Luxurydriv

I haven't yet ordered the new LS600, and I was wondering if anyone might have idea how well it goes on snow/ice compared to e.x Porsche Cayenne. If I decide to get one it will probably be mainly for winter and conditions here in North are quite snowy so it is very important detail. I have drived couple of rear-wheel drive cars in winter and I have decided that I won't buy never again rear-wheel drive car for winter, it's quite awfull even if they have ESP.

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

The car came out in the summer (well, at least here in the Northern Hemisphere). It will be a while for someone to post its performance in snow...

encore888

Welcome to Club Lexus, luxurydriv! The LS 600h will probably get its first snow tests in a few months...there are some stability videos on YouTube of the LS 600h being tested in slippery conditions, but not yet in snow.

Good luck with your vehicle search.

350Dave

Shirley you are aware that the LS 600 is AWD, correctamundo?

Johnny

Personally, I would rather have RWD over FWD in winter, although, I haven't had much trouble with either. AWD is fine, but it also has its idiosyncracies. The best piece of equipment for winter driving is still the human brain. Whenever I've run into difficult situations, I've always found who was at blame by looking in the mirror.

Driving in Scandinavia is a special challenge. While the Cayenne is fine, it does have a higher center of gravity, so it will not be as firmly planted as the LS600h. The pseudo CVT transmission will be much easier to control in snow than a conventional one, as the shifts are not going to occur suddenly when the wheels break free. This is where a lot of control is lost on slippery surfaces as the revs fluctuate erratically on shifts.

The LS600h or other similar vehicles are your best choice.

Helmar

Two winters ago I was sitting in my snow tire equipped LS430 at the bottom of my snow and ice covered driveway, unable to climb said driveway to the street. Other than the decision to purchase a RWD car, I'm not sure how I was to blame for that predicament.

Hopefully, my LS600hL will take that same driveway with aplomb.

HBH

350Dave

If you live near palm trees, rear drive is king. If you live (as I do) near the Rocky Mountains, front or all wheel drive is a must have.

drink300

Tires, tires, tires. Get good tires made for running in snow.

You can have all the stability control systems and all wheel drive you want and it won't mean a lick if you are running on the wrong rubber. Remember, at the end of the day, all that matters is those four small slivers of rubber in contact with the road.

AWD does not help you corner better in snow or make you stop more quickly on ice.

Helmar

Ignoring tires for the moment, does extra weight (ie LS600hL) help or hinder an AWD car in snow or ice?

On the one hand, the extra weight is just that, more weight for the 4 wheels to move. On the other hand, the extra weight will push the car down onto the road, adding traction?

My wife drives a Subaru, so I guess this next winter, we'll get to see, unless the difference is too small .....

HBH

Gojirra99

AWD does make it a lot easier to ascend a slope under snowy/icy conditions though, even FWD makes a significant difference compared to RWD.

Nospinzone

Ignoring tires for the moment, does extra weight (ie LS600hL) help or hinder an AWD car in snow or ice?

Extra weight will help traction. You will often see snow plow trucks add sand, concrete blocks or other heavy items to the back to help add weight.

It will also help to get a snow tire one or two sizes narrower than the standard summer tire.

Luxurydriv

Thanks for the infos guys!

LS seems to have air suspension, can I manually raise the road clearance in snowy condtions (e.x 7cm snow in the road)? How much there have to be snow on the road before I break front bumber? These questions may sound stupid to most of you, but here in Scandinavia we really get snow!