The Tacoma is 2nd best used midsize pick up

Best to worst winter driving condition vehicles (comparable) tires. AWD - 4WD(locked in) - FWD - RWD - 4WD(locked out)

 

I'd drive a Ridgine, if it had Jaine Fonda in it.

 

yup, that is what most people that have driven all in the snow, know to be true.

I do remember recently on another thread someone saying that a good rear wheel drive car might actually be better than front wheel drive due to weight transfer on hills. I have driven many rear and front wheel drive cars and can see the point. But never really compared them to say that rwd is better. Generally pulling the weight is better. But here is a tesla video that compares rwd. I can see that in certain conditions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_LPlYxhweY

 

Over a cliff...

 

Current Jane Fonda?

 

And with snow tires and LSD + common sense and experience it gets me everywhere I need to go.

Just made a 25 mile journey home in 9" of snow 3 weeks ago.

 

Yes there are exceptions to the rule. The old RWD VW bugs and vans with motor positioned over rear wheels were much better than cars with cast iron blocks sitting over the front wheels and very little weight in rear. Was common practice to put extra weight in trunk for better traction. FWD with back seat passengers and weight have less climbing ability and RWD with back seat passengers have better but as a general rule FWDs make better winter drivers than RWDs.

 

Gotta say, now that I have experience with the new Ford Maverick-

I really like it. Loved it so much I actually told my mom about it (she's been looking for a replacement for her Jeep JL as it's on it's second motor in 35k) and she ordered one after a test drive. It drives extremely well, the 2.0 Ecoboost is quick as all hell (0-60 in just under 6.3 seconds) and handles like a big Focus ST. Does it Offroad like the Tacoma? No. Does it tow as well as a Tacoma? No. But for people who just daily their truck with mild softroading, it's a better fit than the Tacoma. I use my Tacoma more like a truck than most, so it doesn't fit my life, but if I needed a comfortable daily that gets 30mpg on the highway, I'd be looking at one.

 

Maverick hybrid is rated at 37mpg combined. Something to consider as gas just passed $5.70 a US gallon here yesterday.

 

I don't. If my drive is a long one over packed ice & snow I take the Prius. Like that day pictured in my avatar, 250 miles of sheet ice for an airplane fix. The prius would hae been a much better choice but I needed the truck for it

 

Yep! Wtf would you want anything to do with that bag who protested our Vietnam Vets and called our heroes baby killers?

 

that's another thing. I'm currently 800 miles from home and with gas prices the way they are taking the prius is wise. It only gets 42 mpg or so on long highway trips however due to the lack of stop/go

 

that is RWD?? why?

 

I dig the Maverick. I think Ford will sell all they can build. Super practical for the average driver and will perform fine for the casual Home Depot express

 

Indeed it is. That's what makes it a PreRunner. I don't need 4WD. Hate all you want

 

*checks age*

 

oh, so that's what a prerunner is, I always wondered. There arnt any 'round these parts

 

One who grew up with a golden spoon...

 

Agreed. I had a Subaru Crosstrek before my Tacoma and that thing plowed through 2 feet of sierra cement to get me up an icy road. Could barely see, but I made it up the hill. In my truck I feel good in 4wd, but nowhere near the same confidence as the Subaru. Maybe one too many fish tails while in RWD did that to me...

 

Ridgeline doesn't need to have the suspension modified to handle its load. It comes from the factory set-up to haul a much heavier load than the Tacoma.