Decisions Decisions...

[jlm6985]

Alright guys and gals, I've got a bit of a dilemma, and would love a few suggestions.

My T4R: '07 SR5 V8 2WD w/ 3rd Row (removed to save weight), K&N 63-Series Air-Charger, TRD Radiator Cap. It has 76k miles.

My Situation: Back in school for a second degree Civil Engineering after 3 years of work... meaning money is tight as school is the number 1 priority. I've got 1 year of classes left, providing everything is offered exactly when I need it.

The Issues Causing The Dilemma:

1. Understanding the current job market, I am applying for jobs all over the place... even two in Canada. While I understand nothing is set yet, I know that there is a fairly good chance that wherever I go, there will be snow. At this point, who knows how much on an annual basis... but the issue is my TR4 only has 2WD. As I've only had it in snow a few times here in the south (maybe 2-3 in max), I'm not really sure how well it would do.
2. My special lady... ah yes... after being together for several years and "living in sin" the agreement is to take the plunge and do the right thing and get engaged/married as soon as I am done with school. This requires money.
3. Being in school, obviously money is tight. My TR4 was purchased back in '08, barely used. At the time, great deal... didn't need the 4WD, needed the V8 for towing, it had <5k miles, price was much lower than had I purchased new as it had been "off the lot", and it was Toyota Certified. I'm currently 1 year away from the payoff date and I'm already thinking "Oh boy! It'll be nice to get out of that bill and have a few more dollars at the end of the month."
4. The other household vehicle is my girlfriend's '03 Honda CR-V. It does have AWD... but in case any of you are familiar with the system, it is not a true 4WD, but a dynamic system that does the whole "applies power when/where needed" thing. It does fairly well in the snow - real snow, not southern snow.

Dilemma:
So, all things considered and knowing that there is a high possibility of snow driving and a tight money situation, help me decide:

1. Do I trade in my current vehicle for something that has 4WD? I'd like to not have another car note to pay off, despite the allure of several other new/used vehicles (the 2012 Tacoma does look nice). Despite my best efforts, it isn't in immaculate condition - it's had 2 small rock chips in the windshield and last fall someone keyed both doors on the right side... all issues that were professionally repaired. How much could I honestly expect for it? I know I'm not going to get the $18k they offer in those "We need T4Rs!" fliers from the dealers.
2. Do I mod it up? I understand that this may be the cheaper option... doing the whole lift/new wheels/get snow tires for witer thing... but at the end of the day, my TR4 will still be a 2WD vehicle. How well can I really expect it to do?
3. Go for the cheapest option, save some money for other important things (see #2 in the list above), and try and rely on sharing an older Honda CR-V? ...even considering she understands the potential need for a better 4WD option.

I know that this has been quite bit of reading, so thank you to all who made it this far. These are issues that are seriously weighing on my mind, and I figure anyone I can bounce ideas off of will help.

Jim

 

[chucknorris]

Even if there is snow, a 2wd will be fine, its really driver ability that spins you off the road or not (assuming someone else doesnt decide to run into you, at that point, 4wd may not make a difference anyway)

If you plan on off-roading (un-plowed roadways) in the snow, yes, 4wd is a must. Chains would work fine otherwise on a non-lifted 2wd.

I say, keep your 4runner, save your money, buy some snow tires and chains, don't lift it and move on. A lift isnt neccesary for driving on icy,snowy roads, if anything, it increases COG which will make it harder to control in icy,snowy situations in a 2wd.

 

[EDness]

Even if there is snow, a 2wd will be fine, its really driver ability that spins you off the road or not (assuming someone else doesnt decide to run into you, at that point, 4wd may not make a difference anyway)

If you plan on off-roading (un-plowed roadways) in the snow, yes, 4wd is a must. Chains would work fine otherwise on a non-lifted 2wd.

I say, keep your 4runner, save your money, buy some snow tires and chains, don't lift it and move on. A lift isnt neccesary for driving on icy,snowy roads, if anything, it increases COG which will make it harder to control in icy,snowy situations in a 2wd.

x2 now that's smart thinking!


keep the car and DO NOT mod the car!

 

[sonerick]

I agree with chucknorris 100%. The cheapest option is always keeping your current vehicle. And if you do end up in the snow belt, you'll be fine with a good set of snow tires and a couple of bags of sand in the trunk. No lift or new wheels required.

Although I'm sure it would be cool to have a new 4wd lifted truck, it sounds like you have other priorities in your life. Buying a wedding ring and paying off school debts are far more important than having a cool looking vehicle.

Just for reference, I'm not some old goober preaching to the youngins... I graduated a couple of years ago with a degree in Civil Engineering, currently saving up for a house and wedding ring while trying to pay off my school loans... not an easy task! My T4R is mostly stock as a result (although I did manage to pull together a few sweet mods!).

 

[Bedstraps]

I didn't know there was a 2wd V8 option in 2007. I thought all V8's were 4wd.

 

[SMEE]

-Keep the T4R, it will be paid off soon and that's one less bill to pay
-For safety, get a tow rope (and tire chains like chucknorris said) and a survival kit for that nasty weather and your 2wd
-Borrow her CRV for really bad weather conditions

Try to find a paid internship! My brother has an internship for GE and makes bank!

