Rav4 - Which Model(S) To Avoid?

[Jemmo]

Evening all.

Am thinking of getting a RAV4 but am a bit put off with stories of head gaskets failing and the solution being an engine replacement. I've read that the affected engine will be replaced by Toyota but only up to a certain age and mileage. Is this problem only apparent with the T180 models or does it occur on other RAV4 versions?

[anchorman]

It can occur with any RAV with a diesel up until 2008 ish. Bear in mind that those with high oil consumption are usually early ones from 2006 up to maybe late 2006 early 2007. As a result many of those early ones have been re-engined.

Big Kev is selling a mint SR180 which is post engine problem altogether.

[Jemmo]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I don't think my budget will stretch to a newer model so will keep looking.

[igormus]

you can consider 2 ltr petrol vvt-i

the engine is reliable

regards / Igor

[Big Kev]

you can consider 2 ltr petrol vvt-i

the engine is reliable

regards / Igor

Good advice as usual from our Big Buddy in Ukraine.....them there petrol engines are bomb proof, but not frugal in the fuel.....

Big Kev

[igormus]

yes it might be true with fuel appetite -- but when calculated all wastes to cure diesel equippment -- one might to change the point of view

Of course it is my view on the topic

Igor

[firemac]

I agree with BK & Igor. The vvt-i engines are first class from point of view of refinement, durability & quality. Our 02-reg 5-door has never given any problem (apart from an unfortunate cat failure that I blame, at least in part, on the worst Toyota servicing agent in UK), routine servicing only, uses zero oil, is very nicely matched to the auto-box but fuel consumption seldom betters 25 mpg.

Our 54-reg 3-dr auto is equally brilliant but mpg is much better, typically 33mpg, although this morning I got 38mpg on A-road, M-way journey from Cheshire to Sheffield.

Having said that I've had two Toyota diesels, a 55-reg RAV & a 57-reg LC4 and both were excellent. I guess with respect to the RAV 4.3 diesel problem, it's a matter of luck whether you get a good 'un. Nevertheless you have to give Toyota full marks for looking after those who have suffered - I'm not aware of any other manufacturer who has done anything near as impressive.

[Big Kev]

Nearly disagreed with ye there, Jimbob, on the word "refinement" in reference to these vvti engines, then remembered both yours are automatatics. Don't know why, but my neighbour's automatic Rav I went to Scumforpe (spelt that way to beat auto censor...!!!!) to collect is way more quieter / refined engine noise than wife's 3 door manual.. Is it the shorter wheelbase that gives the impression (or am I confusing with some road noise also too forbye....?)

Urgently need to change her front discs as well warped suddenly with corrosion Anchorman warned me about.....should maybe invite him up to watch and learn, but can't afford any more car bits or tools to "go missing....".

Witheld.

[Steve Graham]

My 2004 petrol 2-litre is showing an average 40.6mpg or 6.9l/100km on the computer. That's on a mix of motorway and rural driving, but little or no urban traffic jams!

[Davrav]

My 2004 petrol 2-litre is showing an average 40.6mpg or 6.9l/100km on the computer. That's on a mix of motorway and rural driving, but little or no urban traffic jams!

Don't want to burst your bubble Steve but have you checked it by calculation 'brim to brim' Steve? - said computer readouts are notoriously inaccurate.....................

[Big Kev]

My 2004 petrol 2-litre is showing an average 40.6mpg or 6.9l/100km on the computer. That's on a mix of motorway and rural driving, but little or no urban traffic jams!

Nah, Steve....ah would bet ma Taylor 12 string against yer nice red lekky guitar that yer OBC is telling fibs !!!!!

...AND POSTED EXACTLY SAME THYME AS DAVRAV......

[BeechCustom]

I've actually found the trip computer on my 2000(x) 2.0 petrol 4.2 to be very accurate compared to brim to brim calculations. If anything it's actually pesimistic. However, 40.6 mpg from a petrol Rav is extremely unlikely even with motorway only driving. I'm getting around 28mpg from 80% urban driving but only got 35mpg on a run to Scotland recently.

[Hoovie]

I used to drive my RAV4.2 frequently from East Devon to the Hants/Surrey Border to go to the office and then back in the evening again - about 270 miles in total, and it was not unusual to HAVE to fill the fuel tank to make it home even when leaving with a full tank!

