Minor Annoyances ... Whinge Of The Day

[abraxas]

Feel like having a bit of a moan about some thing on my RAV that have been annoying me for a while... who better to than fellow RAVers. :) Sorry.

Folding mirrors – being a city dweller for most of the time, I always thought this is a really cool thing to have on a car. Tight streets and numpty drunk students walking into the mirrors, seems like a really useful thing to have. (Hey, I get to complain about aforementioned NDS... I had to fork out for the repair of the last car for this precise reason.) However... am I doing something wrong or ... what is the point of the switch that only works when the ignition is on? Who thought that would be a good idea? So you park and think "umm this is a tight spot...better fold the mirrors"... and then you have to fold the mirrors BEFORE you exit the car, meaning that you can’t see what’s behind you when you open to exit; And it takes long enough for mirrors to fold so that you have no idea of the traffic happening behind you in the mean time. Wouldn’t take a degree in automotive engineering to suss out that it may be a better idea to link it to the remote central locking now would it?

Rear wiper – why does it stop immediately after you disengage the spray function? So you invariably have water dribbling down the glass and have to engage the wiper manually again. Why couldn’t it remain active for at least a cycle longer... like the front wipers? I drove a Ford ... umm... Escape, I think over the pond recenty and it had a really nice “spray+wipe... wipe, wipe, wipe ... waaaaait ... wipe!”-action on the front wipers... why can’t we have that? Eh, Mr T? Eh? Eh? :!Removed!:

...and...breathe! Ahhh, that ‘s better! :)

Now... any ideas? Electronics taskforce on the case? Schm? Anyone? :)

[Davrav]

And why do you have to make a conscious effort to fold the mirrors out again?

I have got in the habit now of making sure the switch is in the on position after I have switced off the ignition. That's after some hairy moments early in ownership when, on a very short on ramp in the dark, I suddenly found I had no side mirrors.

I think the manual set up has the potential to be quite dangerous.

Still it goes along with the illogical boot lighting, the scrimping on the window switches, pathetic horns, awkward trip computer controls, cheap feeling easily marked plastic trim, run flat tyres....................

So why do we enjoy our RAVs so much?

[anchorman]

Shcm has probably already wired his with radar to detect if anything is coming and he will have ben hur style wheel swords to repell drunk students.

I know what you mean about the mirrors but it is a compromise between at least having folding mirrors and having them that are complicated and expensive. I have to drive through narrow gates into our works car park and I can get in where d class cars like pug 407/mondeo struggle. I tend to fold them and then when I turn the ign off I press the button so they fold out when I turn it back on. I think the reluctance to have them work when the ignition off is the same as the acc' sockets in that it reduces the risk of Battery issues. I don't like the fact that the switches aren'y illuminated when they have managed to illuminate everything on my mates CRV.

I thought my rear wiper did run on but I'll check it next time.

My niggles are;

Rear brake light lights up spare wheel at night and is a distraction

No odd numbers on the speedo

A bit just where the wipers overlap that doesn't always get wiped properly.

No drive away or deadlatch locking especially for the rear door. Any dirt bag could walk up in traffic and empty the contents of the boot long before you could do anything.

That aux input which has just popped up on the new models.

There seems no logic to the heater controls

Its too easy to forget the lights which has been fixed with new model with light sensors

I'm sure there are others but can't just think off hand!

[Davrav]

Shcm has probably already wired his with radar to detect if anything is coming and he will have ben hur style wheel swords to repell drunk students.

I know what you mean about the mirrors but it is a compromise between at least having folding mirrors and having them that are complicated and expensive. I have to drive through narrow gates into our works car park and I can get in where d class cars like pug 407/mondeo struggle. I tend to fold them and then when I turn the ign off I press the button so they fold out when I turn it back on. I think the reluctance to have them work when the ignition off is the same as the acc' sockets in that it reduces the risk of battery issues. I don't like the fact that the switches aren'y illuminated when they have managed to illuminate everything on my mates CRV.

I thought my rear wiper did run on but I'll check it next time.

My niggles are;

Rear brake light lights up spare wheel at night and is a distraction

No odd numbers on the speedo

A bit just where the wipers overlap that doesn't always get wiped properly.

