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I stopped by the dealership the other day and the sales rep. said that you can still drive without the key but you won't go far before the engine shuts down. diablo1 had said you can drive until you shut the engine off, because what happens if the batteries die in the key? I think having a real key is more reliable then just a remote. Maybe bring the issue up to Lexus and they'll change the system. Thanks!
I'm really having a hard time with this one. I don't know what to pick, the wood trim or metallic trim. I'm going with the smokey granite mica with black leather interior. Both interior trims are nice, but can't pick one. What do you guys have? Thoughts/suggestions? Thanks!
Hey Diablo, what dealership did you get your car through. Was it Lexus of Manhattan? I'm going to try and contact the dealers up there. Mine called again today and said it may be at least three months before any come down here. They got in a basic IS350 today in the color combo I want but no special packaging or NAV. I really want the sports package like you have and I've tried zip codes all over the Southeast and even Midwest. Your area is the only one with the sports packages coming in. My dealer said they are trying to keep the car costs low and that is why they are not sending the packaged cars here. Does that make sense? Anyway I'm going to see about getting a car up there and driving it back. If you have someone to recommend I talk to that would be great...I even spent the weekend comparing the BMW330i's and was offered $500 over invoice for a full loaded sports package w/bluetooth (they have 4 yr free maintenance too)and could get it within two weeks but I like the IS350 interior much better and if I'm paying that much I'd rather have exactly what I want, so any information you can provide would be great.
I went to an auto show here in Tampa over the weekend and to answer your question concerning opening the door if the battery goes dead in your remote, yes you can still get in. Right by the handle on the car you can pop off that little cover and behind it is a regular key insert. On the remote you just pull the key out and stick it in the key hole just like any other car and you can unlock it. I got to the lexus booth just as they were opening up the cars and they were having trouble opening the 350....so I watch the guy pop open the cover right next to the door handle, pull the key from inside the remote and open the door. He told me that I am the only one that they would show this to since I was there so early. Bottom line to me is if a car show starts at noon, shouldn't ALL of your cars be opened and ready for public viewing? Especially if you don't want people to see how you open a 350 when there is no power? Hope this answers your question.....
Since I wrote the above my other dealer I'm working with called and said they were informed they can now take special orders and I would get the car hopefully the beginning of January as I'm near the top of the preference list so I told him exactly what I want and guess I can wait that long and won't have to come to NY....I can console myself with the fact that my new phone and carrier to utilize the bluetooth will be here in two days.
I just picked up my 350 last friday and must say this car is truly amazing. I had two previous is 300's and the power and new features are truly one of a kind. I know its tough waiting for the car but just bare it out.
Are you saying you can now order a car with any packages you want in the south? I am told in NC that we still cannot order the car with luxury or sports packages....
Yes my Tampa dealer called me today at 3:00 p.m. to firm everything up. I'd given a deposit on Oct 15th and told them what I wanted. He said they were told today they could take custom orders to send for production and we would get the car we want in about two months. Sarasota dealer also called me today and said they were hoping to get the packaged cars in about three months but didn't say anything about custom ordering although he knows what I want too. So it looks like things are starting to happen.
is4me: I'm glad you can get your Lexus. If you don't want to wait for special order, you can call John Kim at Lexus of Manhattan. He was very good and got me a vehicle before anyone else in the area was able to.
mldj98: I know you can get into the car, glove compartment, and trunk without the electric key. But the question is, can you start the car if the electric key is out of batteries? And I'm pretty sure the answer is no, which is a bummer. Good thing I have Lexus Roadside Assist in my cell phone...
They do give you two electric keys, but I don't make it a habit of carrying both around with me. And obviously, leaving one of them in the car is a bad idea (for security, and because the car will beep at you any time you try to lock a key in the car or trunk).
mldj98: I know you can get into the car, glove compartment, and trunk without the electric key. But the question is, can you start the car if the electric key is out of batteries? And I'm pretty sure the answer is no, which is a bummer. Good thing I have Lexus Roadside Assist in my cell phone...
I asked this question to Lexus IS corporate rep in Virginia, and she said you just hold the key right next to the start button and you depress the button - it will always have enough juice left to get it started like that.
