Colorado - used Rav4 vs CR-V values

A

amalik

Senior Member
I'm shopping either a Rav4 or CR-V for the in-laws. They want a Cross-over AWD/4WD for our CO weather, and don't have any young kids in the house anymore.

Pilot and Highlander are too big/3rd row not needed for their use. If anyone thinks of another suggested ride, let me know in the thread, but my instructions are to stay within the Toyota and Honda realm; and even though my Civic has been an awesome little car, honestly I always lean more towards Toyota if there's a choice, and not just cuz of my 4runner.

We have way better online communities in my practical experience and I know more Toyota mechanics IRL than Honda. Also, the Honda maintenance minder. The hell is the deal with that thing. lol.

ANYWAY,

I find it very strange that although a 2017 model off the showroom floor for both Rav4 and CR-V is $24k, the used values are *VERY* different with some exceptions where there is parity.

I would have expected Toyota to be more expensive on the used front; being used to seeing the inflation that is 4Runner/Tacoma/Land Cruiser/etc pricing as being part of the T4R family here.

Look no further than these two examples:

2009 Rav4 - Private seller - 109k miles, $9,950

https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/6163980086.html

2007 CR-V - private seller - 126k miles, $9,300

https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/6169427443.html

That's basically the same price; give or take.

In comparing multiple private-sale and dealer examples, I'm finding the trend is basically the same here, the CR-V generally holds a higher value.

Anyone know the reason for this?

I have one guess and one guess only -- CR-V's are full-time AWD and RAV4 is 4WD (i.e selectable) *or* AWD? Just guessing here based on the RAV4 ads, some say 4WD and some say AWD, so I'm guessing there are 2 modes unless it's just stupid people marketing the ads who don't know the difference.
 
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amalik said:
One thing that really doesn't make sense here -- the CRV-s should be way cheaper, lol

Honda CR-V Problems | CarComplaints.com

VS

Toyota RAV4 Problems | CarComplaints.com
Click to expand...

CRV AWD system is on-demand, not full-time. Maybe the newest ones have “predictive” on-demand AWD, but the older ones are purely on-demand (only AWD when there is slippage) and hydraulic-based (aka kinda slow activation).

Although CRV may not be anymore reliable, it is still at the top. Honda 4-cylinders don’t suffer from the same issues as their 6-cylinders. CRV in general are more practical with more innovative features...who could forget the original CRV with a built-in picnic table! CRV seatings are more versatile.

The ONLY thing that has maybe placed RAV4 ahead of CRV is quietness on the road...and that is only marginal. The newest CRV may have erased this advantage.

In addition, look at the crash test scores...CRV almost always come out on top...thus safer for families.

In terms of capability, not sure about the latest, but the older CRV’s do have higher ground clearance...my 1997 CRV had 8.1”!

In other words, CRV for small SUVs is like the Lexus RX of luxury midsize SUV...it practically invented the segment all on its own. I forgot who came out first, RAV4 or CRV but back then RAV4 was a niche vehicle while CRV was da bomb. I loved my 1997 CRV...97k miles when i traded in (for 2002 4runner) and it was ROCK SOLID with not a single dash rattle despite me punishing it with aftermarket mods (sometimes badly installed by me!) and some off-reading.
 
Thai said:
CRV AWD system is on-demand, not full-time. Maybe the newest ones have “predictive” on-demand AWD, but the older ones are purely on-demand (only AWD when there is slippage) and hydraulic-based (aka kinda slow activation).

Although CRV may not be anymore reliable, it is still at the top. Honda 4-cylinders don’t suffer from the same issues as their 6-cylinders. CRV in general are more practical with more innovative features...who could forget the original CRV with a built-in picnic table! CRV seatings are more versatile.

The ONLY thing that has maybe placed RAV4 ahead of CRV is quietness on the road...and that is only marginal. The newest CRV may have erased this advantage.

In addition, look at the crash test scores...CRV almost always come out on top...thus safer for families.

In terms of capability, not sure about the latest, but the older CRV’s do have higher ground clearance...my 1997 CRV had 8.1”!

In other words, CRV for small SUVs is like the Lexus RX of luxury midsize SUV...it practically invented the segment all on its own. I forgot who came out first, RAV4 or CRV but back then RAV4 was a niche vehicle while CRV was da bomb. I loved my 1997 CRV...97k miles when i traded in (for 2002 4runner) and it was ROCK SOLID with not a single dash rattle despite me punishing it with aftermarket mods (sometimes badly installed by me!) and some off-reading.
Click to expand...

