1998 Toyota RAV4 Convertible (3S-GTE AWD Swap) - POV Driving Impressions

[@lunchonthehood5675]

5th gear is accessible through the driver side wheel well! It's behind a plate on the transmission and can be replaced in 45 min without removing the trans. Hopefully the owner sees this comment. No need to source a transmission. It's almost like Toyota knew 5th gear would go bad and made it easy to replace.

[@dominicbakken]

It also could have been the easiest cheapest way to make the four speed have overdrive

[@I.LikeCars]

Just my humble opinion, but these old car reviews are way more interesting and entertaining than when you drive one of the new ones.

[@SuperBrownDawg]

My not so humble opinion: any car you review is way more interesting than this guy’s comment. Some of us just want to feel alive when we press play.

[@Creed412-]

Both fair takes imo 👍🏻

[@kramer7026]

Because the new cars suck and have no character or feel. Just a bunch of driver aids and unnecessary safety nannies

[@mfdoom4358]

@@SuperBrownDawg hows it taste lil bro

[@オルフェーヴルの夫]

​@@SuperBrownDawg look at me I'm so deep and philosophical man I'm so mature and wise maybe my mom will look at me

[@jawshyy]

This generation of rav4 is genuinely such an easy car to drive. Perfect first car for a teen.

[@WilsonL-jg3ed]

Omg that boost sound, nothing beats that

[@fastracer3492]

6 days ago ?

[@altayayay]

@@fastracer3492looks like he has special access

[@mythicul]

I think he's a member and he gets early access ​@@fastracer3492

[@guccigabbana.8284]

​@@altayayaym jealous

[@illuminate4]

I've heard supras with less turbo noise XD

[@altairtime]

My 98 Rav 4 is at 396,000 miles and still going strong! I bought it new.

[@justinmcgill4806]

Never thought I'd see an old school RAV 4 with a 3S-GTE engine in it. Sounds awesome.

[@mfdoom4358]

most of them do the swap around here

[@neilsmith1489]

Mom had one of these; 1998 all white. I learned how to drive on one. Lasted for 20 years!!

[@ThatPurpMonkeVr]

Wow thats good

[@MortalWombat22]

only 20 years???? that's early for a 'yota

[@gryphon123456]

I had a 98 two door RAV4 and it was one of my all time favourite vehicles. That thing was amazing in the snow. These are absolute Jems and we will never see small utes as fun as this again. Unless they allow Suzuki to sell the Jimny in NA.

[@houssamalucad753]

I thought the jimny was discontinued? Unless for business purposes?

[@gryphon123456]

@@houssamalucad753 I don’t know they’re discontinued but they just can’t sell them in Europe anymore unless for business, to my understanding.

[@fechaqui9513]

​@@houssamalucad753the Jimny still sells in a lot of regions, they recently announced the 2025 in Costa Rica

[@HotSneks]

I get a little excited every time I see one of these Rav4's on the road. I wish automakers would make a tiny and nimble SUV again. I love that boost sound 😍

[@FadiHenryy]

I work at a shop where we had one of these come in for a fuel pump. At first I was like it’s just an old Rav4.. after repairing it, I took it on a test drive and it was the most fun I’ve had in a while. It was also a manual.. and had 340k miles on it. Surprisingly super fun simple cars.

[@kyleheck8916]

how much as tested?😅

[@shiruki.fan.account]

About half of my entire family at some point had one of these and they drove them for years (3-door and 5-door versions) Seeing that interior brought back some memories.

[@khelgarironfist3301]

These were legendary and something unique-ish. The modern rav4 looks like a typical soccer mom SUV, as if there isn't enough of them already.

[@hadrienlf23]

I live in Rural France, own a GT3RS and an NSX, and I daily drive a RAV4 similar to this one. Everyday i have a blast racing it everywhere. Gearbox is amazing, engine is good, reliability is beyond anything and it is such a fun small car to race everywhere.

[@guccigabbana.8284]

Where in France mon ami, are you willing to sell it anytime ?

[@w1nnin]

Moms 1996 rav4 4 door was a champ with that green color

[@scott5322]

This makes me reallyyy miss my 2004 rav4. It really was the perfect car.. unfortunately it got flooded in hurricane harvey.

