Looking for a New Used Rav4

[Daggyr]

Friends - My faithful 2006 RAV4 Sport (3.5L, 4WD) took it on the nose and and the tail on a return trip from Montreal. The car is a write-off but everyone walked away. Can't ask for more than that from a car.

Once the messy insurance details are settled I will be looking for another RAV as a replacement.

Do folks have any thoughts on the relative merits of 2009-2012 models?

Also, I specifically looked for a 3.5L engine because I thought that the smaller engine might not have enough power for the weight of the car. the 3.5 certainly had power to spare, but is the 4 cyl sufficient?

Many thanks

[Carbon]

The 4-cyl is sufficient to keep up with traffic and then some. However we know you really want the V6 for that extra power.

2009...2012 are pretty similar. See New Features added for 2006-2011 RAV4 Model Years for links for changes for 2010 and 2011

[Scout706]

I like Autotrader.

[DVS]

When I recently bought my 2012 RAV4 4WD, my sales person mentioned that the "Dynamic Torque Control" in the 2013 redesign has actually been around since the 2010 model year, but it didn't have that name (or any name) until now.

This is the feature that uses accelerometers in the front and rear of the vehicle to detect of the vehicle isn't going in the direction the steering wheel is pointing (the vehicle is yawing), and applies power to the rear/other wheels to help correct that and get the vehicle to go where the steering wheel is pointing.

I do remember reading about that feature in the RAV 4WD long before the 2013 was announced.

(Or is that kind of "vehicle stability control?" -- gotta love Marketing people...)

If you find that of value/interest, you might want to focus your search on model years 2010 or newer.

[JuneBug]

Originally Posted by DVS

When I recently bought my 2012 RAV4 4WD, my sales person mentioned that the "Dynamic Torque Control" in the 2013 redesign has actually been around since the 2010 model year, but it didn't have that name (or any name) until now.

I believe they referred to it as "Active Torque Control" in previous years, but I'm pretty sure it's all the same thing.

[Daggyr]

Originally Posted by Carbon

The 4-cyl is sufficient to keep up with traffic and then some. However we know you really want the V6 for that extra power.

2009...2012 are pretty similar. See New Features added for 2006-2011 RAV4 Model Years for links for changes for 2010 and 2011

well of *course* I am sedooooced by the power. Gotta say that the 3.5 made baby wanna fly!

[03rav4inPA]

Glad to hear everyone made it out safe from the accident!

I'm in the process of doing the same thing, I like autotrader best, there's a ton of dealers selling them at reasonable prices to move their inventory. Lots of good deals! If you find something, update us with the new ride

[Daggyr]

On my 2006 I think they called it VSC. Funny thing is that when my car spun out the dashboard was quiet as a mouse. I guess it's possible for the wheels to all be moving at the same speed even as the car is doing 360s?

[Daggyr]

Originally Posted by 03rav4inPA

Glad to hear everyone made it out safe from the accident!

I'm in the process of doing the same thing, I like autotrader best, there's a ton of dealers selling them at reasonable prices to move their inventory. Lots of good deals! If you find something, update us with the new ride

Thanks 03RAV4...it was a hairy experience, but not much to be done when the car hydroplanes. Still...could have been a lot worse.

[DVS]

Originally Posted by JuneBug

I believe they referred to it as "Active Torque Control" in previous years, but I'm pretty sure it's all the same thing.

Now that you mention it, that term does sound familiar. Thanks!

Until my sales person mentioned that, I was thinking maybe there was something noticeably new and better about the 4WD (errr, sorry, "AWD") system in the 4.4s than in the 4.3s.

But it's not looking like it, at least compared to the later 4.3s, unless I missed something in my research.