I am looking at purchasing a 05 SuperCrew however I am undecided if I should spring for 4x4 or just stay with 4x2. I live in the Washington DC / Northern Va area so we do experience snow occassionaly. I will be using the truck primarly for either carting the kids around, driving to the commuter lot, and Harry Homeowner projects. We do a fair amount of tent camping and intend to purchase a camper in the future so I will use it for towing. I had a Ford dealer tell me to buy the 4x4 if not for anything else than resale value. I usually hang on to cars for at least 7 years so I am not sure how valid that is in my case. Thanks in advance for your opinions.

Thx Derrick

 

I'm no car salesman but I would tend to agree. Look at a used lot, all you see are 4x4. no one seems to want 4x2 or reg cabs anymore.
I live in central VA myself and although you get a tad more snow than us I think 2wd would do all you need especially if thats what you have had in the past. But on the other hand a 4x4 is, what about 2k more, not much in the payment window and I think the mileage isn't much difference either.

Here's what I did... my last 4x4 was sold in 93 and I have been driving 2wd ever since. last July I bought my 4x4 screw. I was considering a 2wd scab when my wife suggested that if we were not going all the way don't buy anything at all. I followed her advice and got what i got and have never looked back. I know if I had bought a 2wd I would always wished I went with 4x4. I purchased an XLT but I allready wish I would gotten the Lariat. Never satisfied!!!
hope this helps!

 

Yes a Lariat 4x4 would be the ultimate in my opinion, sounds trivial but I love those heated seats in our caravan during the winter months here. That being said it may be a bit out of reach at this point (I start paying for my daughters college next year). However you do have a point in that the overall payment is not that much more.

 

If someone never takes their truck off road, why do you need a 4x4, just to say you have one. Of course a 4x4 has a better resale your paying $3000.00 for that 4x4, I would hope you would get a little more money for the truck when you sale it. In texas there is a lot of 4x2's, it never snows, why does some need a 4x4. If you really need it I can see why. But for the street, why, your not using 4 wheels your only using 2 on the street. If you want to go through a field or some dirt you can do that with 4x2, no problem...

 

Hey Derrick, I also live in this area, i bought the 4x4 because i thought i would use it. Or at least i WANTED to use it. I told myself if i had bought a 4x4 i would build it UP, or if i bought a 4x2 i would build it down (as in lower, ground effects, 20" wheels etc) and i think i have used the 4x4 at least 3 times since i have owned my truck (Feb of '04) and it wasnt for anything "fun" either, pulled a tree out of the ground, well, spinning 4 wheels on the ground was fun, but you know what i mean! If i could do it over, i think i would go with a 4x2 IF i was planning on staying in the area. About 99% of this DC area is road, and no dirt. There is NO place to off-road unless you go about 75+ miles out of your way. BUT, if you end up getting a 4x4, and you know of trails and and other offroad places, PLEASE let me know, im dying to get my truck dirty!!

As far as gas goes, i think the MPG are roughly the same with 4x4 and 4x2, havent really seen a thread here noting the difference. I know a 4x4 will feel heavier in the steering wheel, and the gas pedal.

Blazin
Also: If you get to "test drive" one, go behind the main AOL h.Q. in Ashburn, VA, theres a couple places you could try out the 4x4.

 

Some people confuse 4x4 with off-roading. There's a difference. 4x4 helps when the roads are slick. You can define that various ways, but generally that means wet. If you get a good rainfall, the initial road conditions are slick because of oil (etc) on the road. Of course, a good snowfall does the job as well.

Under these circumstances, you can either use 4WD or throw a 150+ pounds of sandbags in the bed over the rear wheels. If not, you'll spin the rear tires or have the back end come around a bit unless you drive like grandma. This I learned from personal experience. I was surprised one rainy day when I took a right turn and found the back end slide out a bit--I wasn't really going *that* fast.

I assume that's what you're really wanting to know about in order to decide if you want to buy the 4x4 option. If so, try to figure out how often you'll be in one of those situations and whether you're willing to sandbag it or drive gingerly or if it happens enough to be worth the "convenience" of 4x4.

Now if you're thinking about going off-roading, the FX4 is really the only way to go. You'll want the 4x4, off-road suspension and skidplates that this model provides.

Maybe someone else can chime in on whether they've had issues pulling a boat up a wet boat ramp without 4x4...I don't know, I just put mine in 4WD mode to be sure.

As far as resale goes, the 4x4 option generally holds it's value better than the vehicle overall, so you get a good value for it come trade-in time. Since you hold onto your vehicles longer that wouldn't matter so much. But check the supply/demand ratio for 4x2 vs. 4x4 in your area. Where I live if you have 4x2, plan on discounting pretty heavily on resale and/or taking quite a bit longer to sell. Dealers will hammer you on trade-in because it's much harder for them to sell. In other areas it might not really make a difference.

 

the fx4 is just marketing. all you need is the skid palte package. you don't need the branded rancho shocks or the sticker.

 

I suppose if one's idea of off-roading means dirt road, that would be true. The FX4 includes stiffer springs. It's not a good idea to change one (shocks/springs) without the other. FX4 is a bit of marketing, but it's also a package deal. You'll spend more on adding all of the items to an XLT than you would getting them on the FX4.

 

Iv had both - If you go off road ,Towing in the mountains 4x4 - If knot 4x2

 

I live in Minnesota. 4x4 is the only way to go!! IMHO, 4x2 pick ups are useless in any areas that could possibly receive snow. All the sand bags you could jam in the box does not give you the added safety and security of 2 extra wheels with power. So what if you only needed it twice a year. You'll be damn glad you had it those 2 times. No offense intended to anyone out there who has a 2 wheeler. Just my thoughts.

 

Having just survived a New England winter, I would without a doubt reccomend the 4X4. There were some slick roads that I could barely get the thing moving in 4X2! I also go off-road on occasion.

 

4x4s also have a way better stance, i dont really like being eye level with stuff like rav 4s.

 

I also live in Minnesota and hold that most people driving 4x4s are victims of good marketing. With a limited slip, a 4x2 gets around just fine while being less expensive to insure and operate.

 

My point is this...You can listen to everyone's opinion on wether or not you should Buy a 4x4 or a 4x2...IMHO it comes down to this...If your even conteplating the idea of getting a 4x4 and the money is not an issue...just get it. If ya dont...you might be regretting it a few months down the road.

I personally have a 4x4 Scab and considering I am an electrician who ghets called into work everytime there is a bad storm and i have to drive 50 miles one way to get there...I'll never go without it

 

[QUOTE=spiggy769]My point is this...You can listen to everyone's opinion on wether or not you should Buy a 4x4 or a 4x2...IMHO it comes down to this...If your even conteplating the idea of getting a 4x4 and the money is not an issue...just get it. If ya dont...you might be regretting it a few months down the road.

Thats exactly what I way implying. I have never heard anyone say "man I wish I had downgraded"
So you find out ya really don't use the 4x4...next time get a 4x2 and you'll never have to wonder again.