RAV4 advice

Pete Batey · Post by **Pete Batey** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:00 pm

Does anyone have experience of driving a RAV4 up cross fell or clough? How did it cope? I'm thinking of buying one.
Pete

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:37 pm

Been up Cross Fell in a couple of Ravs with no problem at all. Great 4x4 and reliable Japanese.

www.western-way-garage.co.uk

Pete Batey · Post by **Pete Batey** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:44 pm

Cheers John.
Pete

Bob Sutherland · Post by **Bob Sutherland** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:31 pm

There used to be a lad in the club called Craig Eblett who drove Mad Dog up X-Fell in his Rav 4. I don't think it had a low range gearbox and he had a distinct burning clutch smell once he got to the top.
Definately need something with an extra low gear or an auto box.

dave-mclaughlin · Post by **dave-mclaughlin** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:54 pm

Bob Sutherland wrote: Definately need something with an extra low gear or an auto box.

My X-trail got up there OK, but it too suffered from a burning clutch smell once it got to the top. There should be no problem getting a RAV up to the shoulder below take off.
If you need to get it to the take off itself, you'll just need to give it some welly. Makes for an uncomfortable, bouncy ride though, and you may burst a tyre if you're unlucky!

p.s. My X-trail is a company car, so I'm less worried about burning the clutch out or damaging the wheels than I should be

Kay · Post by **Kay** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:01 pm

Hi There..I have had the last style model Rav 4 up Cross fell...and I now have the new model ..and have had that up cross fell (hav'nt tried taking n
the XT5 right to the very top only cos its easier to walk up with your PG and fly back to car)..Clough Head...Weardale in snow and ice...Hownham....etc etc No Problem. Because it is cross road/off road car and therefore does not have pure off road tyres the car can't cope with steep terrain that is also wet. Also I do take it easy over the big rocks going up cross fell as the ground clearance its good but not huge.

I have the deisel version XT5 and am averaging 42 mpg.
Negatives against..(.Although I think you will find these in most new cars ) The Japs seem to go overboard on 'Warning Tones''....I honestly don't think you can ..not that I have !!!! Pass Wind in my car without a beeper sounding !

Hope that helps

Post by **gary stenhouse** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:00 pm

go for the hilux in the manual and you will return over 30mpg and its great for the hg aswell. can fit up 6 on the roof i would say and get all the pg in the back aswell. though the rav 4 is great aswell as my wife has the same as kay and as all toyotas you will get good reliabuility

brian day · Post by **brian day** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:55 am

I've got the xtrail, which is a lot bigger, but more capable off road. It returns 40mpg very much the same as the Rav. I've just tested mine around the doors, not on a run and got 37mpg, don't think that's bad. Again Japanese engineering so quite comparable, slightly cheaper as well I think as it may not have the prestige of the Toyota badge.

Fingers · Post by **Fingers** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:45 am

I would find the Challenger as a good all rounder, gets you anywhere. Instead of pissing about with these namby pamby 4x4's get yourself a real Geordie built piece of kit.

Dave Hume · Post by **Dave Hume** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:03 pm

I've followed Pete Rutherford up Cross fell in his Rav4 and he managed okay. The sheet ice was a bit of a problem but we got there in the end (okay, I know I needed your help John). Only trouble I could see with the Rav was there's not a lot of space in the back. 2 paragliders will just fit in the back with the seats down. My Honda HRV has much more room.