Toyota RAV4

[swamptiger]

Any RAV4 owners here? Getting ready to pull the trigger on a new vehicle for the wife - was looking hard at the Subaru Forester, but the head gasket issues have me a little leary...

Some of the things I like about the RAV4 (base model) is that it comes with higher profile tires, steel wheels, and a full size spare, so you can run non-directional tires and rotate the tires for maximum wear. Also like the fold-flat rear seats for cargo capacity. The RAV4 apparently has been using the same transmission for about 8 years now, so the "bugs" should be pretty well worked out of it.

She is currently driving a 2007 5 door Ford Focus, and the transmission failed at less than 80k - three grand to get it back on the road - fortunately she had purchased an extended warranty so it was covered.

[huntingislife]

My wife picked up an '11 a few months ago. She loves the thing. Excellent fuel economy and a surprising amount of room. I suggest you spring for the upgrade package that comes with 17" aluminum rims. Most of them on the lots will have this anyway.

[swamptiger]

Quote:

I suggest you spring for the upgrade package that comes with 17" aluminum rims. Most of them on the lots will have this anyway.

Does the spare come with an aluminum wheel, too? She does a lot of driving in all kinds of weather, and when she drives in wet snow with the Focus, the brakes freeze up when it sits overnight, so that's one of the reasons I was thinking of going with the steel wheels - I'm thinking the brakes wouldn't be so exposed with conventional wheels. Also, the Focus has negative camber built into the rear wheels so it tends to eat tires quickly. But it also has low profile directional tires, so all you can do is switch from back to front - can't really rotate the tires properly.

[island guy]

I had one that I put over 200k on it commuting to work. Wish I had kept it. It's still running strong for the guy who bought it with close to 300k on it. I don't think I spent hardly anything on it but regular upkeep, oil changes, battery, ect. Just got in and drove it. My 83 year old Mom bought a 2010 Rav and loves it. Only complaint she has is the gas tank is small and she doesn't like messing with self serve gas. Very good MPG. I would buy another in a heartbeat with no reservations.

[swamptiger]

Quote:

Only complaint she has is the gas tank is small and she doesn't like messing with self serve gas.

She should try a Focus - you can almost make it around the block before you have to fill up.. I think it's 11 or 12 gallons... don't really know why they do stuff like that...