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The problem is confined to that board, though. So no worries here!
Normally a discussion will auto-archive if no one has posted in it within 45 days. That seems highly unlikely here in the first place, but I have set this and many of the other popular discussions to "permanent" to keep them from archiving themselves.
Happy holidays everyone!
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
Hope you guys have a safe and peaceful holiday.
I have been dirving FWD and 4WD (RX300)since the 80s, and would never think about going back to RWD cars, I thought. Now I'm thinking about LS430, but the RWD really gives me doubts. Can any one help by describing your experience with LS400 or 430 in snow and icy weather? Especially how it compares to FWD and 4WD. Thanks a bundle.
But.
A RWD car allocates the lateral, steering stresses, to the front wheels, and longitudinal stresses to the rear, a nice even distribution of the overall need fro distributing the adhesion with the roadbed over the widest area available, ALL FOUR ROADBED CONTACT PATCHES.
Am I missing something?
Granted, you can unintentionally "push" a FWD further into the "unknown" on a slippery surface before it "breaks" vs a RWD.
But now that the roadbed adhesion is (partially{?}) "broken", what do you do?
If you have a clutch (most don't) then throw it in immediately. If you have a RWD then lifting the throttle will add engine braking, sorta like throwing an anchor out to the rear of the car. Slight engine braking and slight traction will help to "right" the direction of travel.
If you have FWD can you quickly find that "sweet spot"? The throttle position that neither "drives" the front wheels nor "brakes" them.
NO....? !! Oh, S$%&!
Manuafacturer's of FWD vehicles have been trying to balance this equation ever since FWD became so prevalent in the marketplace.
With their high torque, high HP, Northstar engine Cadilac absolutely had to do something to alleviate the loss of control problems created by undesired engine torque braking to the front wheels.
So now they have an over-running clutch which allows the front wheels to over-run the engine RPM on throttle lift.
My 2001 RX300 AWD, predominantly FWD, 70/30, automatically shifts the transmission into 4th gear on throttle lift.
People with FWD & 4WD commonly get themselves into trouble by over-driving the vehicle, they forget that while "driving", it's okay to dedicate front tire traction patches to straight ahead traction. But once you push it a bit too far, or hit an unexpected bit of more slippery roadbed, you absolutely do not want driving traction or engine braking on the front wheels, you're likely going to soon need all of the available traction on the front wheels for recovery.
I'va alway thought that the very best AWD would be one that decreases the engine "torque" coupling to the front wheels as they begin to "load up" with lateral stresses.
In the absence of that the very best AWD is likely one with 30/70 front/rear torque bias.
The only reason FWD even exists today is because it is so much more inexpensive to manufacture.
Another ideal compromise configuration is the current AWD 911, rear engine, predominantly RWD, with additional engine torque allocated to the front if the rear wheels begin to slip.
Thanks.
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
Now I'm set to go on Jeopardy.
Agreement says - that's what I'm supposed to be doing here.
Now let's move on, please.
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
To our very kind host:
If you wish to completely redact that particular line in my post I for one will not be offended, I had my doubts about its appropreatness as I was typing it anyway.
I can loan you my white-out, I have lots left.
Hosts cannot edit posts, only delete - the reality is that we are supposed to delete posts that don't fit with the MA, but I didn't want to come down that hard for that slight of a transgression.
But gee whiz, I had no idea this would become the major topic of conversation for the next few days.
So could we please just talk about something else so I don't have to regret my decision to remind rather than delete?
Thanks, I sure would appreciate it.
Happy New Year! :-)
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
Sorry anthony,
I believe in equal opportunity for cars of all colors and nationalities.
No, really, if I buy another LS it will be the Cherry color. It might look bad dirty, but it does look stunningly beautiful otherwise.
What interior did you get? I'm holding out for the ivory.
On the freeways I set the cruise control speed just a tad(!!??) above the legal limit, then I start playing this "game". I watch traffic, front, beside, behind, as closely as I can to prevent having to over-ride or disengage the cruise control.
My game, when the road isn't clear of traffic, is to imagine a 3-4 second "rope" between me and the car ahead. I try to keep the rope from dragging on the pavement or becoming taut.
Also, since my definition of a collision is when the distance between my car and another object becomes zero, I keep as much "air" around my car as is reasonable.
I much prefer these games to zoning out on music or talk radio.
I find I can play my "game" and listen to any good classical or boston pops CD at the same time.
I find my time to Portland is a lot lower if I play my game and weave my way around the slower traffic rather than slowing down each and every time someone in front of me slows for some unknown reason or someone else cuts in front of me too close.
The whole idea is to drive in a way that allows me not to interfere with the cruise control. The Laser would be just another form of interferring.
redesign the cruise control--it should be always on and just a flick of thefinger, allow it to resume speed even after a stop--stop and go, and changing lights wears me out.
AWD--it would then be perfect, have this as an option. my next car will be awd, or front drive with traction control, so i don't depend on others to get to work in the snow.
It seems really strange that Lexus would make a cruise control that doesn't do that -- although come to think of it, I believe I recall reading the User Manual and being surprised that they described it as you said. Could it be that they discovered that Americans would consider that as a bug, but they fixed it only in the Ultra-Lux?
"I have failed my mind game if I'm not watching closely enough, or paying enough attention to surrounding traffic, that the laser would have to intervene."
I'm sure to catch heat for this, but I believe that two categories of people in the driver's seat are: "Drivers" and "Operators", and that they are transported in "Machines" and "Appliances". One person's machine is another's appliance.
I also believe that they have equal rights to the road, and the manufacturers must strive to satisfy them both.
Machine vs appliance, which is which, between my 2001 AWD 911 w/PSM and my 2000 GS300 w/VSC, TRAC, etc?
I suspect that all of yours are machines.
Actually remaining tread depth should be the determining factor about your current tires and if you feel you might have to endure even more of the white stuff this winter a second set of tires, wintertime, with inexpensive wheels, would be a very good idea.
Thanks,
Scott
P.S. Available colors are white and platinum blue
If you do not like the back seat massagers etc., look into the CL {Custom Luxury Package} which is the Ultra minus the back seat convenience groups.
Thanks for your input,
Scott in FL
also, should i be worried about road/rock salt damaging my car? this is not a lease car, and i plan on keeping it for a few years, and i do not want rust to develop after a few years. It is considerably covered with those elements right now, and plan no getting it washed as soon as the snow/ice melts completely..from now on, i plan on leaving it in the garage, before/after it snows.