2WD versus 4WD... Help Me:

[Decipher]

Since you're on an "enthusiast" forum, people are going to be elitist dicks about considering a RWD truck. Don't worry about those opinions, they're just super badasses that you can't even begin to handle /s

Same kind of reactions you expect when you see someone asking about increasing MPG on a Mustang forum. People are way too cool for that stuff.

Anyway!

I bought a RWD GMC Canyon when I lived in Houston because I knew that I would never take the thing off road ever and needed a truck that was easy to maneuver so why the **** would I spend extra money on something I'd never use? That's a little bit easier of a decision because you can get even the nicer trimmed trucks in 2WD whereas the 4Runner a basic ***** in that configuration.

Once I moved to Seattle, I knew I'd be at least getting on Forest Service roads which can throw unexpected shit at you in which 4x4 could come in handy, so I went for the 4x4 Trail version. I will also state I did that for the "cool" factor as well as aesthetics though, which are important to me but may not be for other people.

Anyway, as someone who is also an avid cyclist and likes to walk wherever I can and can totally see your viewpoint, don't get the 4x4 if it provides you no additional value. If you justify it by getting a few more bells and whistles you'd enjoy and you know you'll use the cargo space and roof rack, etc - then you may want to consider getting the 4x4 if those other bells and whistles provide the value for you. Otherwise, don't chase the 4WD version just because some internet badasses feel like you're a ***** and belong in a minivan because you don't share their same priorities.

But also as others have said, maybe look outside of your area to see if you can find one priced closer to the 2WD version and then you get the extra stuff you want at a better price. Or shop other vehicles.

But yeah, don't let enthusiast internet warriors sway your opinion if you're more comfortable keeping the extra cash knowing you'll never use the extra shit that comes on the 4WD version.

I’m just going to address your completely asinine labeling of everyone here being an “elitist dick.”

This discussion, by and large, has been completely constructive, informative, and entirely lacking in any type of attack on this guy for even considering 2WD. No one is guilting him into any decisions or flaming him for his position. Without reading this all the way through, this has already been one of the most informative threads for someone trying to figure out what they want to do.

If you think so poorly of this community you should just move along.



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[wfo9]

Over built Jeep was a blast for a minute -- until I was filling it up every three feet, until my wife determined she seriously disliked driving it herself on anything further than a short local errand where the speed didn't exceed 35mph, until my wife figured out how much she hated steep shelf-roads and anything that was off-camber... and until we both realized that while some of the folks we wheeled with were great and fantastic folks there was a larger majority of seriously nasty/jealous/back-stabbing morons along for the ride too.

So no, I do not dislike being off pavement but I would say, as a family, our first real deep-dive into the world of off-roading was a mixed bag.

LOL. I can relate to
"some of the folks we wheeled with were great and fantastic folks there was a larger majority of seriously nasty/jealous/back-stabbing morons along for the ride too"

I've wheeled with some great people... that I really enjoy being around, but that second type who like to run their mouth and ego more than their rigs... are also out there in force...

Everything is a mixed bag.. but I hear its quite a bit worse in the Jeep community. I've found the old school beater community to be my jam mostly, but the haters exist everywhere.. even in the red neck greasy hands groups.

Nothing wrong with a 2wd 4runner. Better than 4wd in several ways. Just depends on what you do with it. The mild offRoading can be just as fun as the hard core stuff. Might be worth a try. Your call really.

 

[LandCruiser]

LOL. I can relate to
"some of the folks we wheeled with were great and fantastic folks there was a larger majority of seriously nasty/jealous/back-stabbing morons along for the ride too"

I've wheeled with some great people... that I really enjoy being around, but that second type who like to run their mouth and ego more than their rigs... are also out there in force...

Everything is a mixed bag.. but I hear its quite a bit worse in the Jeep community. I've found the old school beater community to be my jam mostly, but the haters exist everywhere.. even in the red neck greasy hands groups.

Nothing wrong with a 2wd 4runner. Better than 4wd in several ways. Just depends on what you do with it. The mild offRoading can be just as fun as the hard core stuff. Might be worth a try. Your call really.

