4x2 vs 4x4

Like I said, 11 out of 872 is barely over 1%. There's a reason for that.

If you could take the percent of each that are actually registered, I'd guarantee it would be even lower.

They don't even sell PreRunners in Canada.

 

That number rises when considering cars and other truck manufacturers. With your logic we all should run out and buy 4x4 and no company should ever build anything other than 4x4 for "winter states"

 

I'm a first time truck owner as well and I went with the 4x2 for a couple reasons. 1) I couldn't afford the 4x4. 2) I don't go off-roading and would never plan to with a $35K truck. 3) I live in NC where it rarely snows and if it does its gone in a day or two. If the roads are bad I just plan on not leaving my house. 4) Over the last 10 years I can't think back to a situation where I though...Damn, I really wish I had 4WD right now.

Hope this helps. Whatever you get you're going to love it!

 

For trucks, even most construction work trucks are 4x4. You may see the occasional 5-lug Tacoma or stripped out Ranger, but they are incredibly few and far between.

A front wheel drive vehicle with snow tires is quite competent in the snow. A RWD pickup with some weight in the bed and good tires will get you around in all but the worst conditions. Not denying that.

Other key is we are more rural. Look at vehicle registrations for rural New England and I'd wager that over half are 4WD or AWD. As you get closer to cities, you tend to see more FWD commuter vehicles, same with further south.

The key is this: In a blizzard, my 4x4 Tacoma with snow tires will go up a 15% grade road through 6 inches of snow without a problem. A Subaru with solid tires will do it equally as well. Will a RWD pickup or FWD Accord do it? Maybe, maybe not, but I'll guarantee they're not going to do it as painlessly.

 

4x4 is an added capability = a more capable truck

You'll get the money out of it later down the road and you'll never have to really ask yourself "will i make it" if you decide you want to take it up into the snow, off the road on a mucky day, etc

 

You are lucky!

My parents have two lexus and a E350 RWD. Last winter, my dad couldn't get the E class up and down his driveway to go to his practice. Lease was up, and they went back to AWD

 

4x4

 

Good summary !

 

That's about right. We northerners don't give a rats ass about Texas driving any more then you do ours. The rust problems we have here makes it more profitable for car makers to make what we want, not you. Besides, if we get our way, no cars will come with air conditioning either. Take that you rhinestone Cowboys. Cry me a river. ( just kidding of course)

 

Anybody know the reason people get the OFFROAD 4x2? My dealer has two of those. I would think the OR would be 4x4?

 

Because Peerunner.

 

Always better to have it and not need it. Than to need and not have... at least my .02

 

Has a rear diff lock, so it's better than a normal 2WD.

There is a 4x4 off road too, of course. It also has a rear diff lock.

 

Thank you! I was just thinking everyone who gets the OR is offroading and thus would want a 4x4. I didn't think anyone would buy a OR 2wd. But my local dealer (checking now) has 3 of them. So obviously people are buying the 2wd OR.

 

I know I'm late to this party, and the discussion got pretty good there for a min, almost had to find Michael Jackson and his popcorn haha!!

Anyway, OP, I went with just the 2 wheel drive, it saved me a couple grand up-front, and honestly, I've never owned anything 4 wheel drive and just didn't think it was necessary for me.

So question, you said you go off-road to ski and camp 5-10 times a year, what's your current vehicle to get you there? Have you made it just fine? Then honestly in my opinion if you've been fine and never needed a tow out before then I would imagine that you should be fine going forward.

The finance guy at my dealership when I was signing papers was trying to convince me to get the 4x4, he said its like insurance, you pay for it and hope you never need it but its there for when you do. Which makes sense but in 13 years of driving I've needed it 4 times.

1. back home in Massachusetts. It was winter, lots of snow and Ice, my 98 chevy slid sideways trying to go uphill to a buddys house. 4x4 would of got me up the hill, but I stuck it in reverse and took the long way around.
2. After I moved to Texas, same 98 Chevy, buried to the rear bumper in the sand on the beach. It was a soft area I was trying to turn off onto to get off the beach and really just didn't have to momentum to stay on top. Me and 3 random guys pushed while my girlfriend at the time drove and off we were.
3.Texas, same Chevy Parked in a field while at a festival. Monsoon like rain started to come. several hours later went to get my truck that was already in standing water in the field, started to get going pretty good, then a F-150 wasn't paying attention and I let off and sunk. hooked my tow strap to the same F-150 and off we were.
4.Texas, 97 GMC, tried to get cute and have some fun, went to do some drifts and doughnuts in a wide open field. Wrecker came to get me.

Sure, I wanted 4x4, but where I am in Texas is mostly pavement, I'm not really into hunting all that much, and when I do go to the camps its mostly hard packed dirt and gravel to get to where I need to be.

So for me it wasn't a necessity. I figured I would save the money and get the 2wd version. Tacoma's hold their value really well so maybe when its time to trade up I'll go 4x4 if I find I need it now that I'm back in a truck. Spent the last 4 years low to the ground in a Civic SI.

anyway OP sorry for the long post, but you have to look at your situation. How many times have you needed 4x4? Can you get to where you're going safely with out it. How have you been getting there now? I get the argument for snow and ice, and I can attest for the short time I was able to drive in Mass before my parents decided to up-root us, if I still lived there, I honestly probably would of went 4x4 today.

 

I had no trouble with a RWD in the snow. My last 4x4 was in the 90's when I actually used it to go to Brian Head in the snow and off road driving in the deserts. I could have purchased a 4X4 but I simply don't need it. I like the simplicity of the 2WD and down here 2WD sell just as fast as 4WD because there is no snow. The only reason to buy a 4X4 is to traverse roads and conditions where a 2WD would not do well. Not many places here. Except for the guys that go mudding.

I think anyone who buys a 4x4 will get their money back for that and if one lives in the snow I believe it's foolish to buy a 2WD for resale purposes. Buy what you need. 4X4 is more maintenance, less fuel economy. But spending the extra on a 4WD will bring back that extra when one sells.

Florida is all flat so I cannot imagine the need for a 4WD there. Maybe for some boat launches?

 

Even though we disagree, I still love youz guys, even if you are Yankees

 

Normal people actually think as you do. But, there are people who buy off road 2 wd, not because they go off road, but because it does have a lot if other features and options you can't get in 2 wd without it. Plus, the decal is cool.

 

Ah I see.... expensive decal

 

Plus, truck based 4 wd will throw you out of control if you drive too fast and turn the wheel too hard. The lack of a center differential makes for poor handling. A lot of 4 wd owners drive too fast because they can, not because they should. Many drive with poor snow traction tires thinking 4 wd makes up for having no snow tires. It doesn't.