Due to the sometimes harsh winters in the Northeast, all-wheel drive is the main reason I chose the X over the S. I welcome the sure-footed traction of the X for snowy days, not to mention rainy days too!

For a full road test and review of the X, click the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz--p...2EBB7A&index=6

 

.....and you still end up with a RWD car instead of AWD. Having currently a 2007 G35 coupe and a 2009 G37X, I will take the X all day long....
I do live in the midwest too.

 

^+1

I've been sold on AWD performance since my 1990 Eagle Talon AWD. A 328 HP car with AWD is the main reason I bought the G - it definitely is useful in the winter but in any weather it's a great feature.

 

Snow season in PA is 3 months out of the year and out of those 3 months, it snowed only a handful of times where awd would have mattered. I would have liked the awd but the added features of the sports package outweighed them.

In the end it's what means more to you. I bought my sport model knowing full well I would have a tough time during snow. But i figure most german cars are rwd and they seem to survive winter. just gotta drive like a grandma

 

I could clearly tell the difference during a test drive. I drove the G37X first, and didn't like it. Compared to my Subaru WRX (also AWD), the G37X understeered, had significant body roll, and mushy brakes.

OTOH, the G37S was amazingly better. Enough so that I am driving the dealers here crazy (Boston) in trying to find a G37S.

pnk

 

...or have the dealer throw it all in during your negotiations

 

I test drove both and I could notice a difference, mainly in the suspension and breaking. I didnt notice a difference in acceleration. They both were pretty quick and fun to drive on my test drive.

Suspension is something thats easily upgradeable and is very commonplace.

I found the S more fun to drive and I wouldnt even consider not getting the S for the LSD and brakes option alone.

I think its mainly going to come down to personal preference and where you live. Im outside of DC and my wife has a 4wd RAV4. For the total of 8 days that it might actually snow or be icy here, I'll just drive her far.

I went to Penn State a few years ago so I know the type of weather that can happen up there. If I had to deal with that for 3-5 months of the year, then the X would have been more attractive. ....or I might have just gotten a pair of cheap 17's and put snow tires on them and stayed with the S.

 

If you're worried about snow, why not just get the a SUV for the winters. If you're considering a coupe, why not buy it as sporty as it can be (rwd, sport suspension for those that aren't interested in doing further mods, and big brakes). Just my opinion. I might consider AWD if it came with the sport package. But winters are a hit or miss sometimes. I have a 98 4runner beater for those situations.

 

Snow tires cannot always help. Here's another personal opinion thread. Sometimes there is actual infomration in this forum, although at times it hard to find.

 

I had an S prior to the X and in the snow up here in Boston I don't think snow tires would have helped much. It get's to the point where the roads are so icy and deep snow that snow tires wouldn't help. Correct me if I'm wrong for anyone in the Northeast. I bought the S at first thinking it only really snows a handful of times but last season I couldn't drive numerous times. Also the 2k you spend on snow tires/rims since 19s are not the best choice for winter you could end up modding the X into a suspension beast.

 

I agree 100%. I tried Pilot Sport A/S on my '03 RWD Sedan...had to dig myself out 3 times in one night on a snowy day...

The short way of putting it...

You can make an X into an S, but not the other way around.

Suspension, brakes, wheels/tires...even the seats - can be done.

Making a car AWD from RWD

 

I wonder how the X drivetrain would handle the extra power from a twin turbo set up

 

I am sure, just like the transmission, they would need some adjustments since there would be a dramtic increase in torque and hp. Part of the cost of the TT is the tranny rebuild. For the x model, the cost should be more since the ATTESA would need similar changes as the tranny.

 

does sports bumper vs regular bumper make a difference in how effective aftermarket CAI (such as injen) turn out to be? do sports bumpers let in more airflow?

 

The vents in the sports bumper are fake if you haven't noticed and serve no performance purpose