No drive away or deadlatch locking especially for the rear door. Any dirt bag could walk up in traffic and empty the contents of the boot long before you could do anything.

That aux input which has just popped up on the new models.

There seems no logic to the heater controls

Its too easy to forget the lights which has been fixed with new model with light sensors

I'm sure there are others but can't just think off hand!

Look on the bright side - at least you have a spare wheel :)

[rambler]

hi folks

why cant they put a handle on the inside of the rear door..i was loading some rubbish into mine other day,wind got up and closed back door for me......with me inside the boot!!!

i reached for a handle but realised there wasnt one

only having a 3 door i had to climb over front seats and let myself out through front doors.

it we have a accident and front doors are 'stuck' closed...god forbid,it would be an idea to be able to get out through rear door...wouldnt it?

[Mereside]

I would like to add my whinge to the list... and I am being serius here.

Why are these Rav's n Toyota in general so dam reliable compared to other cars I have had. I have had the Rav for 15months ish at the moment and has a whinge when I got it about a what turned out to be a slipping belt and that's the last chance I have had to moan... and I like a good moan.

The car just does what it says on the tin with no drama and being boringly reliable I feel I am missing out on other makes.

So Mr Toyota make the new Rav4 more betterer than this one because to get through another day I need HID lights, er, erm, still thinking,

Oh and normal tyres...damm they are doing that anyway... oh yes.. how about a proper auto for the diesel... eeek they are doing that as well.. Hah found one, I demand they do a better rear parcel shelf.

Going out now to get a life now I have got that off my chest.

Test drove the new Prius today mmmmmmmm nice, er except 'er indoors has a new old one.

I've just realised how good my life is so I better shut up now.

Regards

Mereside

[anchorman]

I would like to add my whinge to the list... and I am being serius here.

Why are these Rav's n Toyota in general so dam reliable compared to other cars I have had. I have had the Rav for 15months ish at the moment and has a whinge when I got it about a what turned out to be a slipping belt and that's the last chance I have had to moan... and I like a good moan.

The car just does what it says on the tin with no drama and being boringly reliable I feel I am missing out on other makes.

So Mr Toyota make the new Rav4 more betterer than this one because to get through another day I need HID lights, er, erm, still thinking,

Oh and normal tyres...damm they are doing that anyway... oh yes.. how about a proper auto for the diesel... eeek they are doing that as well.. Hah found one, I demand they do a better rear parcel shelf.

Going out now to get a life now I have got that off my chest.

Test drove the new Prius today mmmmmmmm nice, er except 'er indoors has a new old one.

I've just realised how good my life is so I better shut up now.

Regards

Mereside

That parcel shelf of mine has good days and bad days. Sometimes as quiet as a mouse and others like a herd of elephants.

You'll be joining Fuj' soon by the sounds of things..........

[dave.m]

Being that its allways p^ssing down here, smart wipers like the frog cars have would be good. Ie, dropping

down to intermittent when you stop at lights etc. plus the rear one coming on automatically if your wipers

are on and you select reverse gear

[anchorman]

Being that its allways p^ssing down here, smart wipers like the frog cars have would be good. Ie, dropping

down to intermittent when you stop at lights etc. plus the rear one coming on automatically if your wipers

are on and you select reverse gear

I think that just needs a switching relay. I bet shcm could get to the bottom of that in his sleep...........................

[Mereside]

My wiper does the auto thing and starts and stops on its own, but it is a good idea about the rear wiper coming on when you have the wipers going and then select reverse. My Skoda had this on and was it was useful.

When I list all the things I really need from a vehicle they look a bit like this.

Relaibility, no good if its at the dealers all the time.

Mild off road capability, I visit building sites with my job so it is needed.

Comfortable, that's just my age. The Skoda Vrs I had was a bit too sporty on the suspension for me when I wasn't in the mood.

A perky engine, having driven nippy cars for a while now (I had the 3.2 Quattro A3 for a couple of years and loved the DSG gearbox and nippy performance) I like a car that can lift up its skirts and run... in a manly way of course.

Er, also in a manly way I like leather as it is easy to keep clean.

Then I like gadgets like sat nav, bluetooth, sided climate control.

Oh and an auto box with a diesel engine would be nice but not strictley necessary as both legs still function fine (although having said that I do use my left foot to brake when I drive an auto.)

