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04-11-2012, 09:02 AM | #1 | |
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2013 Toyota RAV4
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04-11-2012, 02:10 PM | #2 | |
Scooby Specialist
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Location: (IA) flyover cornfield country
Vehicle:1992 SVX LS-L |
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The RAV4 is the single biggest reason that the Forester XT should be better than it is, and should be upgraded with either a direct-injected turbo engine, or an H6, even if it is 3.0 - 3.2 liters, instead of 3.6 liters. |
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04-11-2012, 02:20 PM | #3 | |
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A new RAV4 with that same 2.5-liter four-cylinder with an updated transmission (such as a six-speed auto that they mentioned briefly) would really be a pretty competitive package. |
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04-11-2012, 02:36 PM | #4 |
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I remember when the RAV4 first came out back then, I thought it was a cool idea to have a little SUV like that built on a Corolla platform. Never in a million years did I think that it would become an entire vehicle segment.
The 'lil RAV has become a substantial mid sizer in its teenage years. |
04-11-2012, 02:49 PM | #5 |
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The fact that that RAV4 sells so well is testament to how many purchase based on name and reputation. I had one for a rental a few years back and found the ride and interior quality totally unacceptable for any brand in this day and age. Outside of the V6 engine I just can't understand how people could hop out of any of Toyota's competitors superior offerings and come back to the RAV4.
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04-11-2012, 02:53 PM | #6 |
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Which year RAV4 did you have as a rental?
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04-11-2012, 03:30 PM | #7 |
Scooby Specialist
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: (IA) flyover cornfield country
Vehicle:1992 SVX LS-L |
Since I can't get an AWD daily driver coupe...
My wife likes to do gardening and landscaping, and wants a vehicle that can handle some of those materials better than the Legacy does. We had thought about a cheap old SUV... but without a prospect for a nice new AWD road car... we're looking at newer compact SUVs. We had looked at 2nd Gen RAV4, and Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Ford Escape, and stuff like that. Forester is on the list, but unfortunately limited to an 2.5X Premium 5-speed, which is hard to find. My wife really likes the Jeep Patriot, and the newer Libertys almost as much. I really wish there were more options with better than FAUX-Wheel-Drive (slip-induced FWD->AWD), like a better Forester option. For some reason, she likes forester, but absolutely HATES Outback wagon, like a BP chassis XT or 3.0R, and will not tolerate the "station wagon effect", and doesn't understand why I have no problem at all with it. So no wagons, not even lifted ones. So I have been paying more attention to these vehicles lately, and they all seem like mostly "weaksauce" in one way or another. Is there nothing between the extremes of Faux-wheel-drive, and solid-axle, transfer-case Wrangler? Other than the V6 having some power in the RAV4, it seems like a below-average finish on an appliance. |
04-11-2012, 04:08 PM | #8 | |
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Location: PA
Vehicle:2008 Impreza Dark Gray |
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Over the past 2 years my trailer has paid for itself in delievery fees. Plus no matter what you do, trading in your car for a new one will cost you way more than $1000. Not to mention your 2005 Legacy is rated for 2700lbs of towing capacity(i wouldn't try it that far though), and you can buy a full 2" hitch for your car. Note: You'll have to practice backing up a trailer in an open parking lot. Turning the wheel is opposite of your car. Last edited by gggplaya; 04-11-2012 at 04:36 PM. |
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04-11-2012, 04:58 PM | #9 |
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I just has a thought hip.
Do you give your wife as much grief as you give us about car choices!!!! |
04-11-2012, 05:11 PM | #10 |
Scooby Specialist
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: (IA) flyover cornfield country
Vehicle:1992 SVX LS-L |
I have towed before.
