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Lexus IS 250/IS 350 driving experience in the snow

36 messages,  Last post on Mar 01, 2009 at 4:52 AM

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What is this discussion about? Lexus IS 250, Lexus IS 300, Lexus IS 350, Tires, Sedan

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#12 of 36 How good is the IS 250 AWD in snow? by carmen8 Sep 21, 2008 (7:38 am)
I'm confused about the technology behind the various AWD options. I guess the best AWD in snow is Subaru's? Does anybody know how the Lexus IS 250 might compare? Thanks. Replies to this message: rsholland (Sep 21, 2008 8:02 am)
#13 of 36 Re: How good is the IS 250 AWD in snow? [carmen8] by rsholland Sep 21, 2008 (8:02 am)
Replying to: carmen8 (Sep 21, 2008 7:38 am) I'm sure the IS250 will be fine in the snow.   A lot depends on the tires on the vehicle. For example the Subaru STI, spec.B and ('09) WRX come with summer performance tires. So while they do have AWD, they will do poorly in snow until you replace the tires with either all-season tires or better still, snow tires.   Bob
#14 of 36 IS & Snow by gordongj Oct 13, 2008 (3:48 pm)
A friend and I both bouth IS models (we both live in snow belts). She bought a rear wheel drive model - I have bought an AWD. Chating with her, she says that without 4 snow tires, her IS cas a "pig" to quote her. I plan on putting on 4 winter tires on my AWD and hope it is like a little tractor this winter!
#15 of 36 Re: Lexus IS 350 driving experience in the snow [cstone558] by lowrdison20s Nov 13, 2008 (11:09 am)
Replying to: cstone558 (Jan 21, 2007 1:26 pm) great cars these are as far as your brake dust problem i went to the dealer and complained and they changed out my brakes with new pads brake dust gone under warranty
#16 of 36 New to the forum by gotoyota Nov 17, 2008 (10:28 pm)
Hi all, I used to post a little here at Edmunds but I haven't for a little while and I just thought I'd check in to see how the IS does in the snow, so I'm pleased that what I have read thus far is generally positive. I decided it was finally time to replace my trusty old '97 Maxima a little while back and bought an '08 IS350. Mine is silver on black with chrome rims and has the luxury pkg with the ML audio (wow) and the wood trim, nav with back-up cam, etc...etc...I am still geeking out over it. I LOVE the power and I'm very happy with the mileage I can get (when I try). I think it's really fun how it eggs people on even when you're not doing anything to provoke them - seems they just want a shot a keeping up with this beast. My friend has an '07 WRX STi, and I honestly think my car could at least keep up with his. Off the line, no contest, unless you rev the STi up to 5k and dump the clutch. STi is a great car, but this car really suits me. So far, no complaints with mine. I love everything about it. I guess the only minor niggle I have is with the traction control. I had read about it in the car mags and didn't really notice until I had it a couple weeks, but it is pretty aggressive. Accelerating from a stop into a turn (such as when leaving the parking lot at the grocery store) will often cause it to step in when I don't want it to, like the other night when a goofball in a new Civic Si thought he was going to show me up and I wanted to show him what a really, truly fast car can do..but the TC kicked in, somewhat reducing the shock and awe of my design to pass him like he was standing still and I think it ended up giving him an artificial confidence boost and I was just sure he went and told his friends how he almost kept up with and IS350, even though I started out behind him and he started accelerating at least 1 sec before I did as we were making left hand turns exiting the parking lot and accelerating into traffic. Had I been able to use all 306 ponies from the get-go, it would have been much more embarrasing for him, I'm sure. I still passed him easily, of course, but not as quickly as it would have been. Annoying. I have tried switching TC off, but when I accelerate up to speed it comes back on. Is that normal?? Is there a trick to make it stay off when you don't want it? If not, I can live with it, I'll just have to modulate the power with my right foot so as not to engage the nanny. Anyway, my wife giggles every time we go somewhere in it (it's a far different driving experience from her Sienna). She has driven it once and the power scared her. YES! Gotta love that, he he. I try not to be a brat on the road but it's hard. I just feel funny, seeing how I'm a 36 yr old father of 5 kids in a respectable profession, etc., when this car turns me into a kid and forces me to spank the tires off of somebody fool enough to try to get ahead of me Also looked at '08 G35x, which I was actually intent on buying when I started my quest. I was really disappointed in the G35. I looked at a couple of '07's to see how they were holding up and they