Should I trade in my 2WD '15 for a 4WD '15 or a 4WD '16?

Life is too short, drive what you want!

 

Probably not in CA; we get taxed for breathing.

 

Inhale and exhale are separate, too!

 

This.... and 100 bucks in good chains and you will go further than any 4x4 with street tires on snow / ice.

Then come 2017+ when they have worked out the initial bugs in the 3rd gens if you really want 4x4 go for it then.

4x4 only gets you moving.... your 2wd truck stops just as shitty on icy and snow as a 4x4 does. Get better tires and you will be like me up in mammoth these past 4 days never having to use 4x4 to get around town on the icy roads.

 

2015 for the win!

 

2015 or 2016 just as long as it is 4wd. Kept my 2015 dclb Pre Runner all of 2 months before buying a 2015 dcsb TRD Off Road 4x4 and that was only because I had to order the 4x4 to get the color I wanted.So subtract the 3 weeks I waited for mine to be built and shipped and I pulled the plug on the 2wd after 5 weeks of ownership.

Should have known better as my 2 previous trucks were 4wd. Thought I could live with 2 wd and I could if I never went to some of the places I wanted to go hunting.

 

^^this.

I think the bigger question is where does the OP live? He "went to Big Bear" but what does that tell us?

Where do you live?
How often do you go to the mountains to ski/snowboard etc?

I wouldn't jump ship over to 4x4 because of one weekend. If you make a habit of it though it may make sense. Or just get better tires like others have said

 

In most places you pay tax on the difference between the 2 vehicles when you trade. I find I can come out better by trading instead of selling my old vehicle and buying. Paying tax on $35,000 is an extra $2450 here. If I get $15,000 for my trade I only pay tax on $20,000, or about $1,400. I'd have to sell my old vehicle for at least $1000 more than the trade offer just to break even. Factoring in my time, and the fact that I have to pay insurance on the old vehicle while I try to sell I'd feel like I'd have to get $2000 more to be worth it. Ain't gonna happen. Everyone buying from an individual expects you to give it away.

If you can afford it I'd go 4X4. I've driven nothing but 4X4's since the mid 1970's. You are looking at about .5 mpg difference at most all things being equal. Now if you put larger than stock tires with an aggressive tread on either the 4X4 or 4X2 you'll take a 2-3 mpg hit. But that is the tires, not the vehicle and a 2WD will do the same. The 4X4 will cost more initially, but when you sell or trade you'll get a greater percentage of the initial cost back. In the long run the cost to own and operate is about the same. You may not need 4X4 often, but when you need it, you need it. There is really no down side.

 

One minor disagreement.. there's been info posted that disproves that "holds a greater percentage of value" to be factually incorrect.

I'd pull it up, but I don't care and I don't know where it was.

Comparable models (4x4 being the difference) held roughly the same over the same period of time, IIRC.

 

This is what I was referring to with the tax info. Thanks for posting,.

 

i dunno... i can find prerunner trucks all day long here in socal (1st n 2nd gen) without much issue for proper prices.... 4x4 models (especially in the 1st gen) are hard to find and pricey and sell stupid quick.

 

They're more expensive first or second hand, I was just saying the statistics show they're depreciate at generally the same percentage rates - so the "4x4 holds value better" argument is invalid.

 

Move up to 4x4. I speak from your experience.

 

Live in OC, Anaheim...
This is the first Taco I've had; go up to snow just handful of times (~5) during winter months, not too much. I really want to start going on some trails and going down to baja for some sand though (which is why I was regretting not get the 4x already).

 

Go with the 4x4. If you use your truck off road, you won't regret it.

 

I went from a '10 Prerunner, to an '08 4x4, then finally landed on a '12 4x4 OR with 12K miles for 1K out of pocket after was said and done. You could say I've finally learned my lesson.

 

OP, As far as going with a 15' or 16' model, Did you test drive the new 16's yet? I didn't care for the gutless engine in the 16's so snagged a 15' before they were all gone. There are still some new 15's left, just color choices are getting limited...got mine for $30,000

 

Haven't driven a '16 yet, planning on going in this weekend.

Where/when did you get yours? As far as I can tell, there's no new ones left near me. I've been looking online and there's some new ones out of state, but that sounds like a mission in itself; though I did find this one in PA, pretty nice...

http://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used...43286342&source=email&type=emailListingMobile

 

If you buy a new 2015 your dealer can do a trade for one, my last 2 new ones my dealer went between 300-400 miles to get them.

 

Don't people specifically buy 2 wheel drive trucks for pre-running in Baja? Hence the "Prerunner" Tacoma?