I always thought those things were as terrible as they looked back in the day....that was, until I ended up with one identical to the one in the video, almost by accident. I was so impressed that I have used it as a rally car for 6 seasons (winning last years championship) and when it’s not being rallied, I use it on 4x4 club events. Surprisingly good on road as well once you dial into it. These things are a hidden gem
Best Rav4 ever made!. In terms of keeping the original spirit. I bought a 1999 5 doors one in 2017 and I use it to work in the farm and everyday very tough, reliable and good 4x4 traction. Not a proper off-roader by the book but it may surprise you. This model stop selling in 2000. I bought one and I would buy another, simple fantastic car if you have to go through bad roads, or working in the countryside. Modern SUV are are just bigger cars so much more costs.
Had a 5 door in 1995 and since then I'm on to my 8th RAV4 a 5th gen hybrid So have driven all models. Love the ravs. My first one is still going strong and I often see it driving around, an elderly lady drives it now. 24 years old and still looks good and going well.
Nearly bought one of these once, but in the end I decided that I didn't really need the 4×4 and went for a Ka instead. Another fun and funky little car that's sadly missing in it's manufacturers line up today. I know they still make a car called a Ka, but it just isn't the same. Just as today's Rav 4 is nowhere near as good as that wonderful first generation. Original is always best.
You should have got that RAV4 you know you never know when you might need the four-wheel drive even though it only has a center locking diff it's not really like that great compared to the new one I have a 2020 and there's no Center locking diff it has Dynamic torque vectoring and it basically acts like a a rear Locker it's amazing but you should have bought that old RAV4 they're just so goddamn good and Tiny
they are common here in my country Bolivia, do you think 8.5-10 k $us worth it? I'm planning to buy a used car 95-99, other option is mitsubishi montero sport cause they cost 10k as well but they are huge and v6 3000cc, dunno if that will cost me more if they consume more fuel (dunno about that part but I think they are because the price and why I see lot of them being offered)
Got a 1994 three-door auto on my drive. Sadly I think it's beyond saving, well, certainly beyond my limited mechanical skills. However, of everything I've driven, it's the most loveably spirited vehicle. With some chunky tyres on it, mine was almost shockingly good off road, eager on the road, reliable (until only spring this year), comfortable, nippy, drove over snow and ice as if it wasn't there... just brilliant and fun. I replaced it as a daily with a V8 S-Type. As refined, powerful and fast as that was, I was glad to see the back of it. If I ever have the disposable income to get the RAV up and running again, it will return to daily service. I suspect, due to the number of people who have offered to buy it off me without knowing anything of the car's history, they might even start appearing on classic car 'wanted lists'. Although I fear most folk who've shown an interest in mine wanted it for banger racing. Anyway, great video, keep up the good work! :)
My neighbour had a 2003 5dr Rav auto . He said it just kept going and only got rid of it because he wanted something more economical as it would only do 25mpg.
These were the best "bitchin' mobiles". I tried to get a friend of mine to buy one but he was too cheap and too scared to get a driver's license. He had a beautiful dog at the time and he could've tossed him in the back with a surf board or somerhing, driven to the beach and enjoyed life. Then Toyota destroyed this great, original, perfect design by making it bigger. I'm so glad you reviewed it. LOVE THE SCARF :D
Often the original is best, this was a lovely pure idea. Its a great scarf, needed as it was 4°C - Bruichladdich tartan from their distillery on Islay!
I will always love this design. I was about 14 when this came out in the USA. The one thing I remember is my dad saying "there's no rear bumper." And yes, there's not rear bumper. I still think about picking one of these up from Japan just to drive it as a daily instead of my Land Cruiser. Either this or maybe a del Sol. Both were funky, fun cars from one of the best eras of Japanese cars.
We had one of these cars, higher spec, but it looked great. I have to say, the plastics used to vibrate and it was really noisy, whereas you seemed to think it was quiet, we must have had a dodgy one. One thing I will say, it handled like a little hot hatch, with a nice ride. Super strong, my wife rolled it in a ditch over twice, all the doors could still open. With the insurance claim, we got more than we paid for it and bought an import Mark one CRV and boy, that was in another league, soooo much better made, smooth, quiet, spacious and still did great mileage. We have a mark three RAV4 now and I still think the CRV is by far the superior product. Good video though squire.
I remember they first came out and being in the motorway and seeing the first Rav 4 overtaking us - I had never seen one. I thought it was a Corsa B at first glance then realised it was too tall 😂 Great car and yes, you don’t see the early ones anymore. My friend has a mk3 and absolutely loves it.
I have huge respect for Toyotas, RELIABLE, Dependable, Long Lasting ( IF looked after ) Toyota BUILD QUALITY is second to NONE inc MB etc, the earlier Honda's Accord/Civic were VERY well made also!!!!!!! Many 90s Toyotas still on the road here, NO salt on our roads thankfully!!!!!!!
I own a 1998 SWB AWD in Zambia. Aftermarket raised suspension, roofrack and roof spotlights. Here the 1st gen is incredibly popular! At a traffic light you may see up to 4 or 5 Gen 1 and 2 passing! The reason is simple...bad roads and utter vehicle reliability! The basis on which the RAV concept was designed. Because of their popularity they do not come cheap here (unlike the UK)...with a reasonable (for Zambian standards) 1998 going for up to 4000 USD! My wife has a 2005, 5 door Rav...and I love the vehicles. Driving my "98 down to South Africa where I live in January...and I wont have a moments worry about the 3000 km trip!
