I think you meant AWD

 

Has anybody compare RWD & AWD performance-wise? 23 less HP and .5s difference on acceleration according to Lexus specs.
I'm also thinking about getting AWD. I live in Chicago area and we do get lots of snow in winter time.
Thanks

 

Argh, darn typos!

My excuse is I am using a stylus screen keyboard.

 

I drove a RWD 460 with 18" tires for 16 months and traded for the AWD 600 equipped with 19" tires. Driving under "normal" low key conditions doesn't reveal much. However, when the car is pushed hard (even in Comfort mode), the 600 has its feet on the ground more securely. I like putting the car hard through turnpike turns at 50 mph (much to my wife's protests, I might add), and I really notice a significant increase in stability with this car, albeit some of that is probably coming from the wider and stiffer 19" tires.

I used to drive an AWD Audi years ago, and the 600 brings back that secure feeling of increased confidence whenever pushing the car to its limits. The car has also shown its good manners on rainy surfaces, even when it hasn't rained for a while, and the surface is more slick. I expect similar improvements in the snow. I was thinking of putting snow tires on this year, but I think the car will do just fine in our rainy Northwest climate with the All-Seasons combined with AWD.

So, without a doubt the car has shown a dramatic improvement with AWD. On the other hand, if you don't push the car too hard, then this may be a moot point. It is important to stress though that AWD helps not only on snow, but also on any slick surfaces like rain, oil, or loose gravel/sand by reducing the amount of torque at the wheel by 50% compared to the RWD, thereby inhibiting wheel spin, and increasing the vehicle's stability when putting the car through an occasional spirited maneuver.

 

+1....which has not been stated by most posts here....i've driven thru torrential rain (like it'll do in FL once in a while) and AWD will definitely be there to help you out....the way i see it, if you don't care about the extra expense that comes with AWD, then get it....if it saves your *** just once, then i think the added expense more than pays for itself!....i don't have AWD on my LS, but do have it on my minivan (where i feel much safer when my wife is driving it )

 

I test drove the AWD today and I know there are a lot of folks who swear by it... but honestly... I felt like I was driving my mother in laws Buick... the car felt more like to was pulling me around the road... sorry AWD folks...but I'm going RWD. Like I said before, I won't be driving in the snow.

 

If you want kick-in-the-pants performance, a better choice would be the 600.

Believe me, that one won't feel like your Mother-in-law's Buick...