4WD useful in TX for daily driver? (Austin: fit in, lawyer)

[drewcwsj]

I am about to buy my GF a new Lexus RX350 before we move to Austin. Up here in Chicago everyone gets the 4WD version. Seems like in TX that is a complete waste. Should I change my order to 2WD? Oh and an added benefit of 2WD is about 200 pounds lighter than 4WD and $2k cheaper.

[Trainwreck20]

If you are moving to Austin, there is almost no use for 4wd, really. No snow, no off-road mud except way outside of town (even in rural areas to the west, more rock than mud ).

[austin-steve]

I have a 4WD and use it in wet weather. I can't say it's absolutely necessary, but I personally like having it in case I need it. In fact, I had to use it a couple of weeks ago at a construction site where I would have been stuck in the mud without it.

That said, I think the advances in transmissions and drivetrains are such that many newer vehicles have automatic all-wheel drive and other ways of sending power to the wheels that need it such that 4WD may not be needed. Some of the car experts here might know more about that.

Steve

[Mike78613]

I owned lots of 4wd's while here. As I don't use it here in Austin, but never know if you need to visit family back up north, you know?

I mean if you have a paid off 4x4, then I say keep it and use it. Not like getting a new 2wd here is going to save you much money, plus getting into a car payment./..

[cdelena]

Right, it will cost a bit more to purchase and in fuel for no real benefit in Austin conditions. Change the order to 2WD.

[love roses]

Ours is a 4 wheel drive, but we hardly ever use it anymore. Sometimes, because of towing a boat we've had to, but otherwise haven't. We aren't changing to 2 wd though, because we still like to travel to Colorado to visit friends.

[PeacePlease]

this is a problem in Austin and Texas in general. People buy trucks, and rarely use them for what they are built for. On the way to work, I always see these monster SUVs and pickup trucks with only one person inside most likely driving to work. I would have thought with gas approaching $3/gal cars would shrink but it doesn't seem to be the case here.

[neddy]

I have a 4wd on my SUV and never use it in the city only at our ranch were you need it because of all the rain that we have had washed out all my roads. You still might want or need 4wd if you want to drive to the ski slopes or visit someone but not on a daily basis.

[Zzyzx]

Originally Posted by PeacePlease

this is a problem in Austin and Texas in general. People buy trucks, and rarely use them for what they are built for.

My neighbor is a lawyer and drives a F350 to work everyday.

It seems there is also a lot of trucks pulling empty trailers too.

[Mike78613]

Originally Posted by Zzyzx

My neighbor is a lawyer and drives a F350 to work everyday.

It seems there is also a lot of trucks pulling empty trailers too.

Yea we have plenty of that here. White collar workers, new H3's and F350 w/ not even a scratch in the truck bed.