I then changed my route and drove not as frequently, but quite often from East Devon to East Coast of Scotland and on that Journey, rarely encountering any significant traffic and going both up the M6 routes and the M1 routes and never really booting it, rarely managed to better 33 mpg on the trips.

In the end, had to change the car as the economy was too painful :( (but for a qashqai which was much better on the fuel but an uninspiring drive, so now back in a RAV4! )

[firemac]

Nearly disagreed with ye there, Jimbob, on the word "refinement" in reference to these vvti engines, then remembered both yours are automatatics. Don't know why, but my neighbour's automatic Rav I went to Scumforpe (spelt that way to beat auto censor...!!!!) to collect is way more quieter / refined engine noise than wife's 3 door manual.. Is it the shorter wheelbase that gives the impression (or am I confusing with some road noise also too forbye....?)

Urgently need to change her front discs as well warped suddenly with corrosion Anchorman warned me about.....should maybe invite him up to watch and learn, but can't afford any more car bits or tools to "go missing....".

Witheld.

Our 5-dr is a VX & is certainly quieter than the 3-dr, which is an XT3. I guess it's down to the spec and the level of sound-proofing that comes with them respectively rather than the shorter wheelbase. Having said that the XT3 isn't bad, noise-wise.

Certainly the longer wheelbase in the VX makes it a more comfy ride.

[Jemmo]

I'm looking at diesel because of the fuel economy (or lack of) with petrol. My old petrol Avensis has been so reliable that I want to stick with Toyota.

[flyboyprowler]

I'm looking at diesel because of the fuel economy (or lack of) with petrol. My old petrol Avensis has been so reliable that I want to stick with Toyota.

Like Jim, I have 2 petrol auto's, 2003 and 2007, both are really good. I actually prefer the ride "quality", of the 4.2, as the later car is definitely firmer, but that said, we just did a 4 1/2 hour non stop run in the 4.3, and my 63 year old body was ok at the end!!

If you pick diesel, as ever, make sure you get a car that is fully sorted engine wise. I am still not convinced that diesels make sense unless you are doing at least 13000 miles a year. Fuel more expensive, older cars mpg not so good as newer ones, and I believe service costs are higher too!

Just my thoughts!

Ainsley

[dwilson]

I'm looking at diesel because of the fuel economy (or lack of) with petrol. My old petrol Avensis has been so reliable that I want to stick with Toyota.

Like Jim, I have 2 petrol auto's, 2003 and 2007, both are really good. I actually prefer the ride "quality", of the 4.2, as the later car is definitely firmer, but that said, we just did a 4 1/2 hour non stop run in the 4.3, and my 63 year old body was ok at the end!!

If you pick diesel, as ever, make sure you get a car that is fully sorted engine wise. I am still not convinced that diesels make sense unless you are doing at least 13000 miles a year. Fuel more expensive, older cars mpg not so good as newer ones, and I believe service costs are higher too!

Just my thoughts!

Ainsley

I agree with above. The mpg on my wife's petrol RAV is averaging 30 mpg and that includes a fair number of short trips. We only do about 5000 miles a year in it so wouldn't save much by having a diesel. I did own a diesel RAV (56 plate 150 bhp) a few years ago and think I got more like 40 mpg from it. I would like an automatic RAV next time I swap but very happy with the one we own so not in any hurry. I like the torque with the diesel but not so keen on the frequency of the engine note. I wouldn't rule out either fuel but will probably go for one a year or two old so as to miss out on the early depreciation - will look for what seems a good buy at the time.

David

[Steve Graham]

I haven't had an opportunity (or desire, at these prices) to try a brim-to-brim test, but with the less accurate "Warning light" test and a couple of refills, it looks as though the car's display is indeed about 10% or more too optimistic. My calculations suggest a real average figure of a little over 36 mpg. Which is still very good, altough I am a great driver.

[sonixtorm]

I'm looking at diesel because of the fuel economy (or lack of) with petrol. My old petrol Avensis has been so reliable that I want to stick with Toyota.

Personally, I wouldn't associate the Rav 4.3 diesel with Toyota's legendary reliability. They're great cars when they are running right, but it only takes a quick around the forum to see that engine problems are not as rare as you have come to expect from previous experience.

[Jemmo]

Thanks for making me scratch my head guys lol.

