Buy used Rav4 in 2024

[Barcacharlz]

Hello everyone!

I’m thrilled to be joining the Toyota RAV4 club! I’m about to purchase my very first Toyota, and I’m excited for it to be a RAV4. As a newbie, I could really use some support and advice. I’m considering models from 2006 to 2009 since my budget is around €6,000 to €8,000.

This is the first car I’m buying, so any tips on what to look for when checking out a RAV4 would be incredibly helpful. I’d love to hear about your experiences with these models and any advice you can share. Your help would mean a lot to me!

Thank you so much!

[Guest]

There is a very good chance that the 'cardboard' style gaskets in the engine will be going or will have gone, meaning a Toyota of that year will need a total engine stripdown and rebuild. Therefore a mechanic will advise that the vehicle be scrapped.

[Barcacharlz]

@Simonics would you rather recommend newer models? 

I assume it’ll be tough to match my budget and get a car below 150.000 … in the same time having to redo the engine does not make sense either.. 

[FROSTYBALLS]

There are a few owners on the Club with Ravs of this age, so perhaps the earlier view is a bit jaundiced ...

[philip42h]

1 hour ago, Barcacharlz said:

I’m considering models from 2006 to 2009 ...

So, you would be looking at the model we know as a RAV4.3 - i.e. a Mk 3 RAV4.

To start ... if I were looking to buy a car of that vintage I would be looking for a 2.0L petrol (VVTi) rather than a diesel from that period. The petrol engine cars are pretty reliable. A search through this forum will show a number of issues with the diesel.

[Guest]

My Toyota Avensis was scrapped in 2019 because of gaskets, after taking advice from mechanics. I have stripped and rebuilt motorbike engines, but don't have the facilities and tools for car engines. It was my deceased father's car, so I really wanted to keep it. Rebuilt car engines apparantly don't perform so well. Ironically, I was only coming on here to delete my account, as i no longer have the 2002 Toyota Avensis. I saw the post and thought my experience could save the prospective buyer a lot of money. There are two main factors that devalue and write off a vehicle - age because of gaskets, mileage because of useage and wear. You know your gaskets are going when oil leaks out of the engine. You can get away with a bit of leaking oil, but there comes a point where the leak is too heavy. I hope this has helped.

[Guest]

I forgot to mention that I looked into getting the gasket set, but getting spare parts for a vehicle of this age was also an issue. I had the Haynes manual for the car already. I performed a piston compression test on the engine, and it seemed that the piston rings had not yet gone, which also happens. There is also a possibility of the cylinder head gasket blowing out. A vehicle of this age will have had replacement clutches, and most likely gearboxes over time. A seller may be selling to avoid replacing parts. So, buying a vehicle of this age is fraught with risks, as it may need a lot done to it, and parts may or may not be available.  My car lasted 17 years, and had done about 70 to 80k at the end. It was used in Jersey CI for a number of years, with a 40mph speed limit on a 45 square mile island [9x5]. So age killed it with the gaskets in the end!