My legacy is slightly lowered on Spec.B suspension and RallyTek springs, and has aftermarket magnaflow mufflers, I am not sure if a trailer hitch would still fit, and I am not sure I would want one on it, if it did. Then there is the aspect of storing or parking the trailer when it isn't being used, which our garage is not large enough to do, and storing it outside in her landscaping area would not be a popular option. And some of the plant flats would probably get blown away if carried on an external trailer or bed, which is why she doesn't seem so keen on a cheap used pickup truck. Plus, she likes to pick up things that she can't always find locally, or antique things for the house, when we are on road trips... which we don't plan on pulling an empty trailer to, just in case. Most of the time it is bags of mulch or gravel or bricks for the patio, or stuff like that, which are a bit bulky for a relatively smaller trunk, with no fold-down seats, but not so big that we need to rent a full-size truck in order to carry. Plus part of it, is upgrading to a newer vehicle with fewer miles, to last farther into the future, is part of the deal. We have 3 vehicles now... and the plan is to change the two Subarus for something more utilitarian, and something else. I was hoping the something else would be something sporty for me to drive, and she could have her choice of the CUV and Miata to drive... but I can't find the AWD sport coupe I want, that isn't prohibitively old to consider using as a year-round daily driver for the mid to long-term future. So we look at CUVs. |
04-11-2012, 05:11 PM | #11 |
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04-11-2012, 05:28 PM | #12 |
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I see no spare on the tailgate. I like it as a styling feature, but it forces the current Rav into a swinging tailgate and is hellacious when you get rear ended (lots of damage to the chassis because the tire is often the point of contact). Probably best the spare is in the trunk even though it will take that handy cargo area under the floor.
My mom has a '10 Rav4 V6 Limited 4WD. It is shockingly roomy, stupid fast, and reasonably efficient (she normally sees 27mpg). I like the fact that you can lock it in 4WD where most cute utes leave you relying on the computer. Hopefully that carries over. |
04-11-2012, 05:30 PM | #13 | |
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Seriously though, that V6 is a nice engine. |
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04-11-2012, 05:37 PM | #14 | |
Scooby Specialist
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Location: (IA) flyover cornfield country
Vehicle:1992 SVX LS-L |
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That is one reason why the Ford Escape/Mariner/Tribute family comes back up... it has opening rear glass, as well as an overhead gate. At least an overhead gate can get lashed down and still leave an opening at the bottom. I have seen RAV4s, and other tailgate spare-carrying vehicles have dented in rear doors before. I kind of suspected that the minuscule rear bumper was mostly pointless underneath that. Interesting to hear more about that. Plus, getting rear ended isn't necessarily something you have control over, as it is usually someone else's fault, but big body and chassis damage is never fun to deal with. |
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04-11-2012, 05:39 PM | #15 |
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I've driven a couple now over the years. The latest I drove was a 2010 model I believe.
It's a nice engine and has real 4WD wich are the strong points but you don't expect the ride to mimic an EVO over rough pavement and interior materials that would be embaressing at a $10,000 price point. As a former MR2 Turbo (the plushest interior carpet and nicest materials I've seen in a Japanese non-luxury car) owner it makes me sad to see just how far Toyota has fallen with their interiors. I knew they were cutting costs but man it's bad and it's not only the RAV4 as the new Camry is horrlble as well. |
08-07-2012, 10:27 AM | #16 |
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08-07-2012, 10:34 AM | #17 |
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Looks like it attended a toga party and woke up after an all night drunk.
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08-07-2012, 05:29 PM | #18 |
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Are there any new vehicles in this class that are worthy of some off-roading and rough winter conditions? The Forester's always been great - hopefully that doesn't change. The CR-V is absolutely worthless and I wonder about the CX-5 (which I really like), the new RAV-4, and the Escape in these situations. I realize that even a Camry with snow tires can tackle most things, but it'd be nice if these bigger, taller cars could do a little more than that.
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08-07-2012, 05:53 PM | #19 |
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08-07-2012, 08:15 PM | #20 | |
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08-07-2012, 11:02 PM | #21 | |
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Vehicle:2006 Legacy SE Sedan 2006 Legacy GT Ltd Wagon |
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08-13-2012, 12:01 PM | #22 | |
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You can see how it actually works at this website: http://www.majormedia2.com/4WDSimplifiedv5/4WD.html Subaru's system is still better because it's symmetrical, and doesn't bias torque to one side or another. Last edited by gggplaya; 08-13-2012 at 01:05 PM. |
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08-13-2012, 12:50 PM | #23 | |
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Either way, shik was just saying it was 2nd place, ahead of the systems that have 3 open diffs and use braking to control the torque. |
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08-13-2012, 01:13 PM | #24 | |
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Shik is mistaken the way it's worded which makes it sound like it has an actual diff lock, the RAV4 is no different than any other FWD based 4wd system. It only has that button to preemptively set the multiplate clutch to maximum hold. The other vehicles will have a slight lag until the computer recognizes slip and adds more current to the solenoid to achieve maximum hold. But some vehicles start from a dead stop at maximum hold like the first gen acura MDX, and then scales back the 4WD after about 8mph. |
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08-13-2012, 01:30 PM | #25 | |
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