4X4 for moving?

Hi guys, I currently have a 2017 Toyota Tacoma on order here in California. Currently, it is the SR5 SB, 4X2, V6 Auto, and this seemed pretty reasonable for what I need it for. However, I realized something I had not even considered: I am planning to move to Junction City, Oregon within the next few years. I am pretty torn about wheither do get 2WD or 4WD at this point, hear me out: I am planning on doing mostly Highway driving and City Driving, with the exception of our residence which would require driving on a few FLAT dirt roads. There are usually AT MOST a few snow days a year, but much more rain. For me, having a few snow days a year doesnt seem to justify an almost $3,000 price difference. I would love to hear what people think, especially those who live in Junction City.

 

for 3000 get the 4x4.
You won't regret it, then you always have it for when you need it.
Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

 

What about the dunes in Florence, OR? You will definitely want 4WD to have fun there. Plus, we have Sand Lake that you can drive on the beach. Again, you will want 4WD for driving in the Sand Lake dunes. I think it's better to have it and not use it than not have it and need it.

 

Many will tell you yes, citing 'someday you may want it' (and you may) and the resale will be higher/easier (and it might)

Frugal types like me will contend to buy what you need, or anticipate needing, over what you consider to be your ownership span of the vehicle. I don't need 4wd for how I use the truck, so I bought 2wd. In a 5 lug no less. The horror of it all.

Only you can decide for you.

 

I'm one of those who defers to: "better to have it and not need it", than "need it and not have it". I grew up in Portland and have almost always owned a 4x4 or AWD vehicle.

Is there mud in Junction City?

 

This was my thinking as well, I am not really interested in driving on Sand, I am completely content with any vehicle that can Drive in the city, be used as a work vehicle for hauling supplies, as well as drive safely to my residence outside the city.

I would imagine there may be some, as I said there are flat dirt roads to and from the residence, and when it rains there may be some mud however these roads are very flat.

 

So many of life's decisions can be "upgraded" with this terrible justification.

It's not terrible because it's not true sometimes. It's terrible because you can always use that argument. It's lazy.

I've owned 2 4x2 Prerunners, and my current Taco is a 4x4 TRD OR. Why? Cause I wanted to go build it up and play with it when it got near being paid off. Why? I wanted to.

I've owned a 4x2 for the last 10 years and never got stuck. I never went looking to get stuck, however. Drove on beaches, dunes, dirt roads in the rain....Good tires will get you a LOT of places, and a winch and recovery gear will get you out. Even 4x4s get stuck.

Seriously, sounds like you're wanting justification to spend the extra. You might as well buy the 4x4 or you'll be trading this in in a few years and eating more than 3K on the deal.

 

I've seen one of my neighbors get stuck in his PreRunner, on flat terrain. Your $$, your call.

 

This isnt necessarily true, I was actually hoping it would'nt be justified so I didnt have to spend $3,000 for no reason. That is why I am here.

 

Oh Lord you're at the wrong place. 9/10 of these guys will tell you to buy the 4x4

 

Due to mud? Ice? Snow? What type of conditions did this happen?

 

Buy what you want/need, within your budget.

 

Yeah that is what I figured, However if no one can tell me about something that happened to their vehicle several times where they needed to be bailed out in these types of conditions, that cost them much more then $3,000 then why bother doing it?

 

Lets put it this way, my parents both have 2WD vehicles and will be living very close by. They told me to look into if their cars or my truck could get stuck easily with 2WD and if so they will pay for me to get 4WD so I can get them out. With this in mind I told them I would look into it and I wouldn't have them pay for it if it wasn't needed.

 

I feel ya OP. 99% of the guys who need the 4wd are going to OHV parks and looking for trouble. My PreRunners rocked it out for many a year, nary a fret.

P.S. To be clear, I'd like to go looking for trouble soon

 

Not lazy, just realistic.

With that said, my '75 VW Rabbit with snow tires handled great, compared to my '80 Subaru AWD in snow.

However, my wife was very thankful I insisted on her 4Runner being a 4x4, the first time Nashville was hit with 4" of unforecasted snow, as she was about to drive 20 miles home from work.

YMMV

 

If you already own it, then your going to lose money just with the trade. If you don't see your self needed it, as you first post suggests, take that 3k+ and either bank it for when you trade up in a few years or put the extra to help pay off this truck quicker.

that being said, I like having my 4 wheel drive in the winter, I use it a lot on snowy mornings at intersections. But I also run my tires till I have to change them. My daily commute is about 15 minutes, basicly all in town roads.

 

Anyone have any idea in the cost of someone coming to "unstick" your vehicle? will AAA do this?

 

Well the 3k would be my parents money, as they will live close by and both have 2WD cars so it would be so I could get them out of trouble as well.

 

Shit, if mom and dad don't mind them go for it, I wonder what the mpg difference is between 2 and 4 wheel drives?