Wow, $4000! I was looking at an OK one last night for $400 on eBay! But thats Toyota, so dependable and if you are in a dry climate like yours you wont suffer with the rust we do here and they will last forever
@@furiousdriving Hi there! Well..unfortunately my 98 DID come from the UK (the previous owner imported it) via a dealer in Japan and suffered huge rust which I have mostly sorted out by replacing bits. That cost a further 2000! But yes..a dry climate here helps a lot! Love this car, going to keep it in SA when I get back home...just a pity I cant take it to my next contract in Afghanistan!
Yes, had the same problem. I bought a lightweinght commercial roofrack and none of the fittings supplied worked. Had to go to an engineering shop that manufactured brackets that slotted into the slots that are exposed when you slide the plastic covers open. They made a one-off for me. That possibly will be your best bet. Its clamps firm and the rack is going nowhere.... Hope this helps
*It’s a Exotic safari car of the Late 80s, Early and Mid-90s. Hatchback ToySUVs. Those turquoise squiggly seat patterns are so aesthetic. The grey plastics, the numeric binary digital display. Love it. I think this car keep was designed all international markets of the world and used widely in climates of Far East Asia, South Asia, Caribbean, Pacific, Oceania, South Americas, Central America, Africa etc. it’s commonly seen there to have a use, where some countries only have 4x4 and FWD due to the terrains. Its a off-road hatchback utility car and the Jimney is a Kei car on large wheels. It does look like Tokyo Motor Show Concept from 1988 and it’s a RAV and gimmicky “GS” label”
Your rear seats stow forward in 4 steps. Remove headrests. Fold seat back all the way down flat onto seat bottom. Flip entire folded seat forward and secure with the braces embedded in seat bottoms. The headrests stow in the matching holes which are now pointing upward. For a completely open cargo area the rear seats are easily removed by the 4 mounting bolts at the front.
Had one of these, it was quite fun to drive, love the looks and the vent under the steering wheel, the fabric. I steal regret seling it. the only bad thing is that it was quite thersty 11kmlt in the high way.
I love mine! It's the 1994 (turquoise) three door model, 4x4 +differental lock, manual transmission, left side drive. It has also the electrical windows. It has a bull bar with long headlights (led) and summer tyres are van tyres and winter tyres are studded and a bit chonky. It has a bigger engine than the original tho, I don't remember which toyota's engine it is, because the last owner had swapped it, but if anyone wants to know, I can try identifying it. It is fun to drive, better at off-roading than I thought than it would be, and really fun in snow and ice. I have had it since the March 2014, so almost 6 years now. But now it has started to collect more and more rust, (even though I'm trying really hard to keep it from rusting more) so it's days are closer to the end sadly, it has almost 300 000 kilometers on the meter, only about a thousand kilometers to go. It doesn't basically have any space for baggages if you're traveling, which is the one thing that I don't like. Also no ac. I'm gonna be so sad when it can't be driven anymore, I'm very attached to it.
My partner had same car in Red. She only traded it in when the petrol tank started to fail aged 18 years. She now has the later 04 shape model but we find the ventilation was better on the earlier one with opening rear windows and removable roof.
Tried to buy one of these when they came out but the salesman was a massive idiot so I walked away, I've always wanted one as I am a sucker for quirky cars. Good video. thanks
Our later Black T-Reg is a garden hack with only one seat. Feel guilty now... It still runs really well and treated it to new wipers, despite not needing them!
Remember when these came out What Car referred to it as the GTI of off-roaders. Just amazed at the size and price of the current one! Cracking video once again Matt.
The plastic trim skirts are actually a good idea, the lower half of the body always gets pelted with gravel, grit and debris. Ends up looking better than chipped and peppered paint.
The car that started the crossover sport utilitiy vehicle that North America loved. Everyone drives SUV or a pick up truck in North America. North America only got the 4 door version
That's a really clean looking RAV4, like you were saying, most of them just got driven and abused until they fell apart. It's a shame that there's not many cool, sporty little SUV's around anymore that take styling cues from hardcore 4x4s like the jeep or land cruiser
I alawys ask myself why german and english cars dont make cars reliable like the japanese do....not to mention that any of them is at least double the price of any japanese car.....imagine when reliability combines with luxury..plus a reasonable price....fortunes will be made plus excellent repetaton..
Lexus is high end Toyota Acura is high-end Honda an Infiniti is high end Nissan which I would personally stay away from Nissan kind of took a shet in the early 2000s
Thank you, and the Welsh based fellow of course, for reminding me how good the first RAV4 was and is. I remember them being promoted as having hot hatch type power plus a commanding driving position and off road capability. Time then proved that they were solid and reliable. It would be great to own one nowadays. The 5 door doesn't look as sharp but would be a decent compromise for practicality. Good luck finding one of those.
Yes, that sounds right. Ive looked at tractor pictures now (I should get out more) and as someone else pointed out the 35 came out after they became Massey Ferguson
furiousdriving The 35 came out before they became Massey Ferguson, called the FE-35. Painted grey and gold. Then it became the MF 35 and was kept mostly the same apart from being painted red and grey, before getting a new engine later on in its lifetime.