A lot of that CR-V unintended acceleration stuff scares me. I'd have to shop the CR-V very carefully... RAV4 aint perfect either; 2004-2007 model years had the 2AZ-FE that suffered from oil consumption. Class action lawsuit going on there, but i'd rather lose oil and a metal engine than lose life over acceleration.
 
I've never owned a RAV but I've owned (or bought for kids) six (3 new, 3 used) CRVs and all I can tell you is they've been about as bulletproof as a car gets.

Logic tells me there has to be a good reason they hold value so well. And my own experience is the same.

My wife drowned (totaled) her new 2013 at 1.5 yrs old, and I was (literally) amazed at how much residual value it had.

The reality is, you'll not go wrong with either one.
 
philsey said:
Hm, first I've heard of this.
Click to expand...

Very debated topic. Never once reproduced in a lab or verifyable way. Many in the industry think the whole unintended consequences scandal was a combination of driver error, journalism failure and auto manufacturers caving quickly to get the issue out the news.

There was a great podcast on how the LA Times got it very wrong and the auto magazines were the ones to get it right. Btw nearly every auto magazine and industry journalist fell on the side of user fault and the car not being to blame.

Episode 08
Revisionist History Podcast

:bat:
 
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amalik said:
I dunno. It could be what Brian said too. I always check carcomplaints.com though when shopping any used vehicle.

2011 Honda CR-V Unwanted Acceleration When Braking: 22 Complaints
Click to expand...

I'd suggest listening to what I posted if you have time. Every auto maker gets complaints like this across all models.
1) Toyota didn't even have most complaints by far but it got all the media coverage
2) These complaints didn't start out of nowhere, they have been happening for years, decades even
3) Unintended acceleration is something that could not be reproduced in any testing or lab scenario, never captured on video despite being the age of cell phones. Edmunds (who stood by it being user error) even offered $1 Million for anyone who could reproduce it, the bounty was never collected, not even close. Edmunds pledges $1 million prize for unintended acceleration research - Autoblog
:crutch:
 
My 2007 CRV EX had rear wheel bearing issues (known), and window regulators are known to be weak.

Other than that, mine was pretty good.
 
Stay away from the new CR-Vs. Helped a friend look into new small suv's and this was her pick, until she test drove it. She almost got car sick from the drive train shaking not only while driving but while at idle as well. Honda has acknowledged the issue with no fix in sight.

Why Does the 2015 Honda CR-V Shake So Much?
 
Thai said:
Just wow. Wtf?!
Click to expand...

I really don't mean to bash brands, but for one of their most popular vehicles to have this bad of a problem and lawsuits coming out over it is crazy. My friend ended up going with the rav for this reason.
 
When I bought my CRV 10 years ago, I wouldn't even consider buying a Rav4...

Rav4's (for my generation) will always be synonymous with a "chick's car". Much like Buick and Lincoln will always be for old people.

My guess as to why CRV hold their value better is because of that exact reason. Remember, Denver is a YOUNG city. And if males wont consider a Rav4, you've pretty much eliminated half the market.

Side story: I had a friend in HS who drove a Rav4 (which was once his sister's car) and he hated it so much that he left it in the ghetto with the keys on the dash in hopes that it would get stolen (it did). He used the insurance money and bought a used Civic.
 
theMayor said:
When I bought my CRV 10 years ago, I wouldn't even consider buying a Rav4...

Rav4's (for my generation) will always be synonymous with a "chick's car". Much like Buick and Lincoln will always be for old people.

My guess as to why CRV hold their value better is because of that exact reason. Remember, Denver is a YOUNG city. And if males wont consider a Rav4, you've pretty much eliminated half the market.

Side story: I had a friend in HS who drove a Rav4 (which was once his sister's car) and he hated it so much that he left it in the ghetto with the keys on the dash in hopes that it would get stolen (it did). He used the insurance money and bought a used Civic.
Click to expand...
Insurance Fraud is great!

philsey said:
In this segment, the new Mazda CX-5 deserves a look. It is getting very good reviews.
Click to expand...
I at one point wouldn't even consider a Mazda, but its true their new ones not only are starting to look snazzy are actually getting great reviews.
 
wadle5 said:
I at one point wouldn't even consider a Mazda, but its true their new ones not only are starting to look snazzy are actually getting great reviews.
Click to expand...

Plus, I've been following a popular forum and the CX5 owners have very few complaints. In fact, they're quite positive about both the new gen and the previous gen.
 
Ironically made the cover. Spoiler alert Honda won because it had more cabbie spaces even though the Mazda was more fun to drive and had a simpler a d more user friendly tech package
95cccbe776417552e0149b06ea4761b7.jpg
 
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