Hello There, New Member Seeking Mid Life Crisis Cure...

[Father Ted]

Hello there.

Joined up hoping I could find out a bit more about the older SWB Toyota Rav 4's as Im looking for an off roader / soft roader thats easy to live with but will give me a little bit of fun at the weekends. For donkeys I have driven old Citroens, then i had a spell back on motorbikes untill a spill last year meant that riding has become very difficult on account of both wrists no longer bending as they should. Since I was given the all clear to drive again by the doctors I have been in a Nissan Micra, which is O in a kind of boooooooring way.

I spoke to the wife about geting a soft top Saab, but she went off on one about people in "sports" cars being weigh-anchors and compensating for tiny willys and what not, but said if I was going to have a "mid life crisis" i could at least buy a 4x4 so that she could have some fun as well.

I suppose the upshot is that research on the interweb shows that im likley to get the best reliablily out of a Rav than anything else in my price range.

So Im looking for a SWB early (pre 2001) RAV 4 and just wanted to know a bit more about them, expect me to lurk untill I actually get one.

About myself - well Im a nurse, in my 40's, run a scout group and have three kids - but thats fine as I dont expect to take all three and the wife out at once - for that we have a people carrier anyway. Oh and I suffer badly with wind.

TTFN

Ted.

[Bibbs]

Are you looking to *proper* off road, or will the 'soft roader' be fine?

Welcome :)

[Boro Sera]

Hi and welcome

[Father Ted]

Hello, no a soft roader with the ability to be able to handle snow and damp grass will do fine - its very very unlikely it will go "off road" more than a farmers field when camping. Having driven a Berlingo for a few years I got accustmed to the higher driving position an miss it with the Micra.

[Bibbs]

In which case I am sure the rav4 will be more than enough! Good luck with your hunt.