just didn't have the same robust feel of the IS, nor did the engine feel as potent and it sounded like a truck engine by comparison. I also considered the Acura TL-S, but never got around to driving one, I was that smitten with the IS. I'm sure the TL-S would have been a nice car, too, but I don't like Honda's affinity for gutless bottom end with all the power up at the top of the rev range. Plus the acceleration numbers didn't look as impressive for the TL-S and I was sick of front wheel drive. All told, I am absolutely happy with my purchase and would welcome any discussion/feedback from other IS owners. Just don't tell me anything bad! I'm still on the honeymoon Replies to this message: kc567567 (Nov 18, 2008 4:51 pm) gotoyota (Nov 24, 2008 8:02 am)
#17 of 36 Re: IS350 [mldj98] by gotoyota Nov 17, 2008 (10:42 pm)
Replying to: mldj98 (Mar 13, 2007 5:07 pm) My IS350 has the 17 inchers. I didn't even realize 350's came that way until I went shopping and the other IS350's all had the 18's but the one I bought has the chrome-look polished 17's. It looks beautiful and they do a fine job filling out the wheel wells. We'll see how they do in the snow.
#18 of 36 is 350 by cstone558 Nov 18, 2008 (3:46 am)
Hope everyone's enjoying their IS 350. mine now has 107,000 KM ( just about 2 years ) I had driver's side mirror replaced ( it was acting up ) but under warranty. Otherwise no other problems. The good looks on this car seem to want to last forever. It will be tough for Lexus to come out with an even nicer design in 3 years time. They'll do it though. Oh I forgot - one other thing - on Start up there would be a little rumbling noise ( It has a timing chain ) I mentioned this to the service dept a few times then I got a call from them to come in. Apparently they did a fix for it ( other owners were complaining ) and I have never heard that noise since. Mine is a 2007 model acquired in Novemeber 2006 so later models should not have this problem. - hopefully Replies to this message: wontonboi (Nov 24, 2008 8:52 am)
#19 of 36 Re: New to the forum [gotoyota] by kc567567 Nov 18, 2008 (4:51 pm)
Replying to: gotoyota (Nov 17, 2008 10:28 pm) ....... how the IS does in the snow.......   Crappy, especially if there is 4 inches or more ...... get excellent snows!!!   KC Replies to this message: gotoyota (Nov 24, 2008 8:02 am)
#20 of 36 IS 250 AWD in snow ? Phenomenal ! by toydriver1 Nov 22, 2008 (7:05 pm)
I've owned my '06 250 awd for 2 1/2 yrs and 40K miles now. This will be my 3rd winter driving it. The car has been exceptionally good in snowy conditions, in my opinion. Obviously, driving on snow in a AWD car is completely different than in a rear wheel drive car (e.g. IS350). The Lexus/Toyota awd system with limited slip diff. is excellent and in dry weather when you don't notice any difference to a rear wheel drive car. The 250 is obviously less performance oriented than the 350 in dry weather. However, the 250 has plenty of power off the line on wet and snowy roads allowing you to get out in front of other drivers who want to run into you (and it's no sloutch on dry pavement either). Starting out on slick roads requires less initial torque and improved by using the "SnowMode" button to change the shift points of the tranny. I have a steep driveway which has been covered with as much as 10 in. of snow and the car just plows through it with confidence. The brakes are very responsive, but of course any AWD car "goes" better than it "stops" on slick surfaces. So, you have to be careful with the extra confidence you gain while driving awd cars.      Choosing the appropriate tires is exceedingly important in snow. Dedicated snow tires would be necessary with a rear drive car in most snowy climates but don't seem to be needed with most AWD autos, in my experience. I just replaced the oem Dunlop tires with new Michelin Pilot Sports (all season performance tires). So far the Michelins are performing better than the Dunlops.      While living in the "snow belt", the 250 AWD has convinced me that awd is the safest (and most fun) way to drive in the winter. If I lived in a warmer/dryer climate I would probably prefer the IS 350.
#21 of 36 Re: New to the forum [kc567567] by gotoyota Nov 24, 2008 (8:02 am)
Replying to: kc567567 (Nov 18, 2008 4:51 pm) Ahem...I said don't tell me anything bad!   Well, I can't say I was expecting it to be a good snow performer, that's just a trade off I was willing to accept for the dry weather performance. So far we have had a very mild winter - in the 50's for the most part, with very little precip. My 17" all season's are still fresh so I have not had any tire issues yet, but when the snow starts to fall I will definately be getting some good snows. Thanks for the feedback. Does winder mode seem to make a big difference in your experience? It feels like it saps about 150 hp when you switch it on. That has to help, right?

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