Rav4 diesel opinions

[Willdat?]

In laws are looking at a manual one (2008) on Tm. I have a feeling they're European built, but is there anything else they should be wary of?

[Bling]

I'm trying to recall who on here has one... doing my head in!

[Alex B]

Yeah RUC, it's probably cheaper or the same to run a petrol one.

I can't recall the name of it, but there is a JDM version that has a 2GR in it also.

[Willdat?]

The 2000kg towing capacity is part of the appeal, they have a 1700kg caravan that they use occasionally. Seems like they might be an oddball size 200 mm shorter than a petrol 2008 rav4, weird!

[Leon]

Towing with a non turbo Toyota diesel (I am told) is only very slightly faster than walking to your destination.

Whilst this is generally an opinion given in the context of towing race cars, I suspect the same is likely to apply also to a caravan that heavy!

[Willdat?]

They're a 2.2, 100Kw 310Nm turbo so will be okay I think, no land cruiser/patrol but good enough provided there's no common issues.

[Dell'Orto]

I'm fairly sure Girvs has one, he's too busy gallivanting around the world and being a dirty long haired hippy to read here though.

[YeMs]

Yeh great vehicles. The engines are prone to oil burning, like most of the late model toyota stuff, which is part of the engine design for upper cylinder lubricant etc. some of them are just abit more excessive than others. Iv rebuilt a few due to this. They go really well. They run Diesel Particulate Filters, so require low ash oil.

As mentioned before there is a 2GR 4WD option dubbed the 'Vangaurd', which is very popular in Aussie. Extremely grunty, like the highlander/aurion. We had one on the yard about 6 months ago, a whole lotta rav4 lol.

[Bling]

Getting 6.3 litres per 100Km from my RAV....admittedly is a 2008 diesel.

Not too bad!

[dnalunchie]

Have always wondered why toyota didn't push a diesel rav4 option from the get go. I mean the rav4 is a very popular soft-roader and they look/handle quite nicely. But from what I have seen they never seemed to sell a diesel rav4 New in NZ. All the diesel ones here are imports from what I could see on trademe. I mean they really would be the perfect car for so many people in NZ, with the versatility of a capable everyday car and something that can handle the ski-field access roads/farm tracks etc but all they were lacking was a good engine so they could tow the family boat twice a year to the batch.

Dad had a couple hilux's and then a mistral and now wants something else and I remember him saying the 2007 shape rav would be the perfect car if it had proper towing capacity so he could launch his boat.

[Alex B]

I'm pretty sure the previous model Diesel could be purchased NZ New as well as the latest one.

Dad launches and tows his 5M crestacraft with a 2008 Rav

[dnalunchie]

I'm pretty sure the previous model Diesel could be purchased NZ New as well as the latest one.

Dad launches and tows his 5M crestacraft with a 2008 Rav

Oh real? ah okay, if so that is kinda surprising as I have looked a couple times over the past year or two and never saw a diesel option listed on toyota's website or any NZ new ones on trademe

[Lloyd]

http://www.rav4.co.nz/diesel/overview/

And every private diesel Rav4 on trademe seems to be NZ new actually.

[dnalunchie]

http://www.rav4.co.nz/diesel/overview/

And every private diesel Rav4 on trademe seems to be NZ new actually.

Lol okay I must be seriously blind or just going nuts..... I have suspected this for quite some time.....

[Girvs]

Finished galavanting like a long haired hippy. TBH I'm content with mine. Its fairly economical, apparently averaging 6.4 litres per 100KM atm, or so it tells me. As for towing, I towed a furniture trailer (single axle) and averaged about 9.5L/100KM (which is 0.1l/100KM more efficient than my NA Supra has ever been). and it was about 8l/100KM with an unladen trailer. As for pulling up hill with a trailer it was a piece of piss, sure I had to down shift, but I held about 90km/h uphill no worries at all, the torque is fantastic

Yes, its marginally smaller than the J-Spec (40mm), but its ok'ish size wise. The handling I'm very impressed with and its quite stable on the road. Has dual climate air control which is handy and you can disable the passengers airbag if need be.
If there's any downers about it, its that it costs so much to own a diesel in NZ. About $400'ish to register plus RUC's. The stereo doesn't have any Aux in or bluetooth so no handsfree.
Bought it at 82,XXXX and now upto around about 111,XXX. Most of those K's are put on it from driving to/from Kune in the winter season and up the mountain and its very comfortable to drive in. Not sure if theres any other questions I can answer, technically I haven't had anything go wrong with it, though its had two factory recalls. One for the window motor and the other for the rear upper suspension arm IIRC.

[dnalunchie]

Finished galavanting like a long haired hippy. TBH I'm content with mine. Its fairly economical, apparently averaging 6.4 litres per 100KM atm, or so it tells me. As for towing, I towed a furniture trailer (single axle) and averaged about 9.5L/100KM (which is 0.1l/100KM more efficient than my NA Supra has ever been). and it was about 8l/100KM with an unladen trailer. As for pulling up hill with a trailer it was a piece of piss, sure I had to down shift, but I held about 90km/h uphill no worries at all, the torque is fantastic

Yes, its marginally smaller than the J-Spec (40mm), but its ok'ish size wise. The handling I'm very impressed with and its quite stable on the road. Has dual climate air control which is handy and you can disable the passengers airbag if need be.
If there's any downers about it, its that it costs so much to own a diesel in NZ. About $400'ish to register plus RUC's. The stereo doesn't have any Aux in or bluetooth so no handsfree.
Bought it at 82,XXXX and now upto around about 111,XXX. Most of those K's are put on it from driving to/from Kune in the winter season and up the mountain and its very comfortable to drive in. Not sure if theres any other questions I can answer, technically I haven't had anything go wrong with it, though its had two factory recalls. One for the window motor and the other for the rear upper suspension arm IIRC.

what is it like in the snow/mud?/rain. Also I know the euro model is slightly shorter but it is also slightly lower with slightly more sporting (low) suspension set up, BUT is the JDM and euro diesel engine the same?> Also I am sure all the NZ new ones have AUX inputs?

[1I1]

Diesel Ravs were made in Europe, can't get a Japanese spec diesel

[Girvs]

What Mark said, the J-Spec ones didn't come out Diesel...well not sure about the 2013 models, as they now have a diesel (auto) model.

Have driven up the mountain in slippy conditions and didn't really have too much of an issue but definitely saw other vehicles lose traction. Only once got a slight squiggle on in the snow, but just put 4WD lock on and it pulled away normally (unfortunately it only works upto 40km/h and then it will auto disengage) and no low ratio gear option. Haven't gone for a drive in boggy mud to test it properly. I'm also running semi-all terrain tyres on it.