So whats the best car for me then?

Regards

Mereside

[anchorman]

My wiper does the auto thing and starts and stops on its own, but it is a good idea about the rear wiper coming on when you have the wipers going and then select reverse. My Skoda had this on and was it was useful.

When I list all the things I really need from a vehicle they look a bit like this.

Relaibility, no good if its at the dealers all the time.

Mild off road capability, I visit building sites with my job so it is needed.

Comfortable, that's just my age. The Skoda Vrs I had was a bit too sporty on the suspension for me when I wasn't in the mood.

A perky engine, having driven nippy cars for a while now (I had the 3.2 Quattro A3 for a couple of years and loved the DSG gearbox and nippy performance) I like a car that can lift up its skirts and run... in a manly way of course.

Er, also in a manly way I like leather as it is easy to keep clean.

Then I like gadgets like sat nav, bluetooth, sided climate control.

Oh and an auto box with a diesel engine would be nice but not strictley necessary as both legs still function fine (although having said that I do use my left foot to brake when I drive an auto.)

So whats the best car for me then?

Regards

Mereside

..........I like the look of the new RAV too!

[abraxas]

Just remembered this topic talking about annoyances... :)

... amen to all those!

Except of course, the spare wheel / brake light reflection. Some people actually _have_ the spare wheel mounted where it should be. :) Joking aside, I know what you mean, I had an XT4 with the same issue before I got it exchanged and had to settle for an XTR.

The one I forgot that absolutely takes the biscuit:

Open driver's door. Now, the most convenient place to put my keys while I am taking my jacket off = the ignition lock.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

I really hate that one. If the car was going to nanny me, I can certainly think of better things to do than to beep at me when I put keys in or when I put my rucksack on the passenger seat.

As I am on the topic... what is the deal with the auto-locking on a RAV4.3?

I noticed my one self-locks if I press unlock on the remote but don't open any doors. It doesn't seem to do self-lock if I just leave it unlocked; Which would actually be useful, My old car used to do that after a period of time if there is no key in the ignition. Then again the old car used to roll up the windows when I lock it, switch wipers to intermediate when sitting @ traffic lights, etc... (not that it didn't have its own idiosyncrasies)

[anchorman]

Just remembered this topic talking about annoyances... :)

... amen to all those!

Except of course, the spare wheel / brake light reflection. Some people actually _have_ the spare wheel mounted where it should be. :) Joking aside, I know what you mean, I had an XT4 with the same issue before I got it exchanged and had to settle for an XTR.

The one I forgot that absolutely takes the biscuit:

Open driver's door. Now, the most convenient place to put my keys while I am taking my jacket off = the ignition lock.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

I really hate that one. If the car was going to nanny me, I can certainly think of better things to do than to beep at me when I put keys in or when I put my rucksack on the passenger seat.

As I am on the topic... what is the deal with the auto-locking on a RAV4.3?

I noticed my one self-locks if I press unlock on the remote but don't open any doors. It doesn't seem to do self-lock if I just leave it unlocked; Which would actually be useful, My old car used to do that after a period of time if there is no key in the ignition. Then again the old car used to roll up the windows when I lock it, switch wipers to intermediate when sitting @ traffic lights, etc... (not that it didn't have its own idiosyncrasies)

I think self locking after leaving it unlocked is asking for the keys to get locked in. That flipping buzzer for the keys is annoying but you have to admit it works - it makes you take the key out!

[rav man]

Yup , mine have been mentioned ,

Wipers leave a wet area where they overlap right in the drivers view.

creaky dash between the two layers (solved with a multi folded petrol receipt jammed in the gap, looks real classy)

Rear door not opening fully (solved with the T180 check strap nigh on £60)

Did i mention expensive bits (speak to T180 owners re their tyres, and me re water pump estaimate £900)

Putting the rear number plate directly behind where you fit a tow bar , (so its instantly obscurred, especially if you want a bike rack attachment bracket)

Weak springs on cup holders that arent actually strong enough to support an empty paper cup.

The fact Mr T can send me regular updates on the lates deals but not a recall notice telling me the ECU needs modifying.

Better than my SAABs though by a long way.

RM B)