The original Rav4 has hit cool status.

"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
08/24/2016 at 14:44 • Filed to: Rav4, Toyota

Driving to pickup some groceries this afternoon I spotted something I haven’t seen in a while. An original generation Rav4. I started thinking how I would totally own one because they have now gotten “cool” in my mind.

This afternoon I get to class, of course get bored waiting for it to start, and say to myself “Has Doug chosen a new Doug car?”. I go on Oversteer and find this nifty little article by Doug:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

My first thought was “Waaat... I just thought of this... That’s creepy”. My second was “I knew it.”

I like these. I always thought they were abnormal and they finally clicked in my brain just like how the Bentley Continental GT clicked in Clarkson, Hammond, and Mays. I don’t know what it is but I would totally own one just to have around. They’re quirky.

Do you all agree?

Update: Rav4 fever is sweeping across the automotive journalistic world -

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

DISCUSSION (31)

jjhats > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 14:50

ive been on that train of thought for a while and would love a convertible 2 door manual 4x4

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 14:51

I saw one with a manual at work the other day. Would totally drive one.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > jjhats
08/24/2016 at 14:52

That would be awesome. I would have been on this train of thought longer but I haven’t seen one for it to hit me.

Noah - Now with more boost. > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 14:54

Yep! Especially the 2 door. It’s a 90s samurai

S65 > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 14:56

Fuck yeah

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/24/2016 at 15:00

I was in a Suzuki Samurai that rolled on it’s side once while 4wheeling. I climbed out the back but at least I didn’t have to crawl far. The size is fantastic.

dogisbadob > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 15:01

It was always cool! 2-door hardtop, 2-door convertible, and the 4-door. All good stuff. Of course the convertible is the coolest :)

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 15:01

My parents have a ‘98 (or maybe it’s a ‘00) FWD manual that I’ve driven a bunch. It’s a neat little SUV, very bare bones mechanical feel to it.

I’d like to see more 1st gens looking like this

Kinja'd!!!

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > dogisbadob
08/24/2016 at 15:02

I think they’ve finally hit the spot though where they went from being “weird cool” to actually cool

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 15:08

Kinja'd!!!

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/24/2016 at 15:09

YES!!! What engine is in these anyways... I wonder if it’s powerful enough to be very effective in tough off-road situations

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 15:21

Yeh, I like the original Rav4, even in that teal colour they came in. I’d like a four door, but the two doors were far more ubiquitous over here.

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 15:29

Kinja'd!!!

I’d rock this in a heartbeat.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
08/24/2016 at 15:30

Ill trade you an American 4 door for a UK 2 door.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 15:31

I really like the two door ones. I’ll have mine in that green color.

bhtooefr > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 15:34

3S-FE, 120ish HP.

In Japan, 3S-GE was an option, with 178 HP.

MultiplaOrgasms > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 15:41

They were the Corolla of SUVs 2 decades before that kind of thing became cool. Thanks I’ll take the Suzuki Vitara.

Noah - Now with more boost. > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 15:41

haha yeahhh they certainly have a rep for that, glad you’re ok!

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > bhtooefr
08/24/2016 at 15:43

Which, when you consider that the old 4-runners had 22RE engines with around 100hp and are complete beasts offroad.....that’s just fine.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/24/2016 at 15:48

We were on a video shoot for Extreme 4x4, we were following their “posion spider”, and was 12 or so at the time. Couldn't have been happier.

RazoE > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 15:49

Dad had a 98 that I drove on occasion. He named it Gerardo for some reason, but it was such a peppy and happy little car. If it had a tail, it would be wagging.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > RazoE
08/24/2016 at 15:51

The like a Sprite! My sisters GS300 is named Gerrard. Other then the G in GS she had no other reason. My LS400 is named Alexus because I’m and an accounting major which shows my outstanding levels of creativity.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 16:05

Deal. Across the pond road trip?

Chasaboo > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 16:16

Hang on, let me see what my friend in Beverly Hills says.

Just heard back from him, he says that’s a big negative, not cool.

RazoE > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 16:34

I took my driving test in my mom’s 1st gen GS 300. Still love that car. My IS didn’t have a name, but my [Black] Mazdaspeed 3 is named “Tomasa” which references a song about a guy in love with the “Negra Tomasa” (black chick named Tomasa).

Under_Score > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/24/2016 at 18:12

My parents had a 2001 RAV4 when I was growing up that’s doing well with my grandfather now. I drive a 2012 RAV4, third gen, now. It should be noted that mine is FWD and I’m one of the only males I know of that drives one.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Chasaboo
08/24/2016 at 19:13

He doesn’t get the “it” factor obviously. He probably also doesn’t like brown manual diesel wagons.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
08/24/2016 at 19:14

Deal.

Fl1ngstam > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/25/2016 at 04:51

Strangely enough, I also thought this the other day, mainly because a UK auto journalist is offering his green 2-door for sale for £600. I hated the Rav4 when it first came out, because I was a snob. However, that was 20 years ago...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/25/2016 at 09:39

You should see the 2 that run in the Detroit area Rally X, they’re psycho. I have no idea how they stay on all 4 tires around the turns but holy shit they do - and they do it fast

NJAnon > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
08/25/2016 at 23:35

The only thing I saw weird about the Rav4 is that the optional engines offered were respectable. Too bad nobody but the optional engines (really, one of those optional engines got 0-60 faster than a sports car level BMW)