I'm doing a daily round trip of nearly 40 miles, and a little bit of that is idling in traffic. Then there's running around at weekemds. I thought a diesel might be the better ovarall value.

[Big Kev]

I'm looking at diesel because of the fuel economy (or lack of) with petrol. My old petrol Avensis has been so reliable that I want to stick with Toyota.

Personally, I wouldn't associate the Rav 4.3 diesel with Toyota's legendary reliability. They're great cars when they are running right, but it only takes a quick around the forum to see that engine problems are not as rare as you have come to expect from previous experience.

.....then 19 minutes after posting this, you wax lyrical about how reliable YOUR T180 has indeed been, much as you have seen fit to change marques regardless. I am easy to confuse at the best of times, but.....

Big Kev

[sonixtorm]

I'm looking at diesel because of the fuel economy (or lack of) with petrol. My old petrol Avensis has been so reliable that I want to stick with Toyota.

Personally, I wouldn't associate the Rav 4.3 diesel with Toyota's legendary reliability. They're great cars when they are running right, but it only takes a quick around the forum to see that engine problems are not as rare as you have come to expect from previous experience.

.....then 19 minutes after posting this, you wax lyrical about how reliable YOUR T180 has indeed been, much as you have seen fit to change marques regardless. I am easy to confuse at the best of times, but.....

Big Kev

Au contraire. I posted that our Rav4 was not using a lot of oil and had not had its engine replaced, NOT that it was particularly reliable. In fact, the Rav has had quite a few (albeit small, largely clogging-related, but still inconvenient) problems in the last year, hence my comment on this thread. I don't think that makes it a particularly bad car, but buying a Rav on the basis that an Avensis has been reliable may lead to some disappointment (or sogginess, as you strip the EGR valve by the side of the road in the pouring rain ;) ).

[Big Kev]

I'm looking at diesel because of the fuel economy (or lack of) with petrol. My old petrol Avensis has been so reliable that I want to stick with Toyota.

Personally, I wouldn't associate the Rav 4.3 diesel with Toyota's legendary reliability. They're great cars when they are running right, but it only takes a quick around the forum to see that engine problems are not as rare as you have come to expect from previous experience.

.....then 19 minutes after posting this, you wax lyrical about how reliable YOUR T180 has indeed been, much as you have seen fit to change marques regardless. I am easy to confuse at the best of times, but.....

Big Kev

Au contraire. I posted that our Rav4 was not using a lot of oil and had not had its engine replaced, NOT that it was particularly reliable. In fact, the Rav has had quite a few (albeit small, largely clogging-related, but still inconvenient) problems in the last year, hence my comment on this thread. I don't think that makes it a particularly bad car, but buying a Rav on the basis that an Avensis has been reliable may lead to some disappointment (or sogginess, as you strip the EGR valve by the side of the road in the pouring rain ;) ).

.....which is a much more euphamistic / positive vibe for incoming visitors to this site than original. Every car is great when it's running right, that is a given. But the ongoing negativity re the Toyota 2AD engine really does bemuse me.....IT WILL BE FIXED IF IT GOES WRONG SHOULD BE WHAT WE TRY TO FOCUS ON.(If it's outside warranty, that is life....)

I take this stance solely having been trying to sell my car to a prospective timewaster....sorry, buyer....who even quoted a poster by name re. the engine problems which DID NOT AFFECT MY CAR, but try telling him that.

Good luck with your new car, and if the manufacturer admits to what Toyota did, you won't need luck.

Big Kev

[Uncle_P]

My 4.2 petrol gives an average of about 30mpg with mixed roads. That's about 320 miles from full to fuel light. Is it my imagination or does the fuel light come on when very late? Anybody know how much juice is left when the light comes on?

[BeechCustom]

My 4.2 petrol gives an average of about 30mpg with mixed roads. That's about 320 miles from full to fuel light. Is it my imagination or does the fuel light come on when very late? Anybody know how much juice is left when the light comes on?

That's pretty much what I'm getting in my 2000 (X) 5dr petrol 4.2 although my latest full to full included lots of traffic jams and I'm down to 26mpg. I think anyone claiming much over 33mpg IN ANY DRIVING SITUATION is deluded. I have done 30 miles in traffic after the fuel light came on before now. Not sure what that tells us!