Used Rav4 For Normal Family Use - Petrol Or Diesel?

[grrinc]

Hello all - apologies in advance for such a 'newb' question.

I am looking to buy a used Rav4 - say 02 to 04 ish - but the better deals, and the more plentiful choice, seems to be petrol models. Most advise seems to be to hunt out the diesel models. Are there are any definite reasons to avoid a petrol model ? - after all, someone must be buying them.

The Rav4 would mostly be used for a few weekday trips around town. Quite a few family weekends out. And perhaps 3 or 4 long(ish) trips away per year for camping etc. Nothing too taxing I'd say.

Any pointers? I have seen a lovely petrol model that I would like to snap up if I can just get this nagging doubt out of my head.

[Robert6920]

Hi there and, as a new owner myself, welcome.

I bought a 2005 Rav4 5 door Luna 1.8 petrol 2wd for my wife (and our dog) about five weeks ago, 17k km (I'm in Ireland) and it's a fantastic car. I have had a variety of cars such as BMW 325 and Golf GTi but am so taken with the Rav4 that I've ordered one myself and I get it on Thursday. I wondered about the diesel for emissions and performance (the Toyota.ie website mistakenly has the diesel as faster than the petrol) so I asked dealer and he said he sold 45 Ravs last year, 44 petrol and 1 diesel to a guy who does high mileage. I test drove both and have decided to go for the petrol - nicer pulling and is quieter.

Models are slightly different here but choice now is 2.o litre petrol VVTi or D4D 2.4 common rail diesel. Just my view, but petrol is a very good engine in a very good vehicle

Good luck

Robert

[local hero]

Hello all - apologies in advance for such a 'newb' question.

I am looking to buy a used Rav4 - say 02 to 04 ish - but the better deals, and the more plentiful choice, seems to be petrol models. Most advise seems to be to hunt out the diesel models. Are there are any definite reasons to avoid a petrol model ? - after all, someone must be buying them.

The Rav4 would mostly be used for a few weekday trips around town. Quite a few family weekends out. And perhaps 3 or 4 long(ish) trips away per year for camping etc. Nothing too taxing I'd say.

Any pointers? I have seen a lovely petrol model that I would like to snap up if I can just get this nagging doubt out of my head.

Hi and welcome..I am now on my third Rav my first was petrol and my last two diesels, I can honestly say that none of my ravs spanning 12 yrs of ownership have ever had so much as a light bulb go wrong, on any of them, the only costs have been servicing,and MOT's. Dealers will tell you that if you do under 17000mls p.a. your better off with a petrol. my petrol around town did between 24+27mpg with about 30 on longer trips. my 02 diesel 32 to36 around

town and 40 on longer trips. Also if your thinking of an 02 to 04 diesel be aware of dual mass flywheel problems which are well documented on this site i dont

know of any issues with the petrol models, but there are far more knowledgable persons than me on here who will advise..Cheers

[anchorman]

I don't think there is much to say really, they are both very good.

For your own piece of mind try to drive them both. The diesels pull better but are noisier and more expensive and the petrols are inversley quiter and cheaper. I do low mileage but wanted the pulling power. However, I would have no reservations about the petrol.

My mate has a 2.0 GX VVTi petrol with about 80k on it and it has never missed a beat - as local hero says, not even a light bulb.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

[bothwell_buyer]

Had the 1994 petrol from new. So impressed, bought another 1994 petrol last month. So now got 2!!

The first had its engine replaced at 160,000 miles due to engine seizure caused by a leaking front engine seal. The engine had been thrashed.

Now with the turbo mod, I don't have a problem with power or torque, but do have a problem with speed cameras!!!

[grrinc]

Cheers guys ( and girls? ) - your input is most valued. I think I can now relax a bit more and savour the improved choice.

Is it a bit cheeky to get your take on automatics?

[anchorman]

The autos are nice to drive but it saps a bit more power from the engine and they do sound very busy all the time due to torque converter slip. You can also expect some reduction in fuel economy but if you find the member called bt all of his posts show live fuel consumption on two automatics.

