I am looking at leasing a 2016 IS 350F sport. I have been looking into all the aftermarket stuff and realized there is a limited amount of parts for the Awd opposed to the Rwd model. Is this correct or am I just looking in the wrong spots? I want to do a full exhaust and intake and tune. I have looked into the ark exhaust which i love their products after using them in infiniti's, also i saw the joey z's which are also nice, leaning towards the RSR springs, f sport intake, a lot of carbon fiber, bigger rear calipers and rotors and a nice set of wheels.

 

All of those things can be had for RWD and AWD. That said, I wish I could've gone for the RWD. It's lighter, gets better mileage, and can do RWD things :P. Also all the AWD ones have a vibration at idle when it's cold outside (< 8ºC). Not sure if RWD has that issue.

 

I think really it comes down to what you'll need and where you live. I was thinking long term since I move around and go to different places alot that I decided AWD will come in handy if I ever find myself in an area with alot of snow again. I've seen plenty of aftermarket options available for the AWD and RWD with not much limitations because its AWD. The only thing I've noticed is some lowering springs can't be used for AWD.

As for the Ark exhaust they come in AWD and RWD so if that is the exhaust you're looking go then you're good. That is the exhaust I recently decided to go with too!

 

awesome let me know how you like it! i am not a noob to cars just new to a lexus. i am selling my 2013 GTR to buy a house and this car has had my eye since the lease date. huge hp drop but the styling will be the trade off. i live right outside of nyc but idk how much i will drive it in the winter but i do like the option so probably going with the all wheel drive:**. i want a nice sound out of the car and a little bit of a drop next is figuring out 19"s or 20". I also have my own performance shop so i will be looking to tune this car on my own and will be looking into that software.

 

thank you! yeah rwd things are a lot of fun lol

 

You live in NY, get an AWD... Lol

 

Must be a Canadian thing. My AWD doesn't do anything different in winter or summer here in Michigan

 

i know lol. it is not my only car though i have two suv's

 

Love my RWD it handle great, but I do not drive it in winter.

 

I am so glad I went AWD. I started early with DSM's and Subarus and always loved the winter with AWD around here in western NY. My mustangs were fun in the winter, but not practical.


It may just be me but - "AWD stuff" in the snow >>>>> "RWD stuff" any season.

 

AWD vs RWD, I've had multiple of both set-ups in Sport Sedans.

In terms of Winter here's how I rank them-

Best: AWD with winter tires
2nd RWD with winter tires
3rd AWD with all season tires
Not Good RWD with all season
Impossible Summer tires

In terms of rain AWD definitively makes a difference at the sacrifice of dry dynamics and fuel economy.

Here in the Mid-West with maybe 10-15 snow days per year I like both options but my next sport sedan will be RWD with a spare set of winter wheels/tires. I'll usually keep the stock wheels and add winter tires to them and buy a second set of wheels to taste with summer tires. I switch them around in late-Nov and then again in early-April. When I get rid of the car, I can then sell 1 or the other extra set.

 

Its not that clear cut. I live in a very hilly suburb of Philadelphia and I drove perfectly fine with my RWD on winters through every storm last year. Each time i get a loaner and its AWD im shocked at the low MPG. I also wouldnt trade my transmission for anything. The 8 speed from the previous gen IS-F was the only thing making buying an auto acceptable.

 

It's not just a Canadian thing. It's a very subtle vibration that only some people notice. There are various threads on here and other forums about it. It's just normal for this car.

 

Ok no disrespect 👍

 

This is what I have been doing all my life and it is OK.
I live in CA but I frequently ski in the mountains, I tend to avoid worst winter weather however when I head to the mountains.
It is doable, if I lived with snow around my house perhaps it would be not good but as an occasional snow-skier - I can live with RWD/all season.
And if snow is really bad - they force you to put snow chains (only AWD with snow tires will exempt you).