RAV4 v CRV v BMW X3
Its time to replace our RAV4 that we use when in Canada. Its been a superb vehicle for the past 10 years or so and still in good condition, but Mrs D thinks we should modernise. 4WD and reasonable ground clearance is essential.
Daughter No 1 (in Newbury) has a BMW X3 which looks really cool. Of the three vehicles it’s the one I most like the looks of. It’s sort of comfortable to drive. But its only about 4 years old and she has only done 60k and a few weeks ago the turbo charger disintegrated. Ok, it was only £1.5k to fix but IMHO that’s a bit of naff design or construction. Put me off a bit.
Daughter No 2 (in Canada) has a CRV which drives very nicely, gives good visibility and has an interior that feels much larger than either of the other two contenders. However, last year it overheated in Vancouver having curiously lost half its coolant. Problem couldn’t be traced by Honda but fortunately hasn’t repeated itself. Still, it casts a slight doubt on overall reliability.
The latest RAV4s look ok and have ok room and our last one has been totally reliable. That is the direction in which I am leaning at present. But Mrs D fancies a change…..
At home in the UK we run a couple of Mercs ( C class, E Class and S Class at various times) and have done so for the past 35 years. Totally reliable, bags of room and a delight to drive. A bit staid perhaps, but I got over sports cars when I spent 5 years in the Gulf (no roads so bloody useless), and LandRovers likewise (which were the only reliable and safe way to get around on the ground). I’m not convinced about Merc’s reliability and functionality with their ML series.
We won’t buy new, probably about 3 years old, so no great shakes on future depreciation.
Any recommendations based on experience ?
Cheers
Don
PS sorry Winky, but a pair of bikes isn't an option ! 
Posted on: 31 December 2012 by Cbr600
Originally Posted by Don Atkinson:
Originally Posted by Cbr600:
Just googled it and think its the Forrester
Thanks Cbr, one or two others have mentioned the Forrester as well, but for some reason, they just don't appeal to me. But thanks again for the suggestion.
Cheers
Don
As I said, they do slip in under the radar, but apparently they do have a Cult following from the people who commit to them
Posted on: 18 January 2013 by Don Atkinson
Just a quick update.
We bought a 4WD automatic CRV XE with a 2.0 petrol engine. About two years old with main dealer warranty.
Obviously haven't seen it yet, but my daughter thinks its terrific. Let's hope she's right !. Mrs D will be able to try when she goes out in a couple of week's time.
Many thanks to you all for your kind advice and recommendations, it certainly wasn't top of my list when I started thinking about what to buy.
Cheers
Don
Posted on: 19 January 2013 by Don Atkinson
My eldest in Newbury looked at Nissan a few years back but settled for a CRV. That CRV was written off when a taxi driver smashed into her parked car early one morning. She replaced it with her X3 last year.
We've had a RAV4 for 10 years or so in Canada and our daughter out there bought a CRV a couple of years ago. Both vehicles have been superb.
So I guess our short list omitted a few really good cars, including Nissan and Subaru. But a short list needs to be a short list. Descisions, descisions. But we made it in the end !
Is the Nissan a 4WD and does it perform well in the snow ?
Cheers
Don
Posted on: 19 January 2013 by tonym
Well done for getting the CR-V Don, a very wise choice! Ours is doing sterling service during this very cold weather and continues to be completely reliable, comfortable and really nice to drive.
Posted on: 19 January 2013 by Don Atkinson
Tony, we'd already had two of these in the family and they do seem to be roomy, comfortable and reliable. Of course only time will tell whether this one is up to snuff.
Your comments about your own experience tipped the balance in favour of the CRV so if we do get any problems.............
Seriously, many thanks to everyone (including Tony) who contributed. I felt more confortable making my choice with your comments, than I would have done without.
Cheers
Don
Posted on: 19 January 2013 by Calum F
If you really need a vehicle like that go for something Japanese, you will not lose sleep over reliability issues, people will still show you courtesy on the road and you will not feel guilty for having bought the BMW just to show off (the singular purpose of BMW)
Posted on: 19 January 2013 by Tony2011
Callum,
I sincerely hope you're not saying that the only reason people buy BMWs is to show off!
