Honda CRV or Toyota Rav4? - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Shin Pad · 05-01-2010, 09:54 PM

Well, it looks like I have a few vehicles to test drive in the next few weeks. I will definitely test drive all of the vehicles mentioned above. Thanks for all the advice.

MoneyGuy · 05-01-2010, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shin Pad

Did the 2006 CRV have a 6 cylnder engine in it? I would imagine that it is a lot more powerful than the 4 cylinder.

My jeep and my 350Z are both manual, and I would love to get another manual, however, my wife wants to drive it too, so it'll have to be an automatic. Oh well, if I want go have some fun driving, I can always take the 350Z out. The new vehicle would just be for every day use - so I'm not too concerned about it being a "fun" vehicle. I'm going to try both of them, and see what I like better. If the CRV has a lot more room, like you mentioned, then that is probably the way we will go. thanks for your imput.

If my wife can learn how to handle a stick, so can yours. No, that's not a ephenism.

Byrns · 05-01-2010, 11:13 PM

My wife and I prefer the Rav 4 and Acura RDX over the Escape, Forester, Tiguan, etc.

amorak · 05-02-2010, 12:27 AM

I'd look at the new Tucson.

Shin Pad · 05-02-2010, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

If my wife can learn how to handle a stick, so can yours. No, that's not a ephenism.

My wife has been driving a standard for most of her life. The problem is, I got her an automatic, and now, she doesn't want to go back to a standard.

boogerz · 05-02-2010, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psicodude

Add another vote to the Subaru. They handle really well, are among the safest to drive, and (imo) are a lot more fun to drive. I do believe they will be a bit harder on the gas bill though.

Throw up another vote for Subaru from me as well.

Their 2.5L 4 cylinder isn't too bad on gas either. Better mileage than some of the other 4 cylinders offerings(looking at you, Mazda and Jeep)

Foresters are well rounded vehicles

lucky1 · 05-02-2010, 01:50 AM

seriously, give the VW Tiguan a look....my wife wanted something smaller than the Xterra she was driving so we went looking. Drove pretty much all the usual suspects listed in this thread, and then pulled into a VW dealership to check out the Tourag (my idea, not hers). Saw the Tiguan right away, had never heard about them as they were just starting to arrive on the lots. Took both the Tourag and the Tiguan for a drive, and I was truly impressed with the Tiguan....extremely well equipped inside, has the same 2.0L Turbo as the GTI, runs the Audi Quattro AWD, has the excellent VW Tiptronic transmission and is really fun as hell to drive. The Tiguan is one of the few VW's to be built exclusively in Germany (not in Mexico) and so far has been getting good reviews. We went back and test drove the CRV, Rav4 and the Tiguan again pretty much back to back and that sealed the deal....the next day we negotiated and bought a loaded Tig.
The pros of this vehicle are:
the interior - fit and finish is excellent...typical german quality
-the sunroof - the thing is just huge, pretty much the whole roof opens up
-touch Nav/stereo system is really really good. Puts the Nav in my BMW to shame
-drivetrain - nothing new in the drivetrain. Everything is tried and true, and the AWD system is one of the best on the market
-The thing is really comfortable to drive, and fun as hell with the GTI 2.0 turbo mill

cons:
-Expensive, was about top in the range in the market segment, but it was loaded
-rear cargo area is smaller than the CVR and Rav4 - but the back seats slide to allow for expanding the cargo area
-Needs premium. Manual states that you can run regular, but the computer would pull timing like crazy and limit the boost, what fun is that?

The tiguan is about 10x better in the snow than the Xterra was....and the Xterra is a very very competent vehicle...but the AWD on the Tig is just 'simple' compared to the Part time 4x4 set up on the Xterra.....

Good luck with your decision......I feel your pain

Sylvanfan · 05-02-2010, 08:52 AM

I went with the Rav4 in 2006. Despite the mediocre interior and side swinging rear door, the V6 engine at that time absolutely obliterated anything else in that class. Having owned a tragically underpowered X-Terra previously the last thing I wanted was another underpowered SUV. At the time the Kia/Hyundai was the only other one with a V6 and the 178 hp V6 did feel a bit underpowered when I first drove it. After I'd driven the Toyota...my decision was made.