I own a 99 RAV. I'm at 228 k. It's the 5 door. It has a tiny bit of rust since I live in Canada. I love it. To me it's the perfect size. I find newer SUVs a little too big.
The MK 1 Vitara is far more hardcore than MK1 Rav 4... How do I know? I use MK1 Vitara for work and found MK1 Rav 4 for a friend who needed something a little higher. The Vitara has low range gearbox, separate chassis, both of which the Rav 4 doesn't. The Rav 4 is a better car for day to day road use, the Vitara is the one I use when it gets mucky. The diff lock only locks the central diff which splits the power evenly to the front and rear axles which are then still open.
It was the first 4x4 that had performance, its 0-60 time according to a test done by what car magazine in 1994 was 9.9 seconds, the top of the range vx had cool wave graphics on the side....just a bit of a hairdresser image on an otherwise great car.
Hi Furious, hope you are well. Great wee car, one of my faves, and what a capable car. Think i'd go for the 5-door just so i could get my wheelchair in the back. Can i make a suggestion? Show the drivers seat in its rearmost position so that we can see max room for getting in/out...helpful to us disabled folk. Nobody EVER shows this when advertising cars for sale. Anyway, enough ranting for now. Great video, very helpful info as usual. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe and keep up the good work. 👍🖖😎🏍
Before the RAV4, they may be based on normal hatchbacks, but what about the Honda Civic Shuttle 4wd and Toyota Tercel 4wd Estate from the '80s? Also, not many people remember the Suzuki Swift 1.6 GLX 4wd saloon from the earliest '90s. Love this RAV4 review. The whole Go For a Drive series in fact. You're knowledge and memory of the era these cars were from is quite remarkable.
They were based on hatchbacks with added 4x4, but thats the thing, they were based on existing cars, whereas this was designed as a soft roader from the beginning, and thats where things changed. Thanks for watching, very glad youre enjoying the channel!
It's interesting to see the spec differences between countries. We have a '95 RAV4 2 door, which my partner bought with dealership miles in 1995. No driver's airbag and no switches under the compartment below the stereo (not even blank ones - and the cigarette lighter is up closer to the steering wheel). The dashboard light dimmer on ours isn't there on that one. Anyway, super car, we will never sell it. It has a tiny bit of rust at the front of the roof, but other than that the only real issue is that red paint fades.
Yes, when I rented one in the US a couple of years ago the dash was totally different to the European models, what struck me was the buttons were much bigger!
The US got front passenger airbag as well, quite early, so you lose that cupholder up on the dashboard. Here in australia I don't reckon we ever got the passenger airbag on the XA10 RAV4. We obviously got the drivwr airbag because I bought a driver's side sunvisor from a wrecker a couple of years back and it had airbag warnings on it that my original sunvisor didn't.
My Dad borrowed a green 5dr RAV4 from work once, I remember the back doors being absolutely tiny, the rear leg room wasn't much better than this 3dr model.
I remember shortly after the RAV4 first came out, WhatCar magazine wasn't quite sure how to categorise it in the sector-by-sector (as in supermini, convertible, small family car etc.) part at the back and ended-up putting it in a special "fun car" category.
Some came with a Torsen diff in the back, so you could have full time 50-50 awd, central locker plus a LSD type rear diff, made it a better off roader than the run of the mill rav4..
The reason they are so rare is because they rust like crazy. I have ridden in a four door, cramped rear seat. Although I think the four door is longer.
@@furiousdriving You are quite right, unless you live in an arid climate or one that does not use road salt, these vehicles will rot unless you wash immediately and are fastidious about keeping it clean. It can be done. I really like your Rover; however, it seems that the M-B is a lost cause, unless you know a specialist who can help you get to the bottom why it refuses to run, and why damp is invading the interior. Someone mentioned clogged sunroof drains, and he is most likely correct; if the drain plugs are clogged, they back up and rain enters the interior. Another problem that if not addressed could become detrimental. Regardless, wishing you the best. And I really like your Alfa!
My uncle had a 96 of one of these same colour but the 5 door version and it was one of the best cars he’s ever had so reliable and dependable he replaced it with a 04 RAV4 only reason he got rid of the old one was because it was getting a bit tired
I'm not a Toyota fan, but quite like these. I t wasn't brave because in the early 90s cars like the Shogun were becoming really popular and a smaller version was an obvious inclusion into that niche.
Thanks for an excellent and interesting review. And good to see the Fergie - there's a lot of good history in their story - hours of video if you had a mind to. Today's moment of pedantry is that the Toyota clock was LED and not LCD. LED (light emitting diode) displays emit light from the digits. LCD's (liquid crystal display) may be backlit, but the digits are formed by bits of the translucent screen turning black. Cheers.
on cars from that year and bit older you can retrofit every manual window to electric. I had an Iveco Daily van from 2007 and I've installed the electric motor + switches of electric windows that came from a Renault 25.. I leave the math to you 😂😅
Gears notchy pre dual mass clutch but unbreakable and will never let you down my present car is a rav4 best car on road today My neighbours have 500000 miles on them and and no issues
The first SUV that didn't handle like one, it's not perfect at anything but really good at a lot of things,can't compare it with a Vitara (multilink rear suspension vs axle), I have a well optioned 96 3-door with a factory torsen rear diff,it's great fun both on and off road, also extremely reliable and not slow for what it is (0-60 is actually about 10 sec for the 5speed), and the 3s-gte engine from the caldina bolts on very easily and turns it into pretty much a rally car.