If I were going to the trouble to upgrade wheels on the sport pkg (which I most likely would), I think I'd look past the Lexus offerings and try to shed a few pounds, as well as find something less fussy than what they offer. Stronger would be a plus as well.
Here's one I've looked at before and like: SSR GT7H
Two-piece welded forged wheel at 20 lbs and I like the look. Two more spokes than I generally accept, but it's got to be a good four to six pounds off any OEM. Add a little Goodyear F-1 rubber and we's jus' good to go! :shades:
A couple of weeks ago I ordered an IS350 with the exact options i wanted from a dealership in Jacksonville, FL. Luxury, NAV/ML, park assist. It will take 3 months before I get it, but you are able to order the car with any options and colors you want.
t is interesting to see others struggle with the subtle implications of electronic key technology. I have had a C6 with an electronic key for 9 months. It is surprising how complex things have to be just so you can walk up to your car, unlock it, and start it up without touching the key. Not only do you have to have the electronics but you also need some manual overrides.
So with all the electronics what happens when you battery is dead?
With the C6 you have electric door handles, door locks, rear hatch release, and ignition. With a dead battery nothing works. So manual intervention is provided by a metal key that you insert in the rear hatch license plate area that manually opens the hatch (moves the same lever that the electronic solenoid moves). There is a cable with a T-handle on the left side of the rear hatch that you pull to open the drivers door. Once inside you have to open the glovebox and insert the FOB key into a special slot. Fortunately the hood release is cable activated so you can open the hood and attach the jumper cables. With the FOB (electronic key) in the slot and the jumper cables attached you can start the car.
If you remove the electronic key (FOB) while the C6 is running it remains running. When you turn it off it asks you via the driver information screen if you want to turn it off. If you answer yes, by pressing the off button again, it turns it off but keeps accessory mode power going for 10 minutes so you can have access to power for Onstar, cell, or ??
What happens when you have two keys in the car within range meters of the ignition antenna? With the C6 the memory seats are tied to the FOB id. So the last FOB id to have started the car will be the one that gets the seat adjustment memory settings
What happens if your door locks are set to activate when out of range of the FOB after a fixed number of seconds and you have thrown your coat with the FOB in the backseat? People in C6 land have had this happen and got locked out of their cars. This is why I carry the emergency rear hatch key in my wallet.
Now how do you get in the car if you lost your electronic key? The locksmith probably won't be of much help? Another reason to carry a separate metal key.
There have also been a few reports where people have found their cars unlocked because they have a key that is within range of the door lock antenna. This has happened when parking next to a bedroom window/wall or in carport under a room where you have a spare key.
Thanks diablo. I appreciate your giving me your dealers name. Maybe he can help some other people a little closer up there. I will anxiously wait and let you know when mine arrives. Then I'll probably have some questions for you.
jmess: interesting point about getting locked out of the car when you throw your coat in the backseat and the coat has the key in it. In the IS350, I don't think this would happen, because the car is either set to lock the doors when the engine is started or when you reach 12 mph or something like that. So I don't think it would just lock the doors spontaneously with the key in the car. In fact, if you try to leave the key in the car, it will beep at you and I think won't let you lock the doors. But the other concerns are very valid - parking too close to the location of the key, what to do when the key batteries run out, what happens when the car is running but the key is removed.
cville: I'm glad the key can operate when batteries are low by putting the key close to the start button. However, you can't really say that it will "always" have enough juice to start this way. At some point, the battery is completely dead, and just won't work anymore. Hopefully you will have time to change the battery before this happens. What Lexus should really do is figure out a way to charge the battery automatically when the key is in a certain place in the car. Now *that* would be useful. :shades:
Wow a hidden key hole? Now that's nice. And the key is hidden in the remote, even the sales rep. at the dealership didn't tell me about that. I guess the model is too new for them. Thanks!
I think having both a metal key and a remote is the best solution. Even if the batteries are rechargable, you can only recharge batteries so many times before you can't charge them anymore. A metal key with a chip embedded in it, the car provides the power for the chip and if the chip returns the right code, you can start the car.
Replying to the Japanese testing of the IS referred to in Post 6006.
