2WD versus 4WD... Help Me:

[LandCruiser]

Strongly agree with gentleman. My last two Tacoma's were 4wd and when it became trade in time...I got a premium over 2WD that was pretty much what I paid for the 4WD option. Its the only thing on a vehicle that seems to not depreciate in value meaningfully.

From your OP you clearly don't need 4WD. But if makes it a lot easier to sell, could be of help in a natural disaster and who knows your driving proclivities may change down the road. 4WD and AWD are incredibly popular in CA because of the Sierra's. If you have 4WD you can cruise past most chain checkpoints and if you also have BFG A/T's I believe they count that as a proper snow tire in CA. So if you ever think you might live somewhere near the snow it really can't hurt to get 4WD if its in the budget.

Yeah, you can blow past the chain stations on the way to Tahoe if it's a 4x4.

I don't know if they have a "snowflake/mountain" certification like they do in CO or do any M+S count in most of the Sierras.

 

[tristero]

Yeah, you can blow past the chain stations on the way to Tahoe if it's a 4x4.

I don't know if they have a "snowflake/mountain" certification like they do in CO or do any M+S count in most of the Sierras.

This is from Caltrans:
Requirement One (R1): Chains or snow tread tires required. Snow tires must have a tread depth of 6/32" with a "M & S" imprint on the tire's sidewall.

Requirement Two (R2): Chains required on all vehicles except four-wheel drives or all-wheel drives with snow tread tires on all four wheels. NOTE: four-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles must carry traction devices in chain control areas)

Requirement Three (R3): Chains are required on all vehicles, no exceptions.

Usually they just close the roads for safety reasons at R2. Even if you're already on the road they won't make you put chains on, they'll just stop you near a rest area. It used to be different, but with all the California drivers heading up the mountain every weekend they needed to start doing full road closures.

I always had a decent 4x4 growing up in Tahoe, mostly an old CJ-7. There were plenty of times I went to leave a resort and everyone had to wait until the storm passed and the plows cleaned the snowfall. Traction wise you're better off in a truck or SUV but the CHP and NHP treat you the same as a honda civic at a certain point.

 

[Stol3n]

Offer was accepted, deposit payment made, now the waiting begins.

2018 Toyota 4Runner, TRD Offroad Premium, Nautical Blue exterior/Black SofTex interior, absolutely zero options beyond a moonroof (didn't want anything more).


I should have it within 2-3 weeks.

Thank you all for the input and food for thought, much appreciated.

Decided to go 4x4 not so much for resale but for 'the unexpected' (ie: a relocation to who knows where, camping, perhaps falling back in love with some form of offroading).

I'll update as I hear more and get closer to delivery.

Price?

 

[Hoss_Ballsnapper]

price?

$37,850.00 otd.

 

[Jevans1770]

This is from Caltrans:
Requirement One (R1): Chains or snow tread tires required. Snow tires must have a tread depth of 6/32" with a "M & S" imprint on the tire's sidewall.

Requirement Two (R2): Chains required on all vehicles except four-wheel drives or all-wheel drives with snow tread tires on all four wheels. NOTE: four-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles must carry traction devices in chain control areas)

Requirement Three (R3): Chains are required on all vehicles, no exceptions.

Usually they just close the roads for safety reasons at R2. Even if you're already on the road they won't make you put chains on, they'll just stop you near a rest area. It used to be different, but with all the California drivers heading up the mountain every weekend they needed to start doing full road closures.

I always had a decent 4x4 growing up in Tahoe, mostly an old CJ-7. There were plenty of times I went to leave a resort and everyone had to wait until the storm passed and the plows cleaned the snowfall. Traction wise you're better off in a truck or SUV but the CHP and NHP treat you the same as a honda civic at a certain point.

It's fair enough that they just shut it down sometimes. Its usually approaching zero visibility when they do so.

What got me into 4WD was when I use to drive up to Oregon every year when my mom lived in Portland. Generally speaking they make you get out and put on your chains down below where its just cold, miserable rain coming down on your while you are trying to get the chains on. I got my fill of that early on. Plus even when chains aren't mandatory there are times when I find it helpful to have 4wd. Even lesser snow and ice can suck a bit if your RWD and don't have A/T tires.

 

[Rack]

Someday you my want a small Fishing boat. A slippery launch ramp is no time to wish you had 4WD.

 

[Hoss_Ballsnapper]

Deal is Done, new ride is home...

2018 4Runner, TRD Offroad Premium.

Fantastic experience at Dave Edwards Toyota in Spartanburg, South Carolina -- Tony Jackson was my salesman and he is positively, hand's down, the best salesman I have ever dealt with (got me exactly what I wanted and at the price I was willing to pay).

 

[4central]

Just a side note for future reference, 2wd 4runners has 9.0 inch ground clearance, 4wd ones 9.6 inches

 

[denim]

Deal is Done, new ride is home...

2018 4Runner, TRD Offroad Premium.

Fantastic experience at Dave Edwards Toyota in Spartanburg, South Carolina -- Tony Jackson was my salesman and he is positively, hand's down, the best salesman I have ever dealt with (got me exactly what I wanted and at the price I was willing to pay).

Congrats - glad it worked out for you!

 

[Hoss_Ballsnapper]

Deal is Done, new ride is home...

2018 4Runner, TRD Offroad Premium.

Fantastic experience at Dave Edwards Toyota in Spartanburg, South Carolina -- Tony Jackson was my salesman and he is positively, hand's down, the best salesman I have ever dealt with (got me exactly what I wanted and at the price I was willing to pay).

Just a quick follow-up to my post above...

11 days after we took delivery (and those photos were taken) a 200lb white tail deer decided to commit suicide on our brand new 4Runner.

We are now in week #3 of being car-free while awaiting delivery of a new one (our insurance company declared it a total loss ~ not horrid damage but we did have a total airbag deployment during the deer strike)... about two more weeks to go until we get the exact same model (TRD Offroad Premium) except a different color this time--kind of feel like the Nautical Blue has been tainted with bad luck so we are getting Magnetic Gray.

Two days before the deer strike we turned in our leased Kia... unbelievable crappy timing. Two cars to zero cars in two days. Guess the upside is -- had we been in the Kia the accident could have had very different results.

Thank all good things for Lyft (our current form of transportation, well that and a lot of walking)!

 

[Axix23]

holy cow. Poor car. Glad you are okay. What part your car did the deer hit you? Front bumper or driver's side?

 

[Hoss_Ballsnapper]

holy cow. Poor car. Glad you are okay. What part your car did the deer hit you? Front bumper or driver's side?

Bulk majority was passenger's side front bumper with a fair amount directly across the front grille and bumper.

Very little damage on the driver's side front bumper.

 

[denim]

Glad you are all Okay - I had no idea that there were that many airbags in the 4runner. If only the deer had a phone and the suicide prevention phone number - things might've been different.:lookout::deadhorse:

 

[Edison_chen]

Definitely glad you’re safe from the accident.

 

[p0pe]

Damn glad y'all are ok. Good choice with the 4WD... Drove several hours for mine when they first came out. To me if you are even debating 2WD vs 4WD, you better go 4WD or you'll have some serious regrets later on.