Are you?
Posted on: 19 January 2013 by NickSeattle
My second car in life was a six year old 1980 BMW 320iA. I was driving it in Seattle, on Capital Hill, and a 60+ year-old, nicely-dressed pedestrian took time to walk up to my window (which I rolled down with a crank) to tell me my car was an over-priced, over-rated status symbol. I thought it was rather nice to drive, manual steering, 99bhp and all -- I kept it until 1993. (It was quite analogous to a NAC 112, in many ways - rather slow to 100 mph, but happy there!)
The rage factor needs to be considered, even if you do not care what people think.
Nick
Posted on: 20 January 2013 by Don Atkinson
I had mixed feelings about the X3.
I like its appearance more than either the RAV or the CRV (in that order)
My eldest has an X3 and really enjoys it
However, it let her down badly when the turbo charger disintegrated. Cost £1,500 to fix but seems ok now.
My neighbour has has several BMWs including a sports car M3 ? an X5 and his current 2L "5 Series" estate car. The X5 was a beautiful car and totally reliable. The M3 was a disaster from day 2 (brand new) with an electronic control module failure which was never sorted out properly by BMW. His current estate car is mediocre at best.
As I say, mixed feelings about the BMW option, but totally happy with the CRV - even though I haven't seen it yet !
Cheers
Don
Posted on: 20 January 2013 by MangoMonkey
I've got a rav4. Reliable, but oh so boring. I actually bought the basic awd model. I could've added all the bells and whistles, but decided to put that money in hifi instead. :-)
Posted on: 20 January 2013 by MangoMonkey
I've got a rav4. Reliable, but oh so boring. I actually bought the basic awd model. I could've added all the bells and whistles, but decided to put that money in hifi instead. :-)
Posted on: 21 January 2013 by Calum F
Originally Posted by Tony2011:
Callum,
I sincerely hope you're not saying that the only reason people buy BMWs is to show off!
Are you?
No, not really but I question some people's motives for wanting a BMW, thinking they are buying in to a prestige brand when they are a very common sight on the roads. If you are buying one for the engineering fine but many buy them as a fashion accessory e.g. X5, X6.
Posted on: 22 January 2013 by Chris Dolan
Congratulations on the CV-R Don.
One thing to bear in mind is that the "new" BMW X3 is much much much better than the old shape original but that is irrelevant for your purposes.
Posted on: 22 January 2013 by Don Atkinson
Hi Chris, many thanks.
We were only ever going to buy secondhand, so as you say, any new model would be irrelevant. But equally, I wasn't actually aware that BMW had introduced a new X3. You've got me interested now.
Next time round, Number 1 daughter will have had her X3 for some time and that might influence the choice. However even this time round we would have been happy buying any one of our three shortlisted choices.
Cheers
Don
Posted on: 22 January 2013 by Chris Dolan
Don - the "new" BMW X3 model came out just over two years ago so there will be used ones available.
However the cars didn't really start arriving in the UK until about March 2011. I understand that the first cars produced went predominantly to China due to high demand.
As with most things - it all depends on what you are looking for. It is not a serious off roader but it is (imho) the mid-size "executive" 4X4 that the original X3 should have been but just wasn't - build quality, reliability, ride (in particular), fuel economy ....
Although looks wise (apart from a straight front on view) I can understand the criticism to a certain extent - I certainly prefer the look of the Audi Q5 (apart from the rear lights which I can't stand).
It is a nice car. My wife has one - although she does let me drive it occasionally 
Posted on: 23 January 2013 by Don Atkinson
Hi Chris,
Many thanks for the heads up.
Unfortunately I never got to look at many BMWs when I was over in Canada last September. On reflection I didn't realy notice too many X3s on the road and in particular I didn't notice any "new" ones, the ones I saw looked very much like my daughter's here in the UK. So i'm not sure how prolific the new ones are out there. No doubt next time i'm out there i'll be looking at every X3 I see and wondering "what if !".
Meanwhile, as a family we've had good experiences with CRVs so i'm quite content with what we've done........until next time around !
Cheers
Don
