Rav4 Advice

[yamy]

Hiya, i am thinking about buying a Rav4 to tow my jetski, dont do a huge amount of miles but am keen on buying a NRG VVTI 3 door in black. Does the 3 door handle better than the 5 door? Have they stopped producing the 3 door? i would be looking at year 2000 ish and be spending about £2000 - £2500, can i get a decent one for that year and money? i think the 3 door in black looks pretty cool and i think the NRG is top of the range. i was initially looking at Freelanders but have heard such horror stories that have decided to go RAV wise !! sorry for all questions, bit of a wafler eh !! :rolleyes

[local hero]

Hiya, i am thinking about buying a Rav4 to tow my jetski, dont do a huge amount of miles but am keen on buying a NRG VVTI 3 door in black. Does the 3 door handle better than the 5 door? Have they stopped producing the 3 door? i would be looking at year 2000 ish and be spending about £2000 - £2500, can i get a decent one for that year and money? i think the 3 door in black looks pretty cool and i think the NRG is top of the range. i was initially looking at Freelanders but have heard such horror stories that have decided to go RAV wise !! sorry for all questions, bit of a wafler eh !! :rolleyes

HI yamy + a big welcome, in the very latest series 3, 2006> they no longer make a 3door, I think there would be very little difference in the handling they all handle extremely well, Stay well clear of nedflanders (freelanders) early ones are not good.. I can only suggest you do the usual automart, eBay local papers, to establish a price and remember its very much a buyers market, I just had a look on eBay + this 3door black came up but its a bit pricey, TBH i am not really up to date with prices anyway hope this helps, they really are a great car with virtually no faults, good luck mate

[yamy]

Hiya, i am thinking about buying a Rav4 to tow my jetski, dont do a huge amount of miles but am keen on buying a NRG VVTI 3 door in black. Does the 3 door handle better than the 5 door? Have they stopped producing the 3 door? i would be looking at year 2000 ish and be spending about £2000 - £2500, can i get a decent one for that year and money? i think the 3 door in black looks pretty cool and i think the NRG is top of the range. i was initially looking at Freelanders but have heard such horror stories that have decided to go RAV wise !! sorry for all questions, bit of a wafler eh !! :rolleyes

HI yamy + a big welcome, in the very latest series 3, 2006> they no longer make a 3door, I think there would be very little difference in the handling they all handle extremely well, Stay well clear of nedflanders (freelanders) early ones are not good.. I can only suggest you do the usual automart, eBay local papers, to establish a price and remember its very much a buyers market, I just had a look on eBay + this 3door black came up but its a bit pricey, TBH i am not really up to date with prices anyway hope this helps, they really are a great car with virtually no faults, good luck mate

[yamy]

Hiya, i am thinking about buying a Rav4 to tow my jetski, dont do a huge amount of miles but am keen on buying a NRG VVTI 3 door in black. Does the 3 door handle better than the 5 door? Have they stopped producing the 3 door? i would be looking at year 2000 ish and be spending about £2000 - £2500, can i get a decent one for that year and money? i think the 3 door in black looks pretty cool and i think the NRG is top of the range. i was initially looking at Freelanders but have heard such horror stories that have decided to go RAV wise !! sorry for all questions, bit of a wafler eh !! :rolleyes

HI yamy + a big welcome, in the very latest series 3, 2006> they no longer make a 3door, I think there would be very little difference in the handling they all handle extremely well, Stay well clear of nedflanders (freelanders) early ones are not good.. I can only suggest you do the usual automart, eBay local papers, to establish a price and remember its very much a buyers market, I just had a look on eBay + this 3door black came up but its a bit pricey, TBH i am not really up to date with prices anyway hope this helps, they really are a great car with virtually no faults, good luck mate

Thanx for that LH, really appreciate the info, cant wait til i find the right one, cheers :)

[Nightstalker]

Lo Yamy.. :D

I am sure if you hang on a little longer our resident 3 door guru Bothers will show up and let you know all about the 3 door Rav4.

I'm sure for what you want a Rav for a 3door would be just right... Unless you have shed loads of gear or a partner and kids to drag along on a Jet Ski weekend... then perhaps the 5 door would be better...

Anywho, welcome to the funny farm should you decide on a Rav.... we are all a tad here but thats what makes this place GREAT!

Regards

Rob

B)

[yamy]

Lo Yamy.. :D

I am sure if you hang on a little longer our resident 3 door guru Bothers will show up and let you know all about the 3 door Rav4.

I'm sure for what you want a Rav for a 3door would be just right... Unless you have shed loads of gear or a partner and kids to drag along on a Jet Ski weekend... then perhaps the 5 door would be better...

Anywho, welcome to the funny farm should you decide on a Rav.... we are all a tad here but thats what makes this place GREAT!

