Rav 4 owners...yay or nay?

[Pembo]

Our 4 mo old Ford Escape was totalled last weekend. (by an idiot that ran a red light while talking on his cell). We found out that it is a total loss and I'll get my settlement $$ this week.

We went out looking today. I thought maybe the Edge or a Kia...but neither thrilled me. We actually looked at a new Escape but it is too soon.

So we're thinking the Toyota Rav 4? I'm looking for your experiences..good and bad OR any other suggestions in the low $20K range...

Thanks all

 

[kellydizfan]

My Aunt purchased one. It is a cute little SUV. Not very comfortable to ride in any distance at all. That is the one drawback to it. She loves it.

 

[LoriABil]

I love our Rav 4. We got the 2008 model, and the back seat slides forward and back (like most front seats do) for extra leg room. It's great for when my parents are riding with us, or other adults. It will probably be good for when DS gets taller and needs the leg room!

The only negative I can think of is the back seats don't fold flat, like the minivan. It makes carrying big items almost impossible, but otherwise there is room in the back for two carryon luggage sized suitcases, standing up and three golf bags (well, 2 adult and one kids) lying side by side as well as room for a smaller cooler.

 

[free2div]

I had a 2002 model and loved it!!!! traded it in in Dec 2009 for a 2010 model and we LOVE it..ours has 3rd row seats so sit 7 people or store luggage in the back. It's first trip was to WDW last Dec..have been 3 more times since and gets great gas milage and to us very comfy, more so that my 2002 model. They have come a long way since then. the seats also all fold down and we were able to load 6 chairs and a table leaf in the back of it!!! I dont think you will be disappointed. We are Toyota people all the way. My DH and DD both have little corollas and they love them too.

 

[DWGal210]

I have a 2007 Rav and LOVE IT. Been a great car, gets great mileage and I like the way it drives, if that makes sense. Very comfortable to me.

 

[Tina]

I had a 2004 Rav4 and thought it was great. We drove it from VA to Florida and also up to Michigan on several occasions and never had any comfort issues. It was a great, problem-free vehicle. My model was made before they decided to make them a bit bigger (and offer a bigger engine) so it was a bit snug in the back for adults if I was trying to cram in 3 for a group lunch at work. It's true the seats do not fold down into the floor, but they do fold forward and I never had issues with anything I was trying to transport back there. All in all, it was a great, dependable little truck.

 

[pumba]

our daughter in law got one in december .......she loves it and she did alot of research on it to make sure it would be safe for her two kids in the back seat...she had just totalled her car in an ice storm.......so she was being particular on which car she got.
I sit in the front sometimes, and it is a nice comfortable car.......she got the 2010........we got a new car a few weeks before she got this one and we hate our new corolla S......not comfortable at all......

 

[nowellsl]

I have a 2001 Rav4 and I love it! I'm not really crazy about the newer, bigger models, but then I don't really need the extra room. I bought it used and haven't really had to put any money in it until recently and that was for new tires and front brakes. I would buy another one for sure!

 

[MichelleVW]

We have a 2010 Rav 4 and we love it!!! Drove it from Texas to Florida this summer and had plenty of room for the 4 of us and stuff. 5 people is a little crowded, but as long as you're not going too far and they aren't huge people it's good.

 

[kirbydog48]

I have a 2008 and I have nothing but good things to say. It's good on gas, fun to drive (has some zip, even in the 4 cylinder version), has good gas mileage, has tons of storage room, and great in the snow. I love it. When this one conks out, I am definitely open to getting another one. The Toyota dealership here is fantastic and has a great service department; I could walk there if I had to.

 

[Geoff_M]

We have a 2007 RAV and it's our favorite car. We take it to the UP all the time (a 10 hour trip) and are quite comfortable. All three kids can sit in the back and not kill each other!

