prerunner/4x4

You guys are forgetting the biggest difference besides the obvious 2wd/4wd thing.

You can't get a Prerunner with a manual transmission. That kills it for me right there.

 

Not only that, The Prerunner was simply a marketing gimmick by Toyota to appeal to people who like to sit up high. Really nothing special about them except you can get a locker with the TRD package. Resale is meh... If you have any thoughts of selling down the road, 4WD whether you need it or use it is nice to have come resale time.

 

Just make sure you get the Off Road package for the locker.

 

x2. Being a mechanic, so many of our customers have 4x4s and almost never use it. Then things start going wrong with the front axles, CV boots, etc. and it can be very expensive for something that almost never gets used.

The reason I got a Prerunner was because it's cheaper on insurance (my insurance is already high as it is) and because I always like to be different and the "underdog". When I go offroading I'm always the only guy with 2wd and I love it when guys look at me doing shit that they were too scared to do, lol. But I'll admit, if the Prerunner didn't have a locker (TRD Offroad) I would have gotten the 4x4 because I would've gotten stuck many times w/o it.

 

Very few Baja race trucks are 4WD... It is rarely necessary in off road (off pavement) racing... and when Jeep pulled out of sponsoring racers several years ago, the number of 4WD entries really dropped.

In off road racing, it is about speed... and having suspension that prevents the truck from breaking at speed. 4WD is a lot more drivetrain to break and weight in the front to overcome. Ivan's Tacomas were 2WD. There still is Class 3 (4WD only) in SCORE and some 4WDs do race in other classes, but it isn't considered an advantage so they are allowed to compete with 2WDs. Sure there are mud pits or silt beds that are easier to get through in 4WD, but in racing... it is about horsepower and suspension to blow through the tough spots.

Speaking of Ivan Stewart, before he raced for Toyota, he raced buggies in Baja...

Here's a photo I took of him just after winning the Baja 300 race in Santo Tomas... in 1975:



Here is a photo I took of him next to his buggy before the Baja 500 in Ensenada in 1977



Today, our son works for Ivan's son, fabricating/ prepping race trucks and pre-runners. The term pre-runner comes from Baja racing and were vehicles that could be used to pre-run the coarse before the race to check the conditions and make notes of places to slow down for. A pre-runner was as nearly as capable as a race truck. Ivan's involvement with Toyota helped to create the TRD line and the Prerunner... quality that can withstand what Baja can dish out! 4WD tough without the 4WD weight and cost.

 

Great info. Thanks for the great post. Very interesting read.

 

Glad you like it! See the Travel forum here at TW for more Baja photos, as well as my site http://vivabaja.com

 

You can get a Prerunner with a manual transmission. They are harder to come by, but they exist. Not sure how many have the TRD package though....

 

i "pre-run" to work every morning

 

Show me...

 

http://www.carseek.com/reviews/toyota/tacoma-prerunner/

"As of the 2007 model year, the PreRunner had grown in size like all other Tacomas and is available with a choice of three cabs-regular, extended and crew. Engine choices are either a fuel efficient 2.7 inline 4 cylinder or a higher performance 4.0 V6. The standard configuration includes a manual transmission with an automatic transmission being an option"

based on year you are right/wrong

http://wapedia.mobi/en/Toyota_Tacoma#1.

One downside is there was not option of a 5-speed transmission. The V6 Tacoma automatic transmissions were an A340E. Because of the similarities in the Prerunner and 4x4 models, it is possible to use stock parts to convert a Prerunner to a 4x4

 

Yup, Wrong & right. Thought it was a 2nd Gen. thread... Rookie move.

 

shit 4x4 all the way, well i had a suspended DL but my insurence wasnt to bad, well im not sure what the difference is since i have always had tickets and bull shit on my record since my first car was a lexus sc400 . but i say if you live in a flat area and you know your not going to the mountains alot get the prerunner but if you instead to do to the mountains alot and do some real fun stuff get the 4x4. but its all up to you. i know when i got a truck i had to have 4x4

 

Would it be better to have a rear 2wd truck for Desert running??? And not a 4wd desert truck? also manual or automatic for desert running?

 

This. I've had 2 4x4s and never had a problem with either one but it's just the knowledge that i don't have to worry about my transfer case, front diff, etc. and for what i needed it for a 2wd is perfect and i love the ride height of the prerunner.

 

I've never understood it either. Unless you actually live and drive in a flat desert like area.

non prerunner - Excellent gas mileage, 30ish on highway. Better ride/handling with lower center of gravity. Cheaper tires, cheaper to buy in the first place, easier to load stuff in the back.

Pre-runner - 4 cylinder gets basically the same 19ish mpg as the v6, more expensive to buy, tires are more expensive, worse on road ride/handling, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE A 4X4 ZOMFG!!!!!!!!!!! SOOO COOL!

The added visibility is nice, but obviously doesn't outweigh the downsides.

 

wow....

 

This might have been said already, but the initial cost of the truck, maintenance, and gas will all cost more with a 4x4

 

X2, awesome pics!

 

Most of AZ and CA are flat desert like areas. Has nothing to do with "looking" like 4x4

And x10 or however many times its been said. Where I live 4x4 is more to break. Ive thought about doing a 4x4 swap but its not worth it for the terrain I like