Regards

Rob

B)

Superb Rob, looking forward to hearing what people have to say about the 3 door, at the mo i am towing the ski behind a Mazda MX5 Eunos with low sprung sports suspension that makes going over speedhumps a real hoot !!! glad u said u r all mad, that helps he he !! ;) might end up reluctanly trading the Mazda in but its sooooo nice in the summer, thats when we get one !!

[salthepal]

What about this one then? There's a lot of shouting going on but its done only 20k miles.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1997-TOYOTA-RAV-4-GS...A1%7C240%3A1318

[bothwell_buyer]

Hi Yamy frae Dorset - is that a place ??? Ah thocht it wis a wumins clothing garment :wacko:

Ye wanna machine tae pu yer jetski - whit are ye - some kinda waterfreak???????

Ye'll need ta furst no that the RAV disnae dae aw that well unner water as it wis designed fur roads an a wee bit o aff road, but no unner water.

Having killed that wan aff, if ya want a good motor in black frae 2001 wi a vvti enjun an 4 wheel drive then the RAV is probably yer only option :lol:

I have 2 1994 RAVs both 3 door and both with the Toyota racing engine - 3SGTE - fitted. The 4.1 as we know the first series RAV is incredibly stable at speed on straight and on corners, especially if assisted by stiffened suspension and some wider alloys. The 3 door with its track and short wheelbase is a stable car and the 4.2 with the more recent engine is equally a stable motor. Go to 5 doors and the original 3 door design has been compromised, as has been the suspension and stability (imo) .

On the 4.1 series - 1994 - 2000, theres a host of modifications that can be made to turn the machine in to a beast. The 4.2 is more problematical when it comes to upgrading.

On either, you can fit upgraded shocks to stiffen the rear suspension especially when towing. Adjustable KONIs and loads of others are available. You can even stick in caravan spring assisters if the jetski sports a V8 !!!

Equally, lowered springs are around if you fancy that.

Back to basics, your choice is down to the shape you fancy. I like the 4.2 3 door, but I prefer the mechanicals in the 4.1 as theres more I can do to it. The vvti engine is a na engine and you won't get much more out of it as its a pretty efficient engine.

Compare to the pre 2000 3SFE engine - again limited but can more easily be swapped to a 3SGTE turbo....... 127bhp becomes 300bhp....you won't need a jetski :lol:

Both will tow capably - get a 4.1 low mileage is quite easy and they are very cheap - often less than £2000 - yet is still a very good car with loads of life left.

[local hero]

What about this one then? There's a lot of shouting going on but its done only 20k miles.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1997-TOYOTA-RAV-4-GS...A1%7C240%3A1318

That looks + reads really well not sure what rav4 2LCC means? 6 owners + 20,000mls Got to be worth a look though..

[salthepal]

[not sure what rav4 2LCC means? 6 owners + 20,000mls Got to be worth a look though..

I think it must mean 2 litres or 2000 cc! Yes I agree, 6 owners seems an awful lot.

[yamy]

[not sure what rav4 2LCC means? 6 owners + 20,000mls Got to be worth a look though..

I think it must mean 2 litres or 2000 cc! Yes I agree, 6 ow[/uners seems an awful lot.

Thanx guys for the feedback, i did have a look at the one on eBay, was a bit unsure of getting one that old, am quite happy to wait for the right one to come along. That dude with the funny accent is pretty cool, i must say i dont plan on disconnecting my RAV from the jetski when its in the water !! B) . i am assuming the RAV is sooo reliable that even if my jetski breaks down as sea, the the RAV will tow me back to shore, WHO SAID PEOPLE WERE NUTS ON THIS SITE !!! ;)

[duncerduncs]

Thanx guys for the feedback, i did have a look at the one on ebay, was a bit unsure of getting one that old, am quite happy to wait for the right one to come along. That dude with the funny accent is pretty cool, i must say i dont plan on disconnecting my RAV from the jetski when its in the water !! B) . i am assuming the RAV is sooo reliable that even if my jetski breaks down as sea, the the RAV will tow me back to shore, WHO SAID PEOPLE WERE NUTS ON THIS SITE !!! ;)

Hi Yamy :)

We're lucky to enough to have a 3 door NRG. Apart from Mrs Duncerduncs leaving an interior light on overnight* (which flattened the Battery!), we've had no problems with it at all :)

Here's a photo of our one...