[@KMD_Online]

Man I want a Rav 4 from this generation... Love the way they look 👍

[@KT_One]

I drove one of these, 4 door auto, brand new. It was surprisingly tight with well damped suspension , but terribly underpowered.

[@deyeatdapoopoo7582]

The turbo sounds this thing makes are just incredible. Exhaust is really nice and throatt with a deeper note than you'd expect from a turbo 4. Just really cool and unique.

[@Bazz59]

I had a 99 convertible many years ago and quite frankly it was the funnest car ever , I gave it to my niece for her first car and she loved it for many years ...

[@riceburner4747]

BOTH RAV's are sweet! Nicely done! 👍

[@SilentRoadStudio]

The boost sound is undefeated 😩🔥 P.S. This is perfect for Forza Horizon especially with all of the off-road capabilities. It's sad they don't make the Rav4 like this anymore

[@gettcouped]

It’s amazing. Who would have guessed that a person would love the gen 1 Rav4 and still have it around and do such cool things to it. Really cool video and it just goes to show you that there is something for everyone.

[@W_s570]

I had rav4 1998 5 doors manual That was Amazing car i had It stay with us at 23 years !!

[@andrewhutchinson5627]

I just bought a 1 owner, 1996 2 door, dual sunroofs, manual, 4x4. Haven't driven it yet. Waiting to go back home to pick it up and check it out. Saw it on offer up and immediately jumped on it. I will be doing the swap on mine as well.

[@mikkokivisto4414]

You make cool videos about the more obscure space-related things. Keep at it, these are fun!

[@ErikOptional]

I have that one ! But not with that engine ! The soft top chnaged too - The best Top PVC one didnt last long , shrinks a lot in hot sunny regions and brakes the mountings for the soft top. Its a perfect car for hot regions . Advantage of a cabrio without getting your head tosted by the sun . I never take out the sun roof ! I had some rust inside because it rained too often inside .. Very often ! Rust in the inside , none outside !

[@Odghunter]

1:59 i really thought you ripped a big one right there lol

[@nicugirbu1727]

The Topher is the kind of guy to laugh in turbo flutter

[@botinochek]

Have same car! Convertible red rav4 with 32 wheels and bushwackers. Thought about 3sgte for a long time, but now I understand, that the time has come, cos it is so much fun! Sorry for my English) Thanks for the video 👍🏼

[@dogatti]

Do you use SUPERVIEW in the GoPro settings for your videos? Saludos desde Argentina!

[@adriantec07]

Hello, I love your channel, what settings do you use on your Go Pro to record videos, thank you

[@neilieb3740]

Man this Rav 4 Build is just straight Fire!! The turbo spooling and growl is just so Sexy, its not funny!! The Caldina GTT turbo is just a real Sleeper car. Those cars were imported here in Jamaica and trust me, it was a hit!! Even if you used it as a taxi, the 3S-GTE engine is just a reliable engine swap for corollas. Kudos to the owner and Topher, the sound is great for this video. Just sorry you couldn't take a drive in the canyons with this.

[@Pablosan7]

We have a lot of the gen 1 in Greenland, I have a 4 door manual red gen 1 myself, it’s super good in the deep snow! I love it 💛 …only con is how thirsty it is

[@colin8449]

this thing is so rad

[@6ZeroGravity9]

I legitimately thought you farted at the 2 minute mark 🤣

[@williambreeze2659]

Both of those suv's are badass! My mind is blown at 25:30 lol

[@GXKid06]

America’s jdm g-wiz

[@ABeans07]

Let me know if you want to drive the celica alltrac in the future

[@001dman]

you indeed coming to the states eh? (oh wait. wrong beanz)

[@dominicbakken]

When I went looking for my first 10K valued auto. I test drove the 99 fwd rave, a 97 awd CRV, 98 Ford escape v6, a 00 Nissan four door pickup, finally a 00 kia sportage 4wd. Ford and nissan were a tie for too expensive. The RAV and Honda were used and financed out of reach. Later in life a girlfriend looked at one of these and a Geo tracker both with 4wd. She got the Geo, the RAV felt cramped

[@realisaiahdunphy]

that’s badass

[@abdulrhman1335]

These are popular in my country, UAE. I've got two 3sgte rav4s love them fun weekend toy's amazing for sand dunes.

[@swarmy427]

Hey man, i’m looking to get one swapped in UAE you know where i can start?

