've been pondering the idea of moving over from the RX450h to the GS450h, but this RWD is a concern because my wife will also need to be able to drive it (because we work in the same building, we basically share 1 nice car 90% of the time and keep a plain second car around for the kids to crash, er, I mean drive and a spare for me if she's out doing something). She has never driven a RWD in winter, only FWD and now used to the RX's AWD. I'm a tad concerned, but the GS350 is simply out of the question, I've been driving Toy/Lex hybrids now for 8 yrs and can't stand to go back to regular autotrans now.

maurerc

AWD helps only to accelerate, it adds no decelerative or lateral traction. If a road is so slippery that the AWD is useful for maintaining speed, then I don't want it. All it does then is give an illusion of security that increases the odds of crashing at a higher speed.