[Plutus]

I've just bought my first Rav - petrol auto. For me no choice as I had to have auto. Had it 2 months now and very satisfied. Petrol is better value for low mileage - ideal run-around vehicle. Petrol autos are good value - look at the dealers websites. Auto box is only 4 speed and the engine is a little underpowered for auto but if you are not bothered about going fast it doesn't matter. Only thing I don't like is the motorway performance - at 70 it's happy but anything over this it strains a bit.

[Plutus]

I've just bought my first Rav - petrol auto. For me no choice as I had to have auto. Had it 2 months now and very satisfied. Petrol is better value for low mileage - ideal run-around vehicle. Petrol autos are good value - look at the dealers websites. Auto box is only 4 speed and the engine is a little underpowered for auto but if you are not bothered about going fast it doesn't matter. Only thing I don't like is the motorway performance - at 70 it's happy but anything over this it strains a bit.

[bothwell_buyer]

I've just bought my first Rav - petrol auto. For me no choice as I had to have auto. Had it 2 months now and very satisfied. Petrol is better value for low mileage - ideal run-around vehicle. Petrol autos are good value - look at the dealers websites. Auto box is only 4 speed and the engine is a little underpowered for auto but if you are not bothered about going fast it doesn't matter. Only thing I don't like is the motorway performance - at 70 it's happy but anything over this it strains a bit.

Even the 3 door manual petrol wasn't too happy running along at much more than 80 (4.1) That had 5 gears, but geared for flexibility on off road. Since doing the 3SGTE swap, its more than happy at 100+ on motorways - same gearbox. Just the cameras aren't!

[bitman]

as anchorman writes, it's how you drive the rav 4 auto.

i don't care if it doesn't pull as many wants. i'm a lay back driver and like this car. the seat position is good (no more back pain as i had in the c220 cdi or is200) good over view when driving and when there is a bit of rain (flooding) no worries. it does take more fuel consumption then a manual but i like the comfort. i run the engine on the motorway on about 2500 rpm and that takes me every where even abroad. :)

[gray22]

Hi all, new to the owners club, and thought this is probably the best place to advertise my Rav 4 5 door vx for sale, is this allowed in the forum?

cheers gray

[bothwell_buyer]

Hi all, new to the owners club, and thought this is probably the best place to advertise my Rav 4 5 door vx for sale, is this allowed in the forum?

cheers gray

Hello Gray

there's a separate section for selling stuff

[StormGrey]

Hello all - apologies in advance for such a 'newb' question.

I am looking to buy a used Rav4 - say 02 to 04 ish - but the better deals, and the more plentiful choice, seems to be petrol models. Most advise seems to be to hunt out the diesel models. Are there are any definite reasons to avoid a petrol model ? - after all, someone must be buying them.

The Rav4 would mostly be used for a few weekday trips around town. Quite a few family weekends out. And perhaps 3 or 4 long(ish) trips away per year for camping etc. Nothing too taxing I'd say.

Any pointers? I have seen a lovely petrol model that I would like to snap up if I can just get this nagging doubt out of my head.

Hi I had a RAV4.1 1996 Auto (MAX) for over 4 years, I never had any problems with it and it was great to drive in town and on the motorway.

It is 3 speed plus overdrive giving the '4th' gear. Mpg ranged from 22 to 28mpg.

Later I bought a RAV4.2 Diesel 2003 (VX) manual, I had it for 3 years, this was also a good car with no problems (I was aware of the potential dual mass clutch problem but it did not affect my car while I had it).

Toyota didn't do an Auto Diesel so this had the 5 speed manual gearbox, it was a very positive but heavy gearchange this did up to 37mpg but it was not as nice to drive in town stop go traffic, it also did not 'pull' as well as I had expected, the torque band seems to start at 1800 rpm so around town you would use 3rd or fourth.

