Miss the Torsen AWD feature on the 4th SE
- Thread starter bzizzi
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I'm going to refrain from being extremely sarcastic in my post because I'm feeling nice today.
This has been discussed over and over again. There are a number of threads that talk about the lack of a torsen center diff in the TE and SR5. I can't, for the life of me, think of why you need AWD on dry pavement in a 4600lb SUV w/ 265 series tires. Also, the locking feature on the torsen center diff would actually make you bind up on dry pavement as it would make the front and rear prop shafts spin at the same speed. I think you meant "I kind of miss the Torsen center differential feature on my....."
Yes, having 2H, 4H (unlocked), 4H (locked), 4L (unlocked), and 4L (locked) modes for the transfer case would be nice, but personally, I wouldn't pay the extra money for it if it were an option. FT4WD is available on the Limited.
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Its very simple. When you have patchy snow/ice/dry pavement that feature is perfect. The ability to have 4H unlocked is also nice to have in the rain. I had it on my 4th Gen and loved it. Also had a similar system on Jeeps and it blows away what I have on my 5th Gen
Quentin, you never know when you need 4WD..
... I still have 4WD. A tow truck is the only thing that will get that SUV from that high centered spot. It looks like most of the body weight is being carried on the chassis instead of the wheels.
Y2KSR5 - Yes, having full time makes that easier but it is pretty simple to negotiate those situations. But, if you slow down before you hit the snow and drive through slowly in 2WD or shift into 4WD if need be, you shouldn't have any issues. Momentum and smooth inputs will typically carry you through and you aren't in a situation where the drivetrain would bind (tight turns) so shifting to 4WD on the fly works fine there. Even with a small amount of snow on 100% of the road, I generally don't shift into 4WD. My FWD GTI made it through those situations with no problem; I don't see why my 4Runner would be any different. Where the 4WD really shines is when you start getting several inches of accumulation or when you have to get moving from a precarious start point. I have always been pretty happy with my FWD cars until the snow really starts to accumulate. At that point, I realize that one small mistake could leave me stuck halfway off the road. My odds of getting myself out of a bad spot are a lot better with a true 4WD system and 9" of ground clearance.
BradleyB
New member
This is where that little stick to the right of the gear shift comes in a mite handy. :hello:Quentin, you never know when you need 4WD..
bzizzi
Member
I thought it was a nice feature to have when you have patches of snow and then you don't have to take it in and out of 4WD all the time and don't have to worrhy about damaging your drive train. I let my daughter use my 4r in the winter and I thought that this was a perfect feature for her to have.
westwind77
New member
Ha, I know you know better than this! FWD vs RWD! BIG differences in how it handles in the snow, pulling vs pushing. If you HAD to pick one over the other for the snow (no 4WD involved) the FWD would be your best bet.
My last SUV had FT & PT 4WD, and I will say the FT was a nice feature, as others have said, but I knew it was not a deal breaker for me in the 4R, besides if I really wanted it I would have paid the extra for the LE. My 99' Durango had the 5.9L and seemed HEAVY in the front and light in the back, it also had a ton of low end torque. So, when trying to pull out on streets with rain or light snow hitting the gas would instantly break the back end lose, just sit and spin, that it even had a LSD in the rear. It allowed me to put it in FT 4WD and not worry about it if I was in stop light hell.
I think the extra 1500lbs of the 4Runner makes a bigger difference than which wheels are being driven when compared to the GTI. 50% more force down on the ground = 50% more friction between the tire and the ground. With the stability and traction control in the 4Runner being pretty aggressive, it was a pretty predictable winter driver even in light snow in 2WD. I'm a pretty cautious driver in the snow, anyway, so I'd probably be alright in a Miata w/ decent tires in most cases. :lol:
Adding an AWD case should be very doable, but it will cost anywhere from $1500 to $3000+ depending on what is involved and if one is using a new case from Toyota. I converted my 08 Tundra to the AWD case from a 200 Series Land Cruiser. If my wife buys an automatic equipped 5th gen 4R or FJC, I will likely be converting it AWD.
03_4x4Runner
Senior Member
This is just one of the reasons I gave up on the 5th gen. I just bought a 2011 Toyota Avalon to use on long trips across the country and will keep my 03 V8 4runner for off road use and pulling my atv trailer. At least I stayed in the Toyota family.
westwind77
New member
Oh, you had to go there! Wife came up to the north with a Miata (6 speed), I do not care what you have for tires (we tried) that thing does NOT move in the snow! It worked better when I tossed 200 lbs of sand bags in the back though. Needless to say she now has an Escape Limited for the snow.
Very cool! I think you should go ahead and swap an FJ 6MT into a 5th gen.
I said most. :nerd:
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