Hello everyone,
I am new here but have been reading many of the threads with interest. I have the opportunity to purchase a 1997 4Runner that is a 2WD model. It has the 3.4L V6 with ABS but that is it, at least as far as I have been able to ascertain.
I am currently living in Colorado Springs where we get less than 30" of snow per year ( at least in the five years we have lived here ) but I will be moving back to the Chicago area where it snows considerably more.
3 Questions:
1. Will a vehicle this heavy with no 4WD be able to handle snowy roads in the winter?
2. Will it be able to drive without 4WD or even traction control of some kind?
I started driving in the Chicago area back in the mid to late 70's and I did not have FWD or 4WD. All of my cars were rear wheel drive and I never had any problems driving in the snow. And those winters of 1978 to 1980 saw some of the heaviest snows in Chicago. I got stuck a couple of times but always managed to get out. Back then I started with a 1970 AMC Hornet followed by a Dodge D300 pickup with 2WD.
3. I will be driving 70 miles per day, all of it freeway miles. I possibly know what you all may say, and this may not be the vehicle for that kind of mileage each day. Maybe a more economical vehicle instead?
I appreciate any answers to these questions. This used 4Runner is in excellent shape. It was a Arizona vehicle for many years. I would not anticipate driving it off-road. Oh, by the way, I have owned two Tacoma's in the past. Both were PreRunner models, one without the rear differential and one with. I never got stuck or had any bad experiences driving those trucks in the snow either. I guess once you get past a certain age the need for speed drops.
Thanks again.
fxreyman
I am new here but have been reading many of the threads with interest. I have the opportunity to purchase a 1997 4Runner that is a 2WD model. It has the 3.4L V6 with ABS but that is it, at least as far as I have been able to ascertain.
I am currently living in Colorado Springs where we get less than 30" of snow per year ( at least in the five years we have lived here ) but I will be moving back to the Chicago area where it snows considerably more.
3 Questions:
1. Will a vehicle this heavy with no 4WD be able to handle snowy roads in the winter?
2. Will it be able to drive without 4WD or even traction control of some kind?
I started driving in the Chicago area back in the mid to late 70's and I did not have FWD or 4WD. All of my cars were rear wheel drive and I never had any problems driving in the snow. And those winters of 1978 to 1980 saw some of the heaviest snows in Chicago. I got stuck a couple of times but always managed to get out. Back then I started with a 1970 AMC Hornet followed by a Dodge D300 pickup with 2WD.
3. I will be driving 70 miles per day, all of it freeway miles. I possibly know what you all may say, and this may not be the vehicle for that kind of mileage each day. Maybe a more economical vehicle instead?
I appreciate any answers to these questions. This used 4Runner is in excellent shape. It was a Arizona vehicle for many years. I would not anticipate driving it off-road. Oh, by the way, I have owned two Tacoma's in the past. Both were PreRunner models, one without the rear differential and one with. I never got stuck or had any bad experiences driving those trucks in the snow either. I guess once you get past a certain age the need for speed drops.
Thanks again.
fxreyman