The IS does appear to outperform the BMW and MB in the corner braking video (test 3). But check out corner acceleration (test 2). The IS gets beaten by BMW, MB, Infiniti, Audi, and whatever the heck a B4 is. In a word, EVERY competitor.
Does anyone here know Japanese? In the video from post 6006, it seems like the driver is giving a bunch of feedback about the car... I'm curious as to what he is saying.
YOu stated you only have your IS for a week? The engine is still "green" and needs to break itself in. YOu'll notice as time goes on your mileage will improve.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD, 2025 Toyota Camry SE AWD
"There have also been a few reports where people have found their cars unlocked because they have a key that is within range of the door lock antenna. This has happened when parking next to a bedroom window/wall or in carport under a room where you have a spare key."
On the IS, the car does not unlock unless you (with the "key," of course) actually touch the front door handles. So it will not unlock if you just walk by.
"So with all the electronics what happens when you battery is dead?"
You can get into the IS using the metal key -- there is a keyhole in the driver's side door, under a plastic cover -- and then pop the hood (not electronic) to attach jumpers. If the car battery is dead, you won't be able to start without that.
Alternatively, if the battery in the electronic key goes, again you enter via the manual key and if the electronic key is held close to the start button, the car senses it and will start. Unlike diablo1, I believe this works like a card key reader -- not dependent on whether or not the electronic key has any juice left.
"What happens if your door locks are set to activate when out of range of the FOB after a fixed number of seconds and you have thrown your coat with the FOB in the backseat? "
As diablo1 said, the Lexus will not allow you to lock the key in the car. Whether that also applies to default locking, I confess I don't know -- I always have disabled auto locking on prior alarm systems because of that.
So far, albeit having owned an IS350 for only a week, I've found it a well thought out system.
I agree with Cooney that the car is very intelligently designed. If the car has a smart-card type system for detecting the key even when the key fob's battery is dead, that is even more impressive. Also I was reading the manual this morning and I saw that you will get a warning on the display between the gauges if your key battery is running low. So hopefully it would never just surprise you, and you would always have sufficient warning to get a new battery or use your other key (Lexus gives you two).
My Japanes isn't perfect but I can give you their overall impression with their tests. There are several drivers doing the tests and some are more lenient than others with their evaluations.
Test 1: "Wet Brake" -From the outset, the driver comments on the good acceleration. He is not impressed with the feel of the brakes once he hits the water. The numbers are good but he is not blown away by the feeling of the car under decceleration.
Test 2: "Acceleration Circle Cornering" Encounters over/under steer and can't bring the car around. In the end the car loses its line and veers off course. Not terribly impressed overall with the cars performance.
Test3: "Cornering Brake"-The driver is absolutely blown away by the performance of the IS. Short stopping distance, keeps the cornering line and is completely under control and poised. He mentions that he's never been in a car that has performed as well in this test and feels that few cars out there would perform as well.
Test 4: "Lane Change" Driver feels that the car is inherently athletic and that it displays very natural and smooth handling. This driver is the same guy that did the first test and he seems like more of a perfectionist so he doesn't rave about the car, but he does concede that the IS performs at a fairly high level.
thanks lace, very helpful! I for one care more about being able to stop on a wet road than being able to accelerate fast... So I'm not too upset about the test results.
Doesn't sound like acceleration was the issue at all, but rather balance and/or throttle application at threshold (VDIM is my suspect). This wouldn't be a get up and go problem; the car has grunt in spades. Rather it would be a handling issue; being able to apply the power and carve the intended line at will.
Just means the test drive will have to be even a little more focused on curves than usual!
I'm going to sound like such a stereotypical Californian, but I'm in the market for getting a new car for our son in high school. He's done really well, and I think we're planning on treating him to a new Lexus IS250.
Unfortunately, we've only lived in Southern California, and we never really need to use AWD. But he's planning on going over to the east coast for college, and so now we're debating whether or not to pay more $$$ for the AWD option or just go RWD.
Is it worth it to pay more for the added "safety" of AWD? Are you going to "slip-and-slide all over the place? There are a ton of FWD/RWD in NY. We checked our local Lexus dealer, and apparently, the AWD models are much rarer than the RWD ones.