 

[the4Rdan]

Another Civil Engineer here...agree 100% with the recommendations to keep what you have. Good luck with your last year!

 

[Bedstraps]

Another Civil Engineer here...agree 100% with the recommendations to keep what you have. Good luck with your last year!

Civil in MD?

I'm a Civil in DC. How did this thread attract so many CE's?

 

[MikeInNH]

It really depends on where you're going to live....There's snow...and then there's SNOW....

Here in NH we average about 40" a year....In reality we only have about 10-20 days of actual snow...and most of the time it's just a few inches...So if you live around here then just get a good set of snows or AT's and you'll be fine. There are areas around the Great Lakes that have annual snow fall of over 120"...some over 300". In those area's 4wd really makes a difference. Now you're talking about 30+ days of snow...and many times it's lake effect snow that is completely unpredictable. You could be driving on a nice sunny day..then WHAM - You're in the middle of a 15" snow storm.

 

[450exc115]

13 year ME here and this is the best advice I can give.

My parents have had 2wd surburbans since 1973 and live on the NH/MA border. It's all the driver and knowing when not to go out. SO don't sell and pay off the vehicle cuz oweing some one money suxs.

Don't go crazy on the wedding. Money is better spent on the honeymoon or a home. It's one day at best and a blur... Take it from someone who has been married for 6 years.

FIND a internship.. With the job market in shambles it's best to get a foot in the door and prove yourself as a student and then they offer you a job for when you graduate.

 

[DC runner]

I also want to add, don't get a new vehicle. If you know how to drive, a 2wd will handle fine.

Don't owe anyone money. At this point, we are almost certainly entering a double dip recession. Right now, we are 50/50 on negative growth occurring in the next quarter, with the chances of a global fall rising daily.

All the financial crisis in Europe, Asia and here, is really just a increasingly global consensus that the global economy is not improving. I work close to the situation, not on wall street (don't hate me), and I can tell you will all honesty it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

3 top US banks were just downgraded. This was a result of their increasingly fragile debt sheets. Most of the EU is teetering on bank meltdown, with Greece and Italy pulling them down.

There will be no second bailout of banks in the US this time around. Too much hatred of the idea, and no money. Obama's second jobs will have very little positive impact, I say this because, it has no solutions. It continues to notion that throwing money will fix it.

My advice? Don't take on a loan. Don't blow money on a wedding. Go cheap and save, save, save. My personal, educated opinion, is that the Keynesian economic structure built after WWII based on the use of credit to increase the economy is collapsing. A recent report I saw estimated that it now takes 4 dollars borrowed to create 1 dollar.

That is simply not a sustainable situation. Interest Rates are the lowest they have been in almost 80 years, and it isn't doing a damn thing. The FED playing ENRON math with its moving from Short term to Long Term funding, in a effort to "twist" monetary policy for the benefit is the kinda last ditch effort you see right before something just collapses.


Sorry to be downer. My personal opinion? No new loans. No new expenses. Save your money and ride it out. Look for work, bunker down financially.

 

[Barefoot]

Don't worry about it until you find a job.

For all you know, you might be moving south.

 

[beeftube]

I also want to add, don't get a new vehicle. If you know how to drive, a 2wd will handle fine.

Don't owe anyone money. At this point, we are almost certainly entering a double dip recession. Right now, we are 50/50 on negative growth occurring in the next quarter, with the chances of a global fall rising daily.

All the financial crisis in Europe, Asia and here, is really just a increasingly global consensus that the global economy is not improving. I work close to the situation, not on wall street (don't hate me), and I can tell you will all honesty it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

3 top US banks were just downgraded. This was a result of their increasingly fragile debt sheets. Most of the EU is teetering on bank meltdown, with Greece and Italy pulling them down.

There will be no second bailout of banks in the US this time around. Too much hatred of the idea, and no money. Obama's second jobs will have very little positive impact, I say this because, it has no solutions. It continues to notion that throwing money will fix it.

My advice? Don't take on a loan. Don't blow money on a wedding. Go cheap and save, save, save. My personal, educated opinion, is that the Keynesian economic structure built after WWII based on the use of credit to increase the economy is collapsing. A recent report I saw estimated that it now takes 4 dollars borrowed to create 1 dollar.

That is simply not a sustainable situation. Interest Rates are the lowest they have been in almost 80 years, and it isn't doing a damn thing. The FED playing ENRON math with its moving from Short term to Long Term funding, in a effort to "twist" monetary policy for the benefit is the kinda last ditch effort you see right before something just collapses.


Sorry to be downer. My personal opinion? No new loans. No new expenses. Save your money and ride it out. Look for work, bunker down financially.

Good points all around. I'm not sure I completely disagree with every aspect of Keynesian economics, but as we've implemented it over the past 50 years and what it's grown into has proven to be unsustainable.

Enjoying my 5+ year old 4Runner with no problems and no intentions on getting myself into another vehicle or more debt.

I just need to keep living below my means, saving a little money, and paying down my house -- which may work out in my benefit when I'm paying my mortgage with cheap dollars.