What's the point of 2WD?
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peter78
Super Moderator
Atlanta area dealers are around 85% 2WD 4Runners. Having 2 4Runners both 2WD, I know why I like them. First, they are built great and last. I see no reason on turning in my 01 or 04. Second, I use them. I have towed a camper, cargo carrier (both now sold) and a center console boat. I take long trips in them and yes take them to the mall.
So, yes 4 wheel drives are great and 2 wheel drive have there place, but remember they are both 4Runners. And I love my 4Runners.
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I just bought a 2WD 2015 SR5 last Saturday. Despite reading all these comments I'm still happy I bought it. A lot of these comments are beyond just stating an opinion in favor of 4WD. Since so many of you can't comprehend the point of a 4Runner without 4WD, I'll share why I bought one. <br />
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I live in Louisiana where it doesn't snow, and my off roading consists of hopping curbs to make a parking spot. Not to mention 4WD around here is VERY hard to find, and I would have easily paid another 2 or 2.5k for it. It's a lot harder to negotiate a car down when the dealer has to order it. <br />
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To the guys saying why not get a sedan or CUV, I don't like driving low to the ground because where I live we get a decent amount of street flooding, and even worse flooding during hurricane season. Those CUV's don't have near the ground clearance my 2WD 4Runner has. I also need to be able to tow a trailer or small boat, and then there's the point that the 4Runner is just plain sexy.<br />
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And the people I consider posers aren't the ones who have 4WD and don't use it, but rather the ones who buy 2WD and plaster 4WD decals all over it. <br />
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Keep hating, I'll keep loving my little measly 2WD 4Runner. <br />
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Just my 2 cents.
I'm totally on your side with this one, I live in southern Louisiana where really isn't a NEED for 4wd and really hard to find. I can admit though, at one point I wanted 4wd but after owning my 95 4runner 2wd I actually never think about 4wd... I'm happy with my runner, of course there's never anything wrong with updates and customizing so I'm satisfied 2wd.
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I live in Louisiana where it doesn't snow, and my off roading consists of hopping curbs to make a parking spot. Not to mention 4WD around here is VERY hard to find, and I would have easily paid another 2 or 2.5k for it. It's a lot harder to negotiate a car down when the dealer has to order it. <br />
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To the guys saying why not get a sedan or CUV, I don't like driving low to the ground because where I live we get a decent amount of street flooding, and even worse flooding during hurricane season. Those CUV's don't have near the ground clearance my 2WD 4Runner has. I also need to be able to tow a trailer or small boat, and then there's the point that the 4Runner is just plain sexy.<br />
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And the people I consider posers aren't the ones who have 4WD and don't use it, but rather the ones who buy 2WD and plaster 4WD decals all over it. <br />
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Keep hating, I'll keep loving my little measly 2WD 4Runner. <br />
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Just my 2 cents.
I'm totally on your side with this one, I live in southern Louisiana where really isn't a NEED for 4wd and really hard to find. I can admit though, at one point I wanted 4wd but after owning my 95 4runner 2wd I actually never think about 4wd... I'm happy with my runner, of course there's never anything wrong with updates and customizing so I'm satisfied 2wd.
Martinjmpr
New member
BTW I didn't even know there was such a thing as a 2wd 4runner until 1996. I was working security, stopped in to check a new car dealership in Charlotte, NC. As I walked among the vehicles shining my light I came to a 4runner and looked in the window and said "that's odd - there's no transfer case lever!" So then I looked at the front wheels and realized there were no half shafts in there and that it must be a 2wd.
Bob_Sherman
New member
:iagree:
paperchasin
New member
What if I have a 4WD 4Runner but hardly ever drive in 4WD? Is there a term for this?
MSinDC
New member
The term you're looking for is "normal".
Blue Seat Lyfe
New member
4WD is certainly not necessary, Australians dont even use their 4WD unless absolutely needed, 2WD off roading is man's game and youre considered weak if you engage 4WD.
My sister's 2002 SR5 is 2WD and she made it through 3 Minnesota winters just fine while at school. Now I own it, its back in FL where 4x4 is really not needed.
In the summer we get daily thunderstorms that flood the streets in my neighborhood, quite easily (old part of town with poor drainage). I like the 4Runner for the ride height (stock) and it means I can drive through the flooded intersections rather than driving around for an hour, looking for clear streets.
My sister's 2002 SR5 is 2WD and she made it through 3 Minnesota winters just fine while at school. Now I own it, its back in FL where 4x4 is really not needed.
In the summer we get daily thunderstorms that flood the streets in my neighborhood, quite easily (old part of town with poor drainage). I like the 4Runner for the ride height (stock) and it means I can drive through the flooded intersections rather than driving around for an hour, looking for clear streets.
Munf
New member
I personally wouldn't get a 2wd 4runner. but i can understand the argument that if someone doesnt need 4wd wants a 4 runner for the notoriously long lasting engine/tranny you cant blame them.
Yeah they could chose other sedans and crossovers and yada yada yada. But personally I like the aesthetics of a 4runner and what they put under the hood. But id rather invest in a 2wd 4 runner(assuming i live where i dont need 4wd) than a sedan or crossover.
2wd, 4wd, who cares as long as you enjoy your 4runner!
Yeah they could chose other sedans and crossovers and yada yada yada. But personally I like the aesthetics of a 4runner and what they put under the hood. But id rather invest in a 2wd 4 runner(assuming i live where i dont need 4wd) than a sedan or crossover.
2wd, 4wd, who cares as long as you enjoy your 4runner!
Do you offroad in Australia much?
