4x2 vs 4x4

comes down to budget and what you want to spend on purchase, insurance and operating costs.

i had a choice between 4x2 access and 4x4 reg cab. i took the extra space. i do fine in the snow. i have a set of snow tires and sand for the bed. 2nd gear is a great snow gear. as is third. oh yeah. manual transmissions are the way to go.

 

Bought a prerunner cuz it was the right vehicle for me at the time but I soon regretted it and upgraded to a 4x4. Ive never heard anyone with a 4x4 say they wish they had a prerunner but ive heard a ton of people say the opposite

 

Same scenario for me as well.

 

Bought a 2015 Tacoma Access Cab 4 cyl 4x2 with a 5 spd. I like it and when I baby it I can get 30 MPG, when I don't pay attention I get 22 mpg max. When spring comes I will probably be selling it to purchase a 4x4 and v6 with a 6 spd depending on how this winter goes.

 

I say go with a 4wd. The first time you have to use it, it pays for itself. I got caught on a steep boat ramp on a late evening. Engage 4wd and walked her out. Without it, I would have had some issues.

 

Just created my account on here and am super new to the Taco forums, but ill go ahead and give my opinion as well.

Ive always been biased toward 4x4 trucks just bc of the way i was brought up. my dad always told me trucks without 4x4 are basically just cars with a bed and they are useless. So thats one way that i've always seen it. But, im still very open minded to 2WD vehicles. especially since they are so much cheaper. BUT you may be spending a bunch of money on tows when you get stuck.

On the other hand there are plenty of adventurers out there that are just in it for the ride. theyre not worried about what other people think, or getting themselves stuck in certain situations (ie: mud, sand, rocks, etc). So like a lot of sensible people have said on here, go with what you can afford. I've made it a requirement for every truck that ive owned, to have 4WD. Its saved my ass a bunch of times and its a lot more fun!

Another reason to buy 4x4, is resale value. I know i sound like a broken record just like everybody else, but if you plan on keeping it for a long time, then you'll get a significant amount more than you would for a 2WD. Something around 5-6k if you surpass 5 years (just an estimate from what ive researched buying trucks). Tacoma's have been bred to be offroad vehicles, and if it is going to be compared to other off road vehicles like a jeep wrangler, then 4WD is a must.

In the end, i say spend the money and have that peace of mind when you're going off road. when you get in muddy or sandy situations, 4WD will get you out 90% of the time. 2WD is the opposite. Dont buy a car. Dont buy a truck. buy a UTILITY VEHICLE and utilize the hell out of it!

 

It is amazing how many times I have read this over the years. Just get the 4x4, you won't ever regret it.

 

I'd have been up shit creek multiple times had I bought a 2wd.

 

Wow.... Second person on my ignore list. What's really sad is that this guy is somehow related to fire/rescue (maybe trying to ensure job security?).

4x4 is safer (I am sure he will argue this, but blocked so IDC). I am a police officer in VA. Yes, morons driving too fast in bad weather in either 2 or 4 wheel drive will cause an accident. However, a 4 wheel drive vehicle can help you maintain more control in bad weather (ie-while turning). We don't get a lot of snow down here, but when we do it is heavy, wet snow and ice. I always have a 4 wheel drive vehicle available so I can get into work safely.... I don't have the option that "the weather is too bad to make it in".

Quick story. My buddy bought a 2wd Tacoma while living in FL. He didn't need it..right? He was self employed, but when business slowed, he went to work for an engineering company. He did well, and was transferred to Maine for work. He had to trade in his 2wd for a 4wd, spending a lot more money in the process. Moral of the story is, you never know what life will throw at you, and I would rather be prepared then put in a situation I might regret.

 

and a 2wd gets you out of 0 things

 

I went thru the same thing two years ago when I was looking at trading my old F150.
I wanted a Tacoma, just needed to decide 4x2 or 4x4.
I don't get offroad that much, nice to have when I do.

I went with the TRD Offroad with 4x4, glad I did, would do the same thing again.

 

When I worked for years as a cop in Maine we had crown Vic's and snow tires and as much gear as we could throw in the back. And it was fine for bare roads and minimal snow but deeper snow storms stopped every one and helping people in those conditons is minimal. Now, since the CV has disappeared to the bone yard, as far as the police around here are concerned, they miss the car in one way, but are very thankful that most departments in snow country are driving more AWD SUVs. They feel they serve the public better in all weather conditons. I agree. In areas.. of snow, snow tires and AWD/r4wd are unbeatable. In Maine, 2 wd trucks are counted on one hand unless they are commercial. The state car is a Subaru and Tacomas in 4 wd are valued. But in Maine, winter tires for safe travel are must in the winner months north of Portland.

Best of luck and be safe !

 

^thanks man. When I still did patrol the crown Vic's were a handful in snow, especially since they didn't do snow tires down here in VA. Pretty much everyone is going to the AWD Taurus now, along with a lot of SUVs.

 

You drove your truck up a paved road on Pike's Peak. Of course 4WD want necessary! C'mon!

I used to live in Colorado and if you're not using the vehicle to off-road but want a vehicle that will get you into the backcountry to trailheads, for camping, winter driving in the mountains in the ski resorts, etc., I'd actually say skip the 4WD and get a Subaru with AWD. Way more useful and practical than 4WD in those situations. I recently got rid of my Subaru and have a '16 TRD Sport and am curious how it will do up in the mountains this winter in the snow on the crappy roads up near Tahoe, etc.

Also, regardless of if you have 4WD, AWD, etc., you really should also learn how to drive in bad weather. This is the mistake most people make, very evident by the recent influx of so many people moving to Colorado and most of them don't know how to drive in the winter, regardless of the vehicle they have. I'd also dare to say (again, if you're not off-roading) that you're 2WD vehicle may fare better in snow with a goof set of winter tires that a 4WD truck without winter tires. Most "all-season" tires still suck in the snow.

 

I owned a 2WD Toyota pickup, 1st gen, Tundra, and 2nd gen. I didn't think I really needed it or could justify it. I finally decided to go with a TRD Off Road on my current one. Too many times there were places that I wanted to go but couldn't in a 2WD. I couldn't be happier.

 

What kind of source is that? Jesus, Texas, you need a helping hand huh? 4wd snow performance can't be denied, yes 4wd is not going to help you stop/turn any better, but we who aren't completely clueless on how to drive in snow (as you clearly are) get that and compensate around corners and stopping. The 2wd trucks wont even be getting to work in the winter. Sit back, eat some disguting beef ribs and shut up.