My First Car and The Birth of a New Kind of Car

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch) 01/21/2015 at 17:32 • Filed to: First cars, Birth of the CUV, HHFP, Review

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Its not ENTIRELY clear who birthed the Crossover/uni-body SUV market, but if anyone has a stab at the title I think Toyota might. Where did these not car, not trucks come from? Even Car and Driver, in their !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! of it, was at a lost with what to make of the funky little...not truck? from Japan (I guess you can sell fruit out of it). In 1994 Toyota took a risk with a new kind of vehicle and introduced the XA10 Chassis RAV4 which featured, for the first time all together I think, a unibody chassis, fully independent suspension 4 wheel drive, high ground clearance and car, not truck, mentality in construction and parts. RAV4, is actually an Acronym that could have, if BMW had its way with naming schemes, been the designation by which all vehicles in the class would be know as: Recreational Activity Vehicle 4-Wheel drive. Just think, instead of crossovers you would call them all RAV's and those weird tall fat 4 door hatchUV's thingies would be called sports activity vehicles (RAV's and SAV's...ewww). As I said, the RAV4 was harldy the first unibody SUV, nor the first car type to have AWD, but it was the first to put it all together in a resultant form we recognize today as the CUV (Compact Utility Vehicle/Crossover Utility Vehicle)

The RAV4 as exists today is a commodity in this ever more crowded segment, a product of market research and trending consumer priorities in the Compact SUV vertical. Or, translated from marketing to English: designed and built to be the least offensive to the most people. I'm not calling it beige, but the the current models favorite ice cream is definitely vanilla.

And while you can hardly blame Toyota for trying to increase or maintain sales in an ever crowded market by researching and building to the fat part of the curve its hardly inspiring. I didn't used to be that way though, The RAV4 used to be cool.

Just check out this page from the 1996 brochure...of which I used to have a copy of.

LASERS YO!

Toyota was taking a major leap of faith on this concept, because even though today the CUV is as common as self checkout or autocorrect flails no one, up to this point, wanted to stray far from the money making formula of putting a wagon body on a truck chassis and calling it an SUV.

Toyota, however began to realize early on that there would be a market for utility vehicle for the less overtly rugged and those looking for a more civilized vehicle with the ability to handle inclimate weather and haul lots of gear without beating you up in the spine or at the pump. Not only more civil, but even FUN! Need proof?

Check out this funky 1989 concept. Um paging Torchinsky much?

Its a tiny 2 door convertable off roader with a freakin' dirt bike in in it! Granted, this was Japan...in the 90's...so of course it was going to be weird. The good news is that in the time between this concept and the actual production model went on sale in 1994 (1996 in the US) it lost only a small amount of its quirky charm.

Yes, its got a real body and no its doesn't have a bike in it, but they did offer it with twin removable panels and we eventually got a convertible version...for real.

The best part about the 1st RAV4 though, wasn't its exterior styling it was the fun and quirkiness baked in.

Those seats, for example, not only featured very thick and durable coverings made from pure ground up NES cartridges (presumably) they were also able to be reconfigured to lay flat so you could have a place to rest from your busy life of Surge™ rushes and burning mix CD's from songs you got off Napster.

The best part about all this intentional youth targeting is that, aside from the loud graphics, it didn't feel pandering or like a caricatured effort like so many "youth designed" efforts (ahem, Honda Element)

They also held an ungodly amount of stuff, thanks in part to their tall shape and LOW, flat load floor with no sill or bumper that didn't have to deal with trying to store a full size spare tire, because it was hanging out on the enormous rear hatch.

I can tell from personally living in mine for a week, they work fine as a home.

Speaking of space I once ferried 9 bikes 2 people and a weeks worth of clothing for 9 people from Salt Lake to Sedona Arizon (5 bikes upright in the back, 4 on the roof) with nary a problem, even when it was puking snow over the pass near Humphreys peak as it always did on spring break for some reason.

It was also rated to tow 1500 lbs but I wouldn't, well, again i mean (that poor clutch).

Mechanically it was a bit of a mutt:

The chassis was a blend of the Japanese Carina and US Corolla

The engine and steering rack were from the Camry

The automatic drivetrain was from a short lived corolla All-Trac

The Manual drivetrain was lifted from the Celica All-Trac

And the interior was a mishmash of partsbin Toyota and bespoke.

