Buying A 2004 Xt3 - A Few Questions

[Catweazle]

Hi

I looked at a 2004 manual petrol XT3 today (£6995) and have left a deposit, however, I have a few questions which I hope someone can answer an hopefully reassure me that I've not mad a mistake:

1. The gear change seemed quite clunky - not noisy but the gear lever movement was not smooth. Is this normal?

2. The accelerator seems really sensitive. On my short test drive I found it very hard to pull away smoothly but hopefully this is just due to 7 years of driving an old Ford Escort.

3. The dealer only has the one key (remote one) and my local Toyota dealar have quoted £150 ish to supply and code another. Seems a bit steep to me.

Am I buying a lemon or am I just paranoid about used car dealer?

Thanks in advance everyone.

[bothwell_buyer]

the gear change sounds normal compared to the posts here.

is it the accelarator or the clutch? 2 kind of different things. What to do is test drive another to compare it against just in case. If you tried my racing RAV, the clutch is now on or its off and not a lot in between!!!

On the keys, I'm still using 1994-7 Toyotas which Timpsons can provide keys for at £5 a pop.

[IanXT4]

The gear change is known to have very "notchy" characteristics 1st to 2nd and the accelerator takes more getting used to other cars I have driven.

The best thing to do is to go to a Toyota Garage and get a test drive of something similar to give you a baseline .

As for the key, they are expensive to replace.

It always concerns me when someone has lost a key as its makes a future theft very easy if god forbid the key turns up.

Some insurance companies even recommend a complete lock change if a key is lost with an address or stolen. (ie the thief can identify the car reg)

I would investigate further why they only have one key !!

[local hero]

The gear change is known to have very "notchy" characteristics 1st to 2nd and the accelerator takes more getting used to other cars I have driven.

The best thing to do is to go to a Toyota Garage and get a test drive of something similar to give you a baseline .

As for the key, they are expensive to replace.

It always concerns me when someone has lost a key as its makes a future theft very easy if god forbid the key turns up.

Some insurance companies even recommend a complete lock change if a key is lost with an address or stolen. (ie the thief can identify the car reg)

I would investigate further why they only have one key !!

With regards to the key replacement, blanks with transponder are available on flea bay very cheaply or try googling toyota keys, lots of companies offer re programming of keys, however i stumbled accross the following link this guy reckons you can programme your own, I have not tried it, don't know if it works + do not endorse it but if it does work it means we can replace keys for the cost of a blank key

http://www.andrewkantor.com/2005-10/keys/

[Hoovie]

Hi

I looked at a 2004 manual petrol XT3 today (£6995) and have left a deposit, however, I have a few questions which I hope someone can answer an hopefully reassure me that I've not mad a mistake:

1. The gear change seemed quite clunky - not noisy but the gear lever movement was not smooth. Is this normal?

2. The accelerator seems really sensitive. On my short test drive I found it very hard to pull away smoothly but hopefully this is just due to 7 years of driving an old Ford Escort.

3. The dealer only has the one key (remote one) and my local Toyota dealar have quoted £150 ish to supply and code another. Seems a bit steep to me.

Am I buying a lemon or am I just paranoid about used car dealer?

Thanks in advance everyone.

FWIW, When I bought my 2005 RAV4 (used) I actually got THREE Keys, which I think is the correct number. two black keys with the remote lock and unlock buttons and a grey plain key that I understand is used as a master to get a replacement(?).

If I were you, I would be asking the dealer to supply another key free as part of the deal.

I bet he will have knocked off extra money from the person he got the car from as "I'm gonna have to buy another key, guv" will have been said, whilst sucking through teeth and shaking of head.

[Catweazle]

The grey key being the master seems to be a misconception. The guys at my local Toyota service centre have advised me that its only purpose is to allow entry to an un-alarmed vehicle but without the ability to start it. They said that it was designed for the likes of car valeting, etc, when you might want someone to be able to lock and unlock the car but dont want them to be able to drive off in it.

The black remote keys are the masters and are the ones required to get additional keys programmed from hence the reason so many people losing the grey ones.

I did try to get some more knocked off for the key but couldn't get him to budge more than a few pounds. To be honest I've missed out on several other RAVs in my attempt to get a bargain but as they are so popular someone else comes along and snaps them up at the full asking price. I've got in quick with this one before the dealer has even had time to prep it so can see it in its true colours rather than after the dealer has tarted it up.

[anchorman]

Yes the grey key is the "sub key".

[local hero]

Yes the grey key is the "sub key".

I was told the grey key will do everything but won't unlock the glovebox, the idea being that when you take car in for service you can lock valuables in the glovebox + leave the grey key for general use..

[bonjo]

Yes the grey key is the "sub key".

I was told the grey key will do everything but won't unlock the glovebox, the idea being that when you take car in for service you can lock valuables in the glovebox + leave the grey key for general use..

I think it is called the service key mabe because of this

[Catweazle]

Update.

Had an independant inspection carried out on the car yesterday and it revealed:

2 tyres need immediate replacement and the other 2 within 6mths - 1 year

Battery needs immediate replacement

Exhaust requires imminent replacement

Rear shocks require imminent replacement

All 4 alloys corroded (which I knew about)

Only 1 key (which I knew about)

When I approached the dealer he offered to replace the exhaust, Battery, shocks and 2 tyres which I was quite surprised at but as soon as I said that I wanted guaranteed work he changed his mind and told me to come and collect my deposit. The independant mechanic who inspected the car advised me against letting the dealer carry out the work as it would more than likely be a cheap fix with no comeback - sounds like he was right.

Also, my car which he was offering me £575 for was already up on his website for £1300 despite him saying that he was offering me over the odds anyway.

I've almost given up on finding a decent RAV. Ford Focus here I come (I hope not!)

[nig.xl]

Update.

Had an independant inspection carried out on the car yesterday and it revealed:

2 tyres need immediate replacement and the other 2 within 6mths - 1 year

Battery needs immediate replacement

Exhaust requires imminent replacement

Rear shocks require imminent replacement

All 4 Alloys corroded (which I knew about)

Only 1 key (which I knew about)

When I approached the dealer he offered to replace the exhaust, battery, shocks and 2 tyres which I was quite surprised at but as soon as I said that I wanted guaranteed work he changed his mind and told me to come and collect my deposit. The independant mechanic who inspected the car advised me against letting the dealer carry out the work as it would more than likely be a cheap fix with no comeback - sounds like he was right.

Also, my car which he was offering me £575 for was already up on his website for £1300 despite him saying that he was offering me over the odds anyway.

I've almost given up on finding a decent RAV. Ford Focus here I come (I hope not!)

If your car is only worth £575 I would seriously consider selling it privately in the local paper or even e bay.

You are in a much stronger position to barter if you are a cash buyer. There are plenty of decent cars out there, I just picked up an 02 plate 3 door D4D with 23K on the clock, 1 owner full Toyota history and all previous MOTs for a bit over 4 grand. Good luck and don't give up.