I Now A Happy Man !

[Lordy1]

Since buying my RAV in June this year for my wife, I have to be honest never really gelled with it. It had to go back to Toyota quite a few times and also what with the RF issue, poor economy, a bit unrefined etc etc, I never really undertood what the car was about.

That is until the bad weather and snow came. It is amazing, living on the highest point of kent (well its bad for us soft southerners) for the first time I have been able to carry on my life as normal. It never lost its footing and drove up gradients where other 4x4's had been abandoned.

Its taken me 7 months, but I am finally at peace and one with car.

Regards and Happy Xmas to everyone as well. :D

[anchorman]

I have to say I have tried to go places that I would have thought impossible - all the back lanes near me to see if it would go and it has. This is with standard tyres on and no low box. It even seems to pull up quite well and I really like it when the VSC chirps in and snatches the back end in line when I've thrown it into a bend.

Excellent!

Glad you like it now Lordy, enjoy yourself.

[matt@theforce]

I have to admit, I've never liked 4x4's and didn't really agree with SWMBO when I bought her Rav for her but knowing where she works and has to travel I wanted something that would be better than a little tdi fwd car with no/little traction in this weather.

The Rav has always seemed like a gimmick and not a real 4x4 and my opinion remains unchanged, I class it more of a 4wd car, its no taller/bigger than an MPV but the 4wd system is excelent.

We've been out loads of places which we know neither of our previous cars would have gone and not once have we felt nervous and really enjoy what its capable of.

We've also been out for a play and don't find the VSC system to be intrustive infact we've not seen any lights on the dashboard like most traction control systems and we've not felt the car twich or do anything it just grips and go's, we have been able to make it drift but it doesn't drift for long before it grips and takes off, have even tried straight line acceleration against my brothers wrx and the RAV won :D B)

They are a fabulous car and only wish we have bought one sooner, also made 30.2mpg over the last tank too so not bad for a 2l petrol with climate and heated seats on alot of the time

[duncerduncs]

I've found our old T180 and new XT-R to be brilliant in the snow/ice. Back in March (the last time we had snow in the south), I was overtaking X5s and XC90s who's owners were struggling in the conditions

I managed to get the ABS and VSC to kick in at the same time two days ago, when a little s :censor: t decided to run out into a local untreated road without looking...

He'd probably be spending Christmas in hospital if it had been an older car without modern electronics!

[jedi134]

Just to add to this, been out playing with my Rav too. I find the Rav easier to drive than a normal car, in all conditions, its easier to get in and out off, and the seating position is excellent. I could drive for hundreds of miles in the Rav.

Does the rav have traction control? I felt no intrusion while all the wheels were spinning, does it kick in after a certain speed? The VSC kicks in when the Rav starts to go sideways accompanied by a few beeps, excellent. But I never once felt the power being cut to the wheels. It felt like you still had full power if you wanted it, when the VSC kicked in, I just felt the wheels lock up as and when needed.

Its great to have 4X4 when the conditions are like this.

[anchorman]

Yes the later ones with VSC have traction control and the early ones have a limited slip rear diff.