Help choosing between AWD or 5 speed

Dark Lord

Dark Lord

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Long story, back in August my girlfriend was looking to buy a vehicle to replace her car. I ended up finding a once in a lifetime 2000 4runner SR5, 4x4, 5 speed, 66K miles, 10 years spent in California, and she ended up stealing it from the dealership for $9800. Well shortly after, her parents offered to sell her their Xterra (which she loves) for dirt cheap, so we ended up selling the 4runner. I guess I didn't realize at the time what I had in possession, but had I been in the market for that super rare vehicle at the time, I would've bought it from her in a heartbeat..... Now that's exactly what I'm looking for and I'm filled with regrets.....

Anyway, I've been searching for the impossible for quite a while (99-00, 4x4, 5spd obviously), and I'm about to throw in the towel on the 5 speed for a few reasons. The 5 speed was practically the most important criteria of the vehicle (other than 4x4) I was wanting.

The reason I'm bringing this up is because I think I might settle for a 99-00 Limited with e-locker, AWD, 4x4, clean, under 120k miles. I've seen at least 5 of these online within 400 miles of my location. The e-locker is something I want, but I always figured as long as I have a 5 speed, I could always buy an aftermarket e-locker down the road. Swapping an automatic to a 5 speed is possible, but probably more work than I'm willing to do (based off of what I've read on these forums). Not to mention the 5 speed never had the AWD option.

The real question and point of this thread is, since this vehicle will be my daily driver, and used as an off-road vehicle for camping trips and such, should I keep searching for the 5 speed, or get the Limited with e-locker and AWD mode? I live in Indiana, and we get serious snow here sometimes, and most of the time I feel the road conditions don't require 4hi, but AWD would be perfect. I'm used to driving in these conditions in my RWD truck, but I don't know if the AWD convenience is worth sacrificing for the 5 speed. Any suggestions?
 
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I've owned quite a few vehicles and this is my first auto (minus a summer only vehicle). Took some serious getting used to and I still miss driving a manual, but I've actually grown to love an auto. Maybe it's called getting old. The one thing that does drive me nuts is not having control of when it shifts, especially when driving through mountain passed.

Love the AWD option.
 
With this S/C, I wish every day that I had a 5-speed. But between 5-speed and multi-mode, give me multi-mode.

Its all in what you will use it for. I am a pretty dedicated snowboarder, so I spend a TON of time on winter roads. If I were someone who lived in Florida or something, multi-mode would be completely useless for me.
 
I agree with Hepar. I used to love driving stick but I got used to my auto. While I driving a manual is fun it leaves something to be desired in an SUV or truck, if we are talking a sports car or something then it would be a manual all the way. I would definitely take the functionality of the AWD over the manual.
 
I have an auto 4runner and a 5 speed Taco. Even though my runner doesn't have the AWD feature, I still like that it's an auto. It's nice not having to work the clutch off road and tire out my leg and on those long road trips, an auto is just more convenient. I live where it snows a lot usually (except for this year) and not having the AWD is no big deal. There are about 5-10 days a year it would come in handy. Also the standard 4wd "J shifter" has less to break on it because the 4x4 is not electronically controlled.

But, to run around town and as a DD, I love that my Taco is a 5 speed. It's just plain fun to drive!
 
I vote for AWD over 5-Speed, but either will work great. AWD would be safer for inexperienced drivers like Gf's/Wives. If your gf/wife is driving it, just tell her simply to push the AWD button if there is ever question of roads being slick. Likewise, shifting into 4WD high would be a good idea if you had a 5-Speed and no multimode, but use with more discretion.

I understand a lot of us without multimode 4WD don't bother shifting from 2WD to 4WD when it's snowing out unless they get stuck, but for peace of mind, I typically shift my non AWD transfer case into 4WD high when the conditions are patchy snow/ice or chemically wet roads. Yes I can feel slight binding when doing sharp corners parking even on peer snow, but propelling all 4 wheels pretty much elimates the surprising oversteer tendencies that this truck will do sometimes. I rock 4 General Altimax Artic winter tires and have no trouble ever in even 6 inches of snow in 2WD, but there's been instances where I'll brake for a red light on compact snow but then the light turns green and the back end will fishtail towards the side of the road that is slanted when I give it throttle after immediate braking. This scenario almost never happens in 4WD.
 