You can still see plenty of these first gen. RAV4s around the mountains of Costa Rica and Panama. These vehicles are literally BOMB PROOF. Will take the first gen any day of the week, unlike the more unreliable later models.
As far as a serious 4wd is concerned, the vitara is the serious one with low range gearing. The rav 4 is just an all wheel drive. Best it can do would be dirt tracks or minor sand. Fun though.
Legit, I would be "that guy" to lower it with coil-overs, build the engine, turbo, and turn it into a track monster. Smol pocket for the cigarettes you would be smoking lmao
@@redrebel6510 It makes up for not having a transfer box. Toyota's in general do have a short 1st gear and my Corolla goes like a rocket from the lights.
The Vitara is thought of as a lifestyle SUV, but really it was a rough and solid 4x4 that got dressed up in bodykits, graphics and alloys to become that after the fact, but underneath it was still an off-roader doing its best on road. The RAV was the first one designed from the ground up as a car like 4x4 for everyday use, on road first but with 4x4 capabilities
@@furiousdriving your talking about the "Fat Boy " spec vits....they were just stupid. A stock Vitara is a much better off-road vehicle than a Rav 4 all day long .
The masses of head room has certainly changed in the current RAV4. I rejected if when looking for a car last year because I hit the roof with the seat is reclined to a comfortable angle. Head room really improved for tall drivers in the 90s. Now its getting worse in most cars. The Honda Jazz and the biggest SUVs are just about the last good cars for the tall.
With you on the whole SUV vs car thing. I never really got why everyone decided they need to have all that extra stuff for no apparent gain. I'll take a decent saloon over an SUV any day. All those unnecessary blobs are indentikit clones anyway. Thanks for voicing a sensible opinion and producing a good video all round.
![[Live] : ONE 168 วันนี้!! "โจนาธาน vs ซุปเปอร์เล็ก"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0jIN65KgJsI/mqdefault.jpg)
I always thought those things were as terrible as they looked back in the day....that was, until I ended up with one identical to the one in the video, almost by accident. I was so impressed that I have used it as a rally car for 6 seasons (winning last years championship) and when it’s not being rallied, I use it on 4x4 club events. Surprisingly good on road as well once you dial into it. These things are a hidden gem
Manx Mountain Ninjas I have one too and it's really fun to drive rally with (I'm a very beginner tho)
I absolutely love these “Goes For a Drive” videos on this channel!
Best Rav4 ever made!. In terms of keeping the original spirit. I bought a 1999 5 doors one in 2017 and I use it to work in the farm and everyday very tough, reliable and good 4x4 traction. Not a proper off-roader by the book but it may surprise you. This model stop selling in 2000. I bought one and I would buy another, simple fantastic car if you have to go through bad roads, or working in the countryside. Modern SUV are are just bigger cars so much more costs.
Had a 5 door in 1995 and since then I'm on to my 8th RAV4 a 5th gen hybrid So have driven all models. Love the ravs. My first one is still going strong and I often see it driving around, an elderly lady drives it now. 24 years old and still looks good and going well.
A bit mean calling her elderly at 24, hope she doesn't read this
He said she still looks good
This car would be very fitting with an Oasis CD inside
Nearly bought one of these once, but in the end I decided that I didn't really need the 4×4 and went for a Ka instead. Another fun and funky little car that's sadly missing in it's manufacturers line up today. I know they still make a car called a Ka, but it just isn't the same. Just as today's Rav 4 is nowhere near as good as that wonderful first generation. Original is always best.
How much do you sell 5dr.type right hand drive?
You should have got that RAV4 you know you never know when you might need the four-wheel drive even though it only has a center locking diff it's not really like that great compared to the new one I have a 2020 and there's no Center locking diff it has Dynamic torque vectoring and it basically acts like a a rear Locker it's amazing but you should have bought that old RAV4 they're just so goddamn good and Tiny
This is the best Rav4 ever made, and getting hard to find
i both one 1996 today ;)
they are common here in my country Bolivia, do you think 8.5-10 k $us worth it? I'm planning to buy a used car 95-99, other option is mitsubishi montero sport cause they cost 10k as well but they are huge and v6 3000cc, dunno if that will cost me more if they consume more fuel (dunno about that part but I think they are because the price and why I see lot of them being offered)
I own one and love it so much!
@@fernandomigueliquizaramire6469 i got one like this one with 500euro.
Nah mate very common for me
Got a 1994 three-door auto on my drive. Sadly I think it's beyond saving, well, certainly beyond my limited mechanical skills.
However, of everything I've driven, it's the most loveably spirited vehicle. With some chunky tyres on it, mine was almost shockingly good off road, eager on the road, reliable (until only spring this year), comfortable, nippy, drove over snow and ice as if it wasn't there... just brilliant and fun.
I replaced it as a daily with a V8 S-Type. As refined, powerful and fast as that was, I was glad to see the back of it. If I ever have the disposable income to get the RAV up and running again, it will return to daily service.
I suspect, due to the number of people who have offered to buy it off me without knowing anything of the car's history, they might even start appearing on classic car 'wanted lists'.
Although I fear most folk who've shown an interest in mine wanted it for banger racing.
Anyway, great video, keep up the good work! :)
Blimey..Had one of those..! 2.0 Auto 3dr with A/C.. UTTERLY reliable and drove really well..
