mmarshall

^^^You just proved my point, Jill......look at how much more vague and indistinct the oversized slots-gates are for the RAV-4. I find the one (on top) for the LS much easier to use at a glance.....without a bunch of fumbling, although the truth is that I don't like ANY zig-zag shifter. Never did....never will.

mmarshall

See?....Thats's where you and I differ. I've never had a problem with fore/aft shifters, except with some of the older Honda fore-aft levers that had weak detents and could easily overshoot.

mmarshall

Anyhow, again, back to topic. Does anybody know why the 2-door 1Gen RAV-4 was so rare on the East Coast, and why dealers didn't order or stock them here? I suspect it is because they figured only families would want them.

SW17LS

That’s just styling, the mechanism works exactly the same way. There’s no need to take a glance at either one.

Striker223

The physical feel is key part of the connection to a car IMO, quality, distinct controls with a uniform feel across the entire vehicle elevate the drive.

I hate the shifter in my A8, I would rather just have a button

LexBob2

Is this really an issue? When you think of the millions of Toyotas and Lexus vehicles that have the zig zag shifter, as well as other brands, it's surprising that there hasn't been a consumer revolution to get them changed. My takeaway it that it's not a big deal and most drivers adapt to them just fine.

Toys4RJill

Yeah. No need. Most Toyota and Lexus models also have the PRDNL inside the instrument cluster as well. I have never had an issue ever. Plus they look far more classy compared to the 80s button and the boot

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

Let's get back to the RAV4 and off the shifters please. We had a 300+ post thread a couple of years ago which pretty much covered all this, read that if you want to relive it and don't repost it.

mmarshall

That's what I was trying to do, several times...get back on topic.

OK, Folks, I'll ask again.....anybody have any ideas why the 2-door version sold on the West Coast but not in the East? I've only seen maybe two or three of them in the D.C. area in the roughly 25 years since they were introduced.