2wd versus 4wd debate re-visited

[jrv6a]

I spent most of the day on the web and this forum reading about other people's 4Runners, mostly because my wife took our new 4th Gen T4R to work today. I found a few threads on 2wd versus 4wd that mostly addressed the pro aspects of buying/owning a 4wd. I'll be honest, most of the trucks on here make me wish I could have gotten a 4wd, but there is one thing that no one added to any of the other debate threads, and that's the poseur factor. This is not directed at anyone in this forum. Instead, I'm making a comment on myself. If I bought a 4wd I'd be a poseur because I would lift it and put a brush guard on it with tons of fog lights; I'd also probably buy a set of beadlocks - all for nothing. It would never see the dirt because I don't get out much.

The trucks I've seen on this forum are very inspiring - especially the dirty ones!!! But think of that one guy that goes and gets the top of the line 4wd and outspends everyone, or maybe the guy who overspends just a little and ends up in over his head for the 4wd and never even uses it.

I look forward to your comments and if anyone has any pics of an awesome 2wd 4Runner set up like a pre-runner, I'd love to see them here.

Added on May 11, 2014

When I started this thread I only meant to point out that most of the people who spend the extra money on 4wd never even use it. More specifically I was commenting on the poseurs who buy the 4wd just to impress people in traffic or in parking lots. In many cases they spend money they don't have (that's what financing is) to buy something they just won't use. I would have liked a 4wd, but I can't justify spending outside my means because I live in a major metropolitan area in FL where it never snows and there are no hills. Besides some of the mud holes, which I'd never visit, there really isn't anything to get stuck in. The 2wd allowed me to get into a dependable 4Runner instead of settling for an Explorer or a Cherokee (most of which come in 2wd but I wouldn't drive).

So many people have exorbitant car payments for trucks that never see the dirt. Front diff service costs are nothing compared to a $100 increase in monthly payments for financing the additional sum for a 4wd (based on $46,800 for a 4wd T4R versus a $43,800 2wd).

 

[KidVermicious]

What debate? Was there a question in there?

It's easy - if you need a truck, get 4wd. If you don't need 4wd, get a minivan. 2wd SUVs are stupid.

 

[fourwd1]

...But think of that one guy that goes and gets the top of the line 4wd and outspends everyone, or maybe the guy who overspends just a little and ends up in over his head for the 4wd and never even uses it.

That guy didn't know what he was doing and bought the wrong thing.
He should have taken a little more time to do some research instead of impulse buying, or trying to be cool.

 

[Ryan04]

there are some pretty cool 4th gen 2wds on here. check out my build thread.

also check out gaterose and crazydubman. both 2wds

 

[Quatre Coureur]

There is no debate. 4wd goes everywhere a 2wd goes but not vice versa. If ur trying to convince us that u made the "right" decision, then the only person u really need to convince is yourself. Remember, if u repeat the lie often enough... :frusty:

 

[02SE]

I wouldn't ever consider a 4Runner that didn't have 4wd.

Without the ability to drive in severe snow conditions, or drive an off-road trail, it would just be what 2wd 4Runner's are, a small station wagon with bad gas mileage.

 

[Titanpat57]

and my take on if someone wants to be a poser, seriously, who cares?

They're the one footing the bill, for the truck and add-ons, so who the hell am I to judge.....besides....it might be a financial situation for them.

let everyone do what they want..

 

[Brique]

I once met a lady who had a badass pickup. I think it was an f150. Lifted, huge tires, 4wd, the whole nine. I asked her "wow, that thing must be awesome off road" she said "oh, I don't take it off road, I just like being high up." My face melted.

 

[snivilous]

I need 4WD just to get up my driveway if it's anything but totally dry. And I've grown up with 4WD as a requirement. If I lived in a warmer place I would still get 4WD, not to pose even though I might not ever use it, but if I need it it is there and it's ingrained in me to always have 4WD.

And being a "poser" is pretty stupid and immature actually. I criticize the hell out of people with rigs that have no mud, but then if I think about it and we all want something to be proud of and we like. There's nothing different from polishing your car and having a 12" lift, if that's what you like to look at and it does what you want who cares honestly? It's all personal preference and you shouldn't change what you like for some random critical strangers.

