Noob Alert: Test Drive 4x2 in lieu of 4x4

Some of you know my first truck was stolen a month ago (7 months old). None of my local dealers have the 4x4 in stock. Here is the noob question; will i have the same feel with driving the 4x2 as the 4x4 minus the MPG difference?

 

Haha. Never. A 4X2 is a pretty dull vehicle after a 4X4.

 

Depends what you mean by feel.

I went from a 4x4 Colorado (2006) to my 4x2 Tacoma (2010), both single cab.

Tacoma is a little lower but not night and day. The driving feel is not different for me.

I can honestly say after 4 New England winters the Tacoma never let me down..and you may have heard about how we got clobbered last year.

 

By feel i mean since I will be driving in 2H most of the time anyway can i test drive a 4x2. Then when a 4x4 comes available or if they order me one, I wont be able to tell the difference.

 

did you test drive a prerunner or a 5 lug 2wd tacoma?

 

Yeah test driving a 2wd should suffice. You probably wont use crawl control or 4wd on a test drive anyways. The only real difference will be slight mpg and weight differences which probably wont be noticeable on a test anyways.

 

I want to test drive the sport or off road model. So I assume that everything is the same just without the 4x4 drivetrain

 

If you want a 4x4 don't waste your time or the salesmans with a 2wd test drive. There's lots that is different. And you won't be happy with the 2wd and that will give you a bad taste in your mouth for the 4x4.

 

the only real diffrence is the weight of the diff up front. I doubt this would make a diffrence at all. I test drove a 2wd tacoma for my first time driving a tacoma, even though i insisted i wanted 4x4, and it felt the same. now 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder is a big diffrence.

 

That is what i was thinking.

Being in sales myself i totally understand what you're saying with the time issue. Do I just wait until a local dealer pops up with one?

I will be getting the V6 for sure. I just want to drive and see for myself what the 3rd Gen hoopla is all about. I am coming from a 2nd Gen 4x4 V6.

 

The only thing that is going to be the same is the engine and tranny. If your just looking how it's going to accelerate and how it's going to shift then the 2wd will be fine but as far as handling it's going to be different. The cab will be the same less a couple of buttons. How far apart our your dealers ? I got 6 within a 1/2 drive from me. At the amount of money your looking at spending I'd drive what your looking at buying not something that is kind of close. It's to much $ to guess if your gonna like it or not.epically after reading all the problems the 3rd Gens are having. Have you tried to find a 2015 with low km or are you dead set on brand new ?

 

The dealer is going to pressure you into buying the 2wd also. Just to warn you.

 

I'm also looking at the '15 I previously had. I bought it brand new last June then it was stolen a month ago. I bought the '15 knowing that the 3rd gen will have to iron out some things. Here in SoCal they are going for just as much as a new one.

 

I know these trucks in 4WD are very hot trucks right now but can't your dealer get one that's available from another dealership? Unless no one is doing it because of demand.