Rav4 Sr180

[blue monster]

Hi, I currently have a 2006/56 Nissan X-Trail dCi Aventura and am looking to trade this in for a RAV4 T or SR180 mainly because it is the same spec as my X-Trail, has the more powerful engine and has a lower bootline than the X-Trail which will help my dogs and my back!!

I have found an SR180 at a Toyota main dealer that is not too far from me and am going to view it next Saturday. What I want to know is, are there any key points that I should be looking out for that would not be obvious to a non RAV4 driver? I am very meticulous any way so will go over the car with a fine toothcomb but just want to know if there are things/points to pay particular attention to.

Thanks in advance

Martin

[dav179]

Hi Martin

I nearly bought a 180 a couple of months ago then I found out that it had run flat tyres.

Seem like a good idea but then on further investigation found that only Mr T. can fit these and even then not all main agents have the special machine required to fit them.

I was told by local dealership they were £250 per corner and very unlikely to be repaired would have to buy a new one.

[blue monster]

That's a very good point. I have just searched black clircles.com and they do appear to list a run flat tyre for the SR180 and have now read some of the threads on here relating to run flats.

What is the average cost to replace this tyres & I see that a number of people have gone with standard tyres & bought a spare wheel - is this the way to go?

Just seems like a lot of expense of top of buying one of these cars to then go and buy more bits & pieces!

[Airbusfan]

Hi

Bought an '09 SR180, full leather and sat nav in Feb 2010. Superb car.

Problems: Check no rumbling from brakes on hardish braking. My Toyota dealer repaired them under warranty around 18000 miles. Air Conditioning relay replaced so check its working properly.

I bought a spare '180 wheel on eBay and had a new tyre fitted. Lives in boot. My dealer does run flats for £206 inc vat.

Only annnoying thing is fuel consumption which bares little resemblance to book figures. For me it is around 26 mpg in town (Lots of short runs)and 38 mpg on a run. My wife does seem to have a lead foot though.

[blue monster]

Did you fit the spare wheel with a normal tyre?

Also, can the run flat's be replaced with standard tyres & why does the support ring have to stay on the wheel if you are not using run flat's? Surely keeping the support rings in place causes problems every time that you end up changing the tyres?

What is the difference between a T180 and an SR180 or is it just a naming thing?

Am I better off looking for an XT5?

[Big Kev]

Did you fit the spare wheel with a normal tyre?

Also, can the run flat's be replaced with standard tyres & why does the support ring have to stay on the wheel if you are not using run flat's? Surely keeping the support rings in place causes problems every time that you end up changing the tyres?

What is the difference between a T180 and an SR180 or is it just a naming thing?

Am I better off looking for an XT5?

Much as the Runflats are a PINTA, I WOULD NOT LET THEM STOP ME BUYING a T180 / SR180....there are miles of threads on here re the problems we all know/think they cause, usually of a financial nature, but you can replace them with "normal" tyres at your leisure. Folk like me, Wardude, and others are intent on going down that route.

The support ring does not stay in place when you fit standard tyres, but you must find someone who was daft enough to be conned by Toyota and Bridgestone into buying the correct machine to remove these militarily designed gadgets.(or is careful wiff an angle grinder.) Davrav should be along shortly with a LINK to the list of indies and Toyota garages who have the equipment.(...or VivianM, who approves of the runflats if I remember correctfully.....?)

See the PINNED section at start of t'forum re RUNFLATS. I was not aware of them when I bought the car, I am now, have made my decision re their limited future, and love my SR180

which is off to Leeds with me in the morning...(Bank Job....wee bit skint....)

Big Kev ....and excuse manners...welcome to The Club...There's Lovely.

[blue monster]

Big Kev - thank you for the info

One question that I don't seem to be able to find the answer to at the moment & was included in my last post - what is the difference between the T180 & the SR180?

Is there any difference or were they just named like this over different periods of time or revisions?

Thanks

Martin

[dav179]

Just bear in mind that if you fit standard tyres then it is classed as a modified vehicle and you sould inform your insurance company who will add a premium up to 20% on your policy.

