4x4 vs. 4x2 2012 Tacoma TRD Sport Package

So I'm considering puchasing a 2012 Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4. This is going to be my husband's daily driver. In your opinion how is the ride for a daily driver? Thanks in advance for your answers.

 

Get the 4x4, the ride wont be any different between the 2. The second gens have a really plush ride stock, but you will want to upgrade the rear leaf springs if you plan to haul anything in the bed, the stock ones wimp out with anything heavier than 300# in the bed.

 

The ride is too plush for my taste. I bought my 4x4 OR after driving a Wrangler for 12 years, and this pickup felt like a Cadillac. I hated it. Had to toughen it up a little. 4x4 vs 4x2 is up to you and your husband's driving environment/truck purposes. I love my 4x4.

 

What will he use the truck for? Does he do any offroad driving at all? Backroads, hunting/fishing spots, etc.? I see you're in San Diego so you likely don't get much snow, right? You'll probably be happy with 2wd. I'm on my 3rd 2wd Tacoma and i've never once needed 4wd or regretted not having it (and I do take mine offroad frequently). It really just depends what you will use the truck for.

 

Will the 4x4 ever be used? Needed?

 

If he doesn't have any plans for off roading then the 4x2 TRD Sport is fine for a daily driver.

 

He'll probably never use the 4x4 unless we go away on a weekend vacation to the snow. Otherwise, this will just be his daily driver. This is a truck being purchased from a private owner, not a dealership. Therefore it comes with the 4x4 and removes the option to have a 4x2. I was just making sure the ride wouldn't be too stiff.

 

Gotcha. The Trd Offroad uses the progressive coils, which are stiffer. The Sport uses the softer linear coils. So you should be happy with the Sport's softer linear coils since ride quality is a factor.

 

I am up in Long Beach and I recently moved back from CT. When in CT, I owned an FJ Cruiser 4x4.. I hardly used 4x4 for 3 years in New England, I will probably never need it here. I decided to purchase a Tacoma 4x2 over 4x4 and I do not regret it.I have Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires(awesome for snowboarding trips and camping) and I will be putting a ARB air locker in the rear just in case I need it for the occasional off-roading.

 

If you ever think you may need 4x4 just buy it and never have that regret of not buying it.

 

Even if I lived down south I would have a 4x4, just never know when it will come in handy. 4x4 and trucks just go together, I myself have never justified the point in having a 2wd truck unless it's for a fleet line of trucks.

 

You've got that backwards. The linear rate springs are stiffer than the progressive rate. I was amazed how much smoother the ride was when I went from the Sport to the Off Road. More info about springs here: http://automotivethinker.com/suspension/linear-vs-progressive-rate-springs/

 

I'd get the 4wd like mentioned ride is same mileage is negligible between the 2. This is comparing 11 DC prerunner to my 14 DC 4wd.

If there is any situation where it may be needed in the future I think its worth it. that's why I finally bought mine as I was gonna get a 2wd.

 

I was having the same struggle and ended up buying a 2015 TRD Sport 4x2 PreRunner.

For me it came down to the price difference between two trucks with the exact same options: 4x2 ($29,576) and a 4x4 ($32,942). Factor in that I do mostly hwy/city driving with few off-road adventures and it was an easier decision.

The only thing that would concern me is the retail value of a 4x2 and a 4x4 but that also depends on a plethora of other factors.

 

I test rode a 2014 TRD offroad 4x4 and Sport 4x2 and felt the 4x4 was too soft, the 4x2 was stiffer and less lean in corners. I would rarely use a 4x4 and I liked the 4x2 stiffer ride better, I got the PreRunner TRD Sport 4x2.

 

4x4 or 4x2 is going to just depend on use.

I don't mind a 4x2 truck, but I travel enough, 1000 to 1500 a week, that in the winter 4x4 is well worth it. The only off road my trucks see is driving through the back of my property to pull a load of firewood up to the house.

 

The 4x4 is just fine, I'm glad I got this.
My wife talked me into the 4x4, I was just going to go with the Off road package.

 

Reread the article. I was right

Progressive coils progressively get stiffer as they are compressed. Linear coils compress in a linear manner, meaning the spring rate never stiffens as it is compressed. Progressive coils are often used on track cars to reduce body roll in the turns because they stiffen up as the weight shifts to that end, keeping the car upright and more controlled as it is thrown into corners.