I realize this is a crazy question, but hear me out. I recently bought a 2012 IS250 AWD because the price was perfect and the miles were relatively low (75k on an 8yo car is pretty good if you ask me, anyway), but because I know how to drive in snow and this car simply doesn't have enough oomph to make use of the AWD for sporting purposes, I was think removing it to save fuel (my commute is 64 miles each way and I am averaging 24.3mpg which is a 6mpg drop off from my last car which has more power and 1/2 a liter more engine in it). So if I could remove the AWD system without the car "freaking out" because sensors were not registering what they needed to, I'd be ecstatic. From what I can tell this would, per the manufactures fuel economy claims, net me at least 3mpg which I think I could live with considering the excellent condition of it and the options it came with all make me happy (although, how do people >6' tall get comfortable in this car? It was clearly built for mini people).

I bought this car without doing my due diligence because the dealership had a 30 day/1500 mile exchange program. Unfortunately their other used inventory within my budget is all garbage (high-mileage CT200H's, various other high-mileage CUVs, and a CRV (which I'd sooner commit Seppuku before driving voluntarily)) and with my commute and active lifestyle my 1500 miles is quickly running out, so any hopes of them getting something in before that is quickly fading.

Thanks in advance!
Joe

 

So, delete the front axles, bearing and do a spindle swap, delete the transfer case and trans in favor or RWD transmission to get a 1.111279 increase in MPG while costing a fortune and making the cars value zero....

You should do it! The dash will remind of you Christmas!

Seriously... not worth it... be happy with it as is or sell it!

 

+1. It's not as simple as it sounds and would require a ton of parts that would simply exceed the value of just selling it/returning it/whatever and getting a non-AWD version. Considering you're in the northeast US, I'd imagine you may miss the AWD in the winter even if you don't think you will. Unfortunately these are simply not the cars you buy if you care about gas mileage, though 26-27 MPG isn't out of your realm of possibilities if you adjust your driving style.

For reference, the AWD version has ~220 lbs on the non-AWD version.

 

If I had to guess, it's more the stop and start that kills the MPGs than weight. Spinning the additional reciprocating components from a stop matters....

O/T if I were getting 23 I'd be happy.
350 is a piggy in the winter. Ran it in ECT mode for a couple tank fulls to achieve 19.2mpg... Summer is just under 22. High of 25 on a road trip...