4WD vs. 2WD

[TundraGuy]

Ok, so I lied in my profile, I don't have a Tundra. I have a Taco and I want a Tundra. But I am having a hard time deciding between 4x4 and 4x2. I don't know why. I usually have no problem making decisions like this. The difference in price is about $3,000 which isn't a huge difference. Anyway, what do you guys think about the whole 4x4 versus 4x2 debate? If I were in CA I would for sure get 4x4 for skiing (etc), but in TX I'm not so sure how often it will be useful.
Sean
(I figured it wouldn't hurt to bring up this topic once again since we don't have it in the archives anymore. )

[aika]

in my opinion, if youre interested in lifting it, get a 4x4. theres nothing worse than seeing some truck lifted skyhigh and it not a four wheel drive. if you dont care and you dont want the payments and the extra maintenance, get a two wheel drive as i did. its up to you. i promise you'll like it either way you get it, but onoe may be better for you...

[punisher]

4X4 RULES!!!!!!
JUST ONE TRY AND YOULL KNOW WHY!!!
I use mine like 4 times a year and its worth it. 4x4 is the best thing ever invented, period. The value of the truck will be higher, so when you sell it, you will get your money back.

[punisher]

oh yeah, those lifted 2x trucks are so lame its silly!!! I just was on a trip to baja, where some idiota in a 2x ranger all raced out like the goons I see in socal wheelying down the road, had gotten stuck in sand. My buddy, in his 4x silverado pulled the guy out no prob. That lifted 2x sh@# is for people that think looks are everything.

[Bugser]

I agree! It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. I bought a 4X4 after being trapped (by 18" of snow) for a week with no heat/power. You might consider a slightly used Tundra to get the price down a bit. There are deals out there, you just have to be patient and be willing to do the leg work!!

[TundraGuy]

Yeah, the thing is, I can't find a 4x2 with the options I want locally, so I might be *forced* to get the 4x4. Right now Toyota is offering $2,000 cash back in my region which makes it very tempting. I definitely like the offroad package handling (I prefer the stiffer ride), but having a 2wd truck with TRD on the side seems a little 'poser' to me, but then again maybe I'm a poser.

Sean

[tundraon42s]

lifting a 4x2 isnt as stupid as yall think, most of the biggest trucks are 2wd. the reason being is that alot of people cant afford to get a freehanging transfer case and 3 drive shafts. on my truck i didnt have a front drive shaft for about 6 months because i had to speacial order one that will work at a high angle. My front drive shaft alone cost $900. Its not a stupid thing its a money thing

[muckraker]

I have the 2wheel drive TRD option myself. Liked the ride and looks of the TRD, but decided the higher cost of the 4wheel drive wasn't worth using it maybe once a year. From what I hear, with four wheel drives, if you don't use it, you lose it. Or as my boss told... "when you need it most... it won't be there." That more than anything swayed me to stick with the 2 wheel.

[basmith]

What it really comes down to is money. For me I am still in college and took out a student loan to get a Tundra. I figure that I will be able to make the payments after I graduate. If I had a bigger loan I would have got 4x4. I have only had my Tundra off road package and LSD for a week so I haven't taken it off roading yet, but my buddy has a Tacoma with off road and it does wonders. He would go into some snow with the locker turned off and get stuck, but once he engaged the locker we were out of there. So I think that if you don't want to fork over the extra cash for the 4x4 then you should at least go for the off road package with LSD. It is not as good as 4x4 but it is the next best thing. Later

[Cloud9]

I can't think of one reason why I'd even think of getting a truck without 4wd. If I wanted something to get stuck in the mud or sand, I'd get a Lexus or BMW or something. Sure is nice to have when you need it, and the resale value is much higher on 4wds than 2wds, so it's not like you won't get a respectable portion of your investment back, either.

[basmith]

Of course the resale value of a 4x4 is higher than a 4x2. The resale value of a 4x4 is about 3k more than a 4x2 which is the cost of 4x4. It costs more for 4x4 so obviously you will get more when you sell. The problem is everyone is saying you will just get your money back, but that doesn't make sense. You buy a 30k dollars 4x4 tundra and sell it 2 yrs later for 20k dollars. And for a 4x2 say you buy it for 26.5k then 2 yrs later you sell it for 16.5k. You still lose the same amount. Anything that costs more will get more when you sell it.

[5 Speed]

4x4 only sucks in one situation, that's when you really get stuck. You would never get a 4x2 stuck in that bad of a situation. but the 4x4 give you the confidence to dig her in up the the frame and then what? If you plan to go off road, now I don't mean on snow covered roads, I mean off the pavement where low range in necessary, you can just crawl about anywhere and you aren't always thinking, I might get stuck. Love it, love it, love it.

[Jwitz]

Then why don't ya'll use your 4WD? off roading is the most fun thing I have ever done in my life... And I love it... I love what I can do with my truck... Buy a 4x4 and take it off road... don't just let it sit... If you want a 4x2, then treat it like a car... 4x2 will get you stuck off road unless you are good or you have lockers...

[Chris S]

I bought 4x2, not b/c of money, but I really preferred the 2wd. I'm not planning on going 4 wheeling, just need to haul motorcycles and all the related gear. W/ 2wd, you get the following on-road benefits:
1) quicker acceleration (less weight and frictional losses w/ no transfer case)
2) better handling due to lower weight (esp. unsprung) and more balanced weight dist.
3) better gas mileage
4) lower insurance?
5) better investment - even if you get your full incremental 4wd cost back in resale, you'd have to get a market-based return on top of your original cost to rationally justify it on financial terms.
6) less maintenance

My $.02...

[TundraGuy]

Yeah, one 4x2 I drove felt noticeably quicker than the 4x4 I have driven, but that could be for multiple reasons or just my impression. The reviews I've read put the 4x4 a few tenths of a second behind the 4x2 so it shouldn't be a huge difference.

I'll probably end up getting the 4x4 because I can get the options I want and it's only $43 a month more with financing.

Plus, I may end up moving to LA (although Austin is nice) so skiing and things like that become a short drive away instead of a plane flight.

Sean