IS 350 F sport AWD vs. RWD
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: new york
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IS 350 F sport AWD vs. RWD
I have contacted dealers as far south as Florida. I want to buy a 350F Sport rear wheel drive. Nebula Gray. No dealer seems to have one in stock despite the fact that many of their websites show them as being in stock. I don't want the extra cost , complexity ,weight and poorer handling of an all wheel drive car
Can anyone quantify the difference in handling between the two drives ?
Can anyone quantify the difference in handling between the two drives ?
#2
Only AWD vehicle I had was an 11' WRX and it handled great, the only reason I didn't get the AWD 350 was the tranny. Both should have understeer with the offset tires so I don't see how the AWD is going to handle any worse than the RWD. It should really come down to weight and tranny.
#3
Pole Position
This thread has all the information you need. I'm in the same boat, wanting an IS350 RWD but can't test drive it.
#6
If you live in NY you're better off with AWD especially when the snow hits. My sister has a 16 RWD IS350 in USB as she lives in Cali and we both think the AWD handles better though she has a better-equipped car. That Levinson audio system blows the stock away. IMHO.
Trending Topics
#9
Lexus Champion
Motor Trend did a pretty thorough comparison of the IS models. While there are benefits to each drivetrain, and lots of personal preferences, I wouldn't dismiss the AWD as being slow or a poor handler. Here are some comments from the Motor Trend comparison:
On the AWD 350:
http://www.motortrend.com/news/2014-...-awd-update-3/
On the RWD 350 F Sport:
http://www.motortrend.com/news/2014-...port-update-5/
On the AWD 350:
When it comes to how the car drives, the difference is less obvious. You might expect the AWD would change the handling characteristics, but it isn’t noticeable. The steering is no heavier and no less communicative, and there’s no hint of torque steer. An advantage of the full-time all-wheel drive system is you’ll never feel the front axle connecting and disconnecting, which means it won’t upset the handling. A disadvantage is a small penalty in fuel economy, which is already slightly low for the class. Understeer is still the default when you test the limits.
On the RWD 350 F Sport:
That’s what F Sport is. Here’s what it does: Our long-term F Sport needed 5.6 seconds to hit 60 mph and 14.0 seconds flat to run the quarter-mile, trapping at 99.8 mph. You’ll note, though, that this is slower than the IS 350 AWD it replaced in the long-term fleet. That car, with its all-wheel-drive grip, got a much better launch and hit 60 mph in 5.3 seconds on the way to a 13.9-second quarter mile at 99.4 mph. The rear-wheel-drive F Sport had some trouble putting the power down, something I think better tires would’ve helped, perhaps Potenzas instead of Turanzas.
#10
Motor Trend did a pretty thorough comparison of the IS models. While there are benefits to each drivetrain, and lots of personal preferences, I wouldn't dismiss the AWD as being slow or a poor handler. Here are some comments from the Motor Trend comparison:
On the AWD 350:
http://www.motortrend.com/news/2014-...-awd-update-3/
On the RWD 350 F Sport:
http://www.motortrend.com/news/2014-...port-update-5/
On the AWD 350:
http://www.motortrend.com/news/2014-...-awd-update-3/
On the RWD 350 F Sport:
http://www.motortrend.com/news/2014-...port-update-5/
Great post. If I were the OP, I would get an IS350 AWD with the Levinson audio system from the midwest or down south (DC/VA area).
#11
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: new york
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#12
I've driven both of them, and other than the transmission, it's hard to tell a difference in normal driving. Personally, if I had a choice, I'd go with the RWD because the transmission is a bit better and it gets slightly better mileage.
#13
I ended up test driving the AWD first before purchasing the RWD. My only complaint was the slightly annoying bulge next to the console where my right leg sat, thanks to the AWD system. Not a huge complaint though.
#14
Im in northeastern MA, and I had an AWD IS250 and when I lowered it on springs and F-Sport shocks , I got a terrible vibration when the car wasn't in park. I hated it. I got the RWD this time specifically for that reason. Threw on some all seasons and hoping we don't have a freak winter like last year. But fortunately for me I work in town so my commute isn't far.
#15
Advanced
iTrader: (3)
Im in northeastern MA, and I had an AWD IS250 and when I lowered it on springs and F-Sport shocks , I got a terrible vibration when the car wasn't in park. I hated it. I got the RWD this time specifically for that reason. Threw on some all seasons and hoping we don't have a freak winter like last year. But fortunately for me I work in town so my commute isn't far.