Rav 4 Owner Opinions Please

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Looking to purchase a Rav 4 and wanted to hear some Dis Rav 4 owner opinions about owning one.

 

[Klayfish]

I personally have a strong distaste for those small SUVs, but being in cars for a living and hobby, the Rav4 is one of the best of its' bunch. Best way to think of it is as a Camry wearing high heels. Take care of it and it'll run forever.

 

[davper]

I have one and have no complaints and would buy again.

 

[jrmasm]

Jumping in to ask a question. I read somewhere that the middle back seat is unusable...not sure why. Can someone confirm, can you or can't you use all three belts in the back seat, at the same time?

 

[cvjw]

We purchased our 16 year old a 2016 rav 4 sport almost 2 years ago. We got the technology package on the car so he would be safe driving it.

It is a fantastic car. Very fun to drive, gets great gas mileage and the technology package is top notch. All the technology is intuitive and works as described - we have not had the same results with tech packages on our other cars.

There is a seatbelt for the third person in the back seat. We haven’t used it, but it is there.

I love this car so much that I am thinking of buying one for myself when I no longer need my Honda Odyssey.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Anyone have experience driving it in the snow?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Jumping in to ask a question. I read somewhere that the middle back seat is unusable...not sure why. Can someone confirm, can you or can't you use all three belts in the back seat, at the same time?

Yes there are 3 seat belts in the back.. there is even a indicator on the dashboard telling you who is wearing or not wearing their seat belt in the back.

 

[Klayfish]

Haven't driven them, but it's a FWD based car. With or w/out the AWD option, it should be fine in the snow. The most important thing is the tires...they are far more important than if it's FWD or AWD (or RWD).

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

It has AWD so we should be good in the winter.

 

[Angeni11]

We have a 2008 RAV4. We still love the car. Has very nice handling. All seats have seatbelts including the 2 in the 3rd row seat option that they don't do any more.

Never had a problem in the snow and at the time we got it new we lived on one of the moutains and got even more snow then we do where we are now. It was fine. It was actually a popular choice as a secondary car in the winter up there because of the AWD.

It is the car we take as a family and when we go on our long trips down to Florida every year and even twice a year.

Hope this helps.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

My cousin has had two, though she may be on her third. Lost track. Only car she will drive.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Mines a month old- so far I love it-

I wouldn’t discount looking at new ones- I thought I’d only be able to afford a newer used one (I was looking at 2015/16s) and ended up with a brand new 18 for less than 20,xxx (23,xxx out the door) which was within a grand of the used I had narrowed down to.
My preferred dealer easily price matched the other dealers and the 30 min I spent googling and filling out interest forms was well worth it-

 

[christineinvegas]

My good friend drives a Rav4. She loves it (she got the Limited edition, which is the highest one). To me, I'm not impressed.

We live in Las Vegas and for me, no rear AC is a deal breaker. She didn't care - and yes, it gets very hot in the backseat, especially with her black leather seats.

I went with her to test drive a bunch of them, and I loved the Toyota Venza. Kind of like the Rav4, but bigger inside and I thought it was really fancy.

To each their own.

 

[leahgoogle]

My parents bought a 2016 Rav4 early this year. It is AWD and did well in the snow. They like it so much they are planning to get a second one when my Dad's truck bites the dust.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Mines a month old- so far I love it-

I wouldn’t discount looking at new ones- I thought I’d only be able to afford a newer used one (I was looking at 2015/16s) and ended up with a brand new 18 for less than 20,xxx (23,xxx out the door) which was within a grand of the used I had narrowed down to.
My preferred dealer easily price matched the other dealers and the 30 min I spent googling and filling out interest forms was well worth it-

This one is a used 2018 with only 1400 miles on it and the dealer is taking $6k off the price. The family who bought it in May of this year found out a month later that the wife was pregnant and there was no way they would be able to put 3 car seats in the vehicle so they traded it for a van. I am excited to get it.

 

[kymom99]

This one is a used 2018 with only 1400 miles on it and the dealer is taking $6k off the price. The family who bought it in May of this year found out a month later that the wife was pregnant and there was no way they would be able to put 3 car seats in the vehicle so they traded it for a van. I am excited to get it.

That's a good deal.

 

[Klayfish]

This one is a used 2018 with only 1400 miles on it and the dealer is taking $6k off the price. The family who bought it in May of this year found out a month later that the wife was pregnant and there was no way they would be able to put 3 car seats in the vehicle so they traded it for a van. I am excited to get it.

$6000 off of what? That sounds very funny to me. It's not $6k off MSRP, is it?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

$6000 off of what? That sounds very funny to me. It's not $6k off MSRP, is it?[/QUOTE
If I build one exactly like the used one on the lot it is $35k but the sticker price is $29.

 

[Klayfish]

I don't know the exact specifics of the car you're getting...trim level, options, etc...but from the surface that just sounds like a dealer taking advantage of someone. "Sticker" price, or MSRP, is completely irrelevant to what the car should actually sell for. MSRP is Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price, and it's just that...what the manufacturer "suggests" the vehicle be sold for. It's not at all what the dealer pays for the car, nor what its' value on the market is. It's one of the oldest "games" used by dealers to get customers in the door and sold. I'm being extreme here, but to illustrate a point...Toyota could recommend that a Prius sell for $100,000. Then a dealer will sell it for $30,000, and advertise "70% off MSRP!!! You can't beat that deal!!!!". But in reality, you're paying full market value and not getting a deal at all. GM is famous for doing this.

Again, don't get me wrong. RAV4 is among the best in its' class, but the "deal" you're getting sounds like a dealer game to me and you're not really getting a deal at all.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Why are you saying I am not getting a deal at all. I am getting everything I want for the price I want to pay. The $29k is the sticker price and not what we have negotiated the final price to be.