LOL I too am from Cali and I totally dont need the AWD. I was thinking of going to George Washington Univ. next year and was thinking of asking my parents to buy me an IS AWD. But they (me as well) thought just buy a 250 with pre-collison in it. Since they as well are worried about the weather in the east coast as well.
And yeah theres lots of cars over there that are reg. FWD cars that use snow chains. Oh by the way where in So Cal do you live? I live in Valencia. And if you got a quote how much did they offer? And your son is a lucky kid thats mean I wont be the only high schooler in So Cal with a new IS lol!
I can't think of a teen that hasn't crashed their 1st automobile. Much moving from perfect weather to NYC or where ever.
I say let him ride the bus. If you want to spoil him , get him a Cannondale Bike to ride on campus...
Amen to that. There's ZERO need for a car in college. Especially if he's going to a major university.
And if you must get him a car, go for a 96-98 Accord. Super safe, super reliable and when he crashes it, no big deal.
Buying a teenage boy a 30k+ car is begging for high insurance premiums.
And nothing he's done in school is worth 30k. Nothing. high grades are expected. The reward = college. Keeping your nose clean and not getting into trouble is expected. The reward = your parents don't kill you.
I live in the northern Virginia/DC area. The Lexus sales guy here told me to get the IS 250 AWD. The IS 250 will be undriveable in the snow, with or without pre-collison. Or, get winter tires. I am thinking about getting the IS 350 because I have a second car to drive in snow and bad weather. Ice is the main problem during DC winters. The metro system in Washington is excellent. You should consider using it instead of having the added expense of a car.
I really doubt that the IS RWD will be "undrivable" in the snow. It is harder to drive RWD in the snow, but if you know what you are doing, and drive safely, I think you will be ok. Especially on the IS 350, where you have VDIM to keep you on the road. This may just have been my salesman trying to get me into a more expensive car, but he actually told me he would rather have RWD + VDIM than AWD only. I guess time will tell if he's right...
Also, for California people: I don't know anyone on the East Coast who uses snow chains. Maybe if you live way up in the mountains or something. But mostly you will not see anyone here using them, and I think they are actually illegal in many states. Snow chains are mostly a Rocky Mountain state thing.
I can't think of a teen that hasn't crashed their 1st automobile. Much moving from perfect weather to NYC or where ever.
Well, that is a generalization. Maybe diehldun’s son is a professional race car driver :P
And if you must get him a car, go for a 96-98 Accord. Super safe, super reliable and when he crashes it, no big deal. Buying a teenage boy a 30k+ car is begging for high insurance premiums. And nothing he's done in school is worth 30k. Nothing. high grades are expected. The reward = college. Keeping your nose clean and not getting into trouble is expected. The reward = your parents don't kill you.
First, you do not know how wealthy or social status diehldun is. For most of the people, buying a brad new $30+ car for their high school graduate is out of question. However, if diehldun is wealthy, then it makes perfect sense to buy a brand new $30+ car for his son.
I have a wealthy uncle, so my niece grew up having a lot of "expensive" stuff as the norm. So, she was thinking about getting the new MB SLK350 for her first car :surprise:
Some people are born with silver spoons in their mouths
Back to the original question whether diehldun should get a AWD or RWD not? I will say it is not the cars that make the difference, it is the drivers who make the difference. So, if you want a peace of mind, I would say buy a AWD. I would also give G35x a try as it is not a first year car, so you will less likely to run into problems.
The Lexus sales guy here told me to get the IS 250 AWD. The IS 250 will be undriveable in the snow, with or without pre-collison. Or, get winter tires
Everytime I see this type of comment, I just can't help it but laugh. So what did people do back in the days before VSC, VDIS, DSC, ESP, ABS, or whaever else that is used today? Driver's skill and common sense seem to be lacking thses days.
A good set of snow tires (at least your sales guy mentioned that) will get you home in most cases. If it is more than one can handle with snow tires, then one should not even be on the road. Or if one must, then get a AWD/4x4 with enough clearance.
