Trade '07 RAV4 sooner, or later?

[Aptos Driver]

Still have less than 45,000 miles on my 5 1/2-year-old RAV4 Limited. No real problems to date, other than the usual stuff -- steering column "clunk", bad radio, white noise in the audio when playing and charging my iPhone/iPod simultaneously. Had all those repaired and the oil-line fix as well before it became a problem (thanks for the heads-up RAV4 World). I still have nearly a year and a half to go on my extended warranty. (At the rate I'm driving, I'll never hit 100K miles before then.)

I'm accustomed to keeping our cars for 10 years and putting at least 150,000 miles on them. However, since we got a 2012 Camry XLE hybrid earlier this year, I've been thinking about replacing the RAV4 with a hybrid offering similar utility. I love the mileage we're getting with the Camry; we're averaging 40-41 mpg over about 5,500 miles so far. The most I can squeeze out of the RAV4 in mixed driving around here is 22 mpg. And I just hate idling at traffic lights.

Possible replacements for the RAV at this point: Prius V or the new Ford C-MAX hybrid. The Prius's reliability is unquestioned, but its 134 combined hp is pretty anemic compared to my RAV's 268 hp. (I haven't driven a Prius yet, ever.) The C-MAX puts out 200 hp combined, but it's too new; I prefer to let the first-adopters have a go at it before I buy one. I've also been researching the Lexus CT200H hybrid, but under the skin it's just an overpriced Prius.

Anyway, our RAV is in very good condition, with only a couple of minor body blemishes (I'll probably get those fixed in any case). Per Kelley's BB it's still worth $15,600 to $16,400 to a dealer. I don't feel any urgency to unload it now, but I'm thinking I might want to before the extended warranty expires in April 2014. I don't think a hybrid RAV4 is in the cards, although the Prius might be updated by then -- with Lithium-ion batteries and a more robust power plant. (Are you listening, Toyota?)

I'm interesting in hearing what other RAV Gen. 3 owners think about this. Would you want to trade a five-plus year-old RAV4 with similar low miles for a hybrid now? (I wouldn't consider unloading it for anything else.)

[sergr4]

Hello Aptos Driver.
I am in the same situation. I have an 07 with low miles, and also thought about getting a hybrid or maybe even an electric car. But, I decided to keep mine until something better comes up. Lexus is planning a new version of SUV in a year or so, perhaps I'll switch to Lexus then. But for now, I will keep my Rav for few more years, because I don't see a reason to spend money on a new car now.
So, my answer is to trade it later.

[veliksam]

I would get the Lexus RX hybrid. I don't keep cars longer than 4 years, newer models always tempt me and I eventually give in :D

Sent from my HTC ONE X

[vanib]

Originally Posted by veliksam

I would get the Lexus RX hybrid. I don't keep cars longer than 4 years, newer models always tempt me and I eventually give in :D

Sent from my HTC ONE X

I have the bad habit of buying a used car every 4 years

[RTexasF]

There is always the Highlander Hybrid. V-6, utility, and 28 mpg average......and only just under Forty Grand!

[drzsmum]

We are in the same boat and are seriously considering the Prius V. Test drove one last week. At this point I am going to wait and see what the 2013 Rav is like and hoping for a hybrid version.

[kpadget]

Well, not really comparing similar vehicles...RAV 4 for a Prius. Seems to me you have to ask yourself if the Prius fits your driving and lifestyle more than the RAV. As for the reliability thing with the RAV, I sold my '06 RAV this summer with 76k miles with no issues (however, out of warranty) for $15k. I turned around and bought an '12 RAV and am going to purchase an extended warranty. For me, there is no better utility vehicle out there that meets my needs. I too generally like to keep a car for 10 years. In this case, the new vehicle cost me $10k so it was a deal that was hard to dismiss.

[JuneBug]

Originally Posted by kpadget

I sold my '06 RAV this summer with 76k miles with no issues (however, out of warranty) for $15k. I turned around and bought an '12 RAV and am going to purchase an extended warranty. For me, there is no better utility vehicle out there that meets my needs. I too generally like to keep a car for 10 years. In this case, the new vehicle cost me $10k so it was a deal that was hard to dismiss.

Sounds good, kpadget! Is there anything you miss from the Limited that you wish was on the Base? I'm also curious as to why you got the extended warranty on the '12 when you had no problems with the '06?

[kpadget]

Junebug: I know, crazy in a way, right? Well, I had almost everything go wrong with my '06 RAV, and all but two were covered under warranty - transmission whine (TSB came out too late for me to take advantage of) and the steering ECU (dealer comped me the part, I paid for labor). Other issues I had: bad radio; oil hose replacement; water pump failure; 4wd ECU; fuel pump resistor (twice, and still hummed on occasion); left front spline clunking (lived with it); steering wheel clunking; a couple of others lost in memory presently.

So, given the above issues - especially the electrical ones an extended warranty will pay dividends; this would be a first for me to purchase an extended warranty!

The seats were better on the '06 Limited. This '12 Base seat seems just like the seat found in my '05 Corolla - sort of hammock-like "curved" bottom and seatback - I miss the lumbar support. RADIO - JBL in the '06 with subwoofer. This radio in the '12 is really hard to take - the ONLY complaint I really have between the two model years.

I got the Base model because if I had purchased a Limited I was forced into a sunroof and leather - the two things my '06 Limited didn't have, and I didn't want. Still got the tow prep package, tinted windows, and body side molding. I love the bluetooth in the '12 as my '06 did not have it. Also, switched to the pyrite mica color from the blue.

This car became my wife's as I needed a more capable off road vehicle - so I bought a Rubicon!

[JuneBug]

OK, when you said you sold your '06 with no issues, I took that to mean it was trouble-free. The Limited has a lot more gizmos and gadgets to go wrong than the Base, but the extended warranty is still a good idea as it's very reasonable from Jerry at Midwest. I hear you about the sunroof and leather--I didn't want them either and got a Limited with only tow prep and DRL's for factory options. One of the reasons I passed on the CR-V was in order to get a center console you HAD to get the leather and sunroof! Now that's crazy!

A Rubicon, eh? Hope you got the extended warranty on that one!