The end result was a 2 door or 4 door, 4 wheel drive vehicle with a 5 speed manual or 4 speed auto that could swallow up to 5 people and 35 cubic feet (or 60 with 2 people) tow 1500 lbs and had enough tire and clearance to go anywhere the SUV owner of the 90's (and today) needed to go.

It was, actually, capable.

Capability is hardly the signature trait of the CUV class anymore, hell you'd be luck to make it up a snowy hill with !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but the RAV4 was legit off-road. The 4 speed had an autolocking open center diff and the 5 speed had a manually locking viscous coupling center diff. With good approach and departure angles, 70 series tires, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and decent angles ensured you didn't get stuck.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Because of its light weight, huge tires and effective AWD system it was particularly happy in the snow

or sand

What was it like to drive?

Chassis dynamics were something that didn't really exists in the SUV class before the Rav4, which anyone who remembers, say, an Eddie Bauer Explorer of that vintage could tell you but it the RAV4 did alright. No, it wasn't a "sporting" drive; With only a single tiny roll bar body roll was epic and the brakes were REALLY not up to the task of canyon carving (I had never seen brakes on fire before that night). However, the steering, brake pedal and throttle response were linear and alive and you could really have a great time at below legal speeds. The thick small diameter wheel had a sense of being unassisted, the shifts were short and precise and it was also available, with a legit Torsen rear differential (Shared with the Celica All-trac of rally fame) which aided greatly in its planted and surefooted nature in the corners. It wasn't a car that would BE fast, but it was always a car that made you smile.

The slowest Rally car ever.

Power was...um...conservative at 120 hp and 125 ft-lbs from a naturally aspirated 2.0 I4 but because of its square design, it was pretty flexible and got along just fine so long as you didn't want to go fast. That it only weighed only one average person away from a Miata (2600-2800 lbs dripping wet), it make out alright. The engine also had a wonderful character that, although slow, was eager and exciting and it made a wonderful noise. How fast slow was it? A conservative 0-60 was 12 seconds with the manual but once you got up to mountainous elevations with passengers or gear it was more like....well we'll get there. I remember on a certain drive from Salt Lake to Colorado Springs with two bikes on the roof the combination of altitude and extra drag was enough that with just me and a light load of gear onboard, it couldn't maintain freeway speeds on the taller hills and spent a lot of time in 3rd at 5000 rpm. This was easily remedied on the way back by putting the bikes in the car of which there was PLENTY of space for.

Mileage for the 4 door manual was mid 19/24 city/highway and you would get 22 in practice but as "meh" as that sounds now, it was 8 mpg better than an explorer of its time and 3 better than the smaller engined Samurai so not too bad really.

The "X" factor.

The numbers don't really tell the whole story though, as is the case with many cars, and the RAV4 was charming and endeering in ways not easily measured and the people who drive them fell in love with them. So much so that other companies, inspired by Toyota's instant success in Japan and the US, were scrambling to build their own "not trucks", including the CR-V, the Forester (and to a lesser extend the outback) and the like which started the ball rolling for the Crossover movement to take hold.

Now I know you don't like crossovers and for several valid reasons; pointless tall wagons that weigh more and have less interior space. I should also say that I don't disagree, I don't really like that the crossover has replaced the wagon AND the SUV and so I generally share your disdain for the modern crossover. The main reason I dislike them, though, is the main reason I LOVED my RAV4. The RAV4 was honest, mechanical and capable. It didn't trade on past legacy (what legacy?) or up to the minute technology (cassette deck yo), it wasn't trying to be all things to all people nor was it a cheap excuse to sit a little higher up than the average motorist... it was just good, honest engineering meant to do what it said on the tin.

If anything, The AX10 chassis RAV4 makes me wistful, in the same way an e39 BMW or an international Scout does, for vehicles that didn't need to conform to the data sets, or please the most people. Vehicles like these were built to please or to perform one person and were risk taking machines that paid off. Sadly in a data metric world, the formulas for such success are given to dilution to the base elements that...yes...bring success but also erode the very heart of the vehicle too.

Sadly, my RAV4 story ended prematurely after, on an early morning drive in the canyons, rowing the gears on my Torsen equipped 5 speed Sequoia green metallic example with over 150,000 miles and more memories I can count met with a deer that was pretending to be a road sign.

A credit to the old Toyota, it was still drivable and I still drove it like this for a while before it was sold to a salvage company out in Florida someplace. God speed little RAV4. At least you didn't live to see what became of your name.

JustWaitingForAMate > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 17:47

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I still have my 96 Rav4 in the same green as yours.

Learned to drive in it.

