2WD or 4WD in Chicago??

J

Jamie Renee

New member
Hi all!

I am new to this site and have a few questions for anyone who can help me out. I previously had a '99 Limited and drove it all over in the city. I never used the 4WD, but would occasionally use the button on the side of the gear shift that would employ some type of lower-level AWD or 4WD. Does anyone know what that option is called? And if so, do they offer that option in the 2003-2004 4Runners as well? I am searching for a new 4Runner ASAP since I totaled my '99, and am trying to decide if I should get 2WD or 4WD (as the 2WD is obviously much cheaper).

Any thoughts or advice??

Thanks!
Jamie
 
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I was always under the impression that that button was for putting the truck into high range 4 wheel drive, and then you could use the lever to shift the truck into low range. Newer V6, 4x4, 4runners have both high and low range four wheel drive. The V8 models have full time four wheel drive with the low range option.

Personally, I wouldn't have a two wheel drive truck or SUV. You just never know when you're really going to NEED it. Having the option and not using it is a lot worse than needing it and not having it.
 
Go with the 4WD! When I got my 4Runner I was in the same boat as you. I didn't do much offroading and mine would see snow occasionally. Now that I am modifying it I am kicking myself knowing I should have purchased the 4WD. With 4WD if you don't use it alot at least it is there and you have it, with a 2WD you don't have any other options. I guarantee you 100% of the guys here will tell you to go with the 4WD.
 
eskimochaos said:
4WD - higher resale value too.
Click to expand...
That is true, but it is cheaper to buy a 2WD, even with the fact that it has higher reale value. Having said that and telling you that I own two 2WD 4Runners, I have lived near Chicago and I would say go with the 4WD. If you live down south like I do, then go with what you feel like, but lets face it, it the weather gets pretty bad, I was just thinking of the Chicago football game played last week.:wow:
 
Thanks!

Thanks everyone who responded! I'm just getting very overwhelmed with this search! I am looking for 03-04 (and don't care if it is an SR5 or Limited) and only want to spend up to 12-13k cash, which I know limits me to either high mileage or 2WD. I may just have to go for the older body style like what I had before and look at 01-02 instead.

If anyone has recommendations of where I should be looking, please let me know! I originally was looking south so that rust wouldn't be as much of a problem, but I'm not finding much. I just want my 4Runner back!! :(

Thanks, all! It's nice to find a place where people understand how awesome 4Runners are...I'm getting sick of people trying to sell me anything else. :)

-Jamie
 
stick to your guns! don't let any of those creepy used car salesmen push you into anything else. i always laugh at them when they try and show me something completely different from what i'm asking. i would consider expanding your search area to nevada, arizona, texas, oklahoma and other southern and south western states to avoid salt. autotrader.com has been a pretty good resource for me. you can go into the advanced serach options and really nail down what you're looking for. best of luck on your search.
 
Unless your going off roading a 2WD 4Runner will work fine in snow, also why pay for all the extra hardware and haul it's weight around if it's really never needed. I have had a few 4WDs and I never needed it in the City in snow.
 
I grew up in nearby South Bend, Indiana and still go back there to visit family. Frankly I couldn't imagine NOT having a 4WD in that part of the country. I remember very well as a kid getting stuck when we slid on ice and off into the ditch in a freak blizzard while traveling on Thanksgiving. Thank God our Dad filled up beforehand because we had to keep the engine running with the heater going full blast. Thankfully a trucker stopped and was able to pull us back onto the road somehow.

Then when we went back for a wedding in January a couple years ago, the brakes froze on my cousin's car and I'll be darned if we didn't get stuck again. It was another blizzard with snow falling down then a horrific wind blowing whipping it into a white out frenzy. The Auto was so swamped it took three hours and forty minutes for the tow truck. Even then we were lucky...as we were being towed to the garage the driver told us he'd just been given order to just push calls off to the side of the road and take the people to nearest warm location. Then they would try to catch up the next day and go back for the cars then.

True you might not 4WD often, but that one time could be a real life saver for someone. At least to me your question is a no brainer.
 
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As a native Chicagoan I say 4WD, the peace of mind is worth every cent!

My 04 has 134k on it and purrs like the day I bought it.

Good Luck with your search and try cars.com as well they have plenty of filters to help with your search!
 
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If you live in Chicago get the 4WD. I live Massachusetts and use it a lot during the winter. Unless you are planning to move in the near future to a place with weather like to San Diego then the choice is clear. Good luck with your search.
 
I spent almost all my life in PA winters and recently a few winters in the Lake Zurich (NW Chicago burb) area. I wouldn't waste my time on 2WD. Most SUV's are back-end light anyway and they suck in the snow in 2WD. Besides, resale value is better (providing you don't total this one, too :jk: ).
 
I grew up with rear-wheel-drive cars in Michigan, we got around, and my wife had a rwd BMW 740iL not long ago that did well in snow with winter tires. I've had nine AWD vehicles now, and I'm spoiled. My 4Runner spins on wet pavement when I leave it in 2WD, the traction control hits the brakes, and it creeps out into intersections dangerously. In snow you'd find yourself fighting the traction control constantly, unable to get across busy intersections, not safe. Get the 4WD.

Prices are going to be tough this time of year for 4WD, maybe not down south.
 
Jamie Renee said:
Thanks everyone who responded! I'm just getting very overwhelmed with this search! I am looking for 03-04 (and don't care if it is an SR5 or Limited) and only want to spend up to 12-13k cash, which I know limits me to either high mileage or 2WD. I may just have to go for the older body style like what I had before and look at 01-02 instead.

If anyone has recommendations of where I should be looking, please let me know! I originally was looking south so that rust wouldn't be as much of a problem, but I'm not finding much. I just want my 4Runner back!! :(

Thanks, all! It's nice to find a place where people understand how awesome 4Runners are...I'm getting sick of people trying to sell me anything else. :)

-Jamie
Click to expand...

After reading your thoughts, a 2WD from the south may not be a bad way to go. Your price range, you should get a nice 2WD 4th gen from the south with no rust. Sure, if you can swing it, get a 4WD. I know this forum says go 4WD, but it is your money and talk is cheap, 4Runners aren't.

There are a few good things about about 2WD, it does have traction control, VSC, ABS brakes. We just had a sleet storm last night and my 2004 started to skid, but with vehicle skid control, it straighten itself out pretty quick. So, yes 4WD would be nice, but going with a 2WD, it is still a 4Runner with all the space and quality of a of a 4Runner.
 
I live in central Illinois and use 4wd quite often. Although where I live the roads may not be cleared as well as they are in Chicago/suburbs.

The 4wd setup in this vehicle is great, because you can leave the vehicle engaged in 4wd on dry pavement (center diff. unlocked) - I find it useful in the winter around here because some of the main roads get cleared, but then country roads/subdivisions are not cleared, and I don't have to bother switching in/out of 4wd (V6 model). Even some of the main roads get blowing/drifting snow, and around here we do get sleet/ice quite often in the winter too. As far as I have calculated - leaving the vehicle in 4wd has minimal (if any) impact on MPG.

Having a good set of tires makes a huge difference, but that is a whole different topic. There is plenty of reading material on this website, so feel free to ask questions and good luck with your search!
 
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