I'm trying to figure out a a way to get deeper into the desert and a
4x4 is it. ( Anza Borrego National Park in Southern California).

I've never owned a 4x4 vehicle and I'm not even sure if the difference
between that and an all-wheel drive vehicle. But less than that, I'm
having a difficult time justifying buying a vehicle that I'm only going
to use a few times a year, that just doesn't make sense to me. So do
what do most of you do?

- Is your 4x4 your primary commuter vehicle? ( this would make sense,
but my daily commute is long, I need to make it in a fuel efficient
car, now I get 38mpg, I know a 4x4 won't do that)

- How do you justify the costs of owning an extra vehicle?

- How do you buy a used 4x4 vehicle that can potentially break in the
middle of nowhere?

Thanks,

-Alex