If you dont inform them, well, we all know the possible consequences

[blue monster]

Agreed, not worth chancing it with insurance and the amount of money that I am looking to spend on this car.

If I replace the tyres with standard ones & it comes it at an extra £50 on the insurance then so be it.

Like I said in the original post, I am going to see the car next Saturday so given what I now know I will be looking for Toyota to replace any tyres with the correct fitment if they are looking worn.

Is there any thing else that I should be looking out for other than tyres?

[Big Kev]

Dav...correctful, but I am sure there are posts hereon reporting no insurance uplift when tyre change reported, and certainly anybody who tries to increase mine at age 58 by 20% becomes my ex-insurifier for sure.

Big Kev

[Big Kev]

Big Kev - thank you for the info

One question that I don't seem to be able to find the answer to at the moment & was included in my last post - what is the difference between the T180 & the SR180?

Is there any difference or were they just named like this over different periods of time or revisions?

Thanks

Martin

I think the T180 came as standard with leather interior and Nat Sav, both of which were options on the SR180. I think the SR180 comes as standard with the wee sticky-onny-plastic wheel arch flares, which actually give it a nicer line IMHO.

Anybody out there wish to contracept me?

Perhaps your "what to look out for" answer may depend slightly on car age / mileage...? Go buy one then come up here for a drive at the Kingo/Parts King chip modified one....great car made betterer.

Big Kev

[Davrav]

Did you fit the spare wheel with a normal tyre?

Also, can the run flat's be replaced with standard tyres & why does the support ring have to stay on the wheel if you are not using run flat's? Surely keeping the support rings in place causes problems every time that you end up changing the tyres?

What is the difference between a T180 and an SR180 or is it just a naming thing?

Am I better off looking for an XT5?

Davrav should be along shortly with a LINK to the list of indies and Toyota garages who have the equipment.(...or VivianM, who approves of the runflats if I remember correctfully.....?)

Happy to oblige ;)

LINK

It is in post 114 I think. Not sure now but I think Duncerduncs has a list posted somewhere too.

Not sure how current the list is now

[Big Kev]

Did you fit the spare wheel with a normal tyre?

Also, can the run flat's be replaced with standard tyres & why does the support ring have to stay on the wheel if you are not using run flat's? Surely keeping the support rings in place causes problems every time that you end up changing the tyres?

What is the difference between a T180 and an SR180 or is it just a naming thing?

Am I better off looking for an XT5?

Davrav should be along shortly with a LINK to the list of indies and Toyota garages who have the equipment.(...or VivianM, who approves of the runflats if I remember correctfully.....?)

Happy to oblige ;)

LINK

It is in post 114 I think. Not sure now but I think Duncerduncs has a list posted somewhere too.

Not sure how current the list is now

Muchos thankios as usual, Davrav.

Big Kev

[bluevortex]

Big Kev - thank you for the info

One question that I don't seem to be able to find the answer to at the moment & was included in my last post - what is the difference between the T180 & the SR180?

Is there any difference or were they just named like this over different periods of time or revisions?

Thanks

Martin

I think the T180 came as standard with leather interior and Nat Sav, both of which were options on the SR180. I think the SR180 comes as standard with the wee sticky-onny-plastic wheel arch flares, which actually give it a nicer line IMHO.

Anybody out there wish to contracept me?

Perhaps your "what to look out for" answer may depend slightly on car age / mileage...? Go buy one then come up here for a drive at the Kingo/Parts King chip modified one....great car made betterer.

Big Kev

I have the T180 and it has the flared arches to BK, don't think this was just on the SR?? As far as I can see try and find a T180, you get the leather option and the Satnav a big plus

Unless you find a bargain on an SR180 (or want a slightly newer model) my money would be on sourcing a T180. Great car!

Blue

[blue monster]

I have now found a T180 but due to work commitments cannot go to view it until Saturday.

Also, phoned my local Toyota dealer - Lindop bros in Queensferry and they have all the equipment to fit new run flats as per the link in this thread.

The guy told me tyres are approx £210 each and can be repaired/plugged - what ever you call it if say a nail went through it but the tyre did not go flat, just like a normal tyre - is this true?

