Hello everyone,

Model: 2007 IS 250 FWD

I am driving to Utah this christmas and weather forecasts have already registered snow in Utah and I suspect it will be there when I'm there.
I live in california and do not have AWD on my car, rather front wheel drive only. My questions are these:

1. Do I need to take any precautionary measures prior to my trip other than snow chains should I need them (i.e., change my antifreeze, wiper fluid, etc)?

2. Should snow chains be a neccesity, any helpful hints on what to use and what to avoid or will standard chains do the job?

3. Any experiences out there with this model in snow conditions (performance, handling, etc.)

Thanks for your replies in advance.

 

FWD?????

 

The chains aint going to do any good on the front tires.

 

Ohh FWD is250, did you disconnect the drive shaft to the rear wheels?

 

I believe he has the first custom FWD IS250, crazy mod.

Anyways, chains will probably help, you gotta watch out for those black ice...

 

take it easy.

you car is RWD, not FWD. if u get chains... put them on back. NOT the front.

 

LOL mmmm...the man said FWD can't you read?

 

Dang i guess he really wanted to fit in with the civics and celicas? But still, you gotta give him props for being the first?

 

one typo and you guys are on it...

My mistake. I won't even get into tryin' to explain how close the "R" and the "F" are on the keyboard for fear that my shovel won't be big enough for the pit I'd be digging. Needless to say, the questions are still important enough for me to put my ego aside and ask. Granted the last time I had to worry about snow and my car was with my '95 Saturn (which this Lexus has now replaced). Having a car that is by far smarter than I am is a bit intimidating considering I haven't hit 3000 miles yet, so just wanting to avoid any rookie mistakes in the snow. Thanks for your patience and humor, I promise your input will be greatly appreciated.

 

Well hey, dont the WRX guys do something with the xfer case to make it RWD? Why cant someone do it to make a AWD FWD for the winter... thou it doesnt make sense to do so... but hey theres all kinds of ppl in the world right?

smcostuma, dont worry, CL is like family THEREFORE you can pick your friends but you cant pick your relatives

 

lol we're on the same boat.. im going to VA and NJ end of this month.. except my car is RWD..so I'll be sliping and sliding in joy.

youuuuuu on the other hand have a FWD... piece of cake. nothing to worry about LOL jk.. you should be good.. put the "snow button" on and drive cautiously

 

Just put it on snow mode take it easy and you'll be ok. I think we had to semi big storms last winter in jersey and I made it to work ok.

 

They normally plow the roads pretty well. Chains shouldn't be needed unless your going to be in the benches or mountains. A good windshield scraper will be. You may want to get some rubber floor mats to keep the dirt/salt off your normal ones or carpet.

I traded my IS250 for with my mom for her Legacy GT for the winter. So my car can spend the summer in Socal and I don't have to worry about this stuff.

 

Check the manual...I think it might say something about NOT using chains...It could be different for a 250, but I am pretty sure the 350 says its a no-no

 

If budget allows, a set of snow tires would probably do. You don't want to head up there in your summer tires. And being a new car, no other fluids you need to change.