I know I don't, but all the videos/articles/blogs I've seen have shown heavily modified vehicles going through various types of terrain in 4wd.
If you don't crawl/mud or you live in places that are dry (Texas and California) then 2wd is a suitable option. 2wd vehicles have less parts to break (no CV joints or transfer case), cheaper to do certain mods (regearing), cheaper in general, has less weight in the front (vehicles are front heavy too), and most importantly has more articulation/wheel travel (especially if you buy a mid/long travel kit or extended travel shocks.) That's why trophy trucks and prerunners are 2wd.
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We own a 2015 2WD 4Runner Limited. Bought it for my wife's daily driver. Only time she goes off-road is by accident. She drove many vehicles and loved the T4R.
I have two 4WD full size trucks in my driveway. One has a 6 inch lift with 35's and a lot of mods. I do not need another 4WD.
She bought it because she likes it. I guess I should post pics of my house, clothes, furniture etc. to see if someone I do not know and will likely never meet, much less ever pay my bills, tell me I should have bought something different.
Anyone ever considered that the more T4R's there are on the road, there is a better availability of parts, more training opportunities for Toyota technicians, more sales volume for dealerships (better deals), lower theft rate per volume of make/model on the road (insurance rates), and more people to report problems to the manufacturer ( TSB's, Recalls).
So, your welcome
I have two 4WD full size trucks in my driveway. One has a 6 inch lift with 35's and a lot of mods. I do not need another 4WD.
She bought it because she likes it. I guess I should post pics of my house, clothes, furniture etc. to see if someone I do not know and will likely never meet, much less ever pay my bills, tell me I should have bought something different.
Anyone ever considered that the more T4R's there are on the road, there is a better availability of parts, more training opportunities for Toyota technicians, more sales volume for dealerships (better deals), lower theft rate per volume of make/model on the road (insurance rates), and more people to report problems to the manufacturer ( TSB's, Recalls).
So, your welcome
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I just bought a 2008 4runner in 2wd and i like it pretty good, didn't need it to be 4x4 cause in have others that are, i bought it for a air conditioned dog hauler and towing, plus i don't like squating down to get in something and i like the height while driving. i see snow once a year if that and i usally stay home and ride 4wheelers in the woods!
Jernik
New member
But you see, the problem with you 2WD guys is that you aren't providing any parts availability for our front differentials, transfer cases, and such! You should be buying 4WD 4Runners and keeping those parts pristine (since you don't use them) so us 4WD guys can repair our trucks on the cheap when we tear something up! :biggrin1:
RoadWarrior
New member
I bought my 2wd 4runner for It's notorious reliability. I lurked this forum before I bought it 2 years ago debating back and fourth weather to buy 4x4. I noticed a few 2wd 4runner owners here successfully mild off road which is all I would ever want to do. The auto lsd works well enough for me to make it up my rural propertys unpaved road. If I ever felt the possibility of getting stuck I would probably just buy a hand cranking winch and exercise the true 4x4 the human body.
The point of 2wd is gas saving, less maitness, lower insurance, lower probability of something breaking,longer distance before gas fills, and lower initial cost which nulls the 4x4 value keeping qualities.
A 4runner is an off road capable vechicle whether it's a 4x4 or a 2wd auto lsd.
The point of 2wd is gas saving, less maitness, lower insurance, lower probability of something breaking,longer distance before gas fills, and lower initial cost which nulls the 4x4 value keeping qualities.
A 4runner is an off road capable vechicle whether it's a 4x4 or a 2wd auto lsd.
I only read about the 7 first posts, all good points. Already saw someone post about resale value and just thought I'd throw in my personal experience- If you live somewhere you don't need 4X4 and you buy a 4X4, you will see the extra money spent and then some when it comes time to trade it in. In Vegas now, because of my ex wife I "had" to trade in my jeep (I could have refinanced but the court gave me an excuse to buy a 4runner 
) so anyways, I lost 5k$ on the trade in, if it was 4X4 I would have broke even, the difference is crazy out here in the city / desert between 4X2 and 4X4 in price... I have many reasons to want 4wd but resale value alone is enough justification to me to buy a 4X4, not to mention if she never uses it and its a well taken care of 4X4 off road vehicle, A nice completely stock rig will get a premium sold private party
) so anyways, I lost 5k$ on the trade in, if it was 4X4 I would have broke even, the difference is crazy out here in the city / desert between 4X2 and 4X4 in price... I have many reasons to want 4wd but resale value alone is enough justification to me to buy a 4X4, not to mention if she never uses it and its a well taken care of 4X4 off road vehicle, A nice completely stock rig will get a premium sold private partyI picked up a 2017 SR5 2wd about a few weeks ago and I have already seen that there is a clear 2WD and 4WD camp on here (with no love between them too). I live in Charlotte NC in the city so for me the 2WD makes sense since I really pound the concrete trails.
I wanted to chime in because I'm seeing a lot of people saying, why would you ever buy a 2WD 4runner,Taco, Tundra etc. just buy a big sedan or mini van and my response is...
because I wouldn't be caught DEAD in a mini van, sedans cant tow my boat and because 4runners are FREAKIN AEWSOME!!
PS be nice to the new guy this is literally my first post...
I wanted to chime in because I'm seeing a lot of people saying, why would you ever buy a 2WD 4runner,Taco, Tundra etc. just buy a big sedan or mini van and my response is...
because I wouldn't be caught DEAD in a mini van, sedans cant tow my boat and because 4runners are FREAKIN AEWSOME!!
PS be nice to the new guy this is literally my first post...
