Advice please on 4x4 vs RWD first time buyer

lol, but seriously tho, 2WD sucks

 

Rear wheel drive cars/trucks are just not that good in the snow. This may sound like a stretch, but it is the same concept. When I went from my RWD Camaro to a FWD Saturn car it made a huge difference in upstate New York snowy weather. When you have the front wheels turned with rear wheel drive pushing it creates a snowplow effect. The rear (drive) wheels are still pushing straight ahead as opposed the direction you are trying to go. When you have a front-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive, the drive wheels are pointing in the direction you want to go.

 

I'm from upstate New York also however, in my area even with a FWD vehicle, unless you built up some solid speed before hitting any hills or snow packed areas in general you were SOL. So no matter what, you either need 4x4 or chains for safe snow driving...

 

Haha, yeah, driving up my steep driveway in Cortland with my Saturn was like a game. Kind of fun actually. Had to start in the parking lot across the street to build up speed. That Saturn was kind of impressive as to what it could actually do in snow. 4 x 4 is definitely the way to go, but when you're a poor college kid that can only afford basic transportation, get yourself a Front wheel drive.

 

The price difference between 2wd and 4wd is 3,000. It's a lot of money if it's something you don't use.

 

EPA numbers show a 1mpg hit for 4x4. That seems reasonable. You are hauling more weight and have more driveline loss.

For comparison (based on my interpretation of the information sloshing around the forum), the air-dam/road squeegee is worth about 0.5 mpg and putting on slightly larger and heavier tires is a 1-2 mpg hit.

20 vs 21 mpg is 238 gallons over 100k miles or about $600 more in gas if you pay $2.50/gallon.

I look at it like this, the $3k purchase delta and $600/100k extra for fuel is spread over probably 10 year for me and I would guess I would recover $2k when selling, so 3k-2k+600 = 1600 only costs an extra $160 per year or $13 per month. That's a good deal unless you have absolutely no need for it.

 

You don't use 4 wheel drive in the rain.

 

Cool to hear from a local that endured and prevailed our last snow storm! I was stuck and dependent on using my wife's front wheel drive Honda to get anywhere. I told myself never again when I buy a new truck but as you know in Nashville these types of snow storms are few and far between so I started to waiver a bit on the 4x4. Like many have mentioned though its better to have it and not need it then not have it and need it. Thanks!

 

4x4...when you need it, you will be glad you bought it

 

Thanks for your post that's good info as I have never owned a 4x4 vehicle before I never heard or knew you have to use the 4x4 periodically or it could damage the truck. How often are you talking about to keep things working correctly?

 

the manual says 10 miles a month, but that's impractical for me. so I just put in 4wd hi and drive all over my yard several times a week.

 

Not a bad idea either. I'll look into the rear lock diff vs 4x4 as well. Someone else here was posting about the difference between what I prob have on my Ranger (non locking) and a rear locker also so maybe that may work. Man so many things to consider! I'm definitely learning a lot from you guys though thanks for the help!

I'm getting more and more excited by the day to get this new Tacoma just want to make sure I buy the right fit for me. I have a tendency to way over analyze big purchases and its an agonizing process but since I tend to keep vehicles for a long time and this would not only be my first Tacoma but also my first brand new vehicle I buy I want to make sure I buy right. One thing though after reading a lot on this forum i'm starting to wonder now about the 2016's. Seems to be a lot of chatter here about issues with the 2016. I know sometimes though things can get overblown on forums. I love the interior styling and redesign on the 2016's though and doubt I have the patience to wait out a good deal on the 2017's.

Either way I'll read up on the rear locker thanks!

 

I'm like you....I overanalyze and tend to talk myself out of stuff too. This is my first 4x4, first truck and first new car, so I really sweated it out for months.....no regrets and I love my truck, 4x4 TRD OR access cab!

 

Rear limited slip differentials and lockers are difficult to handle in 2wd when it's slick, they fishtail.

 

I wish I had the yard to do that in! I live in a subdivision and the truck I have now barely fits in the front yard when I'm unloading mulch. It would be impractical for me too here to get 10 miles a month in 4WD. Living in a mid size city unless it snows (which is rare here but does happen) it wont get much 4WD action.

I 100% agree though with the consensus here that its better to have it and not need it than not have it and need it but I can't think of too many scenarios during the majority of the year where I would engage it for 10 miles each month.

 

The price increase from 4x2 -> 4x4 is mostly offset by the increased resale value of a 4x4.
And you never know where a future relocation will take you, where you might really need 4x4...

 

Good point. I have no issues paying for the 4x4 option and no issue with the MPG either. I'm mow more concerned with what was mentioned earlier here about needing to engage the 4x4 for at least 10 miles a month. I'm definitely cool with having it and using it when needed but that will def fall in the category of less than 10 miles a month consistently. Does everyone here who has a 4x4 use it at least 10 miles every month? I would LOVE to live in a place where I had to use it all the time but I live in a urban mid size city that has a mild climate 90% of the time. Other than the occasional rare snow storm and a some camping/fishing trips I wouldn't have the place to get the 4x4 engaged for the 10 miles a month required by the manual.

Don't get me wrong I want the 4x4 just for the fact it WILL be needed at some point a few times a year and I definitely want it when that time comes but just curious about this monthly requirement and how people in situations like myself handle it.

 

a friend of mine has a 4x4 and rarely uses it....he never drives in 4x4 except when he needs it, and has no problems.....it's a 1st gen taco

 

I engage 4wd driving in a straight line on pavement to keep it happy if I don't get to any appropriate places to use it. Using 4wd on pavement going in a straight line doesn't hurt anything, it's cornering on dry pavement in 4wd that's not good.

 

I do have brand new tires on the Ranger and it fish tails everywhere in the rain. Tires spin on the slightest incline when the roads are wet. There is little to zero traction. I've had the truck for 10 years and gone through diff sets of tires over the years too. I've put weight in the back and it helps but not much. It really is dangerous to drive in the rain and I'm honestly not exaggerating. I've had other trucks a GMC and a diff Ranger and they were a lot better but for some reason this Ranger I've had for the last 10 years is ridiculous in the rain. I know 4x4 is not for the rain as mentioned by a prev poster so I'm not thinking 4x4 is the answer to this issue. I fully expect the Tacoma to behave better in the rain vs the Ranger I have now whether I get the RWD or 4x4 option. Fingers crossed ha