The money saved on the initial purchase is because no one wants 2WDs. Resale also sucks because... no one wants 2WDs.

OP won't notice the small difference in price if he finances the truck.

4WD stuff failing at 150k miles is highly unlikely of a problem for OP because he flipped a JKU he had a crap ton of mods in after no time at all and doesn't seem like the kind of guy to have the attention span to own a truck long enough for the CV joints to fail.

2WD 4Runners are the Deep South family wagons, since they outnumber the 4x4s down there, and back when I was younger my 4x4 3rd gen was a virtual rarity. When I bought my 2013 Trail in the SE, there were FIVE allocated to the entire region, mine was in Hollywood FL of all places.

BOF RWD SUVs seem to be the perfect realization that you're probably better off buying something else, a choice based purely on emotion, but rationalized with "I'm saving a few bucks."

OP should totally get a RWD 4Runner.

 

[Toffees]

You really can't beat the utility of a minivan if 4wd is not a requirement

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Me and the Mrs are seriously considering a Sprinter 4WD, where does that put us on the utility/enthusiast spectrum?

 

[e60ral]

Me and the Mrs are seriously considering a Sprinter 4WD, where does that put us on the utility/enthusiast spectrum?

in the high income group

 

[brtnstrns]

I’m just going to address your completely asinine labeling of everyone here being an “elitist dick.”

This discussion, by and large, has been completely constructive, informative, and entirely lacking in any type of attack on this guy for even considering 2WD. No one is guilting him into any decisions or flaming him for his position. Without reading this all the way through, this has already been one of the most informative threads for someone trying to figure out what they want to do.

If you think so poorly of this community you should just move along.



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I was kinda being hyperbolic but was mostly poking at the 'HURR DURR NO 4X4 GIT A MINIVAN'

I've been on car forums of one kind or another since the early 2000's. I'm an elitist on most of my hobbies, I just don't really care if other people have different priorities. Unfortunately, my sense of humor tends to get lost on some people when put into text. So chill out, I don't think poorly of this community as I was mostly speaking in jest. OP obviously either thought my post was informative enough based on my own anecdote or caught that I was being humorous. I ain't going anywhere.

 

[rkwfxd]

Over built Jeep was a blast for a minute -- until I was filling it up every three feet, until my wife determined she seriously disliked driving it herself on anything further than a short local errand where the speed didn't exceed 35mph, until my wife figured out how much she hated steep shelf-roads and anything that was off-camber... and until we both realized that while some of the folks we wheeled with were great and fantastic folks there was a larger majority of seriously nasty/jealous/back-stabbing morons along for the ride too.

So no, I do not dislike being off pavement but I would say, as a family, our first real deep-dive into the world of off-roading was a mixed bag.

OK so similar experience to my "hard core" jeeping experience. Once we sold the jeep and got away from it we started to remember all the "pre-hard core" days with a stock jeep and fire roads and how much fun we had. How relaxing it was and how much we wanted to do that again.

FWIW I was headed down the mini-van path until we realized we missed the wilderness and pulled the trigger on the 4Runner - probably dodged a bullet there. LOL

 

[Louise]

I've been on car forums of one kind or another since the early 2000's. I'm an elitist on most of my hobbies, I just don't really care if other people have different priorities. Unfortunately, my sense of humor tends to get lost on some people when put into text. So chill out, I don't think poorly of this community as I was mostly speaking in jest. OP obviously either thought my post was informative enough based on my own anecdote or caught that I was being humorous. I ain't going anywhere.

Putting one of the emoji/smilies at the end of your sentence helps to convey that your post is meant to be more for humor. :drum:

 

[Inv4drZm]

Your username is [MENTION=220977]Hoss_Ballsnapper[/MENTION] and you want to get a 2wd?