I have rarely seen AWD on the road in Germany during my 3 years there. Most were RWD with a good set of snow tires, and chain, if going up the mountainfor skiing.
First, you do not know how wealthy or social status diehldun is. For most of the people, buying a brad new $30+ car for their high school graduate is out of question. However, if diehldun is wealthy, then it makes perfect sense to buy a brand new $30+ car for his son.
Wealth has nothing to do with it. My parents could have bought me a new car, my sister could easily buy my niece a new car (and won't) and I'm certain financially I could do the same for my child. I won't happen though. No way in hades. Get off your butt, earn the money for a car and I might match the amount, but you still gotta come up with the dough for gas, maintenance/parts and insurance...just as I did.
This reminds me of kids I knew growing up who would say, "We have a cabin in Tahoe or we have a Mercedes." Uh, no you don't. You're a kid...nothing is yours. What your parents own is not yours.
I live in Massachusetts, near the NH border. I drive a RWD vehcile without snow tires and rarely have a problem. It takes some adjustment to drive in snow, but it does not require AWD. The biggest adjustment: SLOW DOWN. Your stopping distance is 200% longer than on dry pavement.
To the Californian who is considering getting the car for the son, just ask yourself the following questions.
How would you rate his driving ability? Has he driven RWD a car in any sort of inclement weather?
Although the bad months are usually only total to 3 months of the year on the east coast, you are correct in assuming your year round car may have to be based on it. I cannot vouch for RWD since i have never driven a RWD car in inclement weather, but I own a FWD, and during the worst case scenarios, braking will be tough, fishtailing is common, but ABS works wonders if you maintain a good distance between cars..
AWD is a little more sure-footed, but not exactly the answer to all of inclement weather's problems. But it IS far superior in the snow.
If he is going to school in a city, the roads will usually be cleared and salted and doable for RWD, if he is going to school in a rural area, probably not. One night i was returning home in a snowstorm in my FWD in about 4 inches of snow and saw a G35 coupe (rwd)going straight one second, then completely lose traction and then was facing me head on the next. I was able to steer clear thanks to abs.
If your son has driven a RWD car before, and is comfortable witht he mechanics of it, he may be ok with a good set of snow tires. If you really want to be risk-averse and go with the safer option, go with the AWD. It still has a RWD bias, meaning it will handle a little like a RWD car (not fully) and have 70% of power going to the rear most of the time, but will shuttle it to the front wheels if it needs to regain traction. Also remember that The IS screams "performance" and he may want to go fast like most new drivers. Good grades usually correlate with safer driving (says the insurance companies) maybe RWD is not such a bad idea, but if i had a son, and was sending him off to college in New England/East coast with a new car, it would be AWD (with a logn talk about how AWD isn't a substitute for driving slowly through the snow) simply for added safety and peace of mind.
And it seems that in the same manner that everyone started to get into the Lexus IS vs. BMW tangent, we are getting into another tangent. why can't someone just answer the question instead of knocking someone's descision to get their child an expensive car. I am by no means wealthy, and getting a car of that caliber would have been out of the question in my family when i went to college, but if it's feasible, then all the power to them. Don't let your opinions get in the way of giving sound advice here.
Comments
Where did you buy your 250 in Chicago. I went to 2 dealers in the 'area' and they wouldn't budge on MSRP.
Right by the handle on the car you can pop off that little cover and behind it is a regular key insert. On the remote you just pull the key out and stick it in the key hole just like any other car and you can unlock it. I got to the lexus booth just as they were opening up the cars and they were having trouble opening the 350....so I watch the guy pop open the cover right next to the door handle, pull the key from inside the remote and open the door. He told me that I am the only one that they would show this to since I was there so early. Bottom line to me is if a car show starts at noon, shouldn't ALL of your cars be opened and ready for public viewing? Especially if you don't want people to see how you open a 350 when there is no power?
Hope this answers your question.....
mldj98: I know you can get into the car, glove compartment, and trunk without the electric key. But the question is, can you start the car if the electric key is out of batteries? And I'm pretty sure the answer is no, which is a bummer. Good thing I have Lexus Roadside Assist in my cell phone...
