2013 Spare tire

[belbe]

Just saw the ad on Superbowl about the new 2013 Rav4 and finally had time to do a bit of research. NOT happy with the redesign of the rear and putting the spare tire (a temporary one at that) inside the vehicle! I LOVE having that extra space (the basement, we call it) for stuff when we go camping. That was one of the main points for going with the RAV instead of other vehicles. I can't see that putting it on the back is an option. So much for 'wishes'...also, my bike rack fits on the spare...guess the latest I can upgrade to is a 2012...?

[JuneBug]

Your 2009 Limited is virtually identical to the 2012 Limited. If you were to trade up, you would lose the 110v inverter switch on the dash, get a slightly bigger camera display on the rear view mirror, and trade the JBL audio system for either an Entune or NAV system. Those were the only changes made.

[veliksam]

"The Basement", I like it :D

Sent from my HTC One X+

[DVS]

"The Basement" is a great name for those big 2006 - 2012 RAV4 underfloor storage bins!

It's sad that most 2013+ RAV4 owners won't know what they're missing.

But, hey, that "ugly" spare tire on the back will be gone, and that's all that counts. That's certainly the only thing Toyota has cared to advertise about the 2013 RAV4 (!!!), and after all, while SUVs can have that, station wagons shouldn't have that:


Except for the fact that the 1970s Ford Pinto wagons were RWD and 2-door (and deathtraps), I see very strong parallels in the size and overall design with the 2013 RAV4. Oh, and vinyl seats weren't restricted to just the top-end Pinto models, like they are on the RAV4. But like the 2013 RAV4, they too only came in 4-cylinder models. I know because I *had* a Pinto wagon back in the day, and actually lived to tell about it. I think the Pinto had slightly less ground clearance, though.

Guess where the Pinto kept the spare tire? Yup...same place. Except it was *better,* functionally, because as I recall it was a full-sized spare tire. I believe the Temporary Spare hadn't been produced (invented?) yet.

All that's needed is the fake wood grain option on the sides for the "new" RAV4, and the circle will be complete.

[4ever]

Originally Posted by DVS

" because as I recall it was a full-sized spare tire. I believe the Temporary Spare hadn't been produced (invented?) yet

I purchased a 1973 AMC Gremlin X which came with a collapsed 70 series Temporary Spare and a can of compressed air to inflate it once it was mounted on the car. It looked like a rim with a black band of rubber around it until inflated. This gave a little more room to the meager space behind the rear seat. The standard Gremlins came with a full size spare.

[MrPulldown]

I love the spare on the rear hatch.

[Violet West]

lafs at the Gremlin, which I also owned. it was even green! Boyfriend totaled it. no loss.

[kruzzzn]

I also love the rear door on my 2012.Can close it easily with both hands full.

[djb383]

With 4 people and their luggage loaded in the back of a Saturn Vue, it was a royal PITA accessing that doughnut spare tire on the shoulder of Interstate 20. Since I don't really care about lookie lou things, give me a full size/full speed and clean spare tire on the back any day.

[JuneBug]

Originally Posted by kruzzzn

I also love the rear door on my 2012.Can close it easily with both hands full.

Yep, I can grab two armloads of stuff and still close the door with my butt! Try that with a 2013!