Opinions on (or alternatives to) the Toyota Rav4?

Howdy folks,

I currently drive a 00 Ford Focus. Nice car, interior is well kept, but the exterior is a little on the rough side. Nothing terrible, but it looks really unkept.

I'm a learner driver and plan to have done the test (and passed, obviously) in the next 3-4 months. I'd consider myself a competent driver (not the best in the world at reversing in tight spaces, but only due to lack of doing so).

So, anyway, I didn't really want to spend anything on my first car, incase I get terribly unlucky and wrote it off or had lots of bumps and scratches, etc. but for my next car I would like to get something a little better looking and a bit more enjoyable.

So I accidentally came across the RAV4 on DoneDeal and have been looking at them since. They seem nice and spacious and look like they'd be a bit of fun to drive for a year or so (before I inevitably settle back into a hatchback for a fairly long period of time).

Here's one that caught my eye on DoneDeal, as an example:


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4863348





I was thinking it might be fun to drive something that's a bit bigger than your average car/Ford Focus, and the Rav4 not being a 3ltr diesel makes it somewhat appealing. I'd only plan to hold onto it for 6-12 months or so I'd say.


Is there much (real) difference in driving one of these compared to a "normal" sized car? Anyone picked up an SUV-ey vehicle for the laugh before? Any experiences to share? I'd imagine they'll be a real 'love it or hate it' kinda thing to drive?


Cheers

Zubeneschamali

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd imagine they'll be a real 'love it or hate it' kinda thing to drive?

No, it's a Toyota, so it's just reliable a-to-b motoring. Less interesting to drive than your Focus.

biko

Subaru Forester
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4446939

colm_mcm

Thing with those rav4s is that they're basically an avensis underneath with no 4wd or anything to go wrong they're also reasonably light so fuel consumption is decent.
They rarely go wrong and are still fashionable.
I used to sell these when they were a current model, back then they had the fake SUV market sown up. Different story now of course.

Zubeneschamali

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

No, it's a Toyota, so it's just reliable a-to-b motoring. Less interesting to drive than your Focus.

Admittedly, I've only really been in 3-4 cars' driver seats, but I don't really know how it could be more or less interesting? If it has three pedals and a gearbox surely it's much the same as anything else on the road? I'm not exactly a car enthusiast, and not a 'boy racer' type that drills holes in my exhaust and then speeds around estates at night.

I'm not trying to be funny/smart-arsey with this reply either, but I don't really understand what you mean when you say it'd be less interesting. I'd have assumed a slightly higher viewpoint would make it a bit more enjoyable to be in, if nothing else?


Biko: I know it's very subjective: but I don't really love the look of the Forester at all.


Colm, 4x4 would very likely be wasted on me. I'm not planning to bring it up any mountains (it'd be lucky if it seen a beach). It being essentially a jacked up Avensis would be a good thing, though, no? Not a lot to go wrong or have to fork out for after buying it (current car cost me nearly its value again with mechanic costs. Albeit for mostly non-essential stuff, mostly cosmetic, but still). Having a car that is reliable is a major factor for me.


They (the Rav4) seem like a sensible choice for someone like myself (looking to try out something a bit different, early on) judging from your post?

Are these things spacious inside, out of curiousity? For carrying things around I mean? You know the way hatchbacks can be turned into vans almost, by dropping the seats and such, presumably the Rav4 can do the same thing with similar (hopefully better?) storage capacity?


Cheers for the replies, gents.

colm_mcm

The lack of 4wd is a good thing or someone who doesn't go off road. That said its not the grippiest of cars and its very easy to spin the wheels accidentally in low gears.
Still though its a great choice.

Another point worth making is that a lot if 1.8 toyotas had issues burning oil. A lot of these were sorted outside of warranty though.

With those later rav4s there's only 2 1.8 models, the luna (in your link) that had aircon, and the aura (much rarer) which had a sunroof instead.

The one in your pic has accessory side steps which while theyre not as nice as the genuine toyota ones, really add to the look of the car. It also has a toyota rear step and toyota rear spoiler.


The tax disc stapled to the nct cert may indicate that its possibly a small time dealer selling it. His number brings up another car for sale a few months back.

Ownership on that car changed in February. There's also 4 owners on it.

