Getting a SUV - Subaru Forester/Outback, Toyota RAV4, VW Tiguan?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Getting a SUV - Subaru Forester/Outback, Toyota RAV4, VW Tiguan?

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#2368555 5-Dec-2019 07:35

Batman:

can you tell me the model and make year for your subie? i know that the subies made in the 90s were death traps.

The last one I had (the one crashed into) was 2007 3.0 B-Spec Legacy wagon, lovely car apart from the SI drive which was a PITA... a 2004 Outback, prior to that was a 1999 2.5l Legacy, and a '94 Imprezza was the first one we had with 140,000k's on the clock when bought. All serviced per schedule, all ran without any issues fwiw.

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#2368634 5-Dec-2019 09:21

Ooo I recall a story.

I was driving up a ski field with worn (about 3 - 4 mm tread) budget tyres in my subaru legacy sti rally spec crazy car. Mate was in rav4 with brand new whatever tyres.

I got up with zero wheel spin (TC light did not come on once - I always keep an eye on it to know if the car is going up on mechanical grip or computer assistance to know when I'm about to fall off the edge of traction) . He stopped halfway and put chains on because the rav4 was sliding all over the place according to him

But I have to say every time I look at the latest rav4 I drool its such eye candy. Every time I think of my subaru cvt I want to chuck it in the trash. Yes I know I'm comparing different y things one is the looks the other three transmission but that's how I feel at the moment. Will stick with sub coz I need the traction lol.

Geektastic

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#2368673 5-Dec-2019 10:44

I've hired RAV4s.

I always find the ride harsh, with little softening of road potholes etc. Mind you, that applies to most Toyotas of the SUV persuasion I've driven, such as Highlander etc.

I like Subarus apart from the plasticky interiors which never seem quite like lux enough for the money. If I was buying one it would be the 3.6 Outback.

Of your list, I'd go VW for sure, or Skoda.

dafman

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#2368677 5-Dec-2019 10:47

Batman: Ooo I recall a story.

I was driving up a ski field with worn (about 3 - 4 mm tread) budget tyres in my subaru legacy sti rally spec crazy car. Mate was in rav4 with brand new whatever tyres.

I got up with zero wheel spin (TC light did not come on once - I always keep an eye on it to know if the car is going up on mechanical grip or computer assistance to know when I'm about to fall off the edge of traction) . He stopped halfway and put chains on because the rav4 was sliding all over the place according to him

But I have to say every time I look at the latest rav4 I drool its such eye candy. Every time I think of my subaru cvt I want to chuck it in the trash. Yes I know I'm comparing different y things one is the looks the other three transmission but that's how I feel at the moment. Will stick with sub coz I need the traction lol.

I've yet to drive my Outback in snow, but am curious to hear from others. Can a late model Outback with road tyres cope without chains in all circumstances where a typical FWD car operates with chains? ie. can you dispense with carrying chains?

sidefx

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#2368693 5-Dec-2019 11:00

dafman:

I've yet to drive my Outback in snow, but am curious to hear from others. Can a late model Outback with road tyres cope without chains in all circumstances where a typical FWD car operates with chains? ie. can you dispense with carrying chains?

I don't think so. But depending where you go you can get away with pretty much never putting the chains on while 2WD will need them fairly often. Also depends if you get put snow tyres on or want to stick with road or lesser AT tyres. I've not once had to put chains on my outback or the legacy it replaced. I did need chains on the AWD Rav4 I hired on a recent ski trip to Mt Hutt though (and even approaching the spot where you needed chains it just felt less safe than either of the subbies... though part of that I think is the mass distribution more than the AWD)

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turtleattacks

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#2368700 5-Dec-2019 11:31

sidefx:

dafman:

I've yet to drive my Outback in snow, but am curious to hear from others. Can a late model Outback with road tyres cope without chains in all circumstances where a typical FWD car operates with chains? ie. can you dispense with carrying chains?

I don't think so. But depending where you go you can get away with pretty much never putting the chains on while 2WD will need them fairly often. Also depends if you get put snow tyres on or want to stick with road or lesser AT tyres. I've not once had to put chains on my outback or the legacy it replaced. I did need chains on the AWD Rav4 I hired on a recent ski trip to Mt Hutt though (and even approaching the spot where you needed chains it just felt less safe than either of the subbies... though part of that I think is the mass distribution more than the AWD)

Most ski fields will say either "2WD with chains OR 4WD"

I've taken my 2003 Subaru Forester into a lot of places with little traction - from snowy fields to sand dunes.

It has handled them fine.

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#2368705 5-Dec-2019 11:37

dafman:

Batman: Ooo I recall a story.

