Prerunner or 4 X 4, help me decide

When I was shopping for my Tacoma I was set on gettting a Silver DC Sport in Prerunner to save some money. The dealer I bought it at only had this truck in 4x4. I thought I would never need 4x4 but now that I have it I find myself going places I normally wouldn't have (snow, sand dunes, trails) where 4x4 is definetely needed.

 

If you can easily afford it, get it.

 

Sadly everytime I see my truck I always wish I had 4wd. It's always gets me when people ask if my truck is a 4x4 and I have to say no

 

06BLUEDBLSPORT,

Then we live in Atlanta & it is all concrete. Nowhere to offroad. I have never needed 4 wheel drive. even with the big snow we had this past winter. My prerunner did fine in the snow. And then the ice in the am on my way home from work.


MrZip,

It all depends on where you live & if you have the need for it. I can see peeps living in the north needing it more than us in the south (unless you have somewhere to offroad)

If you have a boat to tow & think you need 4wheel drive;Wrong! My Prerunner tows my boat fine. Never had a problem even on shitty ramps.

 

I say get 4x4. Its like driving a neutered truck if it doesnt have 4x4

 

go 4x4 i really really wish i had it.

 

I've owned two of each over the years. 4wd if your REALLY going to need or use it, ie Off-road alot, mtns, deep snow, and the extra $2K is in your budget. Otherwise my LSD equiped 2wd trucks were reliable, a tick better on gas, and were fine for light off-road duty, even in snowstorms (w/ winter tires).

 

I drove 4 x 4 Fords for 30 years (company vehicles) at an average of 35k miles per year. These were stock Broncos and Exploders usually with a tire upgrade after the stock rubber wore out. In Coastal Texas there was only one time I had to have four-wheel-drive, and that was a run from Corpus down to the Mansfield Pass on the North Padre Island National Seashore. In general I found that having four-wheel-drive was an opportunity to get oneself further from help. If you are serious about serious off-roading then you need to take your truck far beyond stock specs. An absolute must is a quality and sufficient winch, but there is much more on that list too.

I drive an '07 PreRunner Access Cab with a V6 and auto and could not be happier with what I have. I drive dirt roads and across pastures every week at a ranch. Not once have I wanted for four-wheel-drive. My Taco TRD Sport has a limited slip dif and that is all the additional traction control I could ask for. If I lived in snowy mountains it would be different, why do you suppose there are so many Subarus in Denver?

In Houston traffic I feel I have better visibility from my PreRunner, but it wouldn't be any different with a 4 x 4. The TRD Sport Package means more to me than anything else as the upgraded seats are kinder to my behinder and the AC inverter is a nice convenience. On occasion we have street flooding, I would more likely venture in to minor standing water (12" or so) in my PreRunner than if it were a 5 lug Taco, but having seen too many rides ruined by fools trying to fjiord 3 foot deep water in stock form, both cars and trucks, I have developed a real appreciation for patience. I will park my Taco and wait for the flash flood to abate.

If you need a 4 x 4 then get it. If you want a 4 x 4 then get it. But needing and wanting are two different issues.

 

4WD if you can swing it. The "You never know factor" of the 4WD will offer that extra piece of mind.

 

I'm on my second 2nd gen Tacoma. My first one was a PreRunner that was totaled. I only would have NEEDED 4wd once in two years. When I was deciding on my second Tacoma, I still got the PreRunner. I debated just like you in getting the 2wd vs 4wd, but in the end I could not justify spending more money for something I MIGHT use. My wife has a Subaru so when we go up the mountains in the snow we use her car, which by the way kicks ass in the snow. I don't go offroading enough or harsh enough to get 4wd. But some might say if you had 4wd I would, that might be true, but I can't see myself doing much anyway even with 4wd. I bought a truck for the hauling and towing capabilities, which most of the time you don't need 4wd. Like others have said, it is a need vs want issue. I might be a cheap ass, but I could have afforded if I wanted, but just could not have justified it.

 

The world is littered with people who wish they had gotten the 4x4 or the V6 instead of the 4, especially where the geograpy and/or weather suggest it is the right move.

As you have already stated that the money wasn't the issue, regretting the lesser and trading it in in a few years for the upgrade will cost you more than the difference between the two now.

Signed,
Captain Obvious

 

I traded in my 08 Prerunner for a 09 TRD 4x4 Sport. Much better truck, much better stuff, and I know that I will not get stuck in an ice hole like last winter.

 

Compare the number of people who bought a Prerunner and wish they bought 4x4 with those who bought 4x4 and wish they bought Prerunner. No contest, if you can afford it, go 4x4. 1mpg difference will save less than $5 per tankful.

 

Yes, but realistically upkeep on a 4x4 (if you follow your maintenance schedule by the word) will cost you more in the long run. You spend twice as much on gear oil for the t-case and front diff twice as much on grease for the front driveshaft, and more on other unforseen problems if something happens to your front end. And the $5 over the course of 50-60k miles adds up to quite a bit.

But if you want a 4x4 go for it. They are fun I opted out on the feature because I knew I would waste more money on buying lifts and tires, and I already have a 4x4.

 

I have a PreRunner and i'm completely satisfied with it. I don't do much wheelin, which is probably why i'm satisfied, but when i have needed some extra in difficult terrain, my Desert Sand PreRunner has grabbed it's balls and pulled me through. i'd say PreRunner, but do the opposite of everything i say. That usually works out better for everyone.

 

Meh! The $5 is actually just the cost of a gallon of gas, so that estimate is high. So right now it's about $3 per tankful. At 60K miles, a 15 mpg truck vs a 16 mpg truck will use about 250 more gallons of gas. A 20mpg truck vs a 21 mpg truck will use 140. So even at $5 per gallon, you're only talking about $1250 over 60K miles for the lower mileage trucks. If gas is $3 then it's about $750 for the lower mileage truck (a manual). based on 12K per year, that's about $150 -$250 per year.

For the high mpg truck (automatic), you're talking about a savings of $84-$140 per year) ($3/gal - $5/gal). Hardly earthshattering.

 

If you get 4x4, you will get your money back when you sell it.

 

Prerunner DEFINITELY if you aren't going to use the 4x4 regularly.

The prerunner is nearly 400lbs lighter without the front diff, axles, transfer case, etc and is therefore noticeably faster and gets better mpg.
Get the locking rear diff on your prerunner, and you'll be able to get out of many situations just fine.

 

locked prerunner. i live in socal and it is my daily driver. i rarely wheel, and my dealer tried saying it was a 4k difference in price. i couldnt justify spending the extra 4k. i have never been stuck, but i rarely take my truck offroad. i also couldnt see myself denting and scratching my brand new 30k 4x4. maybe when it is paid off...but i am on the 5 year plan . for me, the locked prerunner has never let me down

 

4x4 is well worth the extra cost. I had a 2 wheel drive before my tacoma and will never get a 2 wheel drive again!