Great review..
I found a low mileage one for a friend earlier this year, 2.0 auto 5dr, he loves it.
My neighbour had a 2003 5dr Rav auto . He said it just kept going and only got rid of it because he wanted something more economical as it would only do 25mpg.
These were the best "bitchin' mobiles". I tried to get a friend of mine to buy one but he was too cheap and too scared to get a driver's license. He had a beautiful dog at the time and he could've tossed him in the back with a surf board or somerhing, driven to the beach and enjoyed life. Then Toyota destroyed this great, original, perfect design by making it bigger. I'm so glad you reviewed it. LOVE THE SCARF :D
Often the original is best, this was a lovely pure idea.
Its a great scarf, needed as it was 4°C - Bruichladdich tartan from their distillery on Islay!
My mother owns a 96 4-door RAV4. Bought in 98. Currently has just 172 thousand miles on it.😀
I will always love this design. I was about 14 when this came out in the USA. The one thing I remember is my dad saying "there's no rear bumper." And yes, there's not rear bumper. I still think about picking one of these up from Japan just to drive it as a daily instead of my Land Cruiser. Either this or maybe a del Sol. Both were funky, fun cars from one of the best eras of Japanese cars.
Really neat styling for the mid 1990s.
The front end resembles a Daihatsu Applause. Remember those?!
not many will!
We had one of these cars, higher spec, but it looked great. I have to say, the plastics used to vibrate and it was really noisy, whereas you seemed to think it was quiet, we must have had a dodgy one. One thing I will say, it handled like a little hot hatch, with a nice ride. Super strong, my wife rolled it in a ditch over twice, all the doors could still open. With the insurance claim, we got more than we paid for it and bought an import Mark one CRV and boy, that was in another league, soooo much better made, smooth, quiet, spacious and still did great mileage. We have a mark three RAV4 now and I still think the CRV is by far the superior product. Good video though squire.
Hundreds of these in South Auckland nz no salt on the roads.
I remember they first came out and being in the motorway and seeing the first Rav 4 overtaking us - I had never seen one. I thought it was a Corsa B at first glance then realised it was too tall 😂
Great car and yes, you don’t see the early ones anymore. My friend has a mk3 and absolutely loves it.
Engine sounds take me back to my old Carina E. Another once fairly common but now extinct motor
I have huge respect for Toyotas, RELIABLE, Dependable, Long Lasting ( IF looked after ) Toyota BUILD QUALITY is second to NONE inc MB etc, the earlier Honda's Accord/Civic were VERY well made also!!!!!!! Many 90s Toyotas still on the road here, NO salt on our roads thankfully!!!!!!!
I bought one of these for my Dad twenty years ago. He loved it and drove it for the rest of his life.
I own a 1998 SWB AWD in Zambia. Aftermarket raised suspension, roofrack and roof spotlights. Here the 1st gen is incredibly popular! At a traffic light you may see up to 4 or 5 Gen 1 and 2 passing! The reason is simple...bad roads and utter vehicle reliability! The basis on which the RAV concept was designed. Because of their popularity they do not come cheap here (unlike the UK)...with a reasonable (for Zambian standards) 1998 going for up to 4000 USD! My wife has a 2005, 5 door Rav...and I love the vehicles. Driving my "98 down to South Africa where I live in January...and I wont have a moments worry about the 3000 km trip!
Wow, $4000! I was looking at an OK one last night for $400 on eBay! But thats Toyota, so dependable and if you are in a dry climate like yours you wont suffer with the rust we do here and they will last forever
@@furiousdriving Hi there! Well..unfortunately my 98 DID come from the UK (the previous owner imported it) via a dealer in Japan and suffered huge rust which I have mostly sorted out by replacing bits. That cost a further 2000! But yes..a dry climate here helps a lot! Love this car, going to keep it in SA when I get back home...just a pity I cant take it to my next contract in Afghanistan!
Tell me about your roof rack please. I can't find one that fits in the slots on the roof.
Yes, had the same problem. I bought a lightweinght commercial roofrack and none of the fittings supplied worked. Had to go to an engineering shop that manufactured brackets that slotted into the slots that are exposed when you slide the plastic covers open. They made a one-off for me. That possibly will be your best bet. Its clamps firm and the rack is going nowhere.... Hope this helps
one of my favourite compact SUV's. I got the chance to drive a nice manual example, and it felt like a little go cart!
Such a good point re fake SUVs. Would love an early Vitara myself.
Yes, a nice convertible on the terrible late 80s wheels would be brilliant now!
Completely agree with you on SUV's, don't really get why they have become mainstream, I worry that hatchbacks will disappear all together.
Hi matt, i nearly bought one of these nearly 20 years ago. I now regret not buying it!! Great vid!!👍
Should have, and kept it nice!
Hi Matt,nice review on this Rav 4 SUV,there ain't many of these around now,a tidy example of this one.
*It’s a Exotic safari car of the Late 80s, Early and Mid-90s.