First car I was ever allowed to take on a road trip.

No mechanical issues, nothing has ever been replaced.

It's become the 'dog transport' car, but it still chugs along happily.

472CID > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 17:49

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I was about to agree that the RAV4 was the first small crossover/suv, but the KIA Sportage beats it by a year (might be body on frame though). RAV4s, particularly the first gens, have always been a car I've irrationally hated.

HammerheadFistpunch > JustWaitingForAMate 01/21/2015 at 17:49

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My engine had the valve guides go so I rebuilt it with decked head and a port and polish. In fact I have one of the original pistons on my desk right now. I love that color...still my favorite car color. is yours a stick?

HammerheadFistpunch > 472CID 01/21/2015 at 17:50

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Body on frame AND solid rear axle. This was just a cuter samurai. I don't blame you for hating it, its not pretty and unless you've owned one there is no way to fall for them, really. BUT, once you do own one and realize just how perfect a car they were for the money and for the time...you'll get it.

HammerheadFistpunch > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 17:56

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Sweet lead pic, so classy, so 90's (also spot the PADI stick on my own RAV4 in one of the pictures in the article...fortune telling?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > 472CID 01/21/2015 at 17:56

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We had one, it was dead reliable, but that was about it. Think mid-90's GM + reliability. The 4WD was a joke.

Nisman > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 17:57

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Cool story! I have no personal connection to this car but I really enjoyed the read. I have a lot more respect for those old RAVs now.

dogisbadob > 472CID 01/21/2015 at 17:58

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The OG Sportage is an actual truck, though. Plus, the front section of the roof (above the front row) was fixed :(

HammerheadFistpunch > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/21/2015 at 17:58

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I had a buddy with one. It was a piece of everlovin crap for him. We called it Grimace (it was purple)

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 17:58

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We had one. It was not like a Samurai. The auto locking hubs did not lock. In fact, in 4-low my dad got stuck in our back yard after it snowed because as he parked, it slid off the driveway.

HammerheadFistpunch > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/21/2015 at 17:59

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Samurai conceptually, not platform wise.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:00

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My neighbor across the street had a first-gen silver RAV4 that she bought new. It was a neat little SUV thingy. Can't remember for sure if it was a convertible, it might've been. She traded it in a couple years ago on a new GLK. Some might say it was an upgrade, and it was, but it's not as neat as that RAV4.

dogisbadob > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:01

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The first-gen Rav4 is awesome. I really like the convertible version, although nothing wrong with the 4-door, either, if you can find one with a sunroof :)

I'm actually surprised that Jeep and Suzuki didn't make more ground on the Rav4/CRV market, being that they had been making tiny SUV's since the 80s! (XJ Cherokee, Sidekick/Tracker/Vitara) yeah they were still trucks, but it took them WAY too long to make car-based CUV's and when they finally did, it was too little, too late.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:03

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Ours was a '99 and never had a single problem with it. Everything still worked when we got rid of it at 120k miles. Even the clutch was fine. Just the 4WD never actually worked, but turns out that was a common thing and aftermarket locking hubs fixed that.

Boxer_4 > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:04

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As much as some people dislike the segment, I have a soft spot for it. I remember when this segment was just developing, and how interesting the different entries were. Toyota, Honda, and Subaru all got in on the action, with each entry having a unique character. Even Kia tried to join in with the Sportage (even though it was body on frame, they always seemed to market it against the other three). My aunt still has her clover green 2000 Honda CR-V. It's still going strong after nearly 15 years, and she plans to keep it for a long time to come.

I miss the "rugged" feel of the original entries of this class. With each new generation, they seem to be getting softer and more civilized. Out of the newer cross-over entries, I still think the third generation Forester is the closest to its roots. The new fourth generation Forester is a really nice and capable vehicle, but it seems pretty far removed from the original Forester. In fact, the new XV Crosstrek feels closer to the original Forester.

HammerheadFistpunch > dogisbadob 01/21/2015 at 18:04

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why mess with success? they were doing just fine...well except suzuki (thank you very much consumers union!) and had no reason to change. The market at that time was still geared towards rough and tumble and not towards civil and fun, the RAV4 was the car that made the smarter companies lights turn on.

Bubs > 472CID 01/21/2015 at 18:05

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Personally, I like the first-gens from an aesthetic standpoint, otherwise I share your irrational hatred for RAV4s. Not really because of the cars themselves, but because of the sort of people that drive them.

