shootist16 said:
Looks more Alfa Romeo to me. I'll admit the looks didn't appeal to me at all, but they are growing on me. My wife likes it, so thats all that really matters anyway.
I'll see if I can't talk her into looking at the RAV4. I haven't found a dealer around here that has one with leather though. :grumpy:
Yes, word has it the Rav w/leather is hard to come by, depending where you live. If you go here:
http://rav4world.com/forums/index.php and look around, someone might be able to point you towards one. There are a few "high volume" dealers in the US that seem to have a good selection, and some are spoken quite highly of by the forum members. I bought ours locally though (no leather).Also, if Im not mistaken, last orders for 2006 model year are this month. So you might be able to find some good deals if you find one on a lot. This months CU has a comaprison of small SUVs. No Tribeca, but the forester is in there.
Since we did the CU write-up on the Subby, how bout the 2006 Rav4:
Highs: Agility, fuel economy, rear-seat room, access, controls, refined and quick V6 powertrain.
Lows: Thigh support for some drivers.
The redesigned RAV4 tops its class with either the standard four-cylinder or optional V6 engine. An available third-row seat and powerful V6 make it a good alternative to some more-expensive midsized SUVs. It is agile and roomy, it rides comfortably, and it has a smooth drivetrain and a flexible interior. Fuel economy with either engine is impressive. Unfortunately, curtain air bags remain optional.
THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE
The RAV4 rides comfortably and without a lot of body motion. The V6 is quiet and polished. The four-cylinder engine drones at moderate speed but is not annoying on the highway. Handling is responsive and agile, and the quick steering provides good feedback. The four-cylinder version feels slightly nimbler than the V6 and has a tighter turning circle. Emergency handling is balanced and secure, aided by standard stability control. The 269-hp, 3.5-liter V6 uses a five-speed automatic and is very quick and uses only slightly more fuel than the four-cylinder model, returning a respectable 22 mpg overall. The 166-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, coupled with a four-speed automatic transmission, has good performance and gets 23 mpg overall. The brakes perform very well. Low-beam headlights reach only a fair distance and have a distinct cutoff. The differential lock helps provide good off-road traction, but traction control brings the vehicle to a crawl in slippery conditions. With the V6, the RAV4 towed our 3,500-pound trailer to 60 mph in 16 seconds. The four-cylinder is rated to tow 1,500 pounds.
INSIDE THE CABIN
The spacious interior is well assembled, but the center console feels flimsy. Even with a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, some drivers found the steering wheel too far away and awkwardly angled. Foot, head, and leg room are generous. Large pillars can create rear blind zones. The base front seats are generally supportive; the optional leather seats are firmer. Some drivers found the cushions had limited thigh support. Head and leg room in the back are generous, and access is easy, but the seat cushion is a bit low. The optional third row can seat two adults in a pinch, but the second-row seat has to slide forward to make room for rear riders' feet. Most gauges and controls are simple and clear. The manual climate-control knobs are large and easy to use, but the automatic climate controls in the Limited are hard to read and confusing. Interior storage is moderate, with two glove boxes. Cargo space is generous.
SAFETY NOTES
Seatback-mounted side-impact air bags and curtain-style head-protection air bags are available as part of an extra-cost Air bag Package for the RAV4. The head-protection curtains extend to protect the outboard occupants in the first- and second-row seats and will deploy in either a side impact or a rollover. The air bags supplement required front air bags and three-point seatbelts in all seating positions. The front belts have adjustable upper anchors for getting a comfortable and safe fit and are also equipped with pretensioners and force limiters to reduce belt slack and forces in the event of a crash. The pretensioners will also tighten in a rollover on versions equipped with the curtain air bags. An occupant classification system in the front passenger seat detects the weight of the front passenger and will automatically deactivate the front- and side-air bags and pretensioner if it detects that a child is seated. Still, it's best to always travel with child passengers in the rear seats. Those same systems will also not activate if the seat is unoccupied. Sensors in both the driver- and front-passenger seatbelt buckles, which detect belt usage, and a seat position sensor for the driver will also influence the appropriate level of front air bag deployment. There are adjustable and locking head restraints in each of the five seating positions. The front restraints are tall enough even when fully lowered to provide adequate protection from whiplash; the rear restraints must be raised to provide adequate protection. Fortunately, the rear outboard restraints are of a design that would be very uncomfortable for adult passengers unless they are raised, prompting them to be moved up to a sufficiently high location. Daytime running lights are an extra-cost option. Driving with kids: The RAV4 is not particularly friendly to child seat installation. The center rear seat is offset into the left passenger seat, limiting the ability to travel with three across. The ceiling-anchored center belt also allows side-to-side movement of rear-facing seats installed there. Some rear-facing infant bases may also tilt in the rear outboard seats, but choosing alternate models or LATCH installation can provide a secure fit. For front-facing seats, there is a single tether for the center seat on the cargo area ceiling, but the housing that surrounds the anchor requires the tether strap to be twisted upside down as it doesn't allow the hook through. The outboard tethers are mounted low on the seatback and require moving the outboard seats forward to access them. The LATCH anchors in the rear outboard seats are recessed between the cushions and seatback but are easy to access.
RELIABILITY
We expect reliability to be better than average, according to our latest subscriber survey.
I'd agre with the styling; it just doesn't do much for me. I friend of mine has a Tribeca and he can't say enough about it. You may want to consider a Forrester XT; lots of space with a fair amount of hp. I have a WRX which was great when I was living in Colorado; the full time AWD is nice, but probably not necessary out here in California.
