4X4 for moving?

No, it's based on experience and forethought.

 

I live somewhere that gets very cold and gets a LOT more snow than that, and most people here get by with 2wd. I have 4WD and only really need it for about 2/5 snow days because the snow is usually light and melts quickly from salt and people driving on it. Good tires and careful driving would be more than enough if you anticipate only a few snow days a year and can be late or not show up on those days, which probably wouldn't even happen if it's light snow. As for dirt roads, my passengers are always freaking out and telling me to put the truck in 4WD way before I need to. 2WD with good tires is more than enough for a flat dirt road, and is more than enough for most steep rocky dirt roads. I've seen Honda Civics miles after my passengers started insisting that I use 4WD. I would be more concerned about how much it rains and how muddy that dirt road gets. Flat + lots of rain = deep mud. 2WD with good tires can handle some mud, but anything deep or slick might make 4WD worth it.

That said, I would still buy 4WD if I was moving to Junction City, but only because of my personality. The mountains are my playground year-round, and I wouldn't be happy without it, especially that close to the Cascades. I use 4WD for driving to ski resorts, camping, and driving to remote trail heads more often than I do for ordinary daily activities. It's also fun to just explore in 4WD. Get 4WD if you think you would enjoy it for going places you don't need to go to. Get 2WD if you plan to stay local, coastal, or fly for vacation.

 

I'll keep my 4wd.

 

You will probably be fine without it..... just be smart about where you drive.

 

Tyler let me provide you with a real true story. Two years ago we were in North Carolina and I was invited over to my cousins house for a Christmas dinner. I followed my other cousin over to my cousins house. They took a back roads route which was quicker This route was through some towns and back roads. As we were driving we came to a closed road and had to turn around. The road had muddy swamps on each side. It was late in the evening and getting dark. So we did a U turn and I mis judge the distance from the road to the swamp and my backend was in the swamp Both rear tires were spinning as we were stuck. Mine you now it was getting late and if we had to call someone it would be hard to get someone out there in the middle of no where during the holidays to pull us out. Mine wife started to freak out and I told her I am going to put this 4x4 sport in 4 wheel drive. I did just that and the truck pulled it self out of that muddy swamp

The point I am trying to make here is you never know where you will end up at so it is better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it If we did not have 4x4 we would have been stuck out in no mans land for a while. I have had a couple of 4x2 trucks and will never buy another one. We get a bit of snow from time to time here and I can't stay in the house for 2 or 3 days

 

Another question is, how long are you planning to keep this truck? For me, I plan on keeping it for 10-20 years, have no other 4x4 and need it. We get bad weather where it is necessary to be able to get out and my job requires being at work regardless of weather conditions. Also, my other 2wd vehicles are front wheel drive, the truck is rear wheel drive, so that was another factor in my decision in getting 4x4. Plus, being able to get out in an emergency is pretty important to me too. I do plan on off-roading in the near future when I get the chance. 4x4 is worth the extra money IMO.

 

I lived in Port Angeles, Wa for a few years. Similar to what you said, not too many snow days in town per year. I had a 4wd 1st gen. The one big storm we got, noone else could get out of my apartment parking lot. I put it in 4 and was on my way. The boss even had me pick up other employees that couldnt get out of their driveways (they were pissed, thought they were getting a day off). I also used it to explore the nat'l parks nearby, not totally necessary but helped with less than stellar judgement when a 2wd would be stuck. It made me much more comfortable when we did have the bad weather. As previously stated, good tires/winter tires will get you through most you will come across. I prefer the 4wd. Just my .02

 

Preach it dude. People always praise the 4x4 but reality is, to some people the thousand dollars will make a difference. To some people, a 4x4 is not necessary on a highway vehicle. To some people, they will only drive on pavement and the area they live in may be mostly flat.

YMMV when it comes to 4x4 or 4x2.

A taco is a taco either way.

 

Most of the time when you ask this question, people are going to advise you to get the 4wd. I'm one of those people. Get the 4wd. It'll be useful when you need it and its easier to sell. Who knows, one of these days you may need it. 3,000 seems like a lot, but totally worth it. Its just cool to have.

 

The mpg difference is very minimal between the 4x2 and 4x4 3rd Gen Tacoma's. I think it's about 1 or 2 mpg, but of course it all depends on who and how they drive it.

 

I had an 81 rabbit diesel with snows. Best car insurance have ever driven in the snow. Including my 4x4 taco

 

Now those rabbits were something else......

 

is that considered a lot where you live? Here that's normal. Wait for the 10+ inches, thats when it gets interesting.

I would've thought BC got a lot more snow than that.
Parts of Toronto where I am get hit bad with lake effect snow. 6-7inches is about the most we get but up in cottage country fuck 12" is normal. I've had times where we had 18", thats interesting to drive in

 

My friend had one passed down to him, when it finally died on him the odometer said 21k, but thats only because it couldn't show over a million. Original engine, never had anyhting besides maintenance done to it, tranny went at 600 000km. Replaced it and kept going till a piston finally went.

 

That is awesome! I actually saw one in town a few weeks ago and went ape, I never see them anymore!! I hope to drive my taco for that many miles........

 

My dad had one. It had over 400k on it. I got one too and he got a parts car for stuff here and there. Mine had 280k on it when I got it, odo didn't work. 40+ mpg, top speed was about 55, I'd plug it in on cold nights and let the glow plugs heat up for a little bit. Never gave me trouble except shifter bar would fall off the bottom in the shifter sometimes but that was an easy parking lot fix or just would deal with no reverse til I could fix it. But that thing was a tank in the snow even above the bumper.

 

This.

sure where I live in the city 4x4 is rarely needed, but up in cottage country where I spend every weekend in the summer and every other weekend in the winter? Good luck. Especially in the winter when the roads to the cottage have upwards of 18inches of snow in some spots from snow drifts.

Only time I'd really need 4x4 in the city is a few steep hills that I drive on daily, and just getting off my street since in the winter we are the last ones to be plowed and I leave for work well before the plows come around, but they usually have already plowed the main street so I get blocked in by a wall of snow.
I've done it for years in a FWD car, but everyone on my street that has a RWD or 4x2 never leave until the street is plowed.
And like you said Viking, you never know where you will end up, could be on a trip somewhere or took a wrong turn somewhere and get into a bad situation.

For the $3000 a 4x4 will cost you its well worth the money. If it was 6-10K it would be something I'd consider more, but for $3000, well worth it for the time of ownership.

 

I was talking in kilometers since I'm north of the border lol. But yep still a lot.
I still see them quite a bit actually, but thats because I go to all the VW shows haha. Used to compete in the show and shine with mine and drag race with it.
Held first place for best MK5 for 2 years in show and shine.

 

You need a 4x4. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
You also need to add a rear locker. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
While you are at it, add a front locker. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
And a winch bumper and winch. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Get a set of off road tires and keep them in your garage. Better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them.
Better add a couple of 5 gallon gas cans. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

I can go on. Forget the $3000. You need about $10,000-$15,000 extra to add all the stuff that you probably won't need but it is better to have and not need than need and not have.

 

They were definitely something else.
Too bad VW doesn't make em like that anymore.