I didn't get the f-sport handling package because I was skeptical about the adaptive suspension's long term reliability.

But giving that up, I also gave up torsen real diff.

I had an ND2 Club Miata with clutch type LSD and because Miata was so underpowered and I also don't have the ***** to push RWD cars to the limit in corners, I didn't feel the LSD in Miata made a difference.

However, my IS 350 is almost twice as powerful as the Miata, and I'm wondering if I made a mistake by choosing open diff over torsen? The car is still under 1000 miles break-in and I still haven't found out if I'll get excessive wheel spin without torsen or open diff is just fine for IS 350? Thanks

 

Well, I've owned my 2021 without the Dynamic Handling Package for about 18 months (yikes, how did it go so fast!?). I've driven it in the mountains a few times on the stock Bridgestone Potenza S001L tires. In dry weather, I think I don't miss the LSD. Even with the somewhat underwhelming OE tires, it almost always has enough grip. However, I've also been up there in somewhat damp conditions, and it is... interesting how the car responds. Usually, the TC light will light up, but I won't feel much of anything, but once in a while, the car rotates a little. That's where the LSD would help out - it'll make those reactions a lot more predictable. Also, it enables donuts.

However, for me, I never planned on drifting or doing donuts with this car. Though it was tempting to go for a handling package car, I liked the color combo on mine and also didn't mind saving a few thousand dollars.

Opinions will vary. If you're really pushing your car to the limit, sure, get the LSD. If you want to really hoon it, get the LSD. But, if you go on canyon/mountain cruises, with some spirited driving on public roads, I think you don't need it. You may appreciate it from time to time, but thankfully, the car has a good amount of grip and never feels sloppy if you stay within its limits.

edit: For what it's worth, you also get AVS with the handling package. It rides a lot softer in Normal/Sport than it does in S+, but it can firm up a little in S+. I find the base, passive suspension to be perfectly tuned for how I use it, but the extra adaptability seems appealing. I've never driven an IS 350 from 2021+ with it, but I have driven an IS 500... And I will say it rode noticeably softer than my IS 350.

 

On the other end of the spectrum of @arentz07 I've owned my 2022 with dynamic handling package for 11 months now. I don't have a reference point for a car without the torsen diff as I did a very limited test drive of one without it, and my focus on that test drive was the suspension more than anything. My prior car was also a Corolla so this is my first "performance" vehicle and my first RWD vehicle. As was the case with you, I was worried about pushing a RWD car because I feared I'd spin out in a corner. Having said that, this car handles like an absolute beast. Essentially its just "point and shoot", or rather "point and steer" lol. Theres a corner in particular in my drive that I used to test my comfort in RWD and I've taken that corner at 40 MPH+ still accelerating and not once have I felt the car wanting to give out. I also once floored the car turning out of a shopping plaza after it had rained, and while the TC light did flash, I felt absolutely no loss of traction at all in the wheel or how the car handled. Not sure how much help my experience is but there it is. Also, the AVS is amazing. The difference between modes is very noticeable.

 

Yep, Lexus has done a good job setting up this car. It feels like it's tuned to take full advantage of what the chassis can do. It's amazing how this car has no issues with my maxing-out the G-force gauge.

Good impressions. Honestly, the driver's spec of this car is still to get the handling pack, if you ask me, but hey, an IS 350 is still an IS 350 and inherits the same chassis tuning.

 

Thanks for the reassurance, I kinda also picked mine because color combo availability. The incoming fully loaded IS 350 is atomic silver and black interior, I wanted white and red.

But looks like inventory is improving rapidly and not many people are buying V6 IS. I still paid MSRP, but there are already like 3 IS 350s on the lot unspoken for. So yeah, I'm having a little bit of buyer's remorse, but not so much as I plan on driving mine as a GT car.

 

Seems I worried too much for nothing, the car care nut said the Lexus AVS is very reliable, maybe I should have...

 

my 2015 f-sport model still has AVS going strong, currently at 70k miles. Owned it since 15k miles.

 

I've had a 16 IS350 and came from a 09 G37s with a viscous LSD.

I can surely say the one thing I'm missing from my car to make it perfect is a LSD

 

My 2019 had the LSD. I waited a long time to find that car and passed over many other deals because they didn’t have the LSD option (not all 350 F sport models in 2019 came with LSD, apparently it was a separate option.).
So you can imagine I was super excited when the dealer called me and told me he had one in with the color combo and options I wanted.

I will echo all the other comments about the suspension being excellent, however, I was severely disappointed with the traction control nannies that Lexus installed. There were times where I would try to drift around the corner, or bust a “fun” U-turn… the rear end would start to slide out, but then the traction control nannies kicked in and retarded power and/or applied brake. Bear in mind, I was in complete control and it wasn’t a super wild drift. Ugh.. (and yes, I would come to a complete stop and press & held the button)
It was the most frustrating and sometimes embarrassing thing. I could tell the car had the power and potential to be a superb handling & fun drifting car. But the nannies prevented it. in the end, I sold it and bought a GS F.
I’m amazed at how less intrusive the nannies are on this platform. All I have to do is tap the traction control button once (while driving!), and I can drift to my heart‘s content.

I have since learned there is a pedal dance that can be performed to completely eliminate all traction control, nannies, but I have yet to find the need to do so. Perhaps one of these days when I want to do a standing burn out, I will give it a shot.

But my point is, this is how the IS platform should’ve been from the get-go. If it had this capability, I may not have sold it. (gosh, that was a gorgeous red car!). Likewise, I had I known about the intrusive traction control nanny system, I would’ve never search so hard to get the LSD. … because I would’ve never missed it.

I am curious though, if the same pedal dance that I do on my GS F is applicable to the IS. …I wish I have known about this and have tried it back when I owned it. Has anyone else tried GSF/RCF pedal dance on their IS?

 

You don't have to do the pedal dance - just do a long-press of the TC button while the car is stationary!

In my experience, it has essentially the same effect. Like, I drove in the snow with it off and could do donuts to my heart's content.

 

I tried that,,, Believe me; I scoured the Internet, talked to Lexus technicians, and nobody could tell me how to completely disable the Nannies

I edited my comment above to include, that I did push and hold the button while the vehicle is stationary.

and I’m amazed to hear your story. What year model is your car? Oh, but wait…. you said you were driving in the snow. Have you ever tried it on dry pavement?

 

Weird. Maybe something is different with the RWD cars? My 2016 IS 300 AWD would do literally whatever I wanted in the snow with a long-press of the TC.

Also, not sure if the pedal dance is even possible on the 2021+ cars, but there's a guy on there with the handle hamim_whips who posts video of his car doing donuts.

For instance:

Instagram

View this post on Instagram

Also, try this -

You Tube

He didn't do the pedal dance. So not sure what's going on in your case.

edit:

Good luck trying to get the 2016 IS 300 AWD to drift on dry pavement. It doesn't really want to. RWD is a different story.

I don't have the LSD on my 2021 so probably near-impossible to drift/donuts.