What's the point of 2WD?

[Lester Lugnut]

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...

My wife drives one of those awful 2WD 4Rs and I drive one of those awful 2WD Tacoma PreRunners.

We both love our awful Toyota's.

 

[rallypoint_1]

Boo 2wd!!!! Wait, um nevermind...yay 2wd!!!

 

[05Rrunner]

depending on the region, a 2WD truck could have a specific application in desert racing and some other applications of course. But working in the off road industry we always say that lifting a 2WD is the worst of all worlds because you still have all the complaints that people make about lifted 4x4 trucks in general with bigger tires , parking, gas mileage , convenience , ride , noise , blah blah blah at least you have four-wheel-drive with the 2WD you have all the disadvantages and none of the advantages.

 

[T4R2014]

This thread is so queer I can't believe it's still going

 

[Diezel]

I gotta play Devil's Advocate here and ask where are all these SUV's stuffed full of people's stuff they're hauling around? I never see it. In fact, I'd say at least 99% of people that buy a 2WD SUV would be just as well served with a nice sized sedan.

Try being a mechanic in Silicon Valley. Every ****ing soccer mom EVER, has their entire SUV loaded full of shit. It's basically a purse with wheels and doors.

 

[flipflopnfly]

There's levels of competence.

- 2WD and RWD is the lowest
- 2WD and FWD is the next step
- 2WD and RWD with quality tire chains is the next step up
- 4WD and open diffs is next
- 4WD open diffs with quality tire chains is next
- 4WD with diff locks is next
- 4WD with diff locks and tire chains is next

 

[itr1275]

The 4runners are pricey compared to a lot of cars. Less features, terrible mileage. Even the used ones are expensive. So unless you are going off road, there is no practical reason to buy one. You can get one because you like it, but liking it is not practical.

If she doesn't want the 4wd and is not towing have here drive a highlander. It's on the same chassis as the Camary, Lexus RX, and the Venza (if it still exists). They are plentiful and way cheaper. And tons of amenities that you have pay through the nose for in a T4R. Did I mention it gets better mileage and drives much better too?

If she is towing get a full size truck. The 5th gen is a beast but still nowhere the towing capacity of a base line full size truck.

 

[cloudrunner]

Just buy both! I started out in 2010 purchasing a clean lease trade in 2wd SR5, it only had 34k miles on it at the time. I would have loved to buy a 4wd, but I was just starting out with a toddler at home. Used 4wd Runners were about 4K-5k more expensive and had double the mileage, so I went the modest route because it was the right thing for me to do at the time. Then, I found this fine forum and caught the mod bug. Little by little I built the beast that it is today. Keep in mind I live in FL, so the most challenging terrain we have here is beach sand, forest roads and mud holes. That being said, I always dreamt of have a 4wd Trail edition and taking it to explore trails in other parts of the country - North Carolina, Tennessee, maybe make it out to Colorado and Arizona some day. Last November I finally pulled the trigger, but I just couldn't bare to part with Old Grey. Didn't even cross my mind to trade him in. So now I have both a 2wd and a 4wd.

One added bonus about owning a 2wd, you can lift it 9" and ride around like your on top of the worldlane: Good luck trying to accomplish that in a 4wd!

 

[kcdehart]

Why 2WD?

Those soccer balls won't haul themselves!

But really, I can see the benefits. Though something like a Highlander might be a better choice.

 

[peter78]

Why 2WD?

Those soccer balls won't haul themselves!

But really, I can see the benefits. Though something like a Highlander might be a better choice.

Yes, I can see the appeal of a Highlander. With my 2 4Runners I use them for camping and towing. I have towed a pop-up camper, 19 foot center console boat, 24 foot pontoon boat, 5' X 10' trailer. I have also towed a bigger boat over 5,000 pounds for a friend.

After using the enclosed 5 X 10 22 times for moving, it was sold. The pop-up is also gone, just the boats, but I may get more toys in the future.

For my life style the 4Runner is the way to go. Finding a full frame SUV with a V6 and high reliability, well there it is standing right in front of me. 2WD or 4WD, it is a great machine.

 

[kcdehart]

Yes, I can see the appeal of a Highlander. With my 2 4Runners I use them for camping and towing. I have towed a pop-up camper, 19 foot center console boat, 24 foot pontoon boat, 5' X 10' trailer. I have also towed a bigger boat over 5,000 pounds for a friend.

After using the enclosed 5 X 10 22 times for moving, it was sold. The pop-up is also gone, just the boats, but I may get more toys in the future.

For my life style the 4Runner is the way to go. Finding a full frame SUV with a V6 and high reliability, well there it is standing right in front of me. 2WD or 4WD, it is a great machine.

Yeah, I can see the appeal of a 2WD one. Bit cheaper with fewer things to go wrong than a 4WD, but still has everything else that's great about a 4 Runner.

For what I like to use mine for, however, 2WD would be pretty useless. I just wish I could stretch the 4WD more often than I do!

 

[Das Capitolin]

I'm late to the party. I know.

Today I learned that Toyota has been building and selling 2WD 4Runners. It was a real shock, and it felt like a brand betrayal. But I can't really fault them, because it's true that a fool is born every minute.

 

[Dillusion]

I'm late to the party. I know.

Today I learned that Toyota has been building and selling 2WD 4Runners. It was a real shock, and it felt like a brand betrayal. But I can't really fault them, because it's true that a fool is born every minute.

My IQ just went down reading this ignorant post.

 

[Offwidth]

Today I learned that Toyota has been building and selling 2WD 4Runners. It was a real shock, and it felt like a brand betrayal. But I can't really fault them, because it's true that a fool is born every minute.

4x2 4runner is a perfectly good car that would do most of the mild offroading (dirt road to a camp site) just fine. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it and it is more than sufficient for most.

 

[Ghostrider]

Trying to find a 4WD in the south is a lot harder than up north. I had to search for a while to get my 2001 and my 2016

 

[srpuywa]

I spend abut 95% of the time in 2WD, the convenience of 4WD is negligible except when it snows around here in the PNW.
I must not be a 4WD snob.....

 

[Rightside Up]

Might as well post this again.
Buying a 2WD 4Runner is like taking a bologna sandwich to a BarBQ.

 

[Jemplyr77]

Might as well post this again.
Buying a 2WD 4Runner is like taking a bologna sandwich to a BarBQ.

Maybe I really like bologna sandwiches...

 

[T4R2014]

The real joke is on the noob owners that don't known when to use their part time transfer case.

Coming to a forum near you: "Guys it was raining so I used 4HI to drive through new york city and now it's making grinding noises"

 

[Syr4RinNC]

Its true - I'm from NY. I also didn't know you could buy full size trucks, SUVs etc in 2WD for a while. Every thing is 4wd. Only 2WD 4runners ive seen come up north from the south