That's probably very true. Had the G35X been available with the sport package, I'd likely have considered it more seriously, and would still have gotten separate rims/tires for winter. I'm impressed with the attesa awd system. Then again, I probably couldn't have negotiated quite as much off as I did buying a RWD in the middle of winter

Yes, the Attesa AWD system is a nice design. You get a RWD car most of the time, but get AWD automatically when needed (not to mention that during acceleration from a stop, 25% of the power goes to the front tires for an additional boost).

It's quite interesting how marketing folks who work for car companies come out with different models such that it's not possible to get a model that has all the features one could possibly want. It's not just the G35 series where this is an issue, but many other car lines as well. For example, the Lexus IS 350 doesn't have an AWD version. If you want AWD, you have to get the much less powerful IS 250. In this case, the IS 250 would make even less sense for the G35 folks who bought the Sport version, if they had wanted the IS series instead. Likewise, the AWD version of the BMW 3 series is the 328ix. No AWD version for the 335. Getting or not getting an AWD of the IS series or the 300 series is probably not as much of a hard decision for potential IS and 300 series owners as it is for potential G35 owners. For the G35, the AWD and non-AWD versions both have the same engine. If it were up to the engineers of the car companies, they would make every feature available for a particular car line. But, I supposse the marketing folks find it important to distinguish cars in the same model line.

Great article Shane.

I will put my $.02 worth in on this topic. I have no doubt that the X would over all be beter in the snow and winter junk. I am in Rochester NY and have a Soprt on which I have put winter tires on a set of 18" cast aluminium wheels. The car is quite acceptable for the conditions that we see here. If You want the best car for all out winter conditions then get the X. If you want the features that the sport offers then get the sport and put winter tires on it. IMHO

Hmmm...isn't Rochester one of the snowest places in the U.S.?

My 05 6mt sedan is fine in the snow. It is equipped with 4 Dunlop M3 snow tires. I live and work in the showbelt south of Buffalo, so its a good test for driving the car in the snow. It would probably be a better snow car with the Blizzaks which have a more aggressive tread pattern, but most of the time in the winter the roads are promptly cleared of snow, so why equip the car for driving in snow when most of the driving is not on snow covered roads?

Last week we had 12 inches of light fluffy snow with considerable blowing and drifting and the car performed well. I relied on the snowplows to take care of the roads and I took care of the driveway.

As someone used to driving on solid, occasionally wet, but high-traction Miami roads, the G35x with Dunlop M3s is an absolute beast this winter in Central MA with plenty of weekend trips out to Western MA, Killington, etc. often during snow, rain, or sleet. I think the only way to get it to break free is to really try, or forget you're driving on snow instead of summer-compound asphalt!

kSoto,

I'm swid's wife and I can tell you that I went through the same dilema - the x or the sport. I was hesitant, but he talked me into getting the sport with winter tires. This is coming from someone who set out to get the AWD, but once I drove the sport, I was sold. I took the car out to a parking lot after our first snow and she handled better than my front wheel drive Honda. We put winter tires on the sport - dunlop m3 235/50R18's all around and had them mounted on the sport rims. I drove her with and without the VDC and let me tell you that the VDC really makes a big difference. The winter tires will slip a bit upon acceleration, but the front tires really bite down when you get going. The front end does not snow plow when turning. So my advice is this: why sacrifice all the features that the sport has to offer just for the five days of bad snow in the winter - just put some good winter tires on her and you'll be fine. Don't forget that if you are in the Chicagoland area, the roads are cleared in a day anyway. Hope that helps.

In the snow, RWD with winter tires handles better than AWD w/ all-season's, but AWD w/ A/S can still climb steeper hills and accelerate out of a corner with more control.

If you only have five days of bad snow in the winter, that's not bad at all. Putting on and taking off winter tires seems like a lot of trouble for just 5 bad days though. But I guess with a RWD, you just won't know when you'll need them!