HammerheadFistpunch > Boxer_4 01/21/2015 at 18:05

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had a 2nd gen (exactly as pictured) and was considering a 4th gen, but man are they soft and goofy.

HammerheadFistpunch > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/21/2015 at 18:06

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yeah, the 4wd never worked on his either.

colorfulyawn > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:08

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I've always liked those 1st-gen RAV4s. CR-Vs too.

RazoE > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:10

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My dad had (or has? Haven't talked to him in years) a 1998 4 door. I love it. It's just a happy little car. Very honest. It's FWD, but it was still peppy enough to screech tires during a turn.

HammerheadFistpunch > RazoE 01/21/2015 at 18:12

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happy little car sums it up nicely.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:12

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We also got it stuck in an inch of mud on my grandparents land. It was sad. Our Volvo 240 was more capable... not that I would know.

Anton > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:12

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As you mentioned RAV4 shares parts with the 6th gen Celica GT4 that was never sold in the US. A lot of people borrow the rear diff and other parts and convert the US front wheel drive Celicas into AWD GT4 models. The Celica GT4 used a 250hp turbo 3SGTE engine. I wonder if you could bolt one of those into a RAV4 to boost its power.

the_grouch > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:13

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Lada Niva, unibody, 4x4, ground clearance, and independent front suspension. Released in 1977, so you should excuse the solid rear axle. And is car based (kinda, on the Fiat 124)

It took the capitalist pigs decades to ffigure out what glorius Soviets knew all along!

HammerheadFistpunch > Anton 01/21/2015 at 18:14

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people have, and when my engine needed a rebuilt...I got close to, putting in a 3s-gte. The emissions issues and fact that the chassis wasn't really up to the task of that much power put a stop to that. In japan you could get these with the 177 hp 3S-GE Redtop.

JimSlade > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:15

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When the RAV4 first was launched I had a sales, or maybe press kit, that included a foldout paper model of the vehicle. Anyone remember this?

HammerheadFistpunch > the_grouch 01/21/2015 at 18:16

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Its true, the NIVA was (is? it it still in production?) pretty close, but its in the same boat as the AMC EAGLE...not QUITE ready for primetime.

HammerheadFistpunch > JimSlade 01/21/2015 at 18:17

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here you are my good man

misterdeuce > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:19

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Theres a shop in North Jersey that mostly works on MR2s, lots of engine swaps. They put a 3s-gte from a Toyota Caldina, think Legacy GT wagon but its a Toyota(Japan gets all the fun stuff), in one of these. I'd daily that, 250 HP and AWD, with a manual. These first gen RAV4s really don't get enough credit

HammerheadFistpunch > misterdeuce 01/21/2015 at 18:21

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They really don't. I was really tempted to do the swap, but after talking to a family membe/engineer at toyota he adviced that the chassis wasn't good for much beyond 130 hp. Granted a dream of mine one day is to buy one and do a mid engine swap LONG travel shock and a roll cage.

I Do It For Miatas, NC Owner > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:24

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Did you like it? I was strongly considering getting one before my volvo.

HammerheadFistpunch > I Do It For Miatas, NC Owner 01/21/2015 at 18:26

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I did, i was in love with the power, the chassis dynamics and the creature comforts...but it still didn't inspire me like the RAV4 did. I was sad when I sold it, but not like when they hauled away my RAV4. My main criticism of the forester is that it felt like a wrx with more roof, not like a utility vehicle with a fun engine and chassis. With that i mean that it was just tall, and thats about its only SUV'ish trait.

JustWaitingForAMate > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:26

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Yep. It was the family car for a while before I inherited it.

Free Market Party Company > dogisbadob 01/21/2015 at 18:27

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The 2nd gen RAV was maybe the sweet spot: it was as capable as its predecessor, but looked much cooler.

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=HN.6080…

RallyWrench > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:28

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"Those seats, for example, not only featured very thick and durable coverings made from pure ground up NES cartridges (presumably) "

So they can be cleaned by blowing on them!

TheAutoRules > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:28

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The first gen, or two of the RAVs and the CRVs were really great in many ways. The CUV thing really falls apart when you start to have stuff like the Ford Flex and the Toyota Venza. I also really hate that real SUVs like the Pathfinder and the Explorer can neither find paths, nor Explore, unless you are talking about doing those things as you maneuver through the mall parking lot.

I Do It For Miatas, NC Owner > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:29

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I'm a bleeding heart wagon guy, but I really enjoyed this article! Even though it is the harbinger of my least favorite type of car, I have a lot of respect for these honest 1st gen RAV4s.

