Does anybody else consider the IS350 traction control WAY too agressive ? Seems that if the rear tires spin at all, drive power is cut to almost nothing. Sometimes I turn it off just to be able to drive in the snow. Last week, I almost caused a wreck making a left turn out of a parking lot. Tires must have spun, and I found myself straddling the yellow line, almost stopped, with cars coming at me from both directions. The other drivers must have been wondering why I decided to park there. Finally it decided to go. ( seemed like an eterntity, but was probably just a couple of seconds). I asked the dealership if they had any less aggressive software they could download to my car, but they don't.
My Chevy allows far more wheelspin before it comes on, and even then does not brake/cut power so agressively.

 

Short answer: yes.

 

I've never had to drive the IS350 in snow, but the general consensus seems to be that with dedicated snow tires and ECT Snow mode, the IS350 is plenty capable. I can't give you any advice beyond that.

ECT Snow and be ginger with the throttle at all times.

 

Actually I do have dedicated snow tires on, and I believe I did have it in snow mode when I decided to park in the middle of the road.
I have had good results with Blizzaks on my last car, but am not too impressed with the set I have on the IS. Possibly they are a little too wide.
But that's not the point. In their quest to protect me, I think they went too far.

 

I find the traction control to be far too aggressive in the dry. I can only imagine how bad it might be in snow.

I agree it is too aggressive for my liking. Unfortunately I don't think there's a remedy for this.

 

i have yet to drive my 350 in the snow

 

I'm fine with mine not aggressive at all. Also running 225 45 18 blizzak all around as long as you don't have a heavy foot.

 

The traction control is quite sensitive, which can be easily activated.

Tires probably play a role too, depending on how nice the tires are and can have an effect on the amount of grip you get & if it will trigger the traction control.

 

would you be crazy enough to turn off traction control completely and drive in the snow?

 

Traction control just cuts the power to the wheels when your tires begin to spin, which most people would do anyway with any common sense. It would actually be smarter to turn it off so you can control the acceleration/decelration and not have yourself stop in the middle of the road like SPS. And as for ECT Snow, i found it to be pretty useless. I drove for 3 hours last night in the snow in MA and played around with that, and was able to control my 250 a lot more while the car wasn't in ECT snow mode. Just drive with a little common sense and if you want some snow tires and you should be set.

 

in my opinion and experience they have the TC for people who do not know how to drive or control the car. No offense intended to anyone by that commend. If you know how to drive a car and know what to do when the tires spin and how to correct it there is no need for TC.... just my $0.02

 

dude, you have a 250AWD, this is about a 350 with tc off in the snow, you really cannot compare the two, apple vs oranges

 

Agree with that, but before this i was driving an 94 lincoln mark viii, a 310 HP v8 RWD, which could be seen as comparable. Regardless, it sucks getting stuck in the middle of a road or something because traction is on and you really cant control the movement from that point. I'd rather decide when to give it gas or not, instead of the car. Just my opinion

BTW, sick car dude

 

With my 07 it used to be where I could turn off TC but NOT stability control so I would always have TC off. Can you still do this with '10 and '11's??
Also does the IS still beep at you when you start going sidways??

 

I agree, it's a bit too sensitive. I wish the dealer had an LPS where you could adjust the sensitivity. Mine goes off accelerating after completing a U-Turn on a dry pavement.