Sarorn

We had a really big snow fall here in the Midwest last week, which caused a lot of havoc on our roads. I myself got into a little slippin'n'slidin' and jumped a curb with my IS250 AWD. After everything said and done (new lower and upper control arm, rim, tpms sensor, tire,steering knuckle,etc) and $5000 billed to insurance, I've litterally recieved a new vehicle again.

But, as I was walking thru the bodyshop, I noticed 4 other IS250 AWDs in there for the same reason...Sliding! Makes me wonder how good the AWD system really is. How fast does it kick in when detecting a slide? From what I recall, I dont think it even turned on when I was sliding.

blake0387

iTrader: (1)

AWD is still defeated by ice under all four tires. It's not magical ya know.

Giggity

WHAAAAT!??!?!?! Now I'm totally confused, all the posts from AWD guys here led me to believe that the car did give the driver magically super enhanced driving abilities in ALL weather conditions

z4frosik

Dont blame the car, blame the careless drivers thats drive in the snow like its a beautiful summer day.

blake0387

iTrader: (1)

Only on Tuesdays.

Bichon

You are confusing AWD with vehicle stability control. It's the VSC vehicle stability control system (and the more sophisticated stability control system called VDIM on the IS350) that intervenes in a slide, reducing engine power and individually applying brakes to try to get the vehicle to travel in the direction the driver intended. On my IS350, I can tell when VDIM steps in because the sliding car light flashes while a speaker in the instrument panel goes beep-beep-beep. (as opposed to traction control, which flashes the light without beeping).

Unfortunately, even the most sophisticated stability control system can only make the most of available traction; if there is little grip, there is little they can do. The all season radials that come on your car are acceptable but not exceptional performers in snow. For bad conditions, you'd do better with dedicated snow tires, and for REALLY bad conditions studded snow tires or even chains.

RX469

iTrader: (1)

I was just about to ask what type of tires were on your car at that time.

proximal

The problem is that far too few people realize this.

y2ks2k

yup, and it applies to 4x4 trucks to.

as3.0cl

iTrader: (2)

i bet most of those cars had dunlops on them, the tires suck so ad it isn't even funny. i ran kumho's on my acura and never once slided or lost traction in heavy snow, what do u know with the dunlops i slide a few times, they have no traction what so ever, it is the biggest POS tire i have had on a car. damn factory crap. look them up on tirerack, they have one of the lowest rating an cost a lot for a tire.

other then that, yea the TCS and VSC perfomed well ,the VSC only beeped at me a few times letting me know i have lost traction and it was cutting in.

Torii

the is250 awd is awesome when equipped with snow tires like Blizzaks when compared to cars or trucks without awd and snow tires

I believe the majority of accidents are driver error anyway and its almost never the cars fault

shern

iTrader: (6)

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Dumb *** drivers that think AWD makes their cars operate in the snow/ice like they are driving on dry asphalt. Tough way to learn.

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

A Hummer H1 will slide on ice too.

llamaboiz

Yea that why i said i might as well buy a 350 instead of a 250awd... If i hit a patch of black ice, the awd wont help so i might as well have a 350

Sarorn

Bichon, does the 250 AWD have VSC or VDIM? What kind of traction control does it have? My traction control beeps when its slipping, and sometimes it doesnt...does that mean its switching between VSC and traction control? How does it decide to use which system?

I agree with everyone that blames it on the driver...ultimately, it is my fault. I took a turn a little too fast and should've let go of the brakes. Stupid me!!!!

Anyways, I had a Infiniti G35X AWD as a loaner, which was cool, and it seemed to handle snow better than the IS. I was dissapointed to find this out....and it has more power too!

My tires are Michellin Pilot Hx MXM4's.