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

The lack of 4wd is a good thing or someone who doesn't go off road. That said its not the grippiest of cars and its very easy to spin the wheels accidentally in low gears.
Still though its a great choice.

Another point worth making is that a lot if 1.8 toyotas had issues burning oil. A lot of these were sorted outside of warranty though.

With those later rav4s there's only 2 1.8 models, the luna (in your link) that had aircon, and the aura (much rarer) which had a sunroof instead.

The one in your pic has accessory side steps which while theyre not as nice as the genuine toyota ones, really add to the look of the car. It also has a toyota rear step and toyota rear spoiler.

Presumably the Aura would be the better of the two? That's a pity about the two varieties being so backwards. Would much rather a sunroof than aircon. Seen as you're obviously clued in here (presumably a former Toyota salesman or such?) is there any reason why the Aura didn't sell as well? Aircon in Ireland seems a tad redundant, no?

I didn't really notice the side steps, to be honest. When you say it has them fitted instead of the genuine Toyota ones, do you mean that in the sense that there are none on it initially, and they have to be added (and the person went with cheaper ones than the genuine ones) or would it be more a case that they're always fitted and the owner of this particular Rav4 either didn't like the look of them, or damaged them (and thus changed them)?


I appreciate your really informative replies, by the way.

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

The tax disc stapled to the nct cert may indicate that its possibly a small time dealer selling it. His number brings up another car for sale a few months back.

Ownership on that car changed in February. There's also 4 owners on it.

I just seen this part of your post. Well I probably won't be buying one for another 2-3 months, so that one probably won't be the one I end up with, anyway (but if I were buying now it would have been likely to be near the top of my list initially).

I know you can find out if a car changed hands in the last 3 months using the motor tax site, but how did you get the number of owners, out of curiousity?

colm_mcm

They don't come with the steps from factory, so you had to add them on. Its a good thing that they're there. The cost of the rear and side steps plus that spoiler would have easily hit €1500 when new.

Aircon is a lot more desirable than sunroof, as well as keeping you cool in summer (I know, I know..) it also keeps the cabin nice and condensation free for the 50 or so non summery weeks of the year.

The steps on it were a few hundred less than the genuine ones. The mixture of chrome steps on the side and an aluminium step on the back would bug me slightly but its still way better than no steps.




Re the number of owners, if you put the reg in here as if you're selling the car, it'll tell you owners, nct and tax expiry

http://carsireland.ie/add.php

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

They don't come with the steps from factory, so you had to add them on. Its a good thing that they're there. The cost of the rear and side steps plus that spoiler would have easily hit €1500 when new.

Aircon is a lot more desirable than sunroof, as well as keeping you cool in summer (I know, I know..) it also keeps the cabin nice and condensation free for the 50 or so non summery weeks of the year.

The steps on it were a few hundred less than the genuine ones. The mixture of chrome steps on the side and an aluminium step on the back would bug me slightly but its still way better than no steps.




Re the number of owners, if you put the reg in here as if you're selling the car, it'll tell you owners, nct and tax expiry

http://carsireland.ie/add.php

It's well priced then, it'd seem, if they, alone, would cost so much (assuming that particular Rav4 isn't an accident waiting to happen). If I was spending 5-6k on anything I'd probably buy off a dealer anyway and try and wrangle some kind of warranty out of them. The prices don't seem to jump too much.


Eg:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Rav4/1.8i-4X2/32113553418934860/advert?channel=CARS


(truth be told, if I'd the money right now I'd be down looking at that tomorrow. Aside from the bull bars looking a little ridiculous on that one - look like they're floating about a foot in front of it, it seems like a decent purchase).



Presumably you'd add bull bars of some sort to that Rav4 (in the first post)? (could be just me, personally, but the silver steps on the sides and back, and nothing on the front, make it look a little unfinished or something? Though I'm not sure how expensive it'd be to get them fitted!).


Ah, I never thought of that, regarding the windows. Pity they didn't do it with both aircon and sunroof. Not sure how much that'd jack the price up but would be a nice (and desirable?) option.



That's handy to know about the number of owners, tax and NCT too. I shall bookmark that for future use, that's for sure.


Really appreciating you're advice and insight here, Colm.

colm_mcm

See that one you posted, those are the genuine aluminium steps, with an aftermarket A-bar on the front.

