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Hi guys! I am looking to purchase a new Lexus IS300 f Sport RWD 2021 model. With adaptive suspension. 2.0L Turbo doing 180KW.
My Main Question in a Bullet point:
Is this car SAFE to use DAILY in rainy, windy, gravel conditions for someone who is new to RWD and coming from AWD Subarus?
About my main question...
I am from New Zealand, and we have pretty bad weather at times (primarily heavy rain in the current season and cold winters but no snow in my town) and wanted to know if I can safely daily this car. We have lots of windy narrow roads and sometimes gravel roads taking you to the adventurous place in New Zealand.
I have always been driving Subarus, such as the Legacy or WRX great AWD system and have been confident around the corners and while overtaking on the highway. I am a heavy-footed driver and love some spirited driving and taking some sharp corners. The new Subaru WRX Wagon 2022 model is all so an option.
This will be my first RWD car, as a daily I have had an unfortunate moment in a Nissan Silvia S13.
I have test-driven the Lexus, and it feels well grounded and did lose some traction when pushing it, but traction control always kicked on.
I am now married and expecting kids down the road. I love Lexus's reliability and the way it drives overall. However, want to ensure I put my hard-earned money in the right place. Its either the IS or WRX or some boring SUV.
I know a girl who crashed her Lexus SC430 (RWD car) multiple times in wet conditions. She's had her car repaired at least 5 times. I don't think I would want to drive a RWD in an area where there is inclement weather. Rain would be ok with good tires but do you get snow there? if so, definitely not. Someone will say get snow tires but I wouldn't risk it regardless.
I know a girl who crashed her Lexus SC430 (RWD car) multiple times in wet conditions. She's had her car repaired at least 5 times. I don't think I would want to drive a RWD in an area where there is inclement weather. Rain would be ok with good tires but do you get snow there? if so, definitely not. Someone will say get snow tires but I wouldn't risk it regardless.
wow that’s no good. In my town there is no snow and wouldn’t be taking to snow areas which is south. Was she involved in accidents in snow or rain.
the is300 is 2.0 turbo so less power and being 2022 feels like a awd compared to my old Subaru.
But for me safety first then fun. I really love is300 as a car overall
This all depend on the driver! If you know your have a RWD and act accordingly, you will have no issues. If you drive like it's an AWD and don't pay attention to the conditions you're in, then you will have issues. Good tires are a must.
I'm "dailying" my 2022 IS500 which has 472 horsepower (about 350KW) and driven it in snow storms without issues. Sure, it does slip more than my previous IS that was AWD, but it's very doable! Traction control on the IS is really good to be honest!
Just because one person had a bad experience doesn't mean the car sucks in the winter.
Get some good winter tires and you're set. Enjoy the fuel savings with RWD compared to AWD
Oh, and I'm in Quebec, so we have harsh winters and mine is a 200T that's winter driven.
You shouldn't have any issue people who crash there car most likely isn't the car issue other wise all RWD car be banned. If you not in a snowy area then AWD or RWD make no difference. How it handle in the rain come down to tire period. I live in a area heavy snow and with snow tire on RWD IS350 I can out handle AWD with all season. That be said handling about tires in any weather condition.
wow that’s no good. In my town there is no snow and wouldn’t be taking to snow areas which is south. Was she involved in accidents in snow or rain.
the is300 is 2.0 turbo so less power and being 2022 feels like a awd compared to my old Subaru.
But for me safety first then fun. I really love is300 as a car overall
It was both rain & snow. And as others stated, it probably has to do more with driver error than the car itself. If you feel comfortable and are an experienced driver, you should be fine. If there is no snow, I don't think getting a RWD is a problem.
If you drive responsibly you will be fine, for 9 yrs I drive an 2010 IS 250 RWD through winter with mostly no issues. I only ran into challenges when there was a lot of snow accumulation and the road was not cleared.
The AWD SKU has more horse power with a respectively small price increase and you don't have to deal with blowing a turbo on it since there are none, I would recommend that which is also what I drive now. IS300 AWD.
The AWD IS is a Canada & specific regions of the US car only due to snow(And peoples inability to understand snow tires). The entire rest of the world only gets RWD variants.
IMO you should be just fine. Just understand what your driving just like with any other car.
wow that’s no good. In my town there is no snow and wouldn’t be taking to snow areas which is south. Was she involved in accidents in snow or rain.
the is300 is 2.0 turbo so less power and being 2022 feels like a awd compared to my old Subaru.
But for me safety first then fun. I really love is300 as a car overall
My wife is no pro driver, no offense to her - she would probably agree with me. But anyway, she's been driving her 330i, which is more powerful than the IS 300 RWD and has shorter gearing, with literally no drama whatsoever for over 1.5 years. It'll step the tail out if you want it to, but the traction control shuts things down quickly if there's any slip. It is quite entertaining to drive in the rain and never feels dangerous.
The Lexus traction control system in our ISes is even more aggressive at cutting the power. In my IS 350, I've driven it on the twisties IN THE RAIN and had no scary moments whatsoever. And that's with the big-boy engine. With the turbo, you have a little more low-end grunt but less overall power. And I was on summer tires, on a relatively cool day (like 50-something degrees Fahrenheit).
So for rain, don't even worry about it. There's a big misconception out there that RWD cars are unstable in the rain. As long as your tires are good, you're fine to drive normally. Of course, snow is a different story.
Living in Vancouver, we get our share of rain and snow. I've enjoyed my 2014 350 RWD for years with now issues at all. Of course, this means having quality tires and driving responsibly. My truck is AWD and it doesn't drive any safer than my Lexus.
All our RWD cars have been on studded tires (320i, FR-S, IS250, IS200T)
Invest in tires (like everyone else mentioned), get Nokian winter tires if you can. I put two Nokian's on the rear with summers in the front, just to show a friend how good they are, now he's on Nokian tires too
All our RWD cars have been on studded tires (320i, FR-S, IS250, IS200T)
Invest in tires (like everyone else mentioned), get Nokian winter tires if you can. I put two Nokian's on the rear with summers in the front, just to show a friend how good they are, now he's on Nokian tires too
Remember that the thread author states there's no snow where they live.
tbh, just having decent tires - i.e., replacing them on time - is going to be enough to keep you safe. I drove my IS 300 AWD on all season tires back in Kansas City, in the snow, with no issues. It wasn't deep snow, but it did snow quite often.
Remember that the thread author states there's no snow where they live.
tbh, just having decent tires - i.e., replacing them on time - is going to be enough to keep you safe. I drove my IS 300 AWD on all season tires back in Kansas City, in the snow, with no issues. It wasn't deep snow, but it did snow quite often.
To your point, having the right tires is good.
I over looked that part haha! So he's fine!
If the car can be driven in Quebec winters, it can be driven anywhere lol!
11-26-22, 10:43 PM
Is300 2021 rwd safe daily??
But anyway, she's been driving her 330i, which is more powerful than the IS 300 RWD and has shorter gearing, with literally no drama whatsoever for over 1.5 years. It'll step the tail out if you want it to, but the traction control shuts things down quickly if there's any slip. It is quite entertaining to drive in the rain and never feels dangerous.