Hatchback ToySUVs. Those turquoise squiggly seat patterns are so aesthetic. The grey plastics, the numeric binary digital display. Love it. I think this car keep was designed all international markets of the world and used widely in climates of Far East Asia, South Asia, Caribbean, Pacific, Oceania, South Americas, Central America, Africa etc. it’s commonly seen there to have a use, where some countries only have 4x4 and FWD due to the terrains. Its a off-road hatchback utility car and the Jimney is a Kei car on large wheels. It does look like Tokyo Motor Show Concept from 1988 and it’s a RAV and gimmicky “GS” label”
The Vitara was actually a proper old school 4x4 workhorse not a lifestyle vehicle, it was the aftermarket styling companies that changed that.
At its core yes, Suzuki has always made excellent 4x4s, but by the time we saw them in the UK they were generally made into fashion statements!
Spot on.
Your rear seats stow forward in 4 steps. Remove headrests. Fold seat back all the way down flat onto seat bottom. Flip entire folded seat forward and secure with the braces embedded in seat bottoms. The headrests stow in the matching holes which are now pointing upward. For a completely open cargo area the rear seats are easily removed by the 4 mounting bolts at the front.
I remember when the RAV4 was classed as a small SUV. I definitely would've bought one (in one of the more higher spec trims) if I was alive back then.
Had one of these, it was quite fun to drive, love the looks and the vent under the steering wheel, the fabric. I steal regret seling it. the only bad thing is that it was quite thersty 11kmlt in the high way.
all toyotas start drinking when you push them, the trink is to find its cruising speed and set there.
I love mine! It's the 1994 (turquoise) three door model, 4x4 +differental lock, manual transmission, left side drive. It has also the electrical windows. It has a bull bar with long headlights (led) and summer tyres are van tyres and winter tyres are studded and a bit chonky. It has a bigger engine than the original tho, I don't remember which toyota's engine it is, because the last owner had swapped it, but if anyone wants to know, I can try identifying it. It is fun to drive, better at off-roading than I thought than it would be, and really fun in snow and ice. I have had it since the March 2014, so almost 6 years now.
But now it has started to collect more and more rust, (even though I'm trying really hard to keep it from rusting more) so it's days are closer to the end sadly, it has almost 300 000 kilometers on the meter, only about a thousand kilometers to go. It doesn't basically have any space for baggages if you're traveling, which is the one thing that I don't like. Also no ac.
I'm gonna be so sad when it can't be driven anymore, I'm very attached to it.
My partner had same car in Red.
She only traded it in when the petrol tank started to fail aged 18 years.
She now has the later 04 shape model but we find the ventilation was better on the earlier one with opening rear windows and removable roof.
The little hole fits mint containers really well
Tried to buy one of these when they came out but the salesman was a massive idiot so I walked away, I've always wanted one as I am a sucker for quirky cars.
Good video. thanks
Our later Black T-Reg is a garden hack with only one seat. Feel guilty now... It still runs really well and treated it to new wipers, despite not needing them!
Lavish disregard for the expense!
Remember when these came out What Car referred to it as the GTI of off-roaders. Just amazed at the size and price of the current one! Cracking video once again Matt.
Remember you used to see loads of these about .. not so much anymore
Never
Toyotas are extremely reliable and strong, but sadly these old ones had rust problems.
They’re everywhere in my town, around every corner, in every carpark and parked on the side of every road
I love my Toyota funcruiser 1994, still driving strong
The plastic trim skirts are actually a good idea, the lower half of the body always gets pelted with gravel, grit and debris. Ends up looking better than chipped and peppered paint.
The car that started the crossover sport utilitiy vehicle that North America loved. Everyone drives SUV or a pick up truck in North America. North America only got the 4 door version
I dint know that, I thought you got the soft top as well
They were availiable, just very very rare, tommyfyeah had one recently in NA
That's a really clean looking RAV4, like you were saying, most of them just got driven and abused until they fell apart. It's a shame that there's not many cool, sporty little SUV's around anymore that take styling cues from hardcore 4x4s like the jeep or land cruiser
Cheap as hell in germany
I alawys ask myself why german and english cars dont make cars reliable like the japanese do....not to mention that any of them is at least double the price of any japanese car.....imagine when reliability combines with luxury..plus a reasonable price....fortunes will be made plus excellent repetaton..
It's called "Lexus".
Lexus is high end Toyota Acura is high-end Honda an Infiniti is high end Nissan which I would personally stay away from Nissan kind of took a shet in the early 2000s
Thank you, and the Welsh based fellow of course, for reminding me how good the first RAV4 was and is. I remember them being promoted as having hot hatch type power plus a commanding driving position and off road capability. Time then proved that they were solid and reliable. It would be great to own one nowadays. The 5 door doesn't look as sharp but would be a decent compromise for practicality. Good luck finding one of those.
Have a 94rav 2 door and a 94 camry. Both great cars and every little thing still works.
I think it's a Ferguson TE 20. We had a 24 (bit more horsepower)here in NZ when I was a young lad. The 35 was the model that replaced it.
Yes, that sounds right. Ive looked at tractor pictures now (I should get out more) and as someone else pointed out the 35 came out after they became Massey Ferguson
furiousdriving The 35 came out before they became Massey Ferguson, called the FE-35. Painted grey and gold. Then it became the MF 35 and was kept mostly the same apart from being painted red and grey, before getting a new engine later on in its lifetime.
I own a 99 RAV. I'm at 228 k. It's the 5 door. It has a tiny bit of rust since I live in Canada. I love it. To me it's the perfect size. I find newer SUVs a little too big.