 

[blizz86]

This thread makes me have the feels from :hug: to :sobbing:

 

[KidVermicious]

This thread makes me have the feels from :hug: to :sobbing:

2WD trucks go behind the Jeeps when we wheel. :moon:

No, but seriously, a RWD SUV is one of the worst vehicles out there. You don't have the 4WD to go with your high clearance, so you're gimpy when you get off pavement. You're RWD, which is inferior to a wagon's AWD or FWD in terms of MPG and winter driving safety, and you're way up in the air which impacts your mileage even more. There's no logical reason to own a RWD SUV over a 4WD SUV or minivan or wagon - if you're going to use your SUV as an SUV is intended, you need the 4WD. If you're not going to use the 4WD, then you don't need the clearance either and a wagon or minivan makes much better sense on every level.

Sorry if that doesn't give you the warm fuzzies, but it is what it is. The word "poser" gets thrown around a lot, but that's pretty much what anybody who willingly chooses to drive a 2WD SUV is. You're not choosing to drive it for function, so it's got to be for form. It's not a truck for you, it's a fashion statement. Your truck looks nice, and I know you've put effort into it's appearance. I prefer to put effort into my truck's ability, and I'll worry about it's appearance once I've got it built like I want it. See the difference?

 

[blizz86]

2WD trucks go behind the Jeeps when we wheel. :moon:

No, but seriously, a RWD SUV is one of the worst vehicles out there. You don't have the 4WD to go with your high clearance, so you're gimpy when you get off pavement. You're RWD, which is inferior to a wagon's AWD or FWD in terms of MPG and winter driving safety, and you're way up in the air which impacts your mileage even more. There's no logical reason to own a RWD SUV over a 4WD SUV or minivan or wagon - if you're going to use your SUV as an SUV is intended, you need the 4WD. If you're not going to use the 4WD, then you don't need the clearance either and a wagon or minivan makes much better sense on every level.

Sorry if that doesn't give you the warm fuzzies, but it is what it is. The word "poser" gets thrown around a lot, but that's pretty much what anybody who willingly chooses to drive a 2WD SUV is. You're not choosing to drive it for function, so it's got to be for form. It's not a truck for you, it's a fashion statement. Your truck looks nice, and I know you've put effort into it's appearance. I prefer to put effort into my truck's ability, and I'll worry about it's appearance once I've got it built like I want it. See the difference?

Lol. Theres no doubt that you use your truck to its fullest capabilities. As for my white one theres a reason behind everything ive done to it. Suspension was shot on all 4 corners: if im going to replace the shocks AND springs it only makes sense to spend a little more and go with a quality brand that also brings it up a little bit. The rack does carry things. And my headlights vastly improve night time driving for me.

Although im not crawling boulders or forging rivers, my high clearance actually does serve a purpose aside from going down fire roads with ease. Sometimes those curbs just need to be hopped, and thats easily done with this pavement princess. Thats besides the few times i do go down a trail i wouldnt have been able to in say a car based lower suv or wagon or any other vehicle that isnt lifted.

Theres no doubt that rwd is terrible for winter safety but its a good thing the ground doesn't freeze where i am.
Its pretty obvious that 4wd is greater than 2wd no matter the circumstances, but to say that the 2wd models are "useless" isnt too fair. Having a larger bodied vehicle is helpful in an bigger accidents, and in low speed incidents where a sedan might nudge my hitch vs a sedan tearing off my bumper, thats in addition to being in the air as its useful to avoiding door dings

Some people appreciate having an enclosed and carpetted "bed", and carry around a LOT of stuff daily that they would prefer to be in the same environment as they would be vs under a truck topper. The sliding rear window is a godsend to my dogs. Also even with it at full capacity, you wont feel cramped as you would with a similar year sedan.

I know that your trucks are purpose built for the trails, etc. But there is another half to owning an SUV.

 

[gaterose]

The word "poser" gets thrown around a lot, but that's pretty much what anybody who willingly chooses to drive a 2WD SUV is.

I bought a 2wd because:

- 4wd 4Rs are scarce around here
- My 50+ y.o. aunt had babied the vehicle since it was brand new
- I got an amazing deal

So I got a tremendous deal on it because of who I bought it from, from the results of my search for alternates I found that I would've driven 200 miles, spent $4k more for a higher mileage lower trim vehicle, and may have gotten some random person's clunker instead of one that I knew was well maintained and driven lightly, if I chose to pick a 4wd.