HammerheadFistpunch > JustWaitingForAMate 01/21/2015 at 18:31

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This was my dad's factory order, which I later bought from him. Things I loved about my dad that this car revealed:

it was a manual, first off thats awesome, 2nd when I asked him why he bought a manual his response was "because your mother can't drive stick". He also taught me how to heal-toe in it, and I taught my first girlfriend to drive stick in it (giggle giggle...not really)

He got the torsen package because it mattered to him.

dude took better care of that car that anyone I have ever known takes care of a car...taught me to treat cars with respect

he didn't really care if it was a girly car...its what he wanted. He later told me that his opinion on the matter was that the man made the car, not the other way around.

Zibodiz > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:31

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My wife loves these. We wound up getting her an Escape (and I'm glad we did; we do a little too much towing to use a Rav4), but she still whistfully glances at the Rav4s she sees on the road. And yeah, the first gen was WAY better than the following years.

HammerheadFistpunch > RallyWrench 01/21/2015 at 18:32

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well, you tried...but it never worked. the REAL trick was to sit in them, and then shift slightly to the left.

Mikolai > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:32

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For what it was, the RAV4 was an excellent small SUV. My uncle had the 1st-Gen in the same green color and he loved the hell out of it until he got into an accident.

I personally had the 2nd-Gen RAV4, which was a bit larger, but still capable and handled pretty well for a vehicle with such a high ground clearance. Never had it break down on me once, through all of those delivery runs. Plus, it had decent head and leg room for all the passengers.

After the 2nd-Gen, they kind of ditched the idea of a small SUV/Car and pushed it into the SUV zone...

willmederski > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:33

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a roommate had a 4-door, 4WD RAV4.

goofiest little thing, but was a total blast in the snow. we were the only ones on the road during Snowpocalypse in DC way back when.

she was a super timid driver, but i taught her how to lose control and then re-gain it from a skid.

and she did it. and i had a blast scaring the crap out of her.

HammerheadFistpunch > TheAutoRules 01/21/2015 at 18:34

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This exactly. Its also the reason I now drive a 97 land cruiser.

HammerheadFistpunch > Zibodiz 01/21/2015 at 18:34

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the later years got the sound insulation and hp they needed, but lost the love.

HammerheadFistpunch > Mikolai 01/21/2015 at 18:35

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Yeah, I was never in love with the 2nd gen, it was then they realized they had to style it for a certain market and civilize it too much.

the_grouch > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:36

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I strongly disagree. The Niva has been a very well sold vehicle for almost forty years. It wasn't a bigger success because it was very poorly built and was not released in the US because it was a commie-mobile.

And if we are honest, the Rav4 just followed the trail the Suzuki Sidekick opened. Independent suspension or not, the Sideckick is a direct competitor of the Rav4. And they sold a few of them Sidekicks before the RAV4 came around, didn't they?

HammerheadFistpunch > willmederski 01/21/2015 at 18:36

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great in the snow, no doubt. I could place that car within an inch of a cone in the snow totally sideways, WAY more predictable that the SG forester XT that replaced it. Granted the RAV4 tended to plow in the snow a lot more

HammerheadFistpunch > the_grouch 01/21/2015 at 18:38

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The sidekick was just a small SUV, the RAV4 was a completely different animal. The NIVA is arguably the only car I would consider a competitor to the title of first CUV.

TheAutoRules > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:39

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That's cool. I drive a 93 Land Cruiser. This is probably the reason that we hate seeing real SUVs turned into mall wagons.

HammerheadFistpunch > TheAutoRules 01/21/2015 at 18:42

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it is indeed. Whats wrong with having a place in the market for people who still like to explore? boo the pathfounder and exploder.

ben loves his new "real" SUV > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:43

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Question: There is a 1996, 5 speed, AWD, green (same color as yours) in good shape apart from the clear coat peeling on the engine hood with IIRC 136k on the clock where I live that was for sale a while ago for $1900, but required a new clutch. I was thinking about buying it, but was told by the owner that clutch replacement required a fair amount of work. That was about 3 years ago. I live in a very small town ( they think we have money because of the '97 Lexus and the '91 MB we drive), and I can tell it's the same one by the clear coat fade marks, it's now at a body shop/mechanic's place for sale for $1300.

Is a clutch replacement really that big a bitch, or do the people here just not know what they are doing?

I was thinking that this would be a great winter beater for when I move to the mountains, but still really unsure of selling the Benz with it's known faults to take on the unknown.