The MK 1 Vitara is far more hardcore than MK1 Rav 4... How do I know? I use MK1 Vitara for work and found MK1 Rav 4 for a friend who needed something a little higher. The Vitara has low range gearbox, separate chassis, both of which the Rav 4 doesn't.
The Rav 4 is a better car for day to day road use, the Vitara is the one I use when it gets mucky. The diff lock only locks the central diff which splits the power evenly to the front and rear axles which are then still open.
It was the first 4x4 that had performance, its 0-60 time according to a test done by what car magazine in 1994 was 9.9 seconds, the top of the range vx had cool wave graphics on the side....just a bit of a hairdresser image on an otherwise great car.
Hi Furious, hope you are well. Great wee car, one of my faves, and what a capable car. Think i'd go for the 5-door just so i could get my wheelchair in the back. Can i make a suggestion? Show the drivers seat in its rearmost position so that we can see max room for getting in/out...helpful to us disabled folk. Nobody EVER shows this when advertising cars for sale. Anyway, enough ranting for now. Great video, very helpful info as usual. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe and keep up the good work. 👍🖖😎🏍
I dont think anyone has ever thought of showing the seat range!
Awesome🖒 I bought a 1997 4 door with the same color. Great car. Greetings from Iowa😉
Hello!
5:26 That small pocket is a cigarette pack holder, believe it or not. The first-generation Honda CR-V had that as well.
Before the RAV4, they may be based on normal hatchbacks, but what about the Honda Civic Shuttle 4wd and Toyota Tercel 4wd Estate from the '80s? Also, not many people remember the Suzuki Swift 1.6 GLX 4wd saloon from the earliest '90s. Love this RAV4 review. The whole Go For a Drive series in fact. You're knowledge and memory of the era these cars were from is quite remarkable.
They were based on hatchbacks with added 4x4, but thats the thing, they were based on existing cars, whereas this was designed as a soft roader from the beginning, and thats where things changed. Thanks for watching, very glad youre enjoying the channel!
My dream Toyota SUV.
I love 90s cars 🤩
It's interesting to see the spec differences between countries. We have a '95 RAV4 2 door, which my partner bought with dealership miles in 1995. No driver's airbag and no switches under the compartment below the stereo (not even blank ones - and the cigarette lighter is up closer to the steering wheel). The dashboard light dimmer on ours isn't there on that one. Anyway, super car, we will never sell it. It has a tiny bit of rust at the front of the roof, but other than that the only real issue is that red paint fades.
Yes, when I rented one in the US a couple of years ago the dash was totally different to the European models, what struck me was the buttons were much bigger!
The US got front passenger airbag as well, quite early, so you lose that cupholder up on the dashboard. Here in australia I don't reckon we ever got the passenger airbag on the XA10 RAV4. We obviously got the drivwr airbag because I bought a driver's side sunvisor from a wrecker a couple of years back and it had airbag warnings on it that my original sunvisor didn't.
My Dad borrowed a green 5dr RAV4 from work once, I remember the back doors being absolutely tiny, the rear leg room wasn't much better than this 3dr model.
Fiat Panda 4x4 was an earlier compact 4x4... Though I know what you mean.
True enough, it was, but still looked like a 'normal' car. Hopefully one is coming to the channel soon
Love the Panda!
That’s not just a clock. Press the mode button for temperature.
Clint Mullins what!? I didn't know that, and I own one of these. Gotta try it when I'm driving back home in the weekend!
I remember shortly after the RAV4 first came out, WhatCar magazine wasn't quite sure how to categorise it in the sector-by-sector (as in supermini, convertible, small family car etc.) part at the back and ended-up putting it in a special "fun car" category.
Some came with a Torsen diff in the back, so you could have full time 50-50 awd, central locker plus a LSD type rear diff, made it a better off roader than the run of the mill rav4..
The tractor is a Ferguson TE20 and used an engine based on a Standard/Triumph design.
The reason they are so rare is because they rust like crazy.
I have ridden in a four door, cramped rear seat. Although I think the four door is longer.
Sadly most cars from this era do dissolve far too easily
@@furiousdriving You are quite right, unless you live in an arid climate or one that does not use road salt, these vehicles will rot unless you wash immediately and are fastidious about keeping it clean. It can be done.
I really like your Rover; however, it seems that the M-B is a lost cause, unless you know a specialist who can help you get to the bottom why it refuses to run, and why damp is invading the interior. Someone mentioned clogged sunroof drains, and he is most likely correct; if the drain plugs are clogged, they back up and rain enters the interior. Another problem that if not addressed could become detrimental.
Regardless, wishing you the best. And I really like your Alfa!
My uncle had a 96 of one of these same colour but the 5 door version and it was one of the best cars he’s ever had so reliable and dependable he replaced it with a 04 RAV4 only reason he got rid of the old one was because it was getting a bit tired
Quite liked these, another good video.
An earlier compact 4x4 was the Kia Sportage that was released in 1993.
I'm not a Toyota fan, but quite like these. I t wasn't brave because in the early 90s cars like the Shogun were becoming really popular and a smaller version was an obvious inclusion into that niche.
Thanks for an excellent and interesting review. And good to see the Fergie - there's a lot of good history in their story - hours of video if you had a mind to. Today's moment of pedantry is that the Toyota clock was LED and not LCD. LED (light emitting diode) displays emit light from the digits. LCD's (liquid crystal display) may be backlit, but the digits are formed by bits of the translucent screen turning black. Cheers.
