Thinking Of Buying A Used Rav4....

[gipwol]

Hi there, excellent forum.

I have a rubbish Fiat Seicento Sporting that is ALWAYS going wrong, plus I have to drive down a horrible bumpy lane to see my horse regularly hence I need something more robust. I have around £3000 to spend and could get a 1995-1996 ish Rav4 with ~100,000 miles on the clock for this if my research is right. I wondered if anyone had any comments. Is this a good buy? Are they juicy on fuel? Is petrol or diesel better? I am looking for RELIABILITY over all else.

PS - I know bugger all about cars but a pal recommended the Rav4 to me so advice gratefully received.

Thanks very much in anticipation, Jo.

[ulysse]

There was a program on with Jeremy Clarkson and cars about the Australian Outback. Everyone there used to have a Land Rover Discovery/ Range Rover, but they got fed up with them braking down all the time. Well you would do when its a hundred miles or more to the next farm! So what did they all do? They all drive Toyota's now. All be it the big brother Land Cruiser and Amazon, its all the same genes!

I have a diesel because of fuel economy, 40 miles per gallon average!

[gipwol]

music to my ears - thank you!

[Starensis]

I have a 1998 RAV-4 & have no problems at all with it. The 2.0L engine is one of the best around for reliability & if you do your own servicing, can cost as little as £40 to do.

Fuel consumption is 23mpg around town, improving to around 28mpg on a run.

You will not get a Diesel on 1996 plate, didn't start putting Diesel in until approx 2000.

Make sure it has FSH & a previous caring owners. Oh, and tyres cost around £80 each.

Best of luck.

[Mark139]

Make sure the clutch is OK at that age and mileage it might have seen some abuse.

A new clutch is a 2 DAY job in a garage, that won't be cheap!

[gipwol]

YEE HA! Bought one today. 1996 Automatic & I am loving it loving it loving it! Anyway, can I get a boot liner for the ickle little boot? If anyone could recommend somewhere I'd be grateful. Thanks a mill, Jo XX

[jonbr]

You could try http://www.formula4x4.co.uk/bootliners.htm or http://www.roofbox.co.uk/

[steve404]

Jo,

Welcome to our world, great choice, go to http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/RAV4-UK/ and click on the links section, there are loads of Toyota goodies sites there.

Steve :)

[Tawse57]

Whatcar recently had the RAV come third in the compact 4x4 sector trailing behind the Nissan and the Honda. That is actually a good place to be as being in the top 3 is a good place and gives you a good feeling indication of an overal feelgod factor.

I suggest you check out www.honestjohn.co.uk for his review of one.