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Does anyone a picture of their savannah metallic car they could post so I could see a real example.
I kind of like it - but my sister reminded me that some are cheaper looking "gold" on cars than others... If you don't have a picture - has anyone seen it to let me know their thoughts?
Thanks !
Ron
But you've figured this out on your own. Thanks for unlocking your caps key, & welcome to the discussion.
Bill
Consumer Reports rated the previous version of the Rav4 well but they have never been fond of the idea of having a rear tire on the back of SUV's. It's the fact that in some rear collisions, the object hitting the vehicle misses the bumper and hits the rear tire first, causing extensive damage to the vehicle (rear window breaking from the force). I looked at the new Rav and it still looks as though the tire sticks out over the bumper, so it will probably have the same problem/rating on that issue.
Frank
The IIHS is the institution that performs these tests. Altough there is no garantee, the SUV's with rear mounted spares sustained more damage (depending on the bumper design and at what location the vehicle was hit). It will interesting to see how well the new RAV will rate in these tests. The fact it now has a bumper should help it. Regarless, it won't be the deciding factor in my purchasing one. An overall positive safety rating would be more important.
This may be true, but remember you have to pay the premium, and the premium will reflect the claim experience for each vehicle model. But with the RAV4, I doubt that the rear mounted spare will make that much of a difference in the total claims paid.
Jim D
Also, is it really true that even with the new design, they did not redesign the rear window to be able to be opened?
I'd hate to have to buy another Chevy or Ford just to get a tailgate or a window that I can reach into real quick to get what I need. The Japanese still do not cater to the outdoorsman (hunters and fisherman).
FRank
~Jackie
I don't think it's a Japanese thing so much as the target audience for the RAV4 is more of the urban driver and not the outdoorsman. Same for most SUVs really, especially smaller ones.
Go sit in one, they are at most dealers now. Three local dealers here in NY have at least 4 sitting on the lot for MSRP!
In the past there were vehicles who had rear mounted spare "mechanisms" that could be damaged in a 5mph collision resulting in a $500 fix. The Isuzu Rodeo comes to mind.
Now it seems that people see the rear mounted spare and think the same thing, even though most are just bolted to the door and there is no "mechanism" anymore. I'm looking at a picture of the RAV4 now and it seems to me that if someone hits my spare tire it's no longer a "fender bender" as it's fairly high up. Also, if they hit me hard enough to damage my rear door, then having that spare there would not make much of a difference - the door would be damaged in any event. It just seems to me that if someone hits the rear door area the presense or absense of a spare is not going to affect all that much beyond you may also need a new spare and cover ALONG with the new door (which doesn't seem like a huge deal to me).
But that's just my opinion.
Toyota says February. My local dealer hopes they get some in February. I'm hoping for February.
~Jackie
But some of the ones in stock have been there for a week or more.
Does this indicate that the sales craziness is cooling?
Or is this wishful thinking on my part?
Jim D
The Honda CRV has the rear door spare tire and the window opens without the door being opened.
I actually thought about the Honda Element. Guy at work has one and I rode in it yesterday. No too bad for a breadbox.
Don't know if I would want to drive a 4-cylinder (I know, I open up a can of worms with a statement like that).
So, I guess I need to wait until I can find more details on the 2007 Honda CRV (August 2006) to see if it will offer a 6-cylinder option.
I plan to test drive the 06 Rav4 4-cylinder in the next few weeks. But, I would plan on buying the 6-cylinder -(Avalon engine).
The RAV, though will never be as comfortable for me as the 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee I'm selling to make room for it!
rs in boston
I'd like to see Toyo get rid of this design. The tire isn't attractive mounted on the back .. I can only guess that it disrupts air flow and it's an easy target for a thief. It looks to me like without to much effort they could get a full size tire in what is now rear storage area. This wouldn't work for the 7 passenger version but I doubt that is going to be a big seller anyway. At the minimum, a donut would fit. Once the tire is gone, an operable window is a piece of cake. When was the last time you had a flat anyway?
Agreed about the premiums being somewhat higher, possibly, on the vehicles with rear-mounted spares. But IMO the IIHS's 'warning' was directed more to the companies which pay the claims and to Toyota to an extent. There is little or no effect on us. The extra premium might amount to $20 a year maybe?
My commute to work is 60 miles round trip per day.
I only hunt/fish (if I am lucky) 20 days per year.
So MPG is important.
I feel that my mix of actualy utility should be higher to really justify purchasing the 4Runner. Meaning, if I needed to go off-road and/or did more sporty things (maybe 60 days out of the year) then maybe it makes more sense.
However, even with that said, I did see a 4 runner in the parking lot here at work, and I may just take a look at it.
Oh, by the way...price does matter too - I have been known to be very frugal (others call it cheap).
So far, I have not heard any issues with the 2003 redesigned 4Runner platform and there might be a possibility I get one of these powerful, reliable with quality build 2006 4Runner V8 4WD Limited ... but I am not in a hurry...
E.g. an '04 TCUV 4 Runner SR5 4WD will cost you about $26-27K if it has ~20-30K miles on it. But as a TCUV vehicle you get a 7 yr/100K Powertrain Warranty; 7 yr/100K roadside assistance ( which doesnt come with a new 4R ); towing protection; replacement vehicle protection; lodging protection. I normally only buy TCUV's with 40-60K mi on them looking to get them for 40% off original sticker.
The life of a Toyota is normally 200K+ mi so to me one with 47K still has 175-225K mi of life left.
All I've read is that they won't be bringing a V-6. They will be building the 4-banger to around 200 HP. I find that disappointing. I'm a V-6 fan, mainly due to my past experience with noisy 4's. But I guess things have improved over the years. I won't discount a 4 in my next car.
Larry
This was only at one dealership (out of six that I called).
Good luck with your RAV when you get it and keep us posted.
New Rav4 for looks pretty sweet, they are clearly going for a different demographic on this one - from young professionals to more of a family car. I wonder if they are encroaching on the Highlanders market position? (I am a marketing professor so I think about these things).
HFX NS