Burst32

Well, I went home for winter break this year and I met some serious snow and ice in the past few days. Once again, the AWD performed flawlessly as it always does. On friday we got 6 inches of snow, then freezing rain all night, then it dropped to 20 degrees plus a nasty wind that froze everything. I went to Best Buy yesterday evening, and I was the only one on this one road. So I got it up to 40mph and wanted to see how far it would take me to stop, well it took me a good 80 yards haha. It was hilarious

But, do any of the other AWD people feel how I do? :

In the summer you wish you had the IS350 because you know how much fun it would be and you hate your little turd 2.5

In the winter you love your AWD because you know you won't be in a ditch somewhere

I am bi-polar

Torii

nothing better than putting some blizzaks on her and doing 65+ down a snow covered highway knowing the car has traction...of course up here in alaska...everyone drives pretty fast in the winter compared to some lower 48 folks

as3.0cl

iTrader: (2)

wish i had a 350 in the summer, but the awd was a must for me......looking at headers to up the performance on the 250, it is a very capable motor just the exhaust manifold restriction has to be taken care of and some nice power will be gained and some coils if they are ever developed. i will prob be satisfied by then. the awd was excellent in the snow, the tires sucked though.

ReLexin

love it in the snow.....hate it in the summer..... But i guess that it has the small engine is for my safty. I'd fly around in a IS350. I can't be without AWD.

as3.0cl

iTrader: (2)

pretty much the same but i still do fly with the 250, just have to be more consciouses of what gear you are in so you got some power which makes it fun to drive.

but if i want speed i can always take out my dads GS350awd for some fun......it screws.

Bichon

It would appear, judging by my observation that about 90% of the 2IS cars I see on the road in NJ are the AWD model, that most folks in my state think as you AWD owners do.

Personally, I'm glad I got the IS350. The road departments around here do a terrific job cleaning up after each storm, meaning usually I have to drive on snow covered roads perhaps five or six days a year. The other 360 days, I'm driving on black pavement. For those few days, RWD with snow tires has served me fine. Coming from an Audi with quattro, I'm well aware of feeling of confidence that comes with AWD, and if Lexus sold an IS350 AWD I would have bought it, but in this climate I just don't think it makes sense to sacrifice that awesome 3.5 liter motor for it.

Incidentally, I have to disagree, at least partially, with Burst32's comment about AWD keeping you out of the ditch. AWD will keep you from getting stuck -- no question, but since cornering and braking are done with the tires, having the right tires are at least as important as which wheels are driven when it comes to keeping you on the road.

Burst32

"The road departments around here do a terrific job cleaning up after each storm" - Bichon

The road departments at school are absolutely terrible, and coupled with the hills and nasty terrain it makes for quite a bad place to drive in the winter. Even the post office trucks have chains on them.

At home, the road department is better. But that is only on the main roads. My house is out in the country persay and we are lucky to get even a plow truck to go by. But I would have to agree that if I totaled the days I drive on ice and snow, it wouldn't add up to that much. I could get away with the 350 with snow tires, but the AWD is certainly a good compromise.

as3.0cl

iTrader: (2)

/\/\/\ if they made a 350 awd i would be all over it, no doubt. if it comes out next year i will highly consider it without a doubt, i love the 3.5 motor and it is an awesome motor. however when i'm traveling 100 plus miles a day and with slick roads i do not want to get caught in a storm, i'd rather have the security. we all want more power...who doesn't? i've only seen one IS350 in RI on the highway, that is it and it's usually every two weeks before i see another IS period.

Burst32

Now if there was a 350 AWD option, wow would that sell!!

Coconut

I feel this way all year round !