No problem..

The above photos are from a Press Car, when they test the AWD in Texas...

The AWD transmission photo, is from Ebay..

~ Joe Z

 

Looks about the same size as the hump in mine to me...

 

we live in a time where we can genetically pinpoint cancer genes, have space programs to live on mars, cars that run on other things but oil, but we can't find a way to make the awd transmission smaller?

 

Neither did I. I've driven a handful of AWD vehicles and never noticed anything of that magnitude.

 

Beat me to it

 

It looks like it wont be comfortable if you use the cruise control and get off you foot from the gas pedal...

 

Yeah, if you are using the cruise control, you would want to move your foot over to the left to clear the bump. It's not a huge deal, but I look at it as if I am going to be spending close to $50K for the car, I want it without the bump. Even though it does rain here a lot, I a thinking the RWD with traction control will be just fine. The RWD will not have the bump, will get a little better gas mileage, and save me a little over $1K on the purchase price on the car. It might also have a little better pick up since it is not having to power all 4 wheels.

 

Plenty of people drive in the rain, most don't have AWD vehicles. Rain isn't an issue provided you have good tread, that goes for AWD, RWD or FWD vehicles. Now if you're dealing with snow, the AWD has a distinct advantage.

 

Exactly. We only get a few days of snow a year and for those days I would leave the IS home and take our RX350 that has the AWD.

 

I too don't have a need for the AWD, I just got an AWD out of ease and because of the resale issue I mentioned.

Don't however go to a lot of trouble and expense ordering one RWD because of the hump. I have put nearly 10,000 miles on my 4GS with the hump and you just don't even realize its there, even when using cruise control.

 

good point. If the dealer had an AWD on the lot exactly the way I wanted it, I would go ahead with it, however, I have a feeling I will end up ordering either way because the chances of the dealer having the car optioned the way I would want (nav with or without mark levenson pkg, lux pkg, parking assist, and VGRS) will be slim to none. The resale may not matter much either since I have been known to keep cars for over 15 years....

 

I think you will get use to this sort of things. One thing I wonder, how the felt on that hump will look like over the time. I can imagine that you will step on it when you go in and out of the car?

 

I don't think you will hit it getting out of the car, but since your leg will sometimes be resting up against it when driving I would imaging you will see some wear on it over the years. You might also rub up against it when first getting into the car.

 

No, you never step on it, I never even have to vacuum mine.

 

I think it is YMMV.

Whether the heel of your feet hits the lump depends on the size of your feet. Yesterday, I sat in 2013 IS350 AWD and I found the back of my shoe has some contact with the lump. Now whether it is a practical cleanliness issue or not depends on whether you will have messy snow in winter in your area.

Besides, i find the problem is not about the lump itself but it is the shape of the lump which causes the problem, The lump in 2013 BMW 335i X-Drive or the 2014 Q50 AWD that I sat today seem to be less intrusive. 2013 GS AWD is fine as well.