Which SUV ?

tomaussie

Hi Guys, I'll keep this short.

Going to buy a suv today. Looking at 2002-2006 models.

I have a short list of

Toyota rav

Suzuki grand vitara

Honda crv

No good reason for the shortlist other than a trusted friend advised me on these when I gave him my criteria.

Assuming I'm happy with any of the above - which one would you advise ?

I'm slightly leaning towards the Honda as it still looks decent for its age over the other two.

Also, any advice on models would be good as some people don't really know what they have so I could get a decent higher end model for the same price as a lower end model if I'm lucky.

Smoothness of ride is important to me as I want to enjoy the motorway when I'm on it.

thanks in advance

colm_mcm

Are you looking at petrol or diesel. Will you need 4wd?
What's your budget

tomaussie

colm_mcm wrote: »

Are you looking at petrol or diesel. Will you need 4wd?
What's your budget

Petrol or diesel. Not too bothered either way. The crv is petrol only as far as i can see.

Don't need 4wd.

Budget is $10,000.

colm_mcm

The 06 onwards Rav4 is permanent 4wd only. The 2.0 is quite good to drive. Easily the best to drive and has the best interior of the ones you mentioned but sore on petrol and a bit noisy.

The CRV is quite nice but doesn't feel that jeepy, and the handbrake is a bit stupid.
It does have a more efficient 4wd system than the toyota and is FWD most of the time.


I wouldn't bother with the Suzuki.


It should be noted that whilst all 3 of those sold in decent numbers 9-10 years ago - the arrival of the Nissan Qashqai in 2097 decimated rival small SUV sales. You'll get 09 models in your price range.



Hang on. You're not in Ireland are you....

tomaussie

colm_mcm wrote: »

The 06 onwards Rav4 is permanent 4wd only. The 2.0 is quite good to drive. Easily the best to drive and has the best interior of the ones you mentioned but sore on petrol and a bit noisy.

The CRV is quite nice but doesn't feel that jeepy, and the handbrake is a bit stupid.
It does have a more efficient 4wd system than the toyota and is FWD most of the time.


I wouldn't bother with the Suzuki.


It should be noted that whilst all 3 of those sold in decent numbers 9-10 years ago - the arrival of the Nissan Qashqai in 2097 decimated rival small SUV sales. You'll get 09 models in your price range.



Hang on. You're not in Ireland are you....

No. I'm in Australia. Thanks for all the info so far.

colm_mcm

You could look at the Hyundai Tucson as well. It has a 2.7 v6 auto which isn't overly powerful but smooth, or a 2.0 manual which isn't overly smooth or powerful
Good machine though.

tomaussie

colm_mcm wrote: »

You could look at the Hyundai Tucson as well. It has a 2.7 v6 auto which isn't overly powerful but smooth, or a 2.0 manual which isn't overly smooth or powerful
Good machine though.

Ah Dude. I was trying to shorten my list.

homewardbound11

What's wrong with the grand vitara. Always thought it looked good for the Irish market. Plenty of them around back as far as 2000. Suggests they are reliable

bazz26

I'd look at the Subaru Forester too. Should be plenty of them for sale down under, a bit thirstier than the others on your list though.

JohnBoy26

homewardbound11 wrote: »

What's wrong with the grand vitara. Always thought it looked good for the Irish market. Plenty of them around back as far as 2000. Suggests they are reliable

They are rough and more agricutural than both the crv and rav4. They are also not as well built as the Honda or Toyota

Suzuki also don't use their own diesel engines, instead opting to use a Peugeot unit, or in the later models a renault unit, which isn't the best unit out there.

tomaussie

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd look at the Subaru Forester too. Should be plenty of them for sale down under, a bit thirstier than the others on your list though.

These have dated very badly. I think most of the SUV's in the 6-10 year old bracket look very dated except for the CRV.

tomaussie

homewardbound11 wrote: »

What's wrong with the grand vitara. Always thought it looked good for the Irish market. Plenty of them around back as far as 2000. Suggests they are reliable

Still very expensive even at 8-10 year old. Must be some machine to be holding it's value so well.

I can get a 8 year old CRV for $10,000 but I wouldn't get a 10 year old grand vitara for less than $10,000.

tomaussie

Spent all day yesterday looking.

Looks like I'll be going for the CRV. Out again today and hopefully I'll come home with an empty pocket.

A guy let me walk for the sake of $200 on a $11,000 CRV yesterday. Unreal. End of month and end of financial year today but I don't see it making the difference people told me it would.

colm_mcm

If you like the crv then there's no good reason not to get one.

tomaussie

Done. CR-V sitting in the driveway. In immaculate condition. Fantastic bit of bargaining involed so got it for $3,200 under ticket price.

Thanks for all the info guys.

colm_mcm

Woo. Stick up pics

tomaussie

colm_mcm wrote: »

Woo. Stick up pics

Haven't a clue how to do this properly.

tomaussie

here goes

tomaussie

can't get it so they load automatically. sorry. too dumb. technology is killing me.