Advise on new 2020 4R

[rbh1515]

Getting ready to trade in my 2008 Audi A6 quatro with 160,000. I'm ready to get an SUV, and narrowed it down to the 4R and Grand Cherokee. I've pretty much decided on a 4R, mainly due to reliability. Now I'm honing in on which model. I'm finding out a lot of the sales people know next to nothing on these vehicles. One sales person told me that they are front wheel drive in 2H mode, which I found out was wrong. Another sales person at another dealer said that you should not go over 50 mph in 4H mode, and if the freeway is slippery with snow, I would be better off in the 2H mode.
Here are my needs:
*I am not planning on going off road. I am in Wisconsin, and want a vehicle that will be good in the snow, whether its snowy side roads, or driving on the freeway when it is slippery with snow. My Audi has been fantastic in the snow!
*I love the look of the black or gray TRD wheels, and the Predator Tube steps.
*I really like the Softex. Alternatively, I could get leather, but softex would be my 1st choice.
Would I be better off getting an SR5 Premium with part time 4WD
or should I get a Limited with full time 4WD? I really don't think I need a TRD Off Road.
Thanks!
Rob

 

[Whippersnapper02]

Getting ready to trade in my 2008 Audi A6 quatro with 160,000. I'm ready to get an SUV, and narrowed it down to the 4R and Grand Cherokee. I've pretty much decided on a 4R, mainly due to reliability. Now I'm honing in on which model. I'm finding out a lot of the sales people know next to nothing on these vehicles. One sales person told me that they are front wheel drive in 2H mode, which I found out was wrong. Another sales person at another dealer said that you should not go over 50 mph in 4H mode, and if the freeway is slippery with snow, I would be better off in the 2H mode.
Here are my needs:
*I am not planning on going off road. I am in Wisconsin, and want a vehicle that will be good in the snow, whether its snowy side roads, or driving on the freeway when it is slippery with snow. My Audi has been fantastic in the snow!
*I love the look of the black or gray TRD wheels, and the Predator Tube steps.
*I really like the Softex. Alternatively, I could get leather, but softex would be my 1st choice.
Would I be better off getting an SR5 Premium with part time 4WD
or should I get a Limited with full time 4WD? I really don't think I need a TRD Off Road.
Thanks!
Rob

I'd probably go with AWD in Wisconsin. You can go as fast as you like in 4wd. They don't want you to shift above a certain speed however 4wd is not AWD. That means no center diff and would result in driveline bind when turning on high traction surfaces such as a dry road. This puts a lot of stress on the drivetrain. With AWD you simply just drive as you need and not think twice about turning.

 

[Syr4RinNC]

Good tires are going to be important no matter what vehicle for the designed application - IE snow and ice tires are gonna do a lot
- Id recommend a part time 4WD, especially if you know when youre going to be putting it in ie bad snow. 2wd and weight in the back does well too. For whatever reason the Full time 4wd seems to be more of a luxury option, may have some safety, but if you know when you need it go with that.
- Its probably much more cost effective to get a base 4runner and upgrade the parts vs the TRD. The TRD has special badging and looks, but you can upgrade a base 4runner with suspension, wheels, steps etc to get what you want.
Thats my 2 cents. 4runners have always been great for my family in the snow

 

[rbh1515]

If I go with part time 4WD....

Good tires are going to be important no matter what vehicle for the designed application - IE snow and ice tires are gonna do a lot
- Id recommend a part time 4WD, especially if you know when youre going to be putting it in ie bad snow. 2wd and weight in the back does well too. For whatever reason the Full time 4wd seems to be more of a luxury option, may have some safety, but if you know when you need it go with that.
- Its probably much more cost effective to get a base 4runner and upgrade the parts vs the TRD. The TRD has special badging and looks, but you can upgrade a base 4runner with suspension, wheels, steps etc to get what you want.
Thats my 2 cents. 4runners have always been great for my family in the snow

If I go with part time 4WD and it is slick out, then I would shift into 4H...when I am on the freeway, is there any issue with the 4WD system if I am going 65 or 70mph (i.e. you don't have to stay under a certain speed while in 4H)?
Rob

 

[Walletclan]

I’m in a 2009 Audi A4, with 116k miles. Reliability has not been great with the aging German car. I’ve owned many Toyota’s with little to no problems.