I was driving up a ski field with worn (about 3 - 4 mm tread) budget tyres in my subaru legacy sti rally spec crazy car. Mate was in rav4 with brand new whatever tyres.

I got up with zero wheel spin (TC light did not come on once - I always keep an eye on it to know if the car is going up on mechanical grip or computer assistance to know when I'm about to fall off the edge of traction) . He stopped halfway and put chains on because the rav4 was sliding all over the place according to him

But I have to say every time I look at the latest rav4 I drool its such eye candy. Every time I think of my subaru cvt I want to chuck it in the trash. Yes I know I'm comparing different y things one is the looks the other three transmission but that's how I feel at the moment. Will stick with sub coz I need the traction lol.

I've yet to drive my Outback in snow, but am curious to hear from others. Can a late model Outback with road tyres cope without chains in all circumstances where a typical FWD car operates with chains? ie. can you dispense with carrying chains?

Uphill yeah. Downhill, maybe not. Usually you'll get away with it as hard packed/icy patches on the access roads are okay going up with a lightweight 4WD with road tyres, by the time you're heading back down then it's been warmer all day and those patches have been broken up by hundreds of cars etc. The skifield operators also take forecast into account with whether they insist chains are carried/fitted with 4 or 2WD etc. If it does freeze up though and you don't have chains, then going downhill you're only marginally better off with a lightweight 4WD on road tyres than with a 2WD without chains, and a 2WD with chains would be better. On a few occasions I've seen that happen (freezing up late in the day) and chaos was the result, subarus and similar lightweight 4WD end up in ditches, into banks, and hopefully not over the edge. Chucking some chains in the boot seems like a sensible insurance policy. They're only going to cost you about the price of one new tyre, and pack flat, so there aren't valid reasons not to have a set (or two).

Batman

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#2368742 5-Dec-2019 13:03

dafman:
Batman: Ooo I recall a story.

I was driving up a ski field with worn (about 3 - 4 mm tread) budget tyres in my subaru legacy sti rally spec crazy car. Mate was in rav4 with brand new whatever tyres.

I got up with zero wheel spin (TC light did not come on once - I always keep an eye on it to know if the car is going up on mechanical grip or computer assistance to know when I'm about to fall off the edge of traction) . He stopped halfway and put chains on because the rav4 was sliding all over the place according to him

But I have to say every time I look at the latest rav4 I drool its such eye candy. Every time I think of my subaru cvt I want to chuck it in the trash. Yes I know I'm comparing different y things one is the looks the other three transmission but that's how I feel at the moment. Will stick with sub coz I need the traction lol.

I've yet to drive my Outback in snow, but am curious to hear from others. Can a late model Outback with road tyres cope without chains in all circumstances where a typical FWD car operates with chains? ie. can you dispense with carrying chains?

No friction 1 = 4 = 1000 wheel drive = no friction.

It's not how many wheel drive. Need to add friction.which is chains if ice and slope. No slope then snow tyres will be fine but nobody here has them.

Now the scenario of less friction. 4wd will get moving fine. But then you press the brakes and there is no stoppy stoppy - > crash.

ilovemusic

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#2368809 5-Dec-2019 15:07

Batman: Ooo I recall a story.

I was driving up a ski field with worn (about 3 - 4 mm tread) budget tyres in my subaru legacy sti rally spec crazy car. Mate was in rav4 with brand new whatever tyres.

I got up with zero wheel spin (TC light did not come on once - I always keep an eye on it to know if the car is going up on mechanical grip or computer assistance to know when I'm about to fall off the edge of traction) . He stopped halfway and put chains on because the rav4 was sliding all over the place according to him

But I have to say every time I look at the latest rav4 I drool its such eye candy. Every time I think of my subaru cvt I want to chuck it in the trash. Yes I know I'm comparing different y things one is the looks the other three transmission but that's how I feel at the moment. Will stick with sub coz I need the traction lol.

fulltime awd in subaru vs. some dopey part-time system in rav4 ?

Batman

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#2368986 5-Dec-2019 18:35

ilovemusic:

Batman: Ooo I recall a story.

I was driving up a ski field with worn (about 3 - 4 mm tread) budget tyres in my subaru legacy sti rally spec crazy car. Mate was in rav4 with brand new whatever tyres.