I meant that..
on cars from that year and bit older you can retrofit every manual window to electric. I had an Iveco Daily van from 2007 and I've installed the electric motor + switches of electric windows that came from a Renault 25.. I leave the math to you 😂😅
Gears notchy pre dual mass clutch but unbreakable and will never let you down my present car is a rav4 best car on road today
My neighbours have 500000 miles on them and and no issues
The old Tractor 🚜 looks like an early 1950s T20 (very similar to the 35)
The first SUV that didn't handle like one, it's not perfect at anything but really good at a lot of things,can't compare it with a Vitara (multilink rear suspension vs axle), I have a well optioned 96 3-door with a factory torsen rear diff,it's great fun both on and off road, also extremely reliable and not slow for what it is (0-60 is actually about 10 sec for the 5speed), and the 3s-gte engine from the caldina bolts on very easily and turns it into pretty much a rally car.
You can still see plenty of these first gen. RAV4s around the mountains of Costa Rica and Panama. These vehicles are literally BOMB PROOF. Will take the first gen any day of the week, unlike the more unreliable later models.
Father had a 2000 4 door with an automatic, it was totalled at 330k miles, otherwise i am sure it would still be around.
This video makes me want to buy one of these babies.
As far as a serious 4wd is concerned, the vitara is the serious one with low range gearing. The rav 4 is just an all wheel drive. Best it can do would be dirt tracks or minor sand.
Fun though.
Is this a good deal? 1998 Rav4 convertible, 100k miles for $2100 usd. It is mentioned that the car has been restored to new last year.
Sounds good, they are getting valuable for early ones
Be careful, fuel economy is catastrophic
Legit, I would be "that guy" to lower it with coil-overs, build the engine, turbo, and turn it into a track monster.
Smol pocket for the cigarettes you would be smoking lmao
Most people set off in 2nd gear because 1st gear was so short as that was for off roading.
It's 1st gear is amazing for launches though... I normally set off in 2nd of course
@@redrebel6510 It makes up for not having a transfer box. Toyota's in general do have a short 1st gear and my Corolla goes like a rocket from the lights.
The seat fabric looks like kitchen roll as it’s called in the U.K. lol
“It was the first of its kind. Well ... apart from the Vitara but that’s different.” Why do you say the Vitara is different? I’m intrigued now!
The Vitara is thought of as a lifestyle SUV, but really it was a rough and solid 4x4 that got dressed up in bodykits, graphics and alloys to become that after the fact, but underneath it was still an off-roader doing its best on road. The RAV was the first one designed from the ground up as a car like 4x4 for everyday use, on road first but with 4x4 capabilities
furiousdriving Thank you! It’s interesting! I still don’t like so-called ‘SUVs’, but it’s quite interesting to know whence they came!
@@furiousdriving your talking about the "Fat Boy " spec vits....they were just stupid. A stock Vitara is a much better off-road vehicle than a Rav 4 all day long .
I love this car
I love Rav4 from the first generations to far
great review,
I don't want to look like I'm not paying attention, but are those RM Williams boots?
Well spotted, they are indeed - buy well, buy once, I’ve had them years and wear almost everyday!
About the door chime, the Ford cars of the 80s HAD that SAME CHIME!!!
Certainly agree with you regarding SUVs. Really not a vehicle I would entertain at all. You can't beat a three box saloon. Many thanks Matt.
the color, the shape, all the looking is beautiful 🚙
These are getting hard to find especially the Auto 3dr, collectors now. A brilliant 🚗,basic ,Bulit proof 2lt..
I have a 1996 Rav4 2 door or 3 if you mention the rear door.........bought in 2013 for A$5,000 on EBAY.....still is my regular weekly drive.
I've always liked the look of these - but why did they give them such a small boot? Great video - thank you :-)
The only complaint i would have from owning a 1st gen 3 doors is that they are really noisy when on highway
The masses of head room has certainly changed in the current RAV4. I rejected if when looking for a car last year because I hit the roof with the seat is reclined to a comfortable angle. Head room really improved for tall drivers in the 90s. Now its getting worse in most cars. The Honda Jazz and the biggest SUVs are just about the last good cars for the tall.
My rav4 with the locking differential has gotten me through a foot and half of mudd going up hill
Great video. Any chance of you doing a road test on a Toyota Crown? They're a marvelous car.
Matt, I'm guessing the Welsh TH-camr you mentioned that had one of these was Ian Hubnut!
I love the American/90s door chime !
You should take the new RAV4 out drive and do a review on it. It's incredible and amazing to see where Toyota has come with it
I drove one the same day I did the Mirai review but didn’t have time to film it. It’s a world apart from this
@@furiousdriving I'm jealous that you have driven the Mirai. It's the one Toyota I haven't driven from the recent range.
i have one of these but i converted the fuel to diesel so its a diesel car its much better with diesel
Pls try & get your hands on a Frontera next!
If there are any left!
Yes I love the Frontera, very good off road.
@@furiousdriving I bet their is more Frontera's on the road then this model rav4.
One about on coventry
With you on the whole SUV vs car thing. I never really got why everyone decided they need to have all that extra stuff for no apparent gain. I'll take a decent saloon over an SUV any day. All those unnecessary blobs are indentikit clones anyway. Thanks for voicing a sensible opinion and producing a good video all round.