Looking for RAV4 Automatic

[Flemi21]

Hi all,

 

Looking for Toyata RAV4, automatic transmission, for around the £3000/4000 mark. Would prefer 5 doors. 

 

We we had a 1st generation RAV4 from new. Brilliant little car that lasted for years with no major issues. Unfortunately, someone wrote it off last month, breaking our hearts, felt like we lost a member of the family! 

 

We're looking to replace it with another RAV4, so if anyone hears of one being sold, we would be very interested. 

 

Thanks,

Chris

[152bobby]

One piece of advice, avoid a diesel, unless you do loads of mileage and no short trips.

[unihazard]

I just bought a 2001 RAV4 2.0 petrol GX automatic 65000miles  and drives fantastically in really good shape despite 15 years very impressed ,the dealer i bought it from has another RAV4 with 83000 miles  a GX and automatic for £3295 .Eaton motor company Norwich . I wanted a comfortable and capable auto having driven manual for 30 years and parkinsons making that more of a chore as effecting left side of body and gear /clutch co-ordination .The RAV is a revelation its dimensions allow it to get in my garage with all my junk but still offer lots of room with seats out .I wouldn't say I am much of an off roader but metal detecting ,shooting and fishing see minor off road jaunts for the 4 wheel drive the 2.0 l petrol delivers some decent grunt and the car is very comfortable .The RAV has put the pleasure back into driving after it had become a chore.

[Flemi21]

Thanks for the advice Bobby, wouldn't known about the diesel problem otherwise.

Thanks unihazard, will look into that one, not a bad price. Nice to hear  you had a good experience too.

[firemac]

5 hours ago, Flemi21 said:

Thanks for the advice Bobby, wouldn't known about the diesel problem otherwise.

Thanks unihazard, will look into that one, not a bad price. Nice to hear  you had a good experience too.

It's wise to avoid modern diesels if you contunuously only do short, urban journies where the engine cannot get up to temperature and therefore allow the various ancillaries (like the DPF - Diesel Particulate Filter) to burn off the sooty diesel particulates that can eventually cause very expensive damage to the engine. Having said that though we've owned numerous diesels over the years, mostly Toyotas, and they have coped with our mixed driving very well with no problems from the DPF, etc. The reality of the situation is that as long as the temp gauge regularly gets up to normal temp, then things should be fine. It's when the gauge stays in the cold section continuously - as result of jogging to the local shops once a day, for example - that you risk the problems.

The RAV4.2 facelift model (from 2003) only had auto with the vvt-i petrol engine and your budget should get you a reasonable example of one of these if you shop around and haggle a bit. That drivetrain was one of the best that I've ever experienced. They are not the most economical on fuel though (our 3 examples since 2002 varied between 25MPG and 33MPG) but on the other hand their reliability and ease of servicing means that running costs tend to balance out. And they have no corrosion issues. Beware the pre-facelift 4.2 however (1999 - 2003) as these can suffer from a software glitch in the ECU that can result in a destroyed gearbox if not dealt with very quickly. The ECU in these cases can be reflashed by specialists like ECUtesting in Derbyshire for something like £300 with a lifetime guarantee on the repair. You can tell these prefacelift models as they have square-ish fog lights in the lower bumper paired with the indicators, no audio controls on the steering wheel and the earlier design of alloys. If the seller can demonstrate that the ECU re-flash has been done then the car should be fine. Otherwise you will need to get something like £300 off the price in case you need to have the work done eventually. Having said that though, some early 4.2's never have the problem but if they do develop it (symptoms are eratic gearchanges, violent gearchanges) it is imperative that the car is not driven until the ECU is re-flashed otherwise the gearbox will destroy itself quite quickly.

Good luck.