Thoughts?

theshinobi01 > Boxer_4 01/21/2015 at 18:44

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The original Forester sat on the Impreza chassis, just much taller. The current XV is just an Impreza wagon with higher ground clearance, stiffer suspension, body cladding. The 4th generation has alot of attributes of the Impreza still, good seating for the front and back passengers, but the rear doesn't slope down, it has far more cargo room, and the cabin is much taller. In all honesty it's not that much larger than the Impreza.

dogisbadob > Free Market Party Company 01/21/2015 at 18:45

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Yeah, but we didn't get the SWB version of the 2nd-gen over here :(

And anyway, I like the first-gen looks better anyway :p

HammerheadFistpunch > ben loves his new "real" SUV 01/21/2015 at 18:48

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The clutch is exactly as big a job as it is on any transverse engined car, i.e. the engine and or trans comes out or is dropped. My replacement was ~$1200 back about 10 years ago, parts and labor. These are okay winter beaters but because they are so light weight they are a little squirrely, and tend to plow. if you can get the whole package for $2000 and it has the LSD I would go for it.

Blake Noble > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:52

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Its not ENTIRELY clear who birthed the Crossover/uni-body SUV market

It was American Motors.

The AMC Eagle was most certainly the first crossover vehicle. You could also argue that the original XJ Jeep Cherokee was something of a proto-crossover, too: the XJ had unibody construction and was quite car-like for its time, especially compared to other Jeeps. The XJ was obviously another AMC vehicle, albeit built with French money from Renault.

With that said, I love the original RAV4. Especially the three-door models. Toyota needs to bring it back. Sell it as a Scion, I don't care. It would only help to make Scion relevant outside of the FR-S.

redman85 > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:58

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I'm mildly obsessed with the 2 door version of this. I see them every so often and have explosive jealousy. I need to just buy one for my daily driver... Now if only I could find one.

misterdeuce > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 18:59

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Well I guess I can't argue with a Toyota engineer, but seeing how these things came with 120 hp from the factory I can't how just 10 more hp would break it

505Turbeaux > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 19:00

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as much as I want a soft-top Rav, my girlfriend has told me in no uncertain terms I am toast if I do so. She is okay with the weird french shit, the weird italian shit, and the fact I have a pink buick station wagon with a pink plaid interior, but somehow the plucky Toyota is beyond her level of acceptability

HammerheadFistpunch > redman85 01/21/2015 at 19:01

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2 door convertible ftw.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 19:01

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I'm not an SUV guy, but I actually like this little trucklet. A friend of mine picked up a used 4-door, 5-speed '94 for commuting duties when the cost of gas for his other vehicles (a 454-powered Suburban and Toyota Tundra) became too much. Simple, honest and unique. the market needs more vehicles like this, although I would say that the first generation xB came close.

HammerheadFistpunch > misterdeuce 01/21/2015 at 19:02

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the 120 it had wasn't dealt with particularly well, not break it, but the subframes and general chassis rigidity would need to be brought up. a sleeper 1st would be a blast. seriously, 2800 lbs and 250 hp with a manual and a torsen? sign me up.

HammerheadFistpunch > 505Turbeaux 01/21/2015 at 19:03

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that's the best thing I've read today.

stayingclassy > 472CID 01/21/2015 at 19:03

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I've always thought that beached putrid whale of a vehicle design must have been drawn up when the actual designers were away on summer vacation.

HammerheadFistpunch > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 01/21/2015 at 19:03

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in a hilarious coincidence, my father also had a 454 suburban at the time...supercharged.

the_grouch > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 19:08

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That's because you have defined CUV so narrowly as to have only the RAV4 fit. The Willys Overlander was the same concept, only with technology of the time (I.e. solid axles)

The Panda 4x4 was the same concept, lightweight, car based, 4x4, dirt road worthy. But made for the European market. There were a couple more, the Sidekick being one of them trying to bridge the SUV and car. The RAV4 was definitely a hit and it can be said perfected the formula. But first of a kind? Is like Chrysler claiming they invented the minivan 30 years after VW released the minibus.

RelentlessSlacker > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 19:08

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There was a lot of things about the '90s that were so right. Lots of great "cheap and cheerful" cars from that era. This and its contemporary Corolla, all the various Subarus at the time, many Hondas, etc. They were functional, decent to drive, stupid reliable, and just were a big jolly bundle of "everything you need and nothing you don't".

