Toyota RAV-4 v. Honda CR-V

[CarreraS2]

Friend needs a small, fuel efficient, reliable commuter SUV.

For an 80 mile daily round trip commute (90% freeway), needs to also be used a couple of times per week to carry business stuff (boxes of stuff equal to probably 8-12 banker's boxes) relatively short distances (5-10 miles).

The "coolness" requirement for this vehicle is zero. This is a strictly business vehicle - refridgerator white with steels wheels is just fine.

The need for reliability is HIGH. Probably will put 25,000-30,000 miles per year on it, would like to keep it for as long as possible (minimum of 150K miles - hopefully more).

As low maintenance costs as possible (parts, etc.)

Given this is So. Cal., it needs to be able to cruise at So. Cal. highway speeds (80-85 mph) for a half an hour at a time.

Anybody have any experience with either of these? Any recommendations?

[Stanley]

Funny thing…A guy at work today drove up in his wife’s 04 CR-V. He said he hates it and they are thinking of getting rid of it. He said it is extremely unstable on the freeway and that there is lots of wind noise.

Also, why is a small SUV needed? If your friend is willing to go for a wagon there are many more possibilities.

[speeder]

I agree. Small SUVs for the most part suck, but there are a lot of good small wagons that drive well. If it absolutely has to be an SUV, I'd go w/ the Jeep Liberty unless it is over the budget. I don't like Grand Cherokees at all, but the Liberty seems like it's reasonably well made.

Otherwise get a Ford Focus wagon if coolness is unimportant, and actually they are not bad looking.

[HardDrive]

"Ford Focus wagon"

I agree. Or what about a Mazda MX-3 Wagon? Ford Escape?

I actually drove a Ford Focus sedan some years ago, and was impressed. Much more refined than I expected.

If you REALLY don't care about looks, buy a ford or toyota compact truck and put a cap on the back. I drove a ford ranger to 130k on one clutch. It went to the shop once in 7 years for something unexpected, and that ended up being $220. Bullet proof.

[speeder]

ANY new car can go 150k miles these days. Without breaking a sweat. Check ebay for all of the high-miles late model Fords if you doubt this. I am driving a '99 Taurus wagon w/ 125k on it that started life as a rental car at the moment and it drives close to new. Paid ~$2k for it and could fit a piano in the rear, plus a great factory roof rack for my ladders. Gets 20+ mpg on regular and keeps up w/ traffic no problemo. If you really want to go nuts, buy the newer body style (2000+) w/ low miles for a whopping $6 grand.

I just don't understand spending an extra twenty thousand dollars to buy new just out of fear of mechanical breakdown, heck, I could replace every component on my car twice for less than that. And it's been bulletproof so far, (knock on wood).

This is the current state of the used car market:

[s_wilwerding]

I have a 2004 CRV, and I love it. I have not yet had one problem with it, it is not unstable on the freeway, and I have never noticed any excessive wind noise. If everyone is so unhappy with the CRV, why are their resale values so high? I was looking for a used one last summer, and the price difference between a one year old, 10,000 mile CRV and the one I bought new was about $1500. I don't know too many new cars you can put 10,000 miles on in the first year and only lose $1500.

I can't speak for the Toyota, but I can say that the CRV, at least the 02s and later, have a tremendous amount of interior room for their size, and they have very good power. If interior size is important and looks aren't, have him look at a Honda Element. They are not attractive cars, IMO, but the interior is huge, and they have the same engine and running gear as a CRV.

[RickM]

I saw a review of all the small SUVs a while back and the first generation CRV was last on the totem pole (Underpowered and skitsy on the highway). The Escape was best. However, I spoke to a gentleman who happened to find my wandering pup last year and while he loved the Escape he said the MPG was about the same as his 6 cylinder Explorer. From my 4 Explore experience the 6s get about the same MPG as the eights.....lol.

Resale on either generation CRV is excellent.

I know nothing of the RAV4 other than it looks very small inside yet well made.

[RickM]

Taurus offers a big bang for the buck. Reliability is really excellent as well. I used one as a winter car and it always got me where I needed to go.

I assume you're not needing 4-wheel drive. The 2 WD CRVs are typically a bit less expensive.

[speeder]

Originally posted by SoCal911SC
Can you really get a 2000+ Ford like that wagon, with low miles, for $6K?!?!? That might be too low to pass up - CRV seems nicer, but not at 2-3X the price.

Absolutely. Check ebay, (completed auctions/actual sale prices), or find someone "in the biz" who can snatch one off lease for you at the dealer auction. They leased a fair number of these w/ loss-leader rates to compete w/ Camry for best-selling honors and they are all trickling back to Ford credit. Combine that w/ the *give away* situation on new cars for the last few years, and it has really depressed the almost new used market.

I always need one wagon or truck, I just fell into this Taurus but it is a delightful car for what it is. (A transportation appliance). It's quiet at 90 mph, the A/C blows ice cubes, it has TONS of room in back w/ rear seat down and it's decent looking but attracts zero cop or thief attention. They are an incredible dollar value IMO, there are some real steals in the marketplace right now. I might uprade to a 2001-03 w/ the 24V motor.