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Although many people WANT 4WD, nearly everyone can get by without it.

2WD is less expensive to buy, simpler, has less to go wrong, less to maintain, less to repair, easier to work on, less depreciation, greater payload, greater fuel mileage, better acceleration, smoother ride, and in many cases less expensive to insure and register.

My wife and I recently faced this decision, and purchased a new 2WD truck with the optional electronic locking rear axle. We actually use it for off-roading, but not the kind of off-roading that would require 4WD. We installed larger BFG All-Terrain tires on a set of 17" Method Racing wheels, a "shorty" performance exhaust system, a pair of Deaver rear leaf springs, and got in line for a 10-month wait for a $3,500 set of adjustable King 2.5 rear shocks and front ride height adjustable coilovers, both with reservoirs.

A few months ago, before we bought our truck, we rode out the worst snow storm in 40 years here, which helped us with our decision after we realized that we didn't actually have to go anywhere when there is snow on the roads. And when the snow turned to ice, all the vehicles we saw stuck in the ditches, were 4WD.