Lexus cars-AWD: Anyone have one?
- Thread starter danzuchy
- Start date
A few cars you can test out:
Acura TL - Great price (under your budget), the drive is just exhilarating with the AWD and 4WS. You either love of hate the look.
Lexus GS - Very quiet and luxurious car vs. the Acura. Boring drive and near end of model cycle. If you want a comfort car this is the one.
BMW 535xi - Great handling and power with twin turbo but long term reliability questionable (especially if you buy the car outright).
Infiniti G - Don't recommend it poor quality.
They are all great cars, but the Acura is the one that will "Stick to the road" under all conditions.
I have a E350 4matic company car and it's nice, but if I had to buy one myself I will get the TL hands down.
Acura TL - Great price (under your budget), the drive is just exhilarating with the AWD and 4WS. You either love of hate the look.
Lexus GS - Very quiet and luxurious car vs. the Acura. Boring drive and near end of model cycle. If you want a comfort car this is the one.
BMW 535xi - Great handling and power with twin turbo but long term reliability questionable (especially if you buy the car outright).
Infiniti G - Don't recommend it poor quality.
They are all great cars, but the Acura is the one that will "Stick to the road" under all conditions.
I have a E350 4matic company car and it's nice, but if I had to buy one myself I will get the TL hands down.
I disagree with the above poster.
I have an Infiniti G35x and love it. Some initial problems with the Air bag system and front compression links which Infiniti took care of. Since then, knock on wood, no problems. Car is 2005, bought brand new now has 120,000 km on it. It is a TANK in the snow (I have Michelin Snow Tires on it.) Very much like the styling and engine. The one big bitch I have with my car is the 5 speed automatic, which has now been improved to a 7 speed. In 2005 the TL was not available in AWD. The new TL looks like shit in my book with that idiotic front and rear end and thus eliminates it from contention. Maybe Honda will smarten up and then the TL would be worth a look. For higher dollars, there is always the Accura RL which is available in the AWD, but it's fat, and slow, and not that powerful and kind of stodgy looking as well.
The Lexus GS is only available with the smaller engine (3.5 litre vs. the 4.6 litre) in the AWD format. If the GS was availabel with the larger engine, it would be allot better as the GS is a HEAVY car at 4,810 pounds vs. the Infiniti G37x at 3,700 pounds vs the Infiniti M45x at 4,100 pounds. Both the Infiniti models have more horsepower and torque than the Lexus and with considerably less bulk - could run circles around the Lexus.
Lexus GS 350 - 4,800 pounds with 303 hp and 274 lb.ft of torque
Infinit G37x - 3,700 pounds with 328 hp and 269 lb.ft of torque
Infinit M45x - 4,100 pounds with 325 hp and 336 lb.ft of torque
In short. the Lexus GS 350x is a fat, tired looking, slow, old man's car.
Hopefully Lexus has something radical coming out with a new GS.
I don't know if Toyota has problems with their AWD transmissions because the IS in the AWD format can only be equipped with the 2.5 litre engine and the Matrix was such a slow dog with the AWD that Toyota dropped the AWD version from its line.
I have an Infiniti G35x and love it. Some initial problems with the Air bag system and front compression links which Infiniti took care of. Since then, knock on wood, no problems. Car is 2005, bought brand new now has 120,000 km on it. It is a TANK in the snow (I have Michelin Snow Tires on it.) Very much like the styling and engine. The one big bitch I have with my car is the 5 speed automatic, which has now been improved to a 7 speed. In 2005 the TL was not available in AWD. The new TL looks like shit in my book with that idiotic front and rear end and thus eliminates it from contention. Maybe Honda will smarten up and then the TL would be worth a look. For higher dollars, there is always the Accura RL which is available in the AWD, but it's fat, and slow, and not that powerful and kind of stodgy looking as well.
The Lexus GS is only available with the smaller engine (3.5 litre vs. the 4.6 litre) in the AWD format. If the GS was availabel with the larger engine, it would be allot better as the GS is a HEAVY car at 4,810 pounds vs. the Infiniti G37x at 3,700 pounds vs the Infiniti M45x at 4,100 pounds. Both the Infiniti models have more horsepower and torque than the Lexus and with considerably less bulk - could run circles around the Lexus.
Lexus GS 350 - 4,800 pounds with 303 hp and 274 lb.ft of torque
Infinit G37x - 3,700 pounds with 328 hp and 269 lb.ft of torque
Infinit M45x - 4,100 pounds with 325 hp and 336 lb.ft of torque
In short. the Lexus GS 350x is a fat, tired looking, slow, old man's car.
Hopefully Lexus has something radical coming out with a new GS.
I don't know if Toyota has problems with their AWD transmissions because the IS in the AWD format can only be equipped with the 2.5 litre engine and the Matrix was such a slow dog with the AWD that Toyota dropped the AWD version from its line.
I'm thinking of buying an Outback, but I hear that the turbo requires premium unleaded, is this true?
true about requiring premium unleaded... expect to pay 13% more in fuel costs annually. i don't think it is worth it.
go with the lexus. full time awd is a monumental improvement over anything subaru or honda...
also, i strongly recommend going with Nokian Hakkapelita snow tires. they last many more years than the best Michelins and hands down are the best grip on the road. you won't even need full time awd.
go with the lexus. full time awd is a monumental improvement over anything subaru or honda...
also, i strongly recommend going with Nokian Hakkapelita snow tires. they last many more years than the best Michelins and hands down are the best grip on the road. you won't even need full time awd.
yes, but, who really wants "many more years" After 7 years, tires should be replaced simply due to the age of the rubber regardless of the mileage on them.
I may start looking for a "Toyota" myself. With the recent problems, there may be some real deals coming.
I bought a Lexus IS250 AWD four years ago and it's been an awesome car. In the winter with snow tires it's as good as any SUV (maybe better because of a lower center of gravity). I had an Audi A4 prior to that and can say that the Lexus is tighter on corners (but not as tight as my BMW 330 Ci - but the Beemer sucks in the winter and is not AWD), and more comfortable and more solid feeling than the A4. Plus it definitely seemed to have a bit more punch than the A4. Overall, it's a great car summer and winter. I would repeat.
My observation is that AWD does give better traction, however, the problem is that it does not make the stopping better. Because the traction is better people tend to drive faster and when they have to stop trouble results.
Have you considered a Lincoln? I currently have the MKZ with the factory Michelin tires. I live on a street that I believe to be the last one plowed in our city. I've been through 3 winters with it and can honestly tell you it's unstoppable in the snow. Runs on regular gas, it's great in the city and even on the 401 in otherwise treacherous conditions it's never left me feeling squeemish when it's down to one lane. The only drawback about it is that it has 263 horsepower but heh, seroiusly, who the hell needs 300+ horsepower these days. I know you're in the market for a Lexus, but don't under estimate the Lincoln AWD models until you've driven one.
Hmmm..thanks for that. I forgot aboutthis one. I will look into it. Sonds like your car is a beast in the snow. That's what I am looking for as my street is treacherous in the winter.