[wardude]

Bridgestone Duellers are £140ish from Tyretraders. However if you want to keep the run flat system you will probs have to pay what your dealer wants as they are the ones who can take the tyre off. BUT they may damage the steel band in which case I think you can add another £100 to that price.

[tatteam]

Hi, I currently have a 2006/56 Nissan X-Trail dCi Aventura and am looking to trade this in for a RAV4 SR180 mainly because it is the same spec as my X-Trail, has the more powerful engine and has a lower bootline than the X-Trail which will help my dogs and my back!!

I have found an SR180 at a Toyota main dealer that is not too far from me and am going to view it next Saturday. What I want to know is, are there any key points that I should be looking out for that would not be obvious to a non RAV4 driver? I am very meticulous any way so will go over the car with a fine toothcomb but just want to know if there are things/points to pay particular attention to.

Thanks in advance

Martin

Hi, first of all welcome to the forum,

I would definitely check for any water splashes at the header tank. Seem that there's a problem with certain 4.3 models with 2.2 D4-D engine head gasket which leaks compression to the water jacket causing the water level to increase and then released through the pressure tap on the header tank.

I don't want to push you off Rav4 but good to be aware of such thing.

[local hero]

Just bear in mind that if you fit standard tyres then it is classed as a modified vehicle and you sould inform your insurance company who will add a premium up to 20% on your policy.

If you dont inform them, well, we all know the possible consequences

With the very greatest of respect what are the possible consequences if you fit different bulbs, you have modified the vehicle, V Power fuel increases performance alledgedly, should we inform the insurance fitting winter tyres? etc etc, I am not trying to be smart, but how would the insurers know? Even some Toyota dealers do not know which cars have runflats, So you have a bump, the assesor comes round, does he inspect the engine for mods? does he check your bulbs? does he check your airfilter, he may inspect your tyres aren't bald, If you are running a ford focus with racing stripes, Brembo brakes, a 12" dia exhaust, a K+N filter sticker on your back bumper, and a nitro canister in your boot then he just might take an interest, By all means notify your insurance,(its the proper thing to do ) they will love the extra 20%, but be realistic if you did not inform them they will not know Stew

[wardude]

Exactly Stew. If you disable the warning light to then I think your home dry

[blue monster]

So, do the T180's have a common head gasket problem or are they far and few in between?

What I don't want to do is buy a car like I did with the X-Trail and then find out afterwards that they are plagued with turbo & intercooler problems - ours hasn't been to date but there does seem to be quite a few that have.

[wardude]

Im told they are few and far between and not to worry about it. mine was done a couple of years ago. My bro in laws 06 plate was done last week but they changed the whole engine under the extended warranty. You can easily ring Toyota or just ask the garage, and they will tell you what work (if any) has been done to your car

[blue monster]

Called theToyota dealer today who has this T180 and they confirmed that it has FTSH last serviced in Nov'10 by themselves.

It has had a replacement water pump and catalytic convertor, is an 08 plate with 30k on the clock............really looking forward to viewing it now

[wardude]

go for it pal. Best car I have owned is this T180. Love it. fast enough, economical enough, comfy, pleanty gizmos and pleanty room in the back for my two rotties.

[blue monster]

go for it pal. Best car I have owned is this T180. Love it. fast enough, economical enough, comfy, pleanty gizmos and pleanty room in the back for my two rotties.

That was one of the things that I was concious of as I have a rottie & a german shepherd. Can you fit them in the boot okay without either moving the seats forward or dropping the seats completely?

[wardude]

Hi mate

I have the back seats moved forward as there is never anyone in the back. Saying that, even with them pushed right back there is pleanty of room for them both. i also have a spare wheel standing upright on the drivers side in the boot. Pleanty of room for them both to sit in comfort or lie down next to each other. Both big hounds. On a long trip I always stop every now and then to let them stretch their legs but on short trips thjey ar every happy. They love going in the car. Even if im just popping to the shops they want to come

Ill get a photo of them both in the car over the weekend and pop it on here