What To Look For As About To Buy

[emmalina]

Hi, new to forum please be gentle...

Im looking at this tomorrow

http://www.warwickcarcompanyltd.co.uk/20283/stock.htm

Ive been looking for a 4x4 for a few weeks now, having to sell my beloved renaultsport as its just not big enough to fit the dogs in (or my horse!)

Looked at various 4wds and used to have a swb Shogun. I liked that but v thirsty (3.2D) and it developed an oil leak which subsequently ruined the drive :(

Went to test drive a Freelander the other day and was v disappointed with it. Ive since looked at the Rav4, honestly what are your opinions?

Tax?

Running costs?

Performance? Comfort?

Do you think the one im looking at is reasonable? I wanted one with side steps (not because im an oap but i think they make them look quite chunky, and it helps when your wearing heels to climb in..lol) Ive since seen a couple with sidesteps advertised but for some reason they increase the price, ive seen the steps to buy on Flea Bay for £135 for the pair.

So any suggestions, comments and help is greatly appreciated. Im a woman afterall and dont know that much about cars and engines!

Thanks Emma xxx

[Davrav]

Hi, new to forum please be gentle...

Im looking at this tomorrow

http://www.warwickcarcompanyltd.co.uk/20283/stock.htm

Ive been looking for a 4x4 for a few weeks now, having to sell my beloved renaultsport as its just not big enough to fit the dogs in (or my horse!)

Looked at various 4wds and used to have a swb Shogun. I liked that but v thirsty (3.2D) and it developed an oil leak which subsequently ruined the drive :(

Went to test drive a Freelander the other day and was v disappointed with it. Ive since looked at the Rav4, honestly what are your opinions?

Tax?

Running costs?

Performance? Comfort?

Do you think the one im looking at is reasonable? I wanted one with side steps (not because im an oap but i think they make them look quite chunky, and it helps when your wearing heels to climb in..lol) Ive since seen a couple with sidesteps advertised but for some reason they increase the price, ive seen the steps to buy on Flea Bay for £135 for the pair.

So any suggestions, comments and help is greatly appreciated. Im a woman afterall and dont know that much about cars and engines!

Thanks Emma xxx

Hi Emma and welcome to the club

Not had a 4.2 [that's the model you are looking at] but they seem to be pretty reliable apart from the DMF [dual mass flywheel] issue. This is a particular arrangement of the clutch and flywheel which is more complicated than on a petrol version. There have been a number of these reported as failing on 4.2 diesels around the 50K miles mark and replacement seems to be circa £2K.

Make sure the car has a full service record, preferably with Toyota, and ask about the DMF - has it been replaced? If the transmission/gear change sounds excessively noisy or feels rough I would suggest you walk away.

Others, far more knowledgable about this version, will doubtless give you other things to look for. Sidesteps come up on

e-bay quite often and Toyota ones are straightforward to fit.

Good luck

[bothwell_buyer]

welcome to the forum.

Are you looking at this one just because it has a sunroof to allow the horse to stick its head out the top??

Aside of that, just check/get someone to check that the things like shock absorbers, suspension bushes and stuff that wears out at around 80,000 miles have been replaced. At this time of year prices would normally be lower, but as people are turning to purchase 4x4s to get around this awful weather, then prices might be just a touch higher. Look around and do a good test drive on rough roads to listen for clunks and thumps which indicate worn suspension.

[emmalina]

welcome to the forum.

Are you looking at this one just because it has a sunroof to allow the horse to stick its head out the top??

Aside of that, just check/get someone to check that the things like shock absorbers, suspension bushes and stuff that wears out at around 80,000 miles have been replaced. At this time of year prices would normally be lower, but as people are turning to purchase 4x4s to get around this awful weather, then prices might be just a touch higher. Look around and do a good test drive on rough roads to listen for clunks and thumps which indicate worn suspension.

Lol i cant get her on a !Removed! trailer so it may be worth asking her sit on the back seat!!!! Tried it today, bit disappointed, drove pretty well, interior seemed very dated and it did feel a bot "old mans car" for me and he wouldnt budge on the price. Also service book has been stamped on last 3 occasions by his garage and using the same pen with dates well over 6 months inbetween???? Seemed a little odd to say the least!

The size of it was ok but tbh im thinking of spending a little less and getting a Freelander. Its going to serve a purpose until i can save up some cash and buy a decent 4x4, going to have to rough it for a few years!!!!

[emmalina]

Hi, new to forum please be gentle...

Im looking at this tomorrow

http://www.warwickcarcompanyltd.co.uk/20283/stock.htm

Ive been looking for a 4x4 for a few weeks now, having to sell my beloved renaultsport as its just not big enough to fit the dogs in (or my horse!)

Looked at various 4wds and used to have a swb Shogun. I liked that but v thirsty (3.2D) and it developed an oil leak which subsequently ruined the drive :(

Went to test drive a Freelander the other day and was v disappointed with it. Ive since looked at the Rav4, honestly what are your opinions?

Tax?

Running costs?

Performance? Comfort?

Do you think the one im looking at is reasonable? I wanted one with side steps (not because im an oap but i think they make them look quite chunky, and it helps when your wearing heels to climb in..lol) Ive since seen a couple with sidesteps advertised but for some reason they increase the price, ive seen the steps to buy on Flea Bay for £135 for the pair.

So any suggestions, comments and help is greatly appreciated. Im a woman afterall and dont know that much about cars and engines!

Thanks Emma xxx

Hi Emma and welcome to the club

Not had a 4.2 [that's the model you are looking at] but they seem to be pretty reliable apart from the DMF [dual mass flywheel] issue. This is a particular arrangement of the clutch and flywheel which is more complicated than on a petrol version. There have been a number of these reported as failing on 4.2 diesels around the 50K miles mark and replacement seems to be circa £2K.

Make sure the car has a full service record, preferably with Toyota, and ask about the DMF - has it been replaced? If the transmission/gear change sounds excessively noisy or feels rough I would suggest you walk away.

Others, far more knowledgable about this version, will doubtless give you other things to look for. Sidesteps come up on

e-bay quite often and Toyota ones are straightforward to fit.

Good luck

Maybe being blonde here but the "transmission change" i asked him about the 4wd capability but he said it was built in with the traction control.On my shogun there was a seperate lever for 2H, 2L and 4H, it was useful in ******* situations on the road and worked for me, does the rav automatically change?

[anchorman]

No Emma it doesn't. The RAV is really a "soft roader" and doesn't have a low box. That particular one is permanent 4WD. They are surprisingly good in the snow and will cruise comfortably at 80 on the motorway so its something of a compromise.

[chatman]

"Old Man's CAR"

I have the same model as your looking at... everything works..it starts and goes where I want it... Yes I've had the DMF issue...now sorted.... It has now done over 138K and still pleases me every time... Cruses on the motorway fine...very comfortable for long journeys...(I constantly sit in traffic on the M25 for hours ) but get to work in a relaxed state and no aching pains......

Admit the intirior does not have some of the gadhets the newer versions do... but then again it's less to go wring and fix ££££.....

It has a decent sized boot and caters well for when the wife wants to go shopping and fill the boot up .....

If you go down the route of a Nedflader (freelander) you may regret that..... They are not renowned for there good reliability ....cant fault them off road...but they may spend a fair amount off it anyway......

The above is all IMHO...and yours is always your own choice...and feeling...But £5k for that one with 98K on the clock...too steep I thinks for that price...