What if we didn't get so hung up on every last feature and soft-touch everything and extreme sound-deadening and NVH control and beltlines up to your ears and built cars like this today? Just simple, durable, functional transportation with good visibility and a linear, predictable driving experience with little motors, adequate power, and just-enough features? They'd be cheap and enjoyable and probably get like 50-60 MPG given what modern ICEs can do. It would be wonderful. It makes me sad that the marketing and product planning people (in addition to more and more stringent safety standards, which are often overkill, and lack focus on driver training and avoiding accidents, just surviving them when they happen) have spelled the ends for vehicles with this character.

HammerheadFistpunch > the_grouch 01/21/2015 at 19:15

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It's a bunch of grey lines, I admit, but it is the formula that caught on and stuck, unlike the others.

red014 > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 19:21

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My wife used to have one. A '99 L with leather, sunroof, and a 5sp. It was a ton of fun to toss around, especially knowing that since it was a 90's Toyota, it will always get you home. She traded it in for a Ford Edge. Roomier, far more powerful, more comfortable, and I hate it. Actually, I can't stand driving it at all. I miss the little Toyota every time I get in it.

mallthus > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 19:21

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Its not ENTIRELY clear who birthed the Crossover/uni-body SUV market, but if anyone has a stab at the title I think Toyota might.

Kids, kids. I'm the original unibody soft-roader. I'm the 1977 Simca-Matra Rancho . I'm 100% FWD car based crappiness, wrapped in cladding that makes me look ready to take on the Serengeti.

HammerheadFistpunch > mallthus 01/21/2015 at 19:22

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oh the Rancho...no you're not a discovery and im sorry but you never will be.

HammerheadFistpunch > red014 01/21/2015 at 19:23

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its still missed for me, even though im several cars past it. it was just such a joy inducing little box.

red014 > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 19:26

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It also can't be stated enough how good they were in the snow. The only car I've driven where I felt as confident as I do in my Legacy.

HammerheadFistpunch > red014 01/21/2015 at 19:28

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big tires and a true AWD system.

The Scorpion King > Boxer_4 01/21/2015 at 19:38

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Damn. I think a 2 door convertible 5 speed RAV4 just went on my radar in the used car hunt. Thanks for this post.

Moonbatting Average > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 19:40

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I had a major crush on the Daihatsu Rocky in high school (about 1993). Also on the girl who drove it

Scrape > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 19:40

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I could not believe how crude these things were even for back then. It was like an old farm tractor with doors and luggage space. Never liked the first gen of these. It was if you had bought yourself something to punish yourself for an indiscretion you never fully admitted to, but wanted penance.

Eliteboi > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 19:41

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my dad was in car sales for 35 years which meant we ALWAYS had another car, truck whatever to drive before the temp tag expired.

Then he bought a 2000 Chevy Tracker Convertible 2wd 5 speed and bought it for me. Low miles. I laughed and said "I give it six months and it will be DEAD". I had it for four years, 120k very hard teen driven miles. I hooned the hell out of it!

Dad and I both still talk about how we wish we kept it. Never did anything the very basic maintenance. Oil and brakes. Perfect car for an under 21 teen. Granted im gay so it really fit the bill...

Unbearable Pain > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 19:41

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As a Toyota fan (who is stuck with the Corolla...unfortunately...) I have been really interested in the old RAV-4's. The fact they were even MORE practical than my Corolla AND had a stick AND could do off-road and such made me super interested in them. Especially since a used Tacoma will cost you at least twice if not thrice as much.

The first RAV's were awesome. I really wish I had gotten one of those instead. If only Toyota didn't lose its way with the current RAV's. Oh well.

Thank you for writing this. I've been trying to tell others that first gen RAV's were legit and should be respected for the past month, but my comments were dismissed by the "Wrangler or bust" crowd.

HammerheadFistpunch > Unbearable Pain 01/21/2015 at 19:43

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I wish I had pictures, but I actually did part of "Fins N things" in my RAV4 back in the day....along with wranglers

redman85 > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 19:49

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with a MANUAL! Carporn right there.

505Turbeaux > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 19:51

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always aiming to please. I wish it wasn't the truth though

kaijufenrir > Anton 01/21/2015 at 19:52

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Yeah, since it's using the fe variant of the 3S, a 3S-GE, hell even a 3S-GTE should bolt right up. Actually, any of the S engines can go into a Rav4.1. From what I hear, you're gonna need a slimmer radiator fan because it'll interfere with the turbo.

