I need some car advice. The wife and I are planning on buying a car and leaning heavily towards an Expedition. Unless we plan on going off-roading (which we aren't), is there really any advantage to 4 wheel drive? Are there disadvantages to it if I really won't need it?
Four Wheel Drive
- Thread starter C-Dub
- Start date
A transfer case and the extra drive shafts that goto the front wheels weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 400 pounds.
If you never use them, you are tooling around with 400 pounds of gas mileage reducing weight. Add to this the complexity of the drive train.
Think it will never break even if you don't use it? I wouldn't put money on that bet.
Most 4 wheel drives for off roading will actually tear up your tires if you use the four wheel drive option on pavement.
One other tidbit, 4 wheel drive vehicles are more expensive to insure. Nine out of ten four wheel drive vehicles never leave the pavement, but since they COULD, the possibility of damage is higher. Hence the higher premiums for comprehensive insurance.
So I would ask a few questions to the salesman, and do a bit of research online. Try consumer reports first.
If you never use them, you are tooling around with 400 pounds of gas mileage reducing weight. Add to this the complexity of the drive train.
Think it will never break even if you don't use it? I wouldn't put money on that bet.
Most 4 wheel drives for off roading will actually tear up your tires if you use the four wheel drive option on pavement.
One other tidbit, 4 wheel drive vehicles are more expensive to insure. Nine out of ten four wheel drive vehicles never leave the pavement, but since they COULD, the possibility of damage is higher. Hence the higher premiums for comprehensive insurance.
So I would ask a few questions to the salesman, and do a bit of research online. Try consumer reports first.
The few times that we have had any amount of snow has made the cost of the 4 wheel drive Durango and Silverado Z71 worth the price for me. But in San Diego I would hope that would not be an issue.
I have only used the full time 4 wheel drive setting a few time , but I use the automatic four-wheel setting quite often.
Though the price of tires did make me cry a few months ago.:crying:
I have only used the full time 4 wheel drive setting a few time , but I use the automatic four-wheel setting quite often.
Though the price of tires did make me cry a few months ago.:crying:
Electric Sheep
Dsicle - BoM Dec 06
I am a recreational 4-Wheel Drive enthusiast, meaning "off-roading" is a hobby of mine. Of course, my Jeep happens to be an off-road ONLY vehicle; I've probably put less than 5 miles on the street with it this year. I mention that simply to point out that my daily-driver is a 2 Wheel Drive truck. So even tho I'm a 4x4 enthusiast, I don't have a 4x4 for the street--it just doesn't make any sense in my part of the country.
You might have a reason for a 4 Wheel Drive on the street if you lived up north in the snow...but I don't imagine you have much snow in San Deigo.
2¢
PS - if you DID decide to take a 4x4 Expedition out for an off-road adventure, you'd likely discover that it's not a particularly capable vehicle, especialy in sand like out at Glamis. It's useful for ultra-light-duty off-road use, like getting you out to a hunting location, but that's about it. It's just not designed for recreational use.
You might have a reason for a 4 Wheel Drive on the street if you lived up north in the snow...but I don't imagine you have much snow in San Deigo.
2¢
PS - if you DID decide to take a 4x4 Expedition out for an off-road adventure, you'd likely discover that it's not a particularly capable vehicle, especialy in sand like out at Glamis. It's useful for ultra-light-duty off-road use, like getting you out to a hunting location, but that's about it. It's just not designed for recreational use.
Wasch_24
2005 BoY
Personally I would not want to be driving a rear wheel drive Expedition in the rain anywhere in the country.
Even living in Virginia both of our cars are all wheel drive (automatically engages the rear wheels when needed) and now that we are moving to Nebraska I am very glad we chose the AWD models.
Four wheel drive is not just for trail blazing...especially in the vehicles that most of these manufacturers are trying to pass off as SPORT utility vehicles.
I would never go off road in aything but a Jeep or a Rover (Range or Land version).
Even living in Virginia both of our cars are all wheel drive (automatically engages the rear wheels when needed) and now that we are moving to Nebraska I am very glad we chose the AWD models.
Four wheel drive is not just for trail blazing...especially in the vehicles that most of these manufacturers are trying to pass off as SPORT utility vehicles.
I would never go off road in aything but a Jeep or a Rover (Range or Land version).
I would not consider 4-wheel drive where you live, unless you are planning on moving to a more inhospitable climate. It adds a lot of cost and weight while detracting from gas mileage.
Where I live, severe winter weather is a fairly regular occurrence and I live in the hills, making AWD or 4-wheel drive essential. The wife's car is AWD and gets 28 miles to the gallon on the road and about 23 in town, making it a worthwhile investment for cost and her safety. I drive an old Toyota pickup that is superb off road. The wifes car is pretty worthless off road. It is fine on good gravel roads, but the gearing and power curves are not designed for difficult conditions. I just came from ID/MT, where it almost got me into trouble during a foray up near Yellowstone.
Where I live, severe winter weather is a fairly regular occurrence and I live in the hills, making AWD or 4-wheel drive essential. The wife's car is AWD and gets 28 miles to the gallon on the road and about 23 in town, making it a worthwhile investment for cost and her safety. I drive an old Toyota pickup that is superb off road. The wifes car is pretty worthless off road. It is fine on good gravel roads, but the gearing and power curves are not designed for difficult conditions. I just came from ID/MT, where it almost got me into trouble during a foray up near Yellowstone.
tripp
MASTER SHAKE
Keep in mind that an Expedition is not a SPORT utility vehicle, in it's 2wd version it is a big lumbering station wagon.
The thing about a 4 wheel drive vehicle and bad weather is , you will get farther away from home before you get stuck in the snow. And noting goes or stops on ice. But I would say snow and ice is not a big factor in Southern Cali.
A 2wd version will be a couple thousand cheaper when you buy it, but will be worth less when you sell it.
I would say save the money and buy the 2wd version. ymmv.
The thing about a 4 wheel drive vehicle and bad weather is , you will get farther away from home before you get stuck in the snow. And noting goes or stops on ice. But I would say snow and ice is not a big factor in Southern Cali.
A 2wd version will be a couple thousand cheaper when you buy it, but will be worth less when you sell it.
I would say save the money and buy the 2wd version. ymmv.
Electric Sheep
Dsicle - BoM Dec 06
Smart choices...as those are pratically the only auto manufacturers that offer trail-sized 4x4 vehicles with Solid Front Axles in the United States anymore, and only a limited portion of their product lines at that. In the case of Jeep, the Wrangler line is the only model; everything else is Independent Suspension now.
They Chew Up The Tires Faster!!
Lots of good answers. Not in San Diego or anywhere in CA unless you are a dedicated offroader. My NAvigator is on the same frame and is 4X4 because we lived in Michagan when we bought it. It has a contins AWD feature that is nice occasionally in the rain out here but other than that, its a gas hog.
Good advise guys, I never knew most of these issues.