Tell me about: Toyota RAV4

Berger · 12 Nov 2011 at 11:19

Looking at getting one of these to share with my girlfriend.

Reasons being:

Toyota/Ford/Holden dominate the market here.

The Ford and Holden small cars are pretty dire, Holden Barina (Corsa) etc are all a bit small/tin can and not really suitable for longer journeys/gravel road sections. Ford only recently introduced the Fiesta/Focus so not in budget.

Good residuals on anything Toyota, could run for 6-12 months then resell for no loss.

Perceived reliability, should be cheap to run, we have a fleet of entirely Toyota with the exception of one Commodore at work and they are excellent.

Not too big, a 2 door Rav4 is 3.7 meters in length, my girlfriends only driven a Fiesta and her Fiat 500, I don't fancy her driving a Falcon or something which will be huge in comparison. Wanted a manual too to make it easy for her to get used to driving over here.

Insurance, 2L engine so cheap insurance as we are under 30 and have no NCB to use over here, Falcons etc have a straight 6 as a minimum and can be pricey.

Quite good visibility, living more out in the country a soft 4x4 may be of more use, can also fit 'roo bars or may already be fitted.

Can probably spend $5-7000 which looking gets a later series 1 or an early series 2 (2000 onwards) model.

ABS optional on series 1 and only on higher spec models on series 2?

clicky

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2000-Toy...-/190595989400?pt=AU_Cars&hash=item2c6067ff98

clicky 2

Anything I need to know or an owners forum I can read up on? How good/bad are they off road?

[TW]Fox · 12 Nov 2011 at 11:36

Stop being a loser and buy an XR6.

jumpy · 12 Nov 2011 at 11:37

Dunno about specifics, but some guide on msn the other day rated the rav 4 quite well as an urban 4x4.
If your other half has only ever driven a fiesta or a fiat 500, be sure to tell her she can't chuck it around corners like those other two go-carts; she'll tip it over or slide it off the road.

Can't say much more as I'm a land rover owner (make of that what you will hehe)

If you're in oz, why not look for a landcruiser instead? It won't matter if she bumps the odd lamp post with it then

Plus it's a proper 4x4, comparatively speaking.

Berger · 12 Nov 2011 at 11:42

jumpy said:
Dunno about specifics, but some guide on msn the other day rated the rav 4 quite well as an urban 4x4.
If your other half has only ever driven a fiesta or a fiat 500, be sure to tell her she can't chuck it around corners like those other two go-carts; she'll tip it over or slide it off the road.

Can't say much more as I'm a land rover owner (make of that what you will hehe)

If you're in oz, why not look for a landcruiser instead? It won't matter if she bumps the odd lamp post with it then Plus it's a proper 4x4, comparatively speaking.

Landcruisers are too big for her, imagine they are more money too. I'm chopping between a land cruiser Sahara v8 and a series 79 i6 diesel for work, she would struggle with them.

Would only be for a short while then I can px it towards an xr8 ute ;-)

having no transportation is making her job hunt difficult at the moment.

jumpy · 12 Nov 2011 at 11:50

Dunno what the 2nd hand market is like out there, but 4x4's are cheap here.
What's the issue with it being too big? Is she small, or just afraid of something larger than a fiesta?

SoliD · 12 Nov 2011 at 12:31

Toyota Masturbator!

Berger · 12 Nov 2011 at 23:02

jumpy said:
Dunno what the 2nd hand market is like out there, but 4x4's are cheap here.
What's the issue with it being too big? Is she small, or just afraid of something larger than a fiesta?

The second hand market is very strong here, if it has an engine and wheels then it will be worth at least $3k, I am well aware of the UK market since I only moved out here a month ago.

I don't want a Land cruiser because they are massive and expensive. Too large for my girlfriend to drive comfortably as she is only small and too big to easily park, especially in some of the new car parks.

I am after information about the Rav4, or any alternatives, Suzuki Jimmy, Honda CRV etc.

DrSteve · 13 Nov 2011 at 09:46

Wife drove a RAV for a few years and loved it. Was never too impressed myself, diesel seemed noisy and underpowered.
Just be careful as there is a known issue with dual mass flywheel failure. Happened to ours and cost a fortune to get fixed. Was never the same after that and we got rid.

Berger · 13 Nov 2011 at 10:20

DrSteve said:
Wife drove a RAV for a few years and loved it. Was never too impressed myself, diesel seemed noisy and underpowered.
Just be careful as there is a known issue with dual mass flywheel failure. Happened to ours and cost a fortune to get fixed. Was never the same after that and we got rid.

Thanks, wouldn't be an issue as would be a petrol, no other problems though? Guess yours was a series 2 so 2000 onwards?

Bill101 · 13 Nov 2011 at 11:16

Get the one you linked to in 'clicky2' as it has

Newly Extended REGO whatever that is, it must be good?
You need to find out the difference between an Aus speced RAV4 and a good old Brit one, as I'm sure not a lot of people here know what(if any) there is.

DrSteve · 13 Nov 2011 at 12:55

Berger said:
Thanks, wouldn't be an issue as would be a petrol, no other problems though? Guess yours was a series 2 so 2000 onwards?

It was a 2005 so last of the older shape. Apart from the terminal event the car was mechanically faultless for the 5 or so years we had it. Only other issue was poor finish on the alloys where the top layer peeled off and looked pretty bad. Was another known issue. Paint is soft but that's just down to Toyota in general.
The spare wheel cover did break but that was down to my other half reversing into the front of my car on the drive!!