I know a LOT of folks that own later model VWs, all would (many have) buy again, very few issues from them.
I really like VW exterior styling, am just about fed up with the Pokemon look Toyota's falling in love with.
FYI, Subaru list 2018 Outback towing cap to be 2700 for all trim levels regardless of engine. 2018 Subaru Outback - Models | Subaru The one I drove was Premium trim, and it was priced slightly lower than Rav4 Hybrid XLE. While I do trust Toyota's hybrid technology, Subaru shines in AWD. It is going to be a hard decision for me.
I am not willing to change CVT fluid every 25k, much less pay more for a Subaru. Now, if I was making the purchase for my work car, the Outback 2.5 Premium wins hands down because of the seat comfort, good FE and stellar AWD; each significantly important when you put up to 50k/year on a car in all weather conditions. Overall, I cannot really fault the RAV-4 Hybrid, we did not find a BETTER vehicle for anything close to the price.
Me too, why can’t we have the simple and stylistic lines of the Jaguar, the Vette, the Mercedes (older) the Lotus, even the Citroen. Notice all but one are in Europe. I can’t see where all those crevices do anything. except make it difficult to wash.
Crevices along large, flat areas, like doors, add rigidity to the thinner sheet metal they are now using to cut weight.
Congrats on the new ride. We looked at the RAV4 hybrid back in July when we were looking for a replacement for the wife’s 98 4runner. The only mistake made was going to the Lexus dealer after lunch: But as you said, happy wife, happy life.
Congrats on the RAV4 Hybrid, beautiful car! The next-gen RAV should also be interesting being built on the TNGA platform with a diesel option. Depending on configuration, the diesel could make for an interesting off-roader. Although my current gasser show car does fairly well, more low-end torque would be appreciated with larger off-road wheels and tires.
An ultra-low 1st gear would accomplish the same by increasing the mechanical advantage in low, while not having to deal with the added (purchase, maintenance and complexity) expenses of a diesel.
Until you had to upshift to 2nd gear. That sounds like my old AWD Tercel wagon that would fall on its face off-road or in deeper snow when on the 1-2 upshift. For off-road use, I'd prefer the added ground clearance with off-road wheels and tires, full-time grunt, improved fuel economy, lower emissions and relative simplicity of the new Toyota turbo diesel. The 2.8 would be perfect for RAV4.
To my knowledge, no diesel can match, much less beat, a gasoline engine of the same emissions year with lower harmful emissions levels. Diesels lost the cost per mile advantage they *had* about 15+ years ago and it will never return; the modern emissions reduction devices are simply too costly. They *can* provide a FE benefit, but with diesel selling for more than gas and the services costing up to 4x more, that easts into any FE savings really fast, if it existed to begin with. Yup, they do offer great Tq, but the overall performance can be bested by most OEMs with current or near-future gasoline engines.
I never say never! I'm impressed with what's forecast for gas engines near term. I was only comparing the new gen Toyota diesel to other diesels currently on the market. No doubt that initial cost will require a longer payback than even a RAV4 hybrid although the GR engine superior estimated fuel economy of 40 mpg in US trim will help a bit, offset by fuel cost. The predicted near future gas engine technology leaps are exciting. That, solid-state batteries for hybrids and increasing use of forced induction are something to look forward to. But, Toyota must see the GR engine family as a necessary arrow in their worldwide quiver of engine choices. I read that GR production will exceed 1.5M engines available in 150 markets by 2020, up from 700,000 and 90 markets last year. Why would a GR cost 4X more to maintain than a gasser? I compared maintenance intervals and service operations on the Toyota EU site and couldn't tell.
You can get an oil change all day long on a Prius for ~$25.... ANY Diesel will be $80 on up and most well over $100, if not only for the added oil volume and type specific oil as well. Then the filters are generally at least double the cost. Add a couple gallons of DEF, and whamo, $150. Just for a 2005 Beetle, the diesel oil filter is double that of the gas and the oil is about 50% more in bulk and almost triple in some places by the Qt.. If you do not use the VW required oil, no warranty. So your $25 LOF adds $8 (filter), $25 (oil) at the minimum, so $25 v $58 + tax.
Maybe in the States, and maybe places trying to upsell you and/or really cutting corners? Just the supplies, for my DIY oil change with all Toyota parts, purchased at dealership parts counter (the oil filter and effing washer admittedly very retail), in Canadian dollars:
All local "fast lube" places, including national chains, get about $25 for a basic light duty oil change with a gas engine. You add ANYTHING, like a different filter (VW/MB/CTD), more than 5qts or a boutique oil (VW or diesel) and you are staring at a $75 bill before you even blink and the c-note comes up FAST. That's where all the $$$ is made - the add-ons!!!! Thankfully, my bride will not need to worry as our new vehicle gets two years of complimentary routine maintenance. It's actually a REALLY smart thing for the OEM to protect their new vehicle customer from all the add-ons and shoddy work that happens out there.
A new platform and a new claim of a diesel engine (US?). The problem that kills the diesel engine is the diesel fuel; dirty, crude, messy, stinky, just say no.