Need any help again, just shout.

Matthewjohn

I would consider these as well.


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4866245


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4787745

Is there a genuine bull-bar? Or did Toyota not bother to make one for it (not sure why anyone would really want one? Except to make it look a bit more aggressive? I doubt the Rav4 is a typical piece of farm machinery, haha).


It'll probably be a little while before I look into buying one, so would you mind me pestering you closer to the time, Colm? (with a link to a potential purchase?)

colm_mcm

Toyota did an original one, think it was around €600 though.
I think its the best looking bar for them. It sort of looks like a sump guard.



Never seen those extra lights fitted in real life, I remember the lights were ridiculous money at the time, and they had standard foglights anyway.

Matthewjohn

Matthewjohn wrote: »

I would consider these as well.


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4787745

Cheers for the alternatives. That Honda CR-V looks pretty good. Generally seems less expensive than the Rav4, too. (though I still think the Rav4 is a bit nicer looking, and given the fairly minimal price difference I think I'd rather the Rav4 of the two of them).

colm_mcm wrote: »

Toyota did an original one, think it was around €600 though.
I think its the best looking bar for them. It sort of looks like a sump guard.

Never seen those extra lights fitted in real life, I remember the lights were ridiculous money at the time, and they had standard foglights anyway.

That doesn't look too bad. Not mad about "Rav4" being wrote on it (a tad over the top on branding) but it looks nice in general. I like that it's close to the body of the vehicle, unlike one I linked to previously, where it's a foot ahead.

The extra lights don't seem like they'd offer much benefit. I live in a housing estate, and such a thing would just be an extra expense on something for the local kids to try and break off. :rolleyes:

Anan1

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm not trying to be funny/smart-arsey with this reply either, but I don't really understand what you mean when you say it'd be less interesting. I'd have assumed a slightly higher viewpoint would make it a bit more enjoyable to be in, if nothing else?

As a general principle, taller cars are better off-road and less pleasant/comfortable/safe on tarmac. If you don't need to venture off-road then you'll be happier in a car.

Anan1

Anan1 wrote: »

As a general principle, taller cars are better off-road and less pleasant/comfortable/safe on tarmac. If you don't need to venture off-road then you'll be happier in a car.

Ah, no doubt about it. Any extra practicality it has will be wasted on me (though if I was venturing off-road it certainly wouldn't be in anything that didn't have 4 wheel drive! ) but sure I may aswell get one if I want one and either fall in love with it or spend months regretting it.

Never know if you never try, and all that!

Anan1

Deleted User wrote: »

Ah, no doubt about it. Any extra practicality it has will be wasted on me (though if I was venturing off-road it certainly wouldn't be in anything that didn't have 4 wheel drive! ) but sure I may aswell get one if I want one and either fall in love with it or spend months regretting it.

Never know if you never try, and all that!

Have you driven one yet?

Zubeneschamali

Deleted User wrote: »

I don't really know how it could be more or less interesting?

You've been driving your Focus for a while, and each car has a particular "feel". When you test drive a RAV4, compared to your Focus, it will feel numb, there will be less feedback in the steering, it'll be more like a Playstation game, a more remote experience.

You may not care, and the RAV4 is grand if you just want a reliable thing that looks a bit like it might be a 4x4, but it won't be more fun to drive than a Focus.

Anan1

Anan1 wrote: »

Have you driven one yet?

I haven't. I've only been in the drivers seat of hatchbacks so far.

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

You've been driving your Focus for a while, and each car has a particular "feel". When you test drive a RAV4, compared to your Focus, it will feel numb, there will be less feedback in the steering, it'll be more like a Playstation game, a more remote experience.

You may not care, and the RAV4 is grand if you just want a reliable thing that looks a bit like it might be a 4x4, but it won't be more fun to drive than a Focus.

That's an interesting thing to say and something I'll look out for when I'm getting into different cars. Two cars I'd mostly have experienced would be the Focus and a Renault Megane that my brother owns. Can't say I've noticed any real differences between those two in particular (though they are both similarly sized cars in general, I suppose?).

I'll be curious to get behind the wheel of a Rav4 now. I have an Iveco Daily (large van) sitting outside, I must get into that for a quick spin around the estate some day, to see what it's like.