I got up with zero wheel spin (TC light did not come on once - I always keep an eye on it to know if the car is going up on mechanical grip or computer assistance to know when I'm about to fall off the edge of traction) . He stopped halfway and put chains on because the rav4 was sliding all over the place according to him

But I have to say every time I look at the latest rav4 I drool its such eye candy. Every time I think of my subaru cvt I want to chuck it in the trash. Yes I know I'm comparing different y things one is the looks the other three transmission but that's how I feel at the moment. Will stick with sub coz I need the traction lol.

fulltime awd in subaru vs. some dopey part-time system in rav4 ?

that's it. if implemented well, part time systems do work but not when not implemented well. i watched a video comparing ?9 different "soft roaders" and iirc the rav4 was the worst. the forester surprisingly wasn't the best despite the only one with full time awd. the reason was it had open diffs.

scuwp

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#2369009 5-Dec-2019 19:47

Have the petrol RAV's at work. Personally don't rate them highly at all. Harsh travelling, horrible infotainment system, and missing some pretty rudimentary features expected in modern cars. Other models may be better featured but only a month or so old they are already starting to rattle and squeak.

VW's are not renowned for reliability, and are expensive to maintain as are most euro cars (personal experience!) If you get one make sure it has a rock solid warranty and service plan.

No love for the Kia? Love our Sportage diesel 8 speed AWD. Haven't really tested it off road but it's got all the usual goodies including descent control, and with the grunt of a diesel and AWD it should be reasonably competent. Have been super impressed with the build and ride quality. Just fun to drive. Never really looked at the brand before, after this experience it will be my first stop when upgrading our other car.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

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turtleattacks

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#2369010 5-Dec-2019 19:50

scuwp:

Have the petrol RAV's at work. Personally don't rate them highly at all. Harsh travelling, horrible infotainment system, and missing some pretty rudimentary features expected in modern cars.

VW's are renowned for reliability, and are expensive to maintain (personal experience!) If you get one make sure it has a rock solid warranty and service plan.

No love for the Kia? Love our Sportage diesel 8 speed AWD. Haven't really tested it off road but it's got all the usual goodies including decent control, and with the grunt of a diesel and AWD it should be reasonably competent. Have been super impressed with the build and ride quality. Just fun to drive.

Do you guys have the latest 2019/2020 Rav4s?

Absolutely nothing against Korean counterparts - the Kias and Hyundais are probably better valued cars but for me.... I just would prefer Japanese or European - since I'll likely be using it for the next 10 years.

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scuwp

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#2369011 5-Dec-2019 19:59

turtleattacks:

scuwp:

Have the petrol RAV's at work. Personally don't rate them highly at all. Harsh travelling, horrible infotainment system, and missing some pretty rudimentary features expected in modern cars.

VW's are renowned for reliability, and are expensive to maintain (personal experience!) If you get one make sure it has a rock solid warranty and service plan.

No love for the Kia? Love our Sportage diesel 8 speed AWD. Haven't really tested it off road but it's got all the usual goodies including decent control, and with the grunt of a diesel and AWD it should be reasonably competent. Have been super impressed with the build and ride quality. Just fun to drive.

Do you guys have the latest 2019/2020 Rav4s?

Absolutely nothing against Korean counterparts - the Kias and Hyundais are probably better valued cars but for me.... I just would prefer Japanese or European - since I'll likely be using it for the next 10 years.

Yes the latest 2019 model. Only started getting them in a month or two back. I personally prefer the previous model. The petrol variant is a gas guzzler too.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Batman

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#2369054 5-Dec-2019 20:05

scuwp:

turtleattacks:

scuwp:

Have the petrol RAV's at work. Personally don't rate them highly at all. Harsh travelling, horrible infotainment system, and missing some pretty rudimentary features expected in modern cars.

VW's are renowned for reliability, and are expensive to maintain (personal experience!) If you get one make sure it has a rock solid warranty and service plan.

No love for the Kia? Love our Sportage diesel 8 speed AWD. Haven't really tested it off road but it's got all the usual goodies including decent control, and with the grunt of a diesel and AWD it should be reasonably competent. Have been super impressed with the build and ride quality. Just fun to drive.

Do you guys have the latest 2019/2020 Rav4s?

Absolutely nothing against Korean counterparts - the Kias and Hyundais are probably better valued cars but for me.... I just would prefer Japanese or European - since I'll likely be using it for the next 10 years.

Yes the latest 2019 model. Only started getting them in a month or two back. I personally prefer the previous model. The petrol variant is a gas guzzler too.

it looks huge

bluey

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#2369952 7-Dec-2019 09:34

I have an 04 outback. It is fitted with Geolander G015 tyres which are awesome. The tyres are quiet and massively better traction off the seal than the standard tyres.

Have taken the car through a lot of backcountry roads like Nevis etc.

My experience with the outback is that it gets great traction if all the wheels have good contact. If you get on really uneven ground and a wheel becomes light it will just spin. No comparison to a 4wd with longer travel suspension that can keep the wheels on the ground.

The sales pitch that the drive will be redistributed to the gripping tyres is pretty much fake in my experience. The car will sit there and spin a wheel in the air all day. It is possibly still better than the competition though..

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