That's a first.

ound:

 

[brtnstrns]

Putting one of the emoji/smilies at the end of your sentence helps to convey that your post is meant to be more for humor. :drum:

Oops! :fish2:

 

[Decipher]

I've been on car forums of one kind or another since the early 2000's. I'm an elitist on most of my hobbies, I just don't really care if other people have different priorities. Unfortunately, my sense of humor tends to get lost on some people when put into text. So chill out, I don't think poorly of this community as I was mostly speaking in jest. OP obviously either thought my post was informative enough based on my own anecdote or caught that I was being humorous. I ain't going anywhere.

Noted and I get it. Tone doesn’t translate in text. It just seemed super abrasive but I’ve been in your position so thanks for clearing it up.

I do stand by my thoughts of the easy flogging that’s occurred here with this topic. For all of us who actual wheel their rigs, it’s nice to see the constructive responses.

I find adding a “haha” helps as well.


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[Hoss_Ballsnapper]

If it counts for anything, I am now pricing out a 2018 Mini Cooper Countryman. Just need to research how far back I need to trim the pinch-seams to accommodate shopping cart wheels.

 

[Hoss_Ballsnapper]

Just made an offer on a 2018 4Runner TRD Offroad Premium.

...the plot thickens.

 

[MtnMan219]

Just made an offer on a 2018 4Runner TRD Offroad Premium.



...the plot thickens.

Best of luck! Low ball ‘em good. Hopefully you’ve already checked out the thread How much are people paying for the NEW 4Runner?
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?sh...nner.org/showthread.php?t=154274&share_type=t

 

[Farby]

I drive a 4R because I like it. It suits me. I like the reliability. I like the "road presence". I like it's look. I like that it is just a little unique. I like that it is (relatively) simple. I have absolutely no real need for it. I simply prefer driving a large-ish SUV.

When I decided to replace my 2010 (which was a totally unnecessary wild hair), I found absolutely nothing else I wanted. I just like it.

I read this and thought to myself, although I don't own one, this is exactly the feels i have and why i'm looking into the 4R. I like the looks of it, like the size, like the roll down rear window, like the simple ruggedness of it. Probably won't see any rock crawling or major off roading. Will be driven in snow in winter. Mostly I'll use the space.

My fam is expanding and I need a third row. Wife has an 07 highlander and I have a passat. I need something bigger, don't want a highlander. want something i can own for many years, don't like the pilot, ascent or anything else from honda/nissan. Will not lease and everything else is pretty much out of budget and/or without the reliability of toyota.

I'm going to test drive this weekend....not sure if i'll be turned on right there or turned off. I'd only do 4wd though. sorry to threadjack. just thinking out loud.

 

[Jevans1770]

The money saved on the initial purchase is because no one wants 2WDs. Resale also sucks because... no one wants 2WDs.

OP won't notice the small difference in price if he finances the truck.

4WD stuff failing at 150k miles is highly unlikely of a problem for OP because he flipped a JKU he had a crap ton of mods in after no time at all and doesn't seem like the kind of guy to have the attention span to own a truck long enough for the CV joints to fail.

2WD 4Runners are the Deep South family wagons, since they outnumber the 4x4s down there, and back when I was younger my 4x4 3rd gen was a virtual rarity. When I bought my 2013 Trail in the SE, there were FIVE allocated to the entire region, mine was in Hollywood FL of all places.

BOF RWD SUVs seem to be the perfect realization that you're probably better off buying something else, a choice based purely on emotion, but rationalized with "I'm saving a few bucks."

OP should totally get a RWD 4Runner.

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.

 

[Hoss_Ballsnapper]

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.

 

[fourfive]

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).

If you don't use 4wd for anything else, it'll at least come in handy the couple times a year it snows in GA or for those occasions you take a trip to the beach and end up having to park somewhere sandy. I frequently see 2wd trucks getting stuck in the sand & the same answer I always hear when pulling them out is "I should have gotten a 4wd". While 4wd isn't going to make someone immune to getting stuck it definitely helps reduce the chances.

 

[jamesq]

4RUNNER IS BETTER THAN 2RUNNER.


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[e60ral]

Don't forget to engage 4wd every month to keep it lubricated per your owners manual, if you never use it it won't work when you need it

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