HammerheadFistpunch > redman85 01/21/2015 at 19:52

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well they didn't make the 2 doors auto, so that should help in finding one. they DID have 2 less hp though...so there's that.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 20:03

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How?

Boxer_4 > theshinobi01 01/21/2015 at 20:03

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The relationship between the Impreza, the Forester, and the XV (Crosstrek) has always been interesting. All of them are Impreza based, but each are quite different. Disregarding the different body style, the current XV is a lot closer in size to the original Forester than the 4th generation Forester is. The body style of the Forester is more useful, however.

I have a third generation Forester, and my parents have a fourth generation Forester. Comparing those two, I can tell that the fourth generation has increased in size over my third generation. It's not a huge increase, but it is noticeable. I think the fourth generation Forester is great, but as the Forester product line has matured, it has lost a some of the " cute-ute " charm (like the RAV-4 in the original article) that it had when it was smaller. The new XV Crosstrek, while in no way a replacement for the Forester, has that "cute-ute" charm. I think that's what I was going for in my original post.

TMJ4790 > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 20:08

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As so often happens, each successive generation of the RAV4 and its competitors has been larger than the one before it. Now there is a "new' segment of cars (Soul, Juke, Renegade, HR-V etc) that are approximately the same size as the original RAV4. Ironically, Toyota has nothing to compete in this class.

HammerheadFistpunch > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 01/21/2015 at 20:09

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Magics! to be honest though, you could probably fit a grom in the back of one pretty easy...two even.

Street Surgeon > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 20:13

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My parents actually owned two four door RAV4s of this generation.

Pros: Capable AWD, especially in the snow, pretty nimble for it's size and a good amount of interior space.

Cons: First and foremost.... Power, power, power. It has none. For reference my mother told me she thought my Echo was a "sports car" because it was so much faster than her RAV4 :D Both of them got 15-18mpg so the gas mileage sucked. Neither of the two we had were particularly great as far as the legendary toyota reliability goes. After about 100,000 miles the valve stem seals on both gave way and every start up would create a plume of smoke. Maintenance was surprisingly a bit of a pita on these cars, seals, timing, etc.

HammerheadFistpunch > Street Surgeon 01/21/2015 at 20:22

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my valve guides also went, I have one of the original pistons on my desk right now. seems to have been hit or miss with this generation.

50fridge > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 20:23

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Toyota makes some nice cars and SUV's now like the FR-S/GT-86, 4runner and the Lexus GS350 but why are the current Corolla and Rav-4 so bland and mediocre. Wouldn't be nice if the US market Corolla had an independent rear suspension and engine and transmission combination from this decade. I drove the last gen one at a Toyota event and it made my MK6 GTI seem like an Audi A8 in comparison. Why do people buy garbage cars like that but the much nicer FR-S is selling poorly. It makes me sad that the first gen Rav 4 used to have a Torsen based AWD system with the 5 speed manual option but now it has a trash set up that barely works. Maybe someday Toyota will come out with a concept that closer to being like the original Rav 4 and not a vehicle for Old people and soccer moms.

willmederski > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 20:31

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i live in TX now.

and this is one part of snow i really miss.

empty roads and AWD.

HammerheadFistpunch > willmederski 01/21/2015 at 20:31

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empty roads shouldn't be a problem to find if there is ANY amount of snow.

jmart > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 20:37

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I like these a lot

HammerheadFistpunch > jmart 01/21/2015 at 20:42

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its as 90's as lazerdiscs...in a good way.

Nick > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 20:45

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My sister bought a Gen1 Rav4 new. That was a great little SUV and it took me places off-road that a crossover-type vehicle shouldn't have taken me. Got about 25 mpg on the freeway too.

SeaBeastRising > Boxer_4 01/21/2015 at 20:45

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I owned a first generation Forester ('02) for years, and it was fantastic. It looked great when it was beat up and was a genuinely rugged vehicle. Oh and I got 6k for it in 2010. The new ones have gotten way too large and suv-like unfortunately.

HammerheadFistpunch > Nick 01/21/2015 at 20:49

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Those suckers with the locking center diff and torsen rears weredamn near unstoppable off road, for traction.

fintail > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2015 at 20:52

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In beautiful downtown Bellevue the other day, I saw a 3 door one of these with stock (I believe) 3 spoke wheels. Time warp to 1996.

HammerheadFistpunch > fintail 01/21/2015 at 20:54

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yeah, the three spoke was an option. an ugly one, but there you go.