GregCanada

There was a video posted a few years back of a presentation that lexus put on showing the differences between the 3 models. I spent 20 minutes searching, i cant find it - it was posted in 2014 i believe.

JDR76

I think this is the one you are referring to (note the discussion of AVS starts at about 8:45, with the difference between luxury and F Sport around 10:00):

madrussian

Nice vid. Kinda cool how Manual mode actually shifts faster as well.

Afrosheen

Yeah it's not the performance type of AWD system Subaru WRX STi, Mitsubishi Evo and others use, it's a "keep grandma on the road" type of system for bad climates.

There are plenty of high performance AWD systems on other cars using Haldex differentials and other cool bits, and you usually recognize them by a rear-drive bias. I think Infiniti is geared this way, 80% thrust going to the rear until slippage happens then it's shifted forward until it balances out.

I'm not trying to dog on AWD systems as a whole, they definitely are useful in specific climates and regions, but from a weight/handling/speed perspective, RWD is preferred.

JDR76

The GS AWD system is rear biased as well, at 70% to the rear, with the ability to go 50/50.

Afrosheen

Ok cool, learned something new today.

JDR76

Yeah, it's actually a very good system. I've had it in both my IS and now my GS. It's very seamless in the way it functions and feels very much like a RWD car in every day driving, but gives you added traction up front when required. It's a beast in the snow. The only real penalty, at least in my opinion, is the weight, but it's really not that much - a difference equivalent to having another person in the car with you. It's not noticeable. I've driven RWD and AWD back to back and I couldn't really tell a difference (other than 6 speed versus 8 speed), though I most certainly would on the track. If I never drove in inclement weather, I would have purchased the RWD, but this AWD system is a very easy one to live with.

The AWD IS350 often tests faster to 60 than the RWD version, though I believe that's mostly because of the transmission.

GregCanada

That's it, thanks!

i've never driven a RWD GS, but i love the handling of the AWD. I'd like to drop it an inch or so. I still want the bumper to be above curb heights tho, especially with the wife driving it.

I've been able to get it alittle tail happy around corners, but it does really want to stick to the road. I love it in the rain / snow, i don't have to worry about coming from a stop, making a turn and having a nice tire-fire like my pickup truck likes to do.

mrpink13

do you still have a 4runner? if i didnt get the gs350 i would have gotten a '13 4runner limited...for the same price but with around 80k miles!!!! such crazy resale value. i had a 2001 4runner before but didnt want to go back to 17mpg and no power, but other than that the 4runner was perfect. i still want one or i might get a gx in two years.