They do give you two electric keys, but I don't make it a habit of carrying both around with me. And obviously, leaving one of them in the car is a bad idea (for security, and because the car will beep at you any time you try to lock a key in the car or trunk).
I asked this question to Lexus IS corporate rep in Virginia, and she said you just hold the key right next to the start button and you depress the button - it will always have enough juice left to get it started like that.
Here's one I've looked at before and like:
SSR GT7H
Two-piece welded forged wheel at 20 lbs and I like the look. Two more spokes than I generally accept, but it's got to be a good four to six pounds off any OEM. Add a little Goodyear F-1 rubber and we's jus' good to go! :shades:
4 tests - cornering, etc.; download is a little slow. Test 3 might be most notable...
http://www.mobilista.tv/
Credit: this link was orginally posted on another IS site.
So with all the electronics what happens when you battery is dead?
With the C6 you have electric door handles, door locks, rear hatch release, and ignition. With a dead battery nothing works. So manual intervention is provided by a metal key that you insert in the rear hatch license plate area that manually opens the hatch (moves the same lever that the electronic solenoid moves). There is a cable with a T-handle on the left side of the rear hatch that you pull to open the drivers door. Once inside you have to open the glovebox and insert the FOB key into a special slot. Fortunately the hood release is cable activated so you can open the hood and attach the jumper cables. With the FOB (electronic key) in the slot and the jumper cables attached you can start the car.
If you remove the electronic key (FOB) while the C6 is running it remains running. When you turn it off it asks you via the driver information screen if you want to turn it off. If you answer yes, by pressing the off button again, it turns it off but keeps accessory mode power going for 10 minutes so you can have access to power for Onstar, cell, or ??
What happens when you have two keys in the car within range meters of the ignition antenna? With the C6 the memory seats are tied to the FOB id. So the last FOB id to have started the car will be the one that gets the seat adjustment memory settings
What happens if your door locks are set to activate when out of range of the FOB after a fixed number of seconds and you have thrown your coat with the FOB in the backseat? People in C6 land have had this happen and got locked out of their cars. This is why I carry the emergency rear hatch key in my wallet.
Now how do you get in the car if you lost your electronic key? The locksmith probably won't be of much help? Another reason to carry a separate metal key.
There have also been a few reports where people have found their cars unlocked because they have a key that is within range of the door lock antenna. This has happened when parking next to a bedroom window/wall or in carport under a room where you have a spare key.
Have fun :-)
Thanks diablo. I appreciate your giving me your dealers name. Maybe he can help some other people a little closer up there. I will anxiously wait and let you know when mine arrives. Then I'll probably have some questions for you.
Interesting key info. Silly key thingy me no needing. At all. Useless gadgetry that ought to be optional says I...
cville: I'm glad the key can operate when batteries are low by putting the key close to the start button. However, you can't really say that it will "always" have enough juice to start this way. At some point, the battery is completely dead, and just won't work anymore. Hopefully you will have time to change the battery before this happens. What Lexus should really do is figure out a way to charge the battery automatically when the key is in a certain place in the car. Now *that* would be useful. :shades:
The IS does appear to outperform the BMW and MB in the corner braking video (test 3). But check out corner acceleration (test 2). The IS gets beaten by BMW, MB, Infiniti, Audi, and whatever the heck a B4 is. In a word, EVERY competitor.
I didn't hit the link; was the IS tested outfitted with the domestic (Japanese) version of the sport pkg.?
Lackluster corner acceleration could also (likely) be hard evidence of the OBN (On Board Nanny)...
Ugh, I thought Audi requiring you to buy a $1700 Technology package to get BT was bad.
How much is the Xenon option? Anyone see cars with HID in their area?
Maybe time to look forward to the G35 refresh in the spring.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD, 2025 Toyota Camry SE AWD
On the IS, the car does not unlock unless you (with the "key," of course) actually touch the front door handles. So it will not unlock if you just walk by.
"So with all the electronics what happens when you battery is dead?"
You can get into the IS using the metal key -- there is a keyhole in the driver's side door, under a plastic cover -- and then pop the hood (not electronic) to attach jumpers. If the car battery is dead, you won't be able to start without that.