I chose to modify because after a trip to the mountains I decided I could use a little extra clearance and traction. But yes I do like the way it looks and the fact that it rides high.

I don't believe a minivan would've gotten me to/through these places

(this doesn't look like much but I passed a Jeep on 33 M/Ts at the bottom and he was scared to go to the summit)

But it is good to know your opinion of me.

edit -I'm not saying I wouldn't prefer a 4wd, but I don't believe owning a 2wd SUV is the equivalent of being a poser.

 

[KidVermicious]

It's not my opinion of you, Matt, don't get huffy . But you can't deny that you're really getting the worst of all possible worlds with your truck. You have the poor MPG and road performance of an SUV but without the offroad capability of 4WD.

You got a screaming deal on a truck that you trust, so that goes a long way to explain why that specific truck makes sense for you and your situation (and why you're maybe not a poser :flipoff, but what about your grandma who I assume bought the truck new? Was that a logical vehicle for her to drive, or do you think she could have chosen something a little better suited for how she was going to use it?

Here's a question, for everybody not just Matt. If you were going to buy a brand new vehicle right now to replace your 4Runner, would a 2wd SUV be on the top of your list? If the answer is "yes", tell me why, and I'll tell you why you're a poser. I promise to do it nicely though. :biggrin1:

 

[momo.75]

Like they say opinions are like *******s everybody has one......

 

[gaterose]

I'm not huffy, I just don't like blanket statements. Especially when the statements apply to me.

My aunt had a 3rd gen and sold it for a Avalon (which rides similar to a minivan, i.e. car-like) but hated the way the car rode and drove so when 4ths came out she switched back. She bought a 5th gen in 2010 when I got her 4th. She doesn't do any hardcore off roading but lives down a dirt road on a steep hill and frequents her husband's hunting club which (I believe) would likely cause a minivan to get stuck in many instances; I believe she sold the car because of the hill but I can't say for certain about that. (Now I'll admit that in reality she is a total poser. And it manifests in many ways, but not the reasons she bought a 2WD SUV :flipoff

Here's a question, for everybody not just Matt. If you were going to buy a brand new vehicle right now to replace your 4Runner, would a 2wd SUV be on the top of your list? If the answer is "yes", tell me why, and I'll tell you why you're a poser. I promise to do it nicely though. :biggrin1:

My original post addresses all those questions, so please go on.

edit- oh and for the 'worst of both worlds' comment, I disagree and think the great experiences and pictures I've taken from places I've made it in my modified 2wd are in no way the worst of any world.

 

[02SE]

I don't believe a minivan would've gotten me to/through these places

..pics deleted..

I don't care what anyone buys. Buy and drive what you like. I'm simply saying that a 2wd 4Runner would be pointless for me.

For the record, I've driven a FWD Taurus rental car over more difficult terrain than that in your pics. I wasn't abusing it and no damage was incurred.

Having many years of experience driving off-road and knowing proper wheel placement, makes a difference.

 

[gaterose]

For the record, I've driven a FWD Taurus rental car over more difficult terrain than that in your pics. I wasn't abusing it and no damage was incurred.

I'm sure you have, this is after all the internet and anyone can do anything.

Forgive me for driving and taking pictures of the view from the top instead of hopping out to take pictures of the actual terrain.

 

[the great him]

There are exceptions to every rule, and Matt has a good one here. But again I say that's an exception. I think along the same lines at kidvermicious here. The 2wd suv is a complete image issue. Same thing with big full size trucks with 38"+ tires and 6"+ lifts... Idk if anyone here has ever tired to use one of those for a work truck bit I have and I have to say its a complete bi*ch and 100% impractical. And I can't even begin to count the number of big SUVs I see driving around in the city with one person in it or in rush hour traffic with only one person it and nice chrome dubs... Could of spent half that money and had a nicer car and have money left over especially once you account for fuel

 

[JB.]

Here's a question, for everybody not just Matt. If you were going to buy a brand new vehicle right now to replace your 4Runner, would a 2wd SUV be on the top of your list?

No, but that doesn't mean you didn't go too extreme with the blanket statements.

Just admit that 2wd truck framed SUVs can fill certain legitimate niches (of the non-poser variety) and the rest of us will admit that those niches are just that - niches - that are not terribly common.