1st Gen Rav4 as Baby Hauler, Rally Crosser, Forest Road Explorer

I've been wanting to dip my toes into the world of AWD since moving to AZ. We've got tons of forest roads and offroad play areas that might be condusive to AWD hooning, especially with some models having more ground clearance and skid plates standard. 

The key thing is I need something that I can fit a car seat into the back of, so sedan options are ideal. 

Needs to be readily available under $1500, manual trans, AWD or RWD, tall greenhouse and 4 doors. Easy swaps would be cool too. 

List currently sits at:

Impreza or WRX (although the WRX would push budget)

BMW E30

Older Lightweight Crossover in Manual Trans - In my area, where Subarus are ridiculously popular and overpriced, some older crossovers can still be found cheap.

Galant VR4 (likely would push budgets). 

Volvo 240 - I've never cared for the driving dynamics of the Swedes. 

CRV 

190e 8v

Cressida - manual swapped

Is the Rav4 going to meet the rollover requirements for rallycross?

A SN95 Mustang would be on my list, too. There have been a few built out for stage rally, and a V6 would be lighter and cheaper than a v8 while still able to reach traction limit.

You could probably find a Legacy or Impreza in your price range, but you might have to drive a bit to get it.

Though not on your list, a Gen3 Montero Limited or XLS (the big ones, not the small ones know as Sports) are super cheap and very durable.  I love mine.  

A lot more off-roader than you seem to be looking for in your first post.  A lot more family mover than a tiny Gen1 Rav4or Imprezza especially with the 3rd row seating.  Not a racer.  Not a manual.  

Reasonably price with this quickly found real example asking $3,750   80% of a Land Cruiser for 30% of the price.  

A Suzuki SX4 may fit your wants...if you can find one.  

Jeep Cherokee?

First gen RAV4 is a great vehicle, if a bit under powered.  Hard to find them.  People keep them until they get crushed into a ball or the soccer mom blows the motor from neglect. 

Hint:  If the ad says "great gas mileage," it is FWD.  You can spot a 4WD version by three buttons on the dash over the radio instead of 2 (FWD).  That is, the 4WD ones have a center diff lock.

Brett_Murphy said:

Is the Rav4 going to meet the rollover requirements for rallycross?
 

AFAIK there are no rollover requirements or banned vehicles, but the Event Steward and Safety Steward are explicitly allowed to disallow any vehicle at any time for any reason.  It it looks sketchy, out you go.

I have seen a stock height Civic, a stock height CRX, and a stock class (meaning, not even on aggressive tires) WRX roll. The WRX rolled in a smooth corner. A cute-ute would scare the xrap out of me if I was in charge of an event.

I think a lot of people underestimate how much grip there is on dirt.  You basically need an autocross-ideal car layout but with suspension travel.

Knurled. said:

Brett_Murphy said:

Is the Rav4 going to meet the rollover requirements for rallycross?
 

AFAIK there are no rollover requirements or banned vehicles, but the Event Steward and Safety Steward are explicitly allowed to disallow any vehicle at any time for any reason.  It it looks sketchy, out you go.

I have seen a stock height Civic, a stock height CRX, and a stock class (meaning, not even on aggressive tires) WRX roll. The WRX rolled in a smooth corner. A cute-ute would scare the xrap out of me if I was in charge of an event.

 

I think a lot of people underestimate how much grip there is on dirt.  You basically need an autocross-ideal car layout but with suspension travel.

Detroit recently instituted rollover rules, and sculpted them around the first gen rav4 being the limit of what was allowable because they have a regular that runs one. While it's never rolled, there's been a handful of moments when it was unclear how it didn't roll. It's reasonably fast and the guy seems to enjoy it, but I don't think I could put up with that personally. I wouldn't feel comfortable in anything taller than a sedan/wagon.

In reply to dps214 :

I am familiar with that mental Rav4, and often thought that if Detroit could run on fields instead of nice, hard, slippery horse tracks, that thing would be on its roof.

It was at Crystal where a Civic went over, incidentally.  Car was remarkably solid but the windshield was cubic zirconia.

You'll wanna buy the vehicle for the job. This is a hard one to get all of those checked out, UNLESS you buy something like a 3rd gen celica. 
 

on my celica I had a two coilovers sleeves put around the strut tube in front. I ran dual springs in front. also had a ford 8.8 in the back, so swapping springs was a matter of jacking the body up and leaving the tires on the ground for the rear spring changes. The shocks were agx. I would dial them as needed. I could effectively lower my celica for autox and then raise it for woodland exploration in about fifteen minutes with a friend. 30mins by myself. 

This is probably a good placed for this...  

Two-Door vehicles are out. Just not enough room to get kiddo in and out. 

4x4s are out, including Jeep and Monteros. My Tundra suits those needs just fine. 

If I got a cute-ute like a Rav4, my plan would be to lower it during the winter months when I'm not exploring as much, in AZ, the majority of the rallycross events are during the winter in the desert. 

Then in the summer (in Flagstaff) I'd put it at stock height or higher for a more fuel efficent way of getting to hiking and biking spots. 

My Tundra would become more of a hauler/camper. 

Unexpected choice...  

There is no crossover I would feel safe taking on a Rallyx Course, lowered or not.

So not even a Forester? 

Not AWD, but CVPIs from what I hear are fairly competent

Seems like for your criteria an older Forester would be preferable to impreza/wrx.

Plus, probably a lot cheaper. 

Dr. Hess said:

Hint:  If the ad says "great gas mileage," it is FWD. 

Or maybe compared to a Suburban.  Or maybe a clueless or deceitful ad writer.  (Sufficiently advanced incompetence is indistinguishable from malice)  I used to see ads for STis that said "Fuel saver!"  (It's a four cylinder, right?  Those always get good fuel economy)

pheller said:

So not even a Forester? 

I wouldn't feel safe racing one.  I've seen them get on 2 wheels quite easily.  I'm sure they can be run without trouble, but I'm not a fan of having to watch out for that kind of thing when on course.  No thank you.  At least with a normal height car you can berkeley up and probably keep it rubber side down.

ProDarwin said:

pheller said:

So not even a Forester? 

I wouldn't feel safe racing one.  I've seen them get on 2 wheels quite easily.  I'm sure they can be run without trouble, but I'm not a fan of having to watch out for that kind of thing when on course.  No thank you.  At least with a normal height car you can berkeley up and probably keep it rubber side down.

 

There was no rut at that corner, just grip.  (I was working that corner and could easily see the oil pan/floor/etc)  Stock height 2.5RS.

Dirt can be amazingly grippy...