Toyspeed.org.nz Message Board

by **RS13** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 5:59 pm

Anyone here had much experience with early Rav4s? The missus is pretty keen to get one, auto though, I take it they're generally Toyota reliable and not too bad on gas? I can't see it being taken off road, maybe the odd trip on gravel, so I don't care that they aren't 4wding monsters! Would need it for towing as well, 3SFE should be up to this?

Things to look for other than the normal?

by **holden_fan2005** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 7:17 pm

The old lady had one. Was really bad on gas, gearing was totally on the piss for highway driving. Up a hill it was either bogged down or revving its tits off, bugger all in between.

Probably used more gas that my V8 soarer.

by **ee904age** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 7:32 pm

What are you planning on towing? The odd load of rubbish etc on a garden trailer, it will be fine. A car trailer to an out of town race meet etc, nooo way!

by **Mr Revhead** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 7:36 pm

ee904age wrote:What are you planning on towing? The odd load of rubbish etc on a garden trailer, it will be fine. A car trailer to an out of town race meet etc, nooo way!

Would you tow with a Corona? Coz thats pretty much what they are.

Pretty reliable, like anything a few common faults. But no real deathly issues.
Typical 3S leaks from valve cover and seals.
ALWAY do the water pump when you do the cambelt. If they can;t prove this has been done when walk away.

Caldina GT-T · by **snwtoy** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 7:59 pm

Wouldn't let my missus buy an early one. Aren't they pretty easy to tip over? They're no good at offroad, and no good at handling on road from what friends tell me.

Waste of space on the road and annoying to see past in my not so humble opinion.

They're like the starlet of SUVs, with all of the cons and none of the pro's. And they look like they're wearing a nappy.

And I've had a few bears, so my opinion is largely exagerated and probably best ignored.

*beers

by **ezy10s** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 8:05 pm

Rod throwers!!!!

by **Skin** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 8:11 pm

Rear diff mounts, front brake hoses and front strut mounts

by **Mr Revhead** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 8:14 pm

^ yeah. I remember now :lol:

And the steering colum gaiter.

by **DXROLLA** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 11:18 pm

Have also heard they are very bad on gas

Website · by **Emperor** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 11:21 pm

Used one to tow my rx7 from hamilton to pukekohe.. Never again

by **BZG Wagon** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 12:34 am

What version are you after?

My sister has had two (original shape + the one after) & I've spent a fair amount driving both.

As mentioned they're not flash on gas. The latter one being a 5 door is pathetic on hills and open road driving, but alright around the city.

The older one seemed to go a bit better and it also had a lockable centre diff which made it quite decent off road (just don't tell my sister

).
Not much boot space either.

IMO both handle exceptionally well for what they are.

Great chick car - I'd happily buy the newer shaped one for my GF given she doesn't care about performance + I could also do some light offroading in the weekend.

by **RS13** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 5:07 am

Ah ok, lol.. sounds like there is a reason they're cheap. I don't want her getting a gutless shitter.. having a hard time finding decently priced light petrol 4wds.. might have to convince her to go diesel MU or something!

by **Mr Revhead** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 7:35 am

An MU are you insane?
Horrible leaky engines.
Have you driven a rav yet?

by **MR2SIK** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 8:53 am

Hopeless cars, my old civic could go further off road.
My ex mrs was eyeing up an sti wagon a few years back, she shows up home with a rav4.
Needless to say things werent the same between us after that :lol:

Website · by **Bling** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 11:06 am

What do you want a light 4wd for anyway? Either its a car or a proper 4wd

Inbetween vehicles probably fail in both categories :lol:

by **spoonza6** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 11:22 am

My dad used to own one, was a gutless piece of junk on hills. Hated driving it up the bombays and had to always build up speed when approaching it.

by **strx7** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 11:34 am

LF hubs are a common problem on them.
the manual gearboxes are a bit prone to spinning the spline of 5th gear on the shaft.
they are essentially a lifted corona, and drive like such.,
the gearing is ment for around town driving, which is why they are thirsty
(and they are fulltime 4wd, apart from the odd front wheel drive one)

by **RS13** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 12:16 pm

Mr Revhead wrote:An MU are you insane?
Horrible leaky engines.
Have you driven a rav yet?

Hey I've had a bit to do with MUs, get a good one and you're away laughing. Yes I've driven a Rav, I wasn't exactly singing its' praises but I didn't think it was terribly shit, didn't really get to take it for a decent drive nor look over it properly. Took traffic islands well though!

by **RS13** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 1:08 pm

BZG|Bling wrote:What do you want a light 4wd for anyway? Either its a car or a proper 4wd

Inbetween vehicles probably fail in both categories

Clearly, you've never attempted to reason with a woman.

Website · by **Bling** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 2:07 pm

Well if its just a "oh I like the look of that one" then I can understand :lol:

Just thought there might have been a genuine reason for the 'light 4wd' :wink:

As for reasoning with women, that's a mugs game, just walk away :lol:

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