High mileage CRV or Rav4

The maintance history has a lot to do with determing which one is the best choice.

If maintained well, either still would have many miles left in it.

Likewise, if neglected either could quickly become a money pit that might be better off just being sent to the bone yard.

Regardless of what one you get, they likley could use a good refresh. ALL FLUUDS, and Radiator and thermostat ( they are both aged out ) serpentine, tensioner, pcv, spark-plugs, 4 quickstruts, tires if required, any front parts related to steering if worn out, and very likley an alignment with a Hunter Alignment Macheine ( makes a huge difference in how they track and handle ).

If maintance and conditions are similar, I would perfef the Honda with the K24 even though it needs the valves adjusted every 100,000 miles and likley needs it now.

Even ordering parts online, a complete going over refresh of parts and fluids can easily cost two to three thousand dollars. And that is not counting labor.

They both have many miles left if refreshed.

If not refreshed, either will have breakdows randomly occuring.
Very good advice, thanks.
 
When my kid graduated high school, I gave him my 100k mile 2006 Nissan Sentra. Bought new tires, always well kept, but I prayed. My worry was largely about him driving safely, but I also worried about the car (a little). The miles the vehicle earned, were hard miles. 95% city. Earned by enduring my lead right foot! Mind you, this car was slow, so I mashed the throttle pedal relentlessly.

The car made it through the kids schooling. Only thing it ever needed was a new battery. And I'm grateful for that, because if it broke down, I'd be the one having to fix it. That's the thing. I wouldn't buy a car with 200k miles for my kid unless I had enough free time and access, to fix it when it breaks down.
 
The car made it through the kids schooling. Only thing it ever needed was a new battery. And I'm grateful for that, because if it broke down, I'd be the one having to fix it. That's the thing. I wouldn't buy a car with 200k miles for my kid unless I had enough free time and access, to fix it when it breaks down.
My daughter’s Hyundai was picked up in 2023 for next to nothing. It had + 200K miles when we got it. Made some repairs early on get it road worthy and a few along the way. Brakes, tires, catalytic converter to pass emissions, AC stuff, CV axle and new battery. Some we did it ourselves. Others we took it into a shop.

Now 3 years later she still uses it to get to work and college everyday. Some times things pop up so we deal with it. But it’s still cheaper than a car payment which she says she is going to avoid as long as she can. Even new vehicles sometimes need repairs. My 2 year old car just got out of the shop for repairs last weekend. Car repairs are just a part of life.
 
our 2013 rav 4 has been flawless except for an ac hose and idler pulley. 205,000k on the clock. uses no oil between 5k oil changes. like to see crv top this
 
They are both good and it's the body rust that I would worry about. It's likely the newest one would last longer as far as rust. As far as longevity of the driveline I would probably lean toward the CRV mainly because I have had lots of Honda's with literally zero major problems. Again, it's that darned rust that will get you every time. As several others stated I would take the vehicle that looks the best as far as interior, exterior, under the hood and under the entire undercarriage.
 
I agree to look at them closely and condition is number one. However, its more likely (sitting here) that the one owner car was maintained a little better and we know that the 2wd is less maintenance than 4wd. So I'm leaning towards the CRV too.

The CRV transmission is very easy to maintain and does have a small inline filter on the cooler lines. I suggest replacing the filter and doing a couple spill and fills. I did them regularly because it only drains about 3 qrts. Got well over 300k outa mine.
 
That generation of Rav4 (the 3rd gen), you want AWD w/ the 2GR-FE. The 3rd gen was the last of the real Rav4's. Even that's debatable, but at least the 3rd gen retained the rear mounted full size spare on the side swinging door, and with the optional V6 it had guts and character.

The modern Rav4's which are neutered, fuel economy focused, generic crossover grocery getters have nothing in common with the original Rav4 Recreation Activity Vehicles. The vehicle should have been renamed to something else starting with the 2013 refresh.
The modern Rav4's which are neutered, fuel economy focused, generic crossover grocery getters have nothing in common with the original Rav4 Recreation Activity Vehicles. ------probably perfect for his 16 year old kid, no? two wheel drive, adequate 4 cyl. horsepower/no cvt (I think?)...safe, reliable transportation.
He can drive to school/take his g/f to the movies, go to the mall, hit up the drive thrus . And of course, something to take him to a part time job, earn money and buy whatever HE can afford when he turns 18! ......now if the kid hates the neutered free vehicle his nice and loving daddy bought him, the kid can take the bus instead .:)
 
My 2008 CR-V in my signature is going to turn 340,000 miles on my ride home from work today. Tough to argue with that kind of reliability. I have had to do very little in the way of repairs or maintenance. It still rides and feels like new. I do like the fact that the CR-V you're considering has had only one owner. That's a plus in my mind.
 
Can’t convince my wife to spend more for a bolt euv.
I wonder if your arguments would make a difference if you explained the significant energy cost savings by using electric charging instead of gasoline? Albeit,electricity rates vary from region to region, but on average, the energy costs for EV’s are lower for the vehicle owner and remain stable as a rule versus the flip-flop nature of gasoline prices. The cost spread between the two energy sources would determine how long the payback would be by paying more for the BOLT.
 
Found a 2015 CX5 locally. Is this a good year for the Mazda?
Any insight into a 2010 CX9?

I never owned a Mazda. I heard they are engineered well and have a neat pairing of cylinders exhaust that scavanges from one exhaust port to keep the turbo revving fast enough at low throttle. Also heard they rust out faster than most in salt belt areas. I wanted to like them, but at a car show several years ago I tried sitting in every model they had, and there was no way my 6' 4" body was going to ever be comfortable driving one. The length of the bottom seat cushion was way too short. Not even close to my knees. I heard it said that Japanese people are short. I guess whoever designed those seats never heard that American people are tall.
 
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My daughter rocks a 2008 CRV with 252k, Loves it. Needs things, yup, that happens with time and mileage. Cheaper than car payments still and when in grad school not working that means a lot. That CRV replaced a 2004 CRV that got handed to my son with like 240k on it. AC compressor and fuel pump died. Trying to get time to get it fixed became a challenge so my son got a '10 Forte for $2500 with 143k I think on it. That got him through college and PA school and now gets him to work daily and trips from VA to NY and back.

I fixed the '04 CRV and daughter had it a couple years through high school and into college until transmission went at I think 270k. Only so much can be done when father-in-law didn't do the right things originally.

He already replied but @macarose is also I think in Georgia and would be an excellent resource for options especially from him. Tell him what you want and he may be able to find it.
 
I never owned a Mazda. I heard they are engineered well and have a neat pairing of cylinders exhaust that scavanges from one exhaust port to keep the turbo revving fast enough at low throttle. Also heard they rust out faster than most in salt belt areas. I wanted to like them, but at a car show several years ago I tried sitting in every model they had, and there was no way my 6' 4" body was going to ever be comfortable driving one. The length of the bottom seat cushion was way too short. Not even close to my knees. I heard it said that Japanese people are short. I guess whoever designed those seats never heard that American people are tall.
I understand this, finding a car that you fit in when you're tall is a challenge.
 
I understand this, finding a car that you fit in when you're tall is a challenge.
Same with short. My wife and both daughters are under 5 foot. Once your outside the standard deviation its a challenge.

Generically speaking Asian vehicles seem to work better for short people. I would assume that means they don't work well for tall people - in general 🤷‍♂️
 
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