Toyota Rav4 - Is It A Good Family Car?

Ian Royle shares his recommendation - the Toyota Rav4, for Peter Cauana, who's in search of a car with a sporty image, is safe for a family and is fairly large. He goes through the Rav4's pro's and con's, as well as telling us why he thinks this would be the ideal car for Peter.

[@keithhallgren]

I have a 1997 three door, fwd model (5 spd) that just hit 431,000 km... one of the best vehicles made and now the best selling Toyota in Canada.

[@BullyCanadian]

Any chance you want to sell yours?

[@keithhallgren]

@@BullyCanadian Nope...

[@PeterHernandez-lg2eh]

Can't kill it. Goes anywhere

[@thebipolarbear1]

I have a four door version Wich is only a tad bigger but it's great for me. Me my wife and kids fit comfortably and can go anywhere including off road lol I drive three hours up mountains everyday taking my wife to work a d it Handel's it like a champ. You'd never regret buy one of these. Great driver. Or if you want to go off-road find one of these that's already beat up and you'll have a blast

[@CataP9]

Well, I followed your advice and I did ! I love it already !

[@thebipolarbear1]

Like you mentioned Toyota is reliable. It's all il ever buy now I'm sold . Except like a mustang or Corvette or something

[@neveratrivers]

9000 pounds! holly molly - we paid AUD$3000 in 2013 for 1998 3 door with 9 months rego (from a dealer too). Awesome car.

[@truemoves09]

This model is no more.. but i like it...

[@ruzzelladrian907]

Crossover legend.

[@ericolivomartinez3674]

este rav4 con motor 2.0 fue lo mejor que fabricó toyota yo tengo el año 1996¿ y está como nuevo con solo 93.000 milla

[@happycat0411]

Extremely reliable and cheap to maintain...but 2nd gen Rav4 is better due to timing chain instead of a timing belt....

[@RadBrad-ru5qb]

Yes but all timing chains will eventually have to be serviced and it's usually much more expensive to do a timing chain job than a timing belt job.

[@happycat0411]

@@RadBrad-ru5qb True, but timing chains typically should last for the life of the Rav4. My 2002 Rav4 hasn't had any major problems and I've put on 265,000 kms on the Rav4. Very reliable vehicle and has ABS plastic panels which keeps rust at bay as well.

[@FEGTTTSDH]

@@happycat0411 And my problem with timing chain is the lack of mainteinance of water pump and coolant... Because when you change the belt, you normally change water pump, brand new coolant and thermosthat. This is not a problem from factory in any way but I see this many times with old chain engines...

[@happycat0411]

@@FEGTTTSDH You have a good point! I have a 2002 Rav4 with 285,000 kms and so far I have had zero problems. For a 19 year old car the Rav4 is still going strong. I've gotten my money out of the Rav4 and more so I'm just going to drive the Rav4 till it's completely dead.
The ABS quarter panels were a nice addition to the second gen. Rav4 as ABS plastics keep rust to a minimum. The Honda element used the same approach but after Honda and Toyota learned that it doesn't pay to make vehicles that last more than 10 years they quit using ABS plastics for the quarter panels.

[@jeremygriggs1513]

Lol i just bought a 97 with good reg for $1150 us

[@gilesflower]

Yeah, I've got a 1995 and it's probably worth about AUS$1000

[@richardhousejr.7016]

Me too, I bought a 97 last week. No accidents, driven by a car salesman.

[@larryflitcraft9742]

How how do you find out the torque on a fan on the clutch fan for a 1999 Toyota RAV

[@larryflitcraft9742]

Free automotive repair advice

[@PeterHernandez-lg2eh]

Non interference engine

[@aurozappa305]

Didn't Ted Bundy kill females in a rav4

[@shawntayler4709]

Umm rav4 is from the 90s. Ted bundy killed in a vw bug from the 70s