I’ve owned many American vehicles and they have not been reliable, well built, ergonomic or refined.

For those reasons I’m going with a 2020 TRD Pro. I won’t buy American. I love my country, but I don’t love our cars.

 

[rbh1515]

I’m in a 2009 Audi A4, with 116k miles. Reliability has not been great with the aging German car. I’ve owned many Toyota’s with little to no problems.

I’ve owned many American vehicles and they have not been reliable, well built, ergonomic or refined.

For those reasons I’m going with a 2020 TRD Pro. I won’t buy American. I love my country, but I don’t love our cars.

I will have to say...my 2008 Audi A6 3.2L (naturally aspirated), has been flawless for 160k miles. Never a problem. Just regular maintenance (which itself is not cheap!) It is amazing in the snow, and I frequently go faster on the slippery freeway than I should. I just want to make sure I get the right 4R...part time or full time 4WD!
Rob

 

[Weston4Runner]

Getting ready to trade in my 2008 Audi A6 quatro with 160,000. I'm ready to get an SUV, and narrowed it down to the 4R and Grand Cherokee. I've pretty much decided on a 4R, mainly due to reliability. Now I'm honing in on which model. I'm finding out a lot of the sales people know next to nothing on these vehicles. One sales person told me that they are front wheel drive in 2H mode, which I found out was wrong. Another sales person at another dealer said that you should not go over 50 mph in 4H mode, and if the freeway is slippery with snow, I would be better off in the 2H mode.
Here are my needs:
*I am not planning on going off road. I am in Wisconsin, and want a vehicle that will be good in the snow, whether its snowy side roads, or driving on the freeway when it is slippery with snow. My Audi has been fantastic in the snow!
*I love the look of the black or gray TRD wheels, and the Predator Tube steps.
*I really like the Softex. Alternatively, I could get leather, but softex would be my 1st choice.
Would I be better off getting an SR5 Premium with part time 4WD
or should I get a Limited with full time 4WD? I really don't think I need a TRD Off Road.
Thanks!
Rob

Lots of changes between 2019 and 2020 to consider too. I went with 2019 because they added too many fancy features and got rid of the cd player for 2020 among other things. So once you figure out your drivetrain, you should look at 2019 versus 2020. I live in MN and couldn't be happier with my 2019 ORP. It will kill in the snow!

 

[rbh1515]

Lots of changes between 2019 and 2020 to consider too. I went with 2019 because they added too many fancy features and got rid of the cd player for 2020 among other things. So once you figure out your drivetrain, you should look at 2019 versus 2020. I live in MN and couldn't be happier with my 2019 ORP. It will kill in the snow!

I would go with the 2019, but would like to have Apple car play.
Rob

 

[Weston4Runner]

I would go with the 2019, but would like to have Apple car play.
Rob

Ya I hear that. I am an android guy but I get that. One thing that surprised me was how much better the small touch screen and gauges looked in person. You will see lots of complaints on them, but in person they are nice. Of course the 2020 are probably better (haven't seen them), but until I actually saw the 2019 I was worried and was 2020 all day. The 2019 are still nice. I think I probably saved 5K going with a 19. Got the last one on the lot.

 

[Syr4RinNC]

So unfortunately, theres not an easy answer to your question in my mind.

You can shift into 4wd less than 60 mph

You can ask yourself if you need the 4wd then should you be going more than 60 mph?

Theres no "maximum" speed for 4wd. However, using it unnecessarily on dry surfaces, where slip won't occur can put more stress on drive train components.

The 4wd in the limited is more adaptive to the terrain and by design can be used all the time.

Ive never felt I needed the 4wd all the time up north. When I needed, I dont think ive been going over 65