 

[PatsGirl]

I've had my 2010 Rav4 for about 10 months now and while it is a good car, I'm not thrilled with it. It does have alot of room in the back and I like the way the back seats can be separated with the cup holder thingy (technical aren't I). On the other hand, the mileage isn't great, I get about 18 mpg, just a bit more than I got with my 6 cylinder Jeep Grand Cherokee. I do not think the back seat would be comfortable for three unless they were three very small children.

Three other things I do not like about it are that it automatically switches in and out of 4WD and I prefer to control that myself, there is no space for my pocketbook between the two front seats (I know this sounds silly but not to me, I often find myself putting it behind my back) and the worst thing is that you cannot lock the doors until they are ALL closed. I really hate this feature! On my other cars you could use the locks once all the doors were open, put your keys away, grab your groceries, etc. and then shut the doors, thus no chance of losing the keys. For this reason alone, I will be switching cars once the lease is up.

Someone mentioned that the lock feature might be set wrong? Do others have this problem? Maybe its an easy fix

 

[beccab]

I liked my 2008 Rav4 a lot until the water pump went with only 23,000 miles on it. Luckily, it was still covered under the 3y or 36,000 miles warranty. I started reading online that this is a somewhat common problem with the later Rav's. When the pump goes it is usually around 35,000 according to what I have read online. I was very unhappy when this happened. We also have a 2008 Ford Escape (I know this is what you had) and so far we like it a lot.

 

[jodifla]

I've had my 2010 Rav4 for about 10 months now and while it is a good car, I'm not thrilled with it. It does have alot of room in the back and I like the way the back seats can be separated with the cup holder thingy (technical aren't I). On the other hand, the mileage isn't great, I get about 18 mpg, just a bit more than I got with my 6 cylinder Jeep Grand Cherokee. I do not think the back seat would be comfortable for three unless they were three very small children.



Three other things I do not like about it are that it automatically switches in and out of 4WD and I prefer to control that myself, there is no space for my pocketbook between the two front seats (I know this sounds silly but not to me, I often find myself putting it behind my back) and the worst thing is that you cannot lock the doors until they are ALL closed. I really hate this feature! On my other cars you could use the locks once all the doors were open, put your keys away, grab your groceries, etc. and then shut the doors, thus no chance of losing the keys. For this reason alone, I will be switching cars once the lease is up.

Someone mentioned that the lock feature might be set wrong? Do others have this problem? Maybe its an easy fix

Wow, that's low gas mileage. I just got a 2008 Mercury Mariner with a V6 and I'm getting 23 mixed highway/local roads.

 

[mrodgers]

I have a Mazda Tribute (same thing as a Ford Escape) with 60,000 miles on it. Previously I've owned 4 Toyotas and 1 Nissan with a combined total of 650,000 miles. Aside from normal wear maintenance, I have more money wrapped up in repairing the Mazda than I have in the 650,000 miles worth of Japanese vehicles. Also the "normal" wear maintenance comes about 5 times faster than Japanese vehicles. I replaced the rotors on both my Mazda and Nissan at the same time. The difference is, I replaced the Nissan original rotors at 165,000 miles because I wanted to and the Mazda rotors (all 4) at 35,000 miles because it failed state inspection.

I wanted something brand new and couldn't afford Japanese. After 3 years and 60,000 miles with the "Ford", I'll be replacing it with something used from Japanese when it comes time to replace it.

Never again will I think, "It's been years and years since I've owned a Ford, how bad can they be...."

 

[ENSOCK]

I have a 2010 and get between 27 - 29 miles to the gallon. I like it. the only thing I don't like is I am on the fluffy side and the seatbelt thingy pokes me in the hip. Not a problem just a reminder that I need to lose weight!

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

We have a 2010 Rav 4 and we love it!!! Drove it from Texas to Florida this summer and had plenty of room for the 4 of us and stuff. 5 people is a little crowded, but as long as you're not going too far and they aren't huge people it's good.

Shut your mouth!! We have a Rav, too!! That's soo funny!

Just got our second Rav, actually. We like 'em!

 

[SaraJayne]

My Mom has a 2004 Rav4 and I hate it. It's like riding in a tin can.