[samerisam]

So im selling the ford ranger, since the mrs refuses to drive it and due to the fact my new job is an hour or so away i will be using the barina. So we are trying to decide whether to buy a suzuki vitara (around 01is model) or a toyota Rav4 and looking at spending around $10,000-$15,000. Just want to know what the vitaras are like, reliability wise etc. about the only offroading it will be doing is when the mrs runs up a gutter and ends up on the footpath so wont be doing any mods.

Any help/ advice would be appreciated. i tried searching but computers and me dont exactly get along.

[harvs]

You'd be looking at a Grand Vitara then? I believe mine is the last of the Vitara's, which is manufactured to '98 (and imported '99).

[Microwire]

Don't go the Rav4, even if you aren't going to do any offroading it'd still be nice to have a car that you can rely on and good build quality.

[buzbox]

There's a nice white Grand Vitara at north gong, near the 7-11 caltex servo along Flinders St, next door to the Hertz car hire place.

I think it's going for about $6-7000

just a thought.

[eXc450]

Microwire wrote:

Don't go the Rav4, even if you aren't going to do any offroading it'd still be nice to have a car that you can rely on and good build quality.

Aside from 4x4 abilitiy, do the Rav's have a bad reputation? I have only heard a good reputation - not that I have owned one or researched it.

[samerisam]

What sort of problems do the ravs have? the mrs works with a few girls that have them and love them, but she doesnt tend to talk bout problems. are there any common problems with the vitaras? also any idea how many ks until motor/box etc starts getting tired. thanks

[Microwire]

eXc450 wrote:

Microwire wrote:

Don't go the Rav4, even if you aren't going to do any offroading it'd still be nice to have a car that you can rely on and good build quality.

Aside from 4x4 abilitiy, do the Rav's have a bad reputation? I have only heard a good reputation - not that I have owned one or researched it.

I must admit I'm a little biased as I haven't looked into Rav's much. But Looking at the drive line, it doesn't look as strong as the Vit but you get that with AWD.

Here's a little vid, http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... reep&hl=en

Here's a link but it doesn't help my trying to convince you. Just get a vit

http://www.carsales.com.au/reviews/2006 ... itara-1287

[Gwagensteve]

Why buy a 4WD if you don't need one? Seems pointless to me. (Even more so a 4WD with a transfer case, chassis and a live rear axle.

Cars are for the road. 4WD's aren't. Light duty 4wd's aren't for anything.

Just my 2c. It's all about getting the right tool for the job. I donn't know what job a Rav4 is for and you clearly don't need a vitara.

Buy a car and enjoy ride, ride handling, performance and fuel economy.

Steve

[Ben_Sierra]

Gwagensteve wrote:

Why buy a 4WD if you don't need one? Seems pointless to me. (Even more so a 4WD with a transfer case, chassis and a live rear axle.

Cars are for the road. 4WD's aren't. Light duty 4wd's aren't for anything.

Just my 2c. It's all about getting the right tool for the job. I donn't know what job a Rav4 is for and you clearly don't need a vitara.

Buy a car and enjoy ride, ride handling, performance and fuel economy.

Steve

x eleventy billion.

[harvs]

I'd go as far as saying they're both quality build cars for their price.

If you're comparing a GV and a RAV (not a Vit and an old school RAV), about the only thing of significance I could tell you is the GV has low range where as the RAV (or any other softroader) doesn't.

But if you're just doing the shopping in it, that probably doesn't matter to you.

Honestly you're possibly asking the wrong guys, we'll tell you some of their off-road attributes, but if you don't care about this, then just go take both of them for a drive and see which one you like...

As far as engines. If you're getting a GV, I'd be looking to get the 2.5L V6, the 2.0L is a bit gutless in my opinion.

[Microwire]

Gwagensteve wrote:

Why buy a 4WD if you don't need one? Seems pointless to me. (Even more so a 4WD with a transfer case, chassis and a live rear axle.

Cars are for the road. 4WD's aren't. Light duty 4wd's aren't for anything.

Just my 2c. It's all about getting the right tool for the job. I donn't know what job a Rav4 is for and you clearly don't need a vitara.

Buy a car and enjoy ride, ride handling, performance and fuel economy.

Steve

That's what I was trying to say... I just didn't know it. This is good advice.

[matt91112011]

G'day mate,

Why make the compromise of driving a car that costs more to run, tyres cost more, turns worse, brakes worse, accelerates worse and is less comfortable to drive if your not going to use it offroad.

Sure the GV's are a great, but why not buy an actual car?

Try one of these, they're still AWD and are in your price range, have great fuel economy and are generally a great car.

2006 AWD Subaru Liberty

Cheers Matty

[fordem]

The RAV4 is a nice family car - and comes with that legendary Toyota reliability - but if it were me - I'd buy the GV.

GVs are easier to work on.

[samerisam]

i actually want a liberty, but the mrs wants a rav or a vitara, and since its her car it doesnt bother me. plus she likes the higher driving position etc. im just curious about reliability.