I want a 4Runner…but..settle for 2WD?

Hello! Happy to be here to get some education.

Prices are crazy and nothing on the lot here in Northern California. I told the dealer I know the 4WD model I wanted and the options so how long do I need to wait. Anyway I don’t need to repeat the same old story but in short I have to take what the dealer is allocated even if the 4runner is loaded with (to me) useless $$$$ cosmetic options and also the dealer markup over MSRP. We are looking at a $59k vehicle.

On the other hand there are available new 2WD 4Runners offered for below MSRP and I can get one pretty much now for under $40k. I don’t plan on doing any off road and if I had the 4WD I would use it 98% in RWD anyway. It would be nice to have 4WD when I need it but I can save at least $15k and can drive one home no waiting.

 

If the 2wd suits your needs, there's no reason not to buy it. It might not have quite the resale of a 4wd, but that might not matter to you.

 

It’s all a matter of needs and wants… I work for a dealership in so cal and I always tell my customers, the payment hurts more when u don’t like what you’re driving. If you want a 4x4 you’re going to have to sacrifice something, being more money on mark ups or time. Personally I’d wait for a 4x4 that has the equipment you want, and don’t be afraid to look at dealerships that r an hour or more away to avoid paying any mark ups. I have customers driving 2-3 hours just because we don’t have a mark up and we have the inventory they want.

just ask yourself, if you get a 2wd will u want a 4wd later on? Buy once cry once is something I learned from forums like this one and it’s so true! Good luck!!

 

That’s exactly right. Say I hold out and spend $15k more for a 4WD model, not only will I get most of it back in resale, I will sell it easily.

 

That’s good advice. Thank you.

 

I don’t see the point of 2WD.

 

Not worth to get 2wd for just $1875 price difference imo. 4wd would give you the main purpose of buying a 4Runner and also extra ground clearance than 2wd variant.





Below picture for no particular reason..

 

I wish it was only $1875 difference. Today’s market it’s more like $10000+ difference.

 

I agree 100% with @06_dark_knight . I had a 2wd Tacoma. Loved it, but I always wondered, “what if”. I paid $60k for my 4Runner. Yes, it hurts, and I absolutely overpaid, but I have zero doubts in the trucks ability. I would do it again tomorrow.

 

This says it all!

When I bought mine, I decided to get everything I really wanted.

@razerx I should have said in my earlier post that if you want 4wd, you should get it. I just meant that a 2wd 4Runner is fine if it does what you need.

 

I agree with both sides of this.

If it's what you really want and you're 100% sure that you will not need four-wheel drive or care about the resale, then go with the 2WD. Especially if you really will save 15K.

On the other hand, I really don't see why one would even want a two-wheel drive 4Runner. The big reason why I wanted mine was because it was a capable four-wheel drive vehicle. If I were to buy a two-wheel drive vehicle, it would definitely not be a 4Runner. That's just my opinion though.

I would do what others have said, and widen your search area. From everything I'm reading, California is super hard to find vehicles in right now, so maybe look in neighboring states. For the money you save, maybe you'll find the four-wheel drive that you want, and also make a nice little trip out of it.

I agree that 60K is entirely too much money to pay for any 4runner, and if that's what it comes down to I would wait a while if you don't absolutely need a vehicle now, and see what the next generation brings.

 

A 2Runner defeats the purpose of buying a 4Runner. You should just get a fwd Highlander if you don’t need 4wd. It has better gas mileage and more creature comforts.

 

I need a vehicle to carry stuff because we plan to buy a house in AZ in the near future. I don’t need a people mover like the Highlander with 3 rows. And any capable vehicle in this market will be hovering around $50k and scarce anyway. My second choice was a Tacoma with a double cab and manual transmission but the mark up is much higher than the automatic which cost just about as much as a 4Runner and if I put a top in it the price would be around the same.

 

Thanks everyone for your input. I am going to put a deposit on a 4WD and wait as long as 6 months and I am sure the wait won’t be wasted.

 

I think a theme here is “Why do you want a 4Runner at all?”
If reliability, durability, low cost of repair and cargo hauling capacity outweigh other considerations, there may be no better choice. If you almost never drive in snow or off road, then 2WD is good.

If you care at all about MPG, comfort, features and speed and handling, the 4Runner starts looking worse.

Regardless, no way would I ever pay 59k for a 4Runner, no matter what trim or what it has in options. For that amount of money you could buy a base pickup for dirty work AND a nice sports car like the 86 or a decent sporty sedan like a Civic SI.
59k is crazy for any 4Runner IMO

 

Payload-
2022 4runner - 1,495 to 1,700 lbs
2022 Highlander - 1,485 to 1,685 lbs

Towing-
2022 4runner - 5,000 lbs
2022 Highlander - (gas) 5,000 lbs (including FWD)

 

It's called a 4runner, not a 2runner.

 

In case it has not been mentioned, there are good used 4Runners on lots, on the web and in folks' driveways. Happy Hunting!!

 

If you want a 2WD, get a 2WD. I had three 2WD Tundras from 2002 to 2021 and I only found the need for 4WD in the last few years when I wanted to start exploring offroad. Otherwise, I never needed it in So California. Also, from being on Tundra forums for almost 20 years, and from what I see here, there's always a lot of shade thrown at 2WD owners.

 

What’s the cargo capacity difference? That might be more important to the OP. I think the 4Runner has almost 90 cubic feet with the seats down. Most crossovers are a lot less. But I think the Highlander is pretty good at 84 cubic feet?

 

Carrying stuff?

Not offroading?

California?

Ford Maverick

Edit: or a Ridgeline, but I don't like the newer Honda quality, judging from my in-laws Odyssey

 

I don’t understand why they even offer BOF off road vehicles with RWD only.

“Simplicity” is a really transparent explanation and before politicians ruined the world the price difference was equal to a set of tires.

 

Found this article if that helps OP,

 

Go w your “gut” For my personal use I won’t have anything but a 4wd! Got stuck in my back yard on damp w a 2wd positraction pickup!

Take a few for a test drive … as you walk away afterwards and not smiling… that’s not “The One!”

Much easier to mentally justify the monthly payment if it’s what you really want!

Enjoy!

 

you wouldn’t consider taking a trip out here to SoCal for a non marked up 4runner? I know of a couple dealers not marking up their cars and it might make for a fun road trip to get one how u want sooner. Just saying lol

https://www.crowntoyota.com/

 

Should it be called Toyota 2Runner ?

 

We don't do any aggressive offroading and could probably get by with just a 2wd. I have very rarely needed to legitimately use 4wd but there really wasn't a substitute for when it was actually needed.