09-06-2012, 11:37 PM | #1 |
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IAS or Xdrive?
I am thinking about placing an order for a 650 gran coupe but cant decide if I should get the xdrive or a non xdrive with integral active steering. At the end the price difference isn't much the xdrive only ends up being $1000 more.
I live in texas so no I don't really need xdrive but I guess it would be convenient on wet roads or for that one day a year we have ice. But I am wondering if the integral active steering really helps that much and if I would regret not having it. Any opinions? Edit--- I also just noticed that you cant get park assist with x drive Last edited by dsad1; 09-07-2012 at 12:00 AM.. |
09-07-2012, 02:19 AM | #2 |
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Drives: 650GC/E93M3/Lexus LS600HL
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IMHO, If you like stop light racing or drag race, get xDrive. If you like spirited driving and have the 6gc handle like a smaller car, get IAS.
The above is assuming you don't have to deal with driving in the snow .....
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09-07-2012, 11:19 PM | #3 | |
Southern6er22
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Drives: 2012 650i xDrive M Sport Coupe
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Quote:
However, xDrive is about so much more than just driving in the snow. 1. The traction and handling is unreal for a car this size. 2. You get hydraulic steering instead of electric - noticeable difference in feedback IMO. 3. The sense of security is unparalleled. As for #1, the car rockets off the line when you put your foot down, and the traction through the corners at decent speed is amazing. The steering (#2) was pretty apparent to me when I went from driving my 650xi coupe for two weeks to driving a 650i convertible on the track at the PC for a couple hours. Obviously, the differences in the bodies and lack of ARS in the convertible made some difference, but the difference in steering feel was the second biggest difference I felt (the first was the tame exhaust note of the non-M Sport convertible compared to my M Sport coupe). The security (#3) is the main reason I spent the extra money on xDrive. Yes, I think it makes for a better handling car that hits 60 mph quicker than the RWD brother, but I drive in A LOT of rain. Hurricanes and tropical storms are bad, but even regular summer weather here is extremely wet and can make driving scary at times - particularly if you have 400 hp going to the back wheels. I can accelerate onto on ramps in the rain at pretty great speeds (faster than I would ever dare in 99% of cars in production today) and be completely fearless. Despite the wet roads, and sometimes standing water, the car handles the road extremely well - almost as if the water wasn't there at all. I've had one experience where I felt the car trying to get some oversteer. I hit a tight corner - that was holding onto a significant pool of water - with more throttle than I should have when I felt the wheels start to lose grip through the wheels and the seat, but the system sorted it out in a fraction of a second and kept me not only on the road but between the lines. Idk if it was purely DSC, purely xDrive, or a combination of the two, but it was astonishing. I was sold on xDrive before this happened, but this reaffirmed my reasoning. If you plan on taking your car to a track, then RWD may be the way to go if you're looking for a car that can have fun drifting around a track. If you're getting the car to drive almost exclusively in the real world (or around a track and want the best lap times), then I'd highly recommend xDrive. Both are great systems. I think the car handles like a car half its size even without IAS. I'm sure the turning radius is better with IAS, but I've never felt horribly inconvenienced by the 6er's turning radius. I admit, I don't drive on tight, downtown streets very often and I've spent much of my driving life in SUVs, so I'm probably more accepting of a bigger radius than some people. It really comes down to personal preference...
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