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Thanks for the replies.

I've been thinking about this over the past couple of days. My original criteria was that I will not buy unless it has a 5-speed in it. Since it's so rare I've been considering a 99-00 LTD w/ e-locker and AWD (I've seen a lot of these with low miles!!!). I thought the only way I'll get a non 5-speed is if it has both e-locker and AWD.

I know the AWD mode is great, but I figured a 5-speed I would have all year round and enjoy driving it. The AWD I will probably only ever use in the winter, and that's if I feel like it..... Any thoughts on that?
 
Dark Lord said:
Thanks for the replies.

I've been thinking about this over the past couple of days. My original criteria was that I will not buy unless it has a 5-speed in it. Since it's so rare I've been considering a 99-00 LTD w/ e-locker and AWD (I've seen a lot of these with low miles!!!). I thought the only way I'll get a non 5-speed is if it has both e-locker and AWD.

I know the AWD mode is great, but I figured a 5-speed I would have all year round and enjoy driving it. The AWD I will probably only ever use in the winter, and that's if I feel like it..... Any thoughts on that?
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Like I already said, it depends on how much you will use it. Brian mentioned he barely ever feels the need for something like that (5-10 days/year). But me on the other hand, I've had my 4runner in AWD mode for a month strait this season, and needed it every single day. And the ski season is FAR from over :D

Its your call, you tell us which one you need. You sound like you won't be happy unless its a 5speed though, so hold out for what you want.
 
Thanks for the feedback again Ripcord. I may just go for the LTD out of convenience.

SCRunner12, nice find! I don't live anywhere near California though, but I might think about road tripping out there to pick up a 4runner! I'm all the way in Indiana. Finding a 4runner in this area without rust is a chore.
 
4-Ripcord said:
Like I already said, it depends on how much you will use it. Brian mentioned he barely ever feels the need for something like that (5-10 days/year). But me on the other hand, I've had my 4runner in AWD mode for a month strait this season, and needed it every single day. And the ski season is FAR from over :D
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My rule of thumb for all the regular 'ol 4x4s (non-AWDs) that I've owned is, if there is patchy/black ice on the road and the road is wet, it'll just drive it in 4hi and not worry about it. Never had a problem. I figure at that point, I'd rather risk breaking a CV or even my diff or t-case, then crashing the whole truck and maybe killing myself.

But, it's when the road is dry with patchy ice, that is where the AWD is nice. For me, those are the 5 or 10 days out of the year that I wouldn't mind having it. But on those days, I just sorta drive with one hand on the 4x4 shifter so I can pop it in 4hi quick-like if I need to. Likewise my Taco, I keep the hubs locked whenever there's a chance I might hit ice so I can have the 4hi on the fly.

OP, if you want a 5 speed, you just may want a J-shifter for similar reasons.
 
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That's also a good point too Brian. I guess I'm just to the point where I don't really care anymore. I think I'll just keep searching for a 5-speed, and if I like an LTD that's nearby and everything checks out I guess I'll just go for it. Who knows, maybe I'll try the swap one day.

Here are a few that I found:

Honda Used Car Inventory - Honda Civic, Accord, Pilot - Valley Honda - Proudly serving the cities of Aurora, IL, Naperville, Joliet, St. Charles, and Orland Park, IL.

2000 Toyota 4Runner $8,995 - Matt Castrucci Auto Mall of Dayton - Dayton, OH 45459 Dealer

2000 Toyota 4Runner $9,000 - Used Car Superstore - Lisle, IL 60532 Dealer
 
I say keep waiting... it'll be worth it. You've already waited this long, you can hold out. Get what you want... swaps aren't very much fun, haha
 
I held out for the 5 speed and it was definitely worth it. It took a while to get, but I just love driving the thing. There have definitely been times where AWD would be nice, but like Brian is saying I just turn on 4hi when I'm concerned. I'd rather risk slight drive train damage than crash. Haven't had a single drive train problem yet related to snow driving.
 
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