daryll40

My daughter will learn to drive in a year, so I am thinking about buying a Toyota RAV4 to use as my winter vehicle (I live in Pittsburgh) while my 2004 LS430 takes a rest! I value your collective opinions so I am posting this here. Toyota...Lexus...it's all on topic!


What should I do? They have an '04 RAV L that is pretty much exactly what I want. Sticker is about $25500 and, including the current $750 rebate it can be bot for $22500...3 grand off.

I plan to keep this for 4 years exactly. I looked at the the Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds sites and a 2000 RAV4 in good shape with 35,000 miles (about what I expect...it's a "second" car) is worth about $10700. A 2001 with the same miles is worth about $1000 more. In other words, if someone had done what I am doing 4 years ago, the one model year older vehicle with the same miles would be worth only a grand less.

So what it boils down to is this: Will an '05 (they say due in October but I'd bet sooner) be able to be bot for 2 grand off sticker? Paying more than that would point the equation in favor of the '04...at least financially. Getting a bigger discount than $2000 would point the equation in favor of getting the '05 since an '04 now goes for $3000 off sticker but is worth $1000 less at the other end.

What do you guys think?

daryll40

SEVENTY readers and NO ONE has an opinion on this?

TRD-bB

Because no one wants to be hold reponsible if it doesn't work out

I'd go for the 04, since you'll be keeping it for 4 years, by than a new gen should be out. The resell value between a 04 and 05 shouldn't be too much.

But since you're willing to pay upwards of 20grand for an extra car to let your LS rest. Don't worry too much about the $1000 difference

good luck on your purchase!!