Overally the Rav4 has been a decent vehicle, we did have an issue with the charcoal cannister which is such a stupidly overpriced part that really does so little. The interior cabin filters are a bit of a problem too. But we do a fair bit of highway driving in BC where we have to climb over a couple mountain passes and it delivers great power and decent fuel mileage. I wish I could have picked one up in 2006 for the prices they sell them at today. I actually leased, and my lease is up in two months, buy out is around $12,000 and I tried to find a used V6 from that era for sale to compare price and people are still asking over 20 for them.

If you are going to look at the Tuscon though...maybe search for a used one. They do come with a pretty long warranty and you can usually get a used one for a good price.

Shin Pad · 05-02-2010, 03:22 PM

One thing that is going to preclude some of these vehicles for me, is the fact that they may only come in AWD. I specifically want 4WD. The Subaru Forester looks great, unfortunately, it's only AWD, same with the VW Tiguan - I'd love either of these two if they came in 4WD.

Shazam · 05-02-2010, 03:45 PM

4WD and AWD are interchangeable terms. What matters is the the manufacturer's system.

If you really want good 4WD, then Subaru is your only real choice. But then, what do you need the AWD for?

henriksedin33 · 05-02-2010, 04:34 PM

"4wd" in a RAV 4 or CRV is going to be no different than AWD in a Subaru or VW. Personally I'd go used and get something a bit nicer like an RDX. But of those two, I'd go with the RAV 4. 270hp V6, 0-60 in 6.4 seconds....not bad at all for a little entry level SUV.

BlackArcher101 · 05-02-2010, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henriksedin33

"4wd" in a RAV 4 or CRV is going to be no different than AWD in a Subaru or VW. Personally I'd go used and get something a bit nicer like an RDX. But of those two, I'd go with the RAV 4. 270hp V6, 0-60 in 6.4 seconds....not bad at all for a little entry level SUV.

I beg to differ that all of the AWD/4WD drive systems will be no different than each other. This is one area that Subaru excels in.

Shazam · 05-02-2010, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henriksedin33

"4wd" in a RAV 4 or CRV is going to be no different than AWD in a Subaru or VW. Personally I'd go used and get something a bit nicer like an RDX. But of those two, I'd go with the RAV 4. 270hp V6, 0-60 in 6.4 seconds....not bad at all for a little entry level SUV.

There's a really good YouTube video someone posted here a whole ago showing the different 4/AWD systems in action.

And to the OP, if you want to consider VW, then you might as well consider Chrysler. Both have pitiful reliability.

Table 5 · 05-02-2010, 04:54 PM

I must be the only one, but I have no idea why people like Cuv's so much these days....they don't have any off-road capability compared to a "real" Suv, don't have as much cargo/interior room as a station wagon, and have poor handling compared to a regular car. What' the advantage again? Sitting up high?

The people who suggest the Subaru's are on the right track imo. Now there's a car that offers a ton in every department...volume, traction, safety, reliability, handling.

BlackArcher101 · 05-02-2010, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

The people who suggest the Subaru's are on the right track imo. Now there's a car that offers a ton in every department...volume, traction, safety, reliability, handling.

And one of the best resales in the market.

boogerz · 05-02-2010, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

And one of the best resales in the market.

And a very good reputation for reliability

Shazam · 05-02-2010, 06:02 PM

Also, lesbians LOVE them.

BlackArcher101 · 05-02-2010, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shazam

Also, lesbians LOVE them.

See, you can't go wrong!

GreenTeaFrapp · 05-02-2010, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

I must be the only one, but I have no idea why people like Cuv's so much these days....they don't have any off-road capability compared to a "real" Suv, don't have as much cargo/interior room as a station wagon,

How many station wagons are offered in North America these days?

Mad Mel · 05-02-2010, 06:16 PM

I have an '02 Forester. It's pretty bulletproof, just normal maintenance and that kind of thing. Subaru's xWD system is by far the most established, it works well and won't break. As far as 4WD vs. AWD... let's think about purpose here. None of these vehicles will survive much past ten feet off road, so we're looking at traction in snow, and any of them are fine.