Looking to buy a used Rav4 sub £5k . . . what years to avoid etc?

[richVVTI]

Hey folks,

Here is my criteria;

Manual / Petrol / <100k miles / FSH / sub £5k / AWD / ULEZ free

I'm assuming all Rav4's have AWD though? Which year has the best petrol engine and what MPG to expect?

I've just been reading through all the 'years to avoid' sites but there are a lot of contradictions and nothing specific to petrol models. 

Found so far; 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/698678341470283/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=undefined&referral_story_type=listing&tracking={"qid"%3A"-4835265314996126554"%2C"mf_story_key"%3A"4873964812706197"%2C"commerce_rank_obj"%3A"{\"target_id\"%3A4873964812706197%2C\"target_type\"%3A0%2C\"primary_position\"%3A9%2C\"ranking_signature\"%3A1066166386453118976%2C\"commerce_channel\"%3A504%2C\"value\"%3A0.00051174050698703%2C\"candidate_retrieval_source_map\"%3A{\"4873964812706197\"%3A111}}"%2C"ftmd_400706"%3A"111112l"}

Love to hear your experiences. 

Ta, 

Rich 

[richVVTI]

p.s. since they are all 2.0 petrols I don't need to worry about the oil burning VVTi engines from years prior to 2006? I've just owned an Avensis so I knew about that . . . 

[philip42h]

Never assume anything - not all RAV4s are AWD - FWD RAV4s exist but I suspect all petrol RAV4.3s are AWD.

AFAIK all 2.0L petrol engines are VVTi ... and are generally considered trouble free.

It pretty much goes without saying that you want the newest, lowest mileage example that you can afford. The RAV4 switched from the 4.2 to the 4.3 around 2005 / 2006 - if I were looking for a RAV4 from that period I'd be looking for a 4.3 from 2006 or later ...

[Pogle]

12 hours ago, philip42h said:

Never assume anything - not all RAV4s are AWD - FWD RAV4s exist but I suspect all petrol RAV4.3s are AWD.

AFAIK all 2.0L petrol engines are VVTi ... and are generally considered trouble free.

It pretty much goes without saying that you want the newest, lowest mileage example that you can afford. The RAV4 switched from the 4.2 to the 4.3 around 2005 / 2006 - if I were looking for a RAV4 from that period I'd be looking for a 4.3 from 2006 or later ...

My 2010 petrol 4.3 is FWD not AWD.

[Dippy]

I went from a 4.2 to 4.3. Far superior as a family car for my purposes; quieter drive long distance, much more room in the back seats and boot. 
Of course I went and bought the DCAT…