Alternatively, if the battery in the electronic key goes, again you enter via the manual key and if the electronic key is held close to the start button, the car senses it and will start. Unlike diablo1, I believe this works like a card key reader -- not dependent on whether or not the electronic key has any juice left.
"What happens if your door locks are set to activate when out of range of the FOB after a fixed number of seconds and you have thrown your coat with the FOB in the backseat? "
As diablo1 said, the Lexus will not allow you to lock the key in the car. Whether that also applies to default locking, I confess I don't know -- I always have disabled auto locking on prior alarm systems because of that.
So far, albeit having owned an IS350 for only a week, I've found it a well thought out system.
Test 1: "Wet Brake"
-From the outset, the driver comments on the good acceleration. He is not impressed with the feel of the brakes once he hits the water. The numbers are good but he is not blown away by the feeling of the car under decceleration.
Test 2: "Acceleration Circle Cornering"
Encounters over/under steer and can't bring the car around. In the end the car loses its line and veers off course. Not terribly impressed overall with the cars performance.
Test3: "Cornering Brake"-The driver is absolutely blown away by the performance of the IS. Short stopping distance, keeps the cornering line and is completely under control and poised. He mentions that he's never been in a car that has performed as well in this test and feels that few cars out there would perform as well.
Test 4: "Lane Change"
Driver feels that the car is inherently athletic and that it displays very natural and smooth handling. This driver is the same guy that did the first test and he seems like more of a perfectionist so he doesn't rave about the car, but he does concede that the IS performs at a fairly high level.
hope this is useful
Just means the test drive will have to be even a little more focused on curves than usual!
Unfortunately, we've only lived in Southern California, and we never really need to use AWD. But he's planning on going over to the east coast for college, and so now we're debating whether or not to pay more $$$ for the AWD option or just go RWD.
Is it worth it to pay more for the added "safety" of AWD? Are you going to "slip-and-slide all over the place? There are a ton of FWD/RWD in NY. We checked our local Lexus dealer, and apparently, the AWD models are much rarer than the RWD ones.
Thanks a lot!
And yeah theres lots of cars over there that are reg. FWD cars that use snow chains. Oh by the way where in So Cal do you live? I live in Valencia. And if you got a quote how much did they offer? And your son is a lucky kid thats mean I wont be the only high schooler in So Cal with a new IS lol!
I can't think of a teen that hasn't crashed their 1st automobile. Much moving from perfect weather to NYC or where ever.
I say let him ride the bus. If you want to spoil him , get him a Cannondale Bike to ride on campus...
DL
I say let him ride the bus. If you want to spoil him , get him a Cannondale Bike to ride on campus...
Amen to that. There's ZERO need for a car in college. Especially if he's going to a major university.
And if you must get him a car, go for a 96-98 Accord. Super safe, super reliable and when he crashes it, no big deal.
Buying a teenage boy a 30k+ car is begging for high insurance premiums.
And nothing he's done in school is worth 30k. Nothing. high grades are expected. The reward = college. Keeping your nose clean and not getting into trouble is expected. The reward = your parents don't kill you.
Also, for California people: I don't know anyone on the East Coast who uses snow chains. Maybe if you live way up in the mountains or something. But mostly you will not see anyone here using them, and I think they are actually illegal in many states. Snow chains are mostly a Rocky Mountain state thing.
Well, that is a generalization. Maybe diehldun’s son is a professional race car driver :P
And if you must get him a car, go for a 96-98 Accord. Super safe, super reliable and when he crashes it, no big deal.
Buying a teenage boy a 30k+ car is begging for high insurance premiums.
And nothing he's done in school is worth 30k. Nothing. high grades are expected. The reward = college. Keeping your nose clean and not getting into trouble is expected. The reward = your parents don't kill you.
First, you do not know how wealthy or social status diehldun is. For most of the people, buying a brad new $30+ car for their high school graduate is out of question.
However, if diehldun is wealthy, then it makes perfect sense to buy a brand new $30+ car for his son.
I have a wealthy uncle, so my niece grew up having a lot of "expensive" stuff as the norm.
So, she was thinking about getting the new MB SLK350 for her first car :surprise:
Some people are born with silver spoons in their mouths
Back to the original question whether diehldun should get a AWD or RWD not?