(My other car a Citroen Picasso 1.6 110bhp diesel pulled a lot better and higher gears could be used without straining the engine)

Anyway I have now gone back to a RAV4.1 1999 Auto (VX) it has only done 39,000 miles and drives like a dream very smooth gearchanges and at 70mph the revs are less than 3500.

(the air con on a RAV4.1 is also much colder than subsequent RAVs)

So as you can see its Autos for me :-)

[gray22]

Hi all, new to the owners club, and thought this is probably the best place to advertise my Rav 4 5 door vx for sale, is this allowed in the forum?

cheers gray

Hello Gray

there's a separate section for selling stuff

Hi bothwell, thanks for info, any idea where this section is, or would it be ok to put a link in here , i have the car advertised on piston heads at the mo.

[chatman]

Hi all, new to the owners club, and thought this is probably the best place to advertise my Rav 4 5 door vx for sale, is this allowed in the forum?

cheers gray

Hello Gray

there's a separate section for selling stuff

Hi bothwell, thanks for info, any idea where this section is, or would it be ok to put a link in here , i have the car advertised on piston heads at the mo.

I think you have too be a payed up member to sell items advertised on here.....

Here's some notes from area....Click Here

Notice To Sellers

As from 14th of May 2004 The buy and sell section shall be restricted to Club Authorised Traders, Bronze, Silver or Gold members. Only these member groups may have permission to sell in the buy and sell forums.

[gray22]

Hi all, new to the owners club, and thought this is probably the best place to advertise my Rav 4 5 door vx for sale, is this allowed in the forum?

cheers gray

Hello Gray

there's a separate section for selling stuff

Hi bothwell, thanks for info, any idea where this section is, or would it be ok to put a link in here , i have the car advertised on piston heads at the mo.

I think you have too be a payed up member to sell items advertised on here.....

Here's some notes from area....Click Here

Notice To Sellers

As from 14th of May 2004 The buy and sell section shall be restricted to Club Authorised Traders, Bronze, Silver or Gold members. Only these member groups may have permission to sell in the buy and sell forums.

Cheers Chatman, so placing a link will be ok i take it, or if anyone is after a gem of a rav4, contact me please, thanks

[dave.m]

Hi Gray, just a cautionary word, if you post a for sale or a link to a for sale, the moderators will remove it. You need

to be a paid up member to sell anything on the forum. Dont know how much you are paying for advertising but the

minimum to be a paid up member on TOC is £10. Worth thinking about ?

[gray22]

Hi Gray, just a cautionary word, if you post a for sale or a link to a for sale, the moderators will remove it. You need

to be a paid up member to sell anything on the forum. Dont know how much you are paying for advertising but the

minimum to be a paid up member on TOC is £10. Worth thinking about ?

Cheers Dave, If i get no joy on pistonheads, will join TOC, and post my car on here, such a shame as would love all to see it.

[dave.m]

Hi Gray, just a cautionary word, if you post a for sale or a link to a for sale, the moderators will remove it. You need

to be a paid up member to sell anything on the forum. Dont know how much you are paying for advertising but the

minimum to be a paid up member on TOC is £10. Worth thinking about ?

Cheers Dave, If i get no joy on pistonheads, will join TOC, and post my car on here, such a shame as would love all to see it.

Then post some photos of it in the Rav4 photos thread, we would love to see it, and you dont need to be a paid up

member to do that . :)

[grrinc]

Thanks for all your input again guys - one last request if is ok with the rules here....

Tomorrow morning ( Monday to you ) I am going to give this a look......

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/c...3/search.action

anything I should be aware of???

[bothwell_buyer]

Thanks for all your input again guys - one last request if is ok with the rules here....

Tomorrow morning ( Monday to you ) I am going to give this a look......

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/c...3/search.action

anything I should be aware of???

Ehhh

I tried the link and it came up with 50 RAVs.

If you're looking at them tomorrow, watch the polis don't catch ye speeding!!!! B)