The NRG was the top of the 3 door range and will come with a CD player, air-con and electric/heated mirrors. A quick look at What Car?.com reveals that you can expect to pay around £3000 on a private sale and around £3400 from a dealer, make sure you go for one with a full service history

* If we do meet up next month, please don't mention the flat Battery, as I promised not to put it on the forum... :shutit:

[Parts-King]

Yamy: That dude with the funny accent is pretty cool

That will be Bothy. He's from the North you know he has an tendancy to buy cars with a shortage of door hinges (he can only count to three) I was hoping he might get over it one day but it's not looking very good, he even has size 11 feet, or he has 11 feet, summat like that anyway :D: :D:

Kingo

[yamy]

Yamy: That dude with the funny accent is pretty cool

That will be Bothy. He's from the North you know he has an tendancy to buy cars with a shortage of door hinges (he can only count to three) I was hoping he might get over it one day but it's not looking very good, he even has size 11 feet, or he has 11 feet, summat like that anyway :D: :D:

Kingo

Cool, it took me a while to read his text but i quess thats because i'm a 'southerner' !! :P nice care from the 'Duncerwotsits' bet she wont be making that mistake again :D

cheers Rob B)

[yamy]

Thanx guys for the feedback, i did have a look at the one on ebay, was a bit unsure of getting one that old, am quite happy to wait for the right one to come along. That dude with the funny accent is pretty cool, i must say i dont plan on disconnecting my RAV from the jetski when its in the water !! B) . i am assuming the RAV is sooo reliable that even if my jetski breaks down as sea, the the RAV will tow me back to shore, WHO SAID PEOPLE WERE NUTS ON THIS SITE !!! ;)

Hi Yamy :)

We're lucky to enough to have a 3 door NRG. Apart from Mrs Duncerduncs leaving an interior light on overnight* (which flattened the Battery!), we've had no problems with it at all :)

Here's a photo of our one...

The NRG was the top of the 3 door range and will come with a CD player, air-con and electric/heated mirrors. A quick look at What Car?.com reveals that you can expect to pay around £3000 on a private sale and around £3400 from a dealer, make sure you go for one with a full service history

* If we do meet up next month, please don't mention the flat Battery, as I promised not to put it on the forum... :!Removed!:

i will sell my MX5 just before the summer and Mrs Duncerduncs car would be perfect if i could find one in Black and around £2500, hopefully prices would have dropped abit more in the next few months B)

[Fujisan]

'Duncerwotsits'

:D

[Ravintow]

'Duncerwotsits'

:D

I see the eBay one has now gone - at I guess a fair price for a 6 owners job (but only 20K onthe clock???)

Hi Yamy and welcome to the club. I'm a fairly new member - having bought my first RAV 3 door 'Sport' '98 just before xmas for just £1,995 from a local dealer here on the wild islands of Orkney. Only 2 owners, and in 'showroom' condition - with just 52K on the clock, and full service history. So there ARE bargains to be had out there, so keep searching, and good luck. I'm absolutely delighted with 'Ravi' (named after the Sitar player), and the help I've been given from this lot is absolutely fantastic - thanks again guys!

[yamy]

'Duncerwotsits'

:D

I see the eBay one has now gone - at I guess a fair price for a 6 owners job (but only 20K onthe clock???)

Hi Yamy and welcome to the club. I'm a fairly new member - having bought my first RAV 3 door 'Sport' '98 just before xmas for just £1,995 from a local dealer here on the wild islands of Orkney. Only 2 owners, and in 'showroom' condition - with just 52K on the clock, and full service history. So there ARE bargains to be had out there, so keep searching, and good luck. I'm absolutely delighted with 'Ravi' (named after the Sitar player), and the help I've been given from this lot is absolutely fantastic - thanks again guys!

Hiya Ravintow, sounds like you got a real bargain there, hopefully i will find one, luckily i am in no rush so can take my time finding a 'goodun' - def agree with u that these guys on this site are worth their weight in gold, a great bunch although a little mad !! :D

[Parts-King]

We have a couple of RAV's on a website we use to move older cars

TOO GOOD TO AUCTION

Take a look and see if it's what you are after, email the sales manager through the website for more details

Kingo

[dave.m]

We have a couple of RAV's on a website we use to move older cars

TOO GOOD TO AUCTION

Take a look and see if it's what you are after, email the sales manager through the website for more details

Kingo

Good idea like the little roadster.

[salthepal]

Here's one that drives like a car as opposed to a tractor (farmingads)

http://www.farmingads.co.uk/category/cars-...rmal_impression

[Ravintow]

We have a couple of RAV's on a website we use to move older cars

TOO GOOD TO AUCTION

Take a look and see if it's what you are after, email the sales manager through the website for more details

Kingo

Good idea like the little roadster.

That Silver X Reg one looks nice - but maybe a bit too far for you to go looksee from Dorset Yami?

[Ravintow]

Here's one that drives like a car as opposed to a tractor (farmingads)

http://www.farmingads.co.uk/category/cars-...rmal_impression

Wow -that's more like it Yami (and much nearer to you also) - Good luck, and fingers crossed!