I will say it is not the cars that make the difference, it is the drivers who make the difference.
So, if you want a peace of mind, I would say buy a AWD.
I would also give G35x a try as it is not a first year car, so you will less likely to run into problems.
Good luck.
Good Point , enroll the boy in BMW's teen driving school. And let him learn to shuffle steer.
DL
Everytime I see this type of comment, I just can't help it but laugh. So what did people do back in the days before VSC, VDIS, DSC, ESP, ABS, or whaever else that is used today? Driver's skill and common sense seem to be lacking thses days.
A good set of snow tires (at least your sales guy mentioned that) will get you home in most cases. If it is more than one can handle with snow tires, then one should not even be on the road. Or if one must, then get a AWD/4x4 with enough clearance.
I have rarely seen AWD on the road in Germany during my 3 years there. Most were RWD with a good set of snow tires, and chain, if going up the mountainfor skiing.
However, if diehldun is wealthy, then it makes perfect sense to buy a brand new $30+ car for his son.
Wealth has nothing to do with it. My parents could have bought me a new car, my sister could easily buy my niece a new car (and won't) and I'm certain financially I could do the same for my child. I won't happen though. No way in hades. Get off your butt, earn the money for a car and I might match the amount, but you still gotta come up with the dough for gas, maintenance/parts and insurance...just as I did.
This reminds me of kids I knew growing up who would say, "We have a cabin in Tahoe or we have a Mercedes." Uh, no you don't. You're a kid...nothing is yours. What your parents own is not yours.
How would you rate his driving ability?
Has he driven RWD a car in any sort of inclement weather?
Although the bad months are usually only total to 3 months of the year on the east coast, you are correct in assuming your year round car may have to be based on it. I cannot vouch for RWD since i have never driven a RWD car in inclement weather, but I own a FWD, and during the worst case scenarios, braking will be tough, fishtailing is common, but ABS works wonders if you maintain a good distance between cars..
AWD is a little more sure-footed, but not exactly the answer to all of inclement weather's problems. But it IS far superior in the snow.
If he is going to school in a city, the roads will usually be cleared and salted and doable for RWD, if he is going to school in a rural area, probably not. One night i was returning home in a snowstorm in my FWD in about 4 inches of snow and saw a G35 coupe (rwd)going straight one second, then completely lose traction and then was facing me head on the next. I was able to steer clear thanks to abs.
If your son has driven a RWD car before, and is comfortable witht he mechanics of it, he may be ok with a good set of snow tires. If you really want to be risk-averse and go with the safer option, go with the AWD. It still has a RWD bias, meaning it will handle a little like a RWD car (not fully) and have 70% of power going to the rear most of the time, but will shuttle it to the front wheels if it needs to regain traction. Also remember that The IS screams "performance" and he may want to go fast like most new drivers. Good grades usually correlate with safer driving (says the insurance companies) maybe RWD is not such a bad idea, but if i had a son, and was sending him off to college in New England/East coast with a new car, it would be AWD (with a logn talk about how AWD isn't a substitute for driving slowly through the snow) simply for added safety and peace of mind.
And it seems that in the same manner that everyone started to get into the Lexus IS vs. BMW tangent, we are getting into another tangent. why can't someone just answer the question instead of knocking someone's descision to get their child an expensive car. I am by no means wealthy, and getting a car of that caliber would have been out of the question in my family when i went to college, but if it's feasible, then all the power to them. Don't let your opinions get in the way of giving sound advice here.
It appears that those who have become accustomed to the nanny state now require nanny cars.
Oh boy.
Get the RWD car. Buy it a set of winter tires, if required. Enjoy.
AWD makes some people overconfident - they think they are superman, and then fly off (into the ditch).
AWD does not help you stop. Winter tires are a much better choice for stopping.
A less experienced driver with no snow experience is more likely to have trouble than one who has always driven (a bit) in snow. Tim
Call it pure Schadenfreude, but it's always amusing to see a Cayenne in a ditch after the first snowfall.
Oh ye-yess!
And with that comment, you are now my newest, bestest friend, jrynn!
LOL!