[@rforracemode5846]

Dual sunroof 2 door is a rare option, as cool as the turbo one is, the aqua stock rav4 is so 90’s…

[@JJ-tr8cu]

Hope you guys picked up that one foam red piece laying on the ground!

[@YungSteambuns]

from my experience with a alltrac celica, very fun engine, cool sounds, when it comes to working on the engine or removing the transmission, just a nightmare just get a v6 rav4, save yourself a headache, plus theyre fast af, mainly get 2010-12, 06-09 had vvti chatter and oil leaks

[@ag6371]

From this to the modern RAV4 hybrid

[@splkzyy]

would love to see the stock one perform on an off road course or maybe in the dunes!

[@_chipchip]

Having driven a Caldina GT-T I’d say that thing seems like it’s down on power.

[@Dexoz607]

best rav4 ever made 3sgte is the best engine swape

[@SakibLH44]

That Supra wheel! and damn almost as power as my 4Runner... crazy

[@Dreynorth]

This is great, the first gen Rav4 is one of my faves. Would love to see you drive a CRV RD1 too, if you haven't already.

[@PWCDN]

Brings back the time when they built cars for fun. Now they build cars for market share. We rarely get "uniqueness" in the car industry nowadays. Hope they bring back the Element

[@simply_sparrow]

I saw the title and was like WHAT????😊

[@Nonexistanthuman]

I love my awd 4door model. Would love to 3sge or 3sgte it one day

[@sullit22]

“I mean you know, you just *send it*” 😆 I mean, you can’t not at that size oh and great audio, however you mic’d it

[@Godless-Being]

I doubt topher won’t sre this comment because I’m sure it’s gonna be buried in the comments within the next couple of days but just thought I say that I really love your content. Topher keep up the great work.

[@GodsGunsGlory777]

So cool. Always wanted one.

[@SIlverranger]

Has a very boxer sound to it. That's cool 😎

[@slowmedown89]

I jumped on Marketplace so fast lol. So cool

[@palebeachbum]

I've always thought the first-gen RAV4 was a neat vehicle. With every redesign, it's gotten less appealing to me. I love that minty green color. It definitely sounds like it has 240k miles. Why was the silver one making squeaky farting noises? lol

[@tyhyhh]

you should take a rip in my 97 starlet glanza v i think youd like it

[@bryangarcia9908]

Hi, what is the size of his 1din head unit?

[@SamFBM]

need you to drive an mr2 next !

[@GGoatSQUAD]

I drove this car a billion times

[@Bryce-A55H0L3]

What stereo screen is that in the modified one?

[@Leesh4you]

What radio did they use in the modified one?

[@harley-er7zk]

Recently acquired a barn find 1998 2dr convertible with the top missing. If any others who own one would please post a detailed vid or pics of theirs with close ups of all the parts I will look into making a complete kit available via my canvas shop. Thanks

[@1PvP]

Go to the Rav4 forums, there is a post with the full schematics

[@humphreywilliams5660]

What type of stereo you are using

[@chrishieh]

impecable taste!

[@WayApp]

Vintage vibes

[@rahulshah1408]

It does sound like my abarth with a better blow off valve. Good call.

[@supraphonic88]

I must have one.

[@jmsantosrio]

how's the fuel consumption on this car?

[@SamFBM]

20 round town if you're lucky

[@blahber222]

like 17-18 lol source: aaron’s my buddy ole pal

[@artSFCA]

how did u find this?

[@MohammedMarwan-mp7tr]

The steer look like the supra 1999

[@swis_media]

Why not !

[@TheDARKOMETER]

nice vid

[@japan8994]

Make avideo on Lexus vintage

[@hjlnbi]

25 year car only toyota staff

[@Metalpazallteway]

They look like Honda's 😮

[@bekabeka71]

The one that’s convertible is much better looking

[@memertoire]

Rav 4 and Rav 4 with sports shoes 😂

[@Thojo-qt7iu]

Bussin’

[@YousufMobariz]

I have RAV4 1997 4 door

[@IKhanNot]

The owner looks a bit like Stipe Miocic.

[@gryphon123456]

If the first one was. 98+ they’re 140 HP.

[@GavreelLeo]

Those cars belong to uganda 🇺🇬 but me in Uganda 🇺🇬

[@ethanm5639]

I like rav 4s but the XJ is better

[@MOHAMED-jl6xj]

Hahaha