New Motor.....

[iiyama]

Well new to us anyway!

We placed a deposit of a Rav 4.2 yesterday. 2004 54 plate XT3 auto three door in black with 60k miles which the Mrs will use. Car seems to be in good nick and this may be bolting the door after the horse has bolted but is there anything I should be looking/listening for?

Drove it over a distance of around 10 miles on a mixture of dual carriageway and urban side roads. Car was very light on the steering and had good brakes. Auto shifts were pretty seemless and smooth. Tyres are all brand new, (even showing moulding sprue and colour bands), and the car has had new discs and pads fitted to the front.

I asked the guy if the car has FSH and was told that it did, I am a little concerned however that this isnt listed on the original ad. I will clarify this tomorrow am.

Have also learned from surfing around here, (wish I'd thought of looking for this forum before yesterday!), that the cam belt should be changed after 72 months. This car is right on the cusp of that so should I try and negotiate this into the deal? Not sure they will wear it so how hard is it to do this? I'm not mechanically shy having built a car but I know that some belt changes can be a right pain.

Oh and hello!!

Ian

[Big Kev]

Well new to us anyway!

We placed a deposit of a Rav 4.2 yesterday. 2004 54 plate XT3 auto three door in black with 60k miles which the Mrs will use. Car seems to be in good nick and this may be bolting the door after the horse has bolted but is there anything I should be looking/listening for?

Drove it over a distance of around 10 miles on a mixture of dual carriageway and urban side roads. Car was very light on the steering and had good brakes. Auto shifts were pretty seemless and smooth. Tyres are all brand new, (even showing moulding sprue and colour bands), and the car has had new discs and pads fitted to the front.

I asked the guy if the car has FSH and was told that it did, I am a little concerned however that this isnt listed on the original ad. I will clarify this tomorrow am.

Have also learned from surfing around here, (wish I'd thought of looking for this forum before yesterday!), that the cam belt should be changed after 72 months. This car is right on the cusp of that so should I try and negotiate this into the deal? Not sure they will wear it so how hard is it to do this? I'm not mechanically shy having built a car but I know that some belt changes can be a right pain.

Oh and hello!!

Ian

Hello and Wecome Ian from the rolling hills of 'Ampsha,

What cam belt?....what is the car.... petrol or diesel.....? If it's a petrol vvti engine, it has a chain driven camshaft, and it will (hopefully not) outlast you.

Just also keep a wee eye on yer auto gearbox and ensure the changes stay smooth....if not, there is a well docced fix hereon and not too expensive. Urrawise, enjoy ....stonking wee cars. Wife's 3 door is petrol and she will not be parted from it.

Big Kev

[iiyama]

Ta muchly!

Should learn to read more carefully, looks like the belt is only on diesels!

[Hoovie]

Good choice of motor. Enjoyed mine greatly with only downside being poor economy, but I never get great economy with anything I drive :)

[iiyama]

Thanks!

Economy wasnt to much of a consideration as she only does around 3k miles a year.

Need to put some mud flaps on it and a tow bar, (for the car trailer you understand!), and my put on some running boards.

Out of interest, car and trailer wiegh in at around 1.1 tonnes, auto box ok with this?

[Big Kev]

Thanks!

Economy wasnt to much of a consideration as she only does around 3k miles a year.

Need to put some mud flaps on it and a tow bar, (for the car trailer you understand!), and my put on some running boards.

Out of interest, car and trailer wiegh in at around 1.1 tonnes, auto box ok with this?

Running boards / side steps really finish them off, Ian, but also act as extended giant side mudflaps and keep a lot of crud off the sides. Make sure you order specifically the Toyota mudflaps that suit your wheel arches....some arches have / have not arch "extenders" and the mudflaps are peculiar to each.

A lot of us deal with fellow member / eejit Partsking, aka Kingo, who is Parts Mgr. at a large Toyota dealer who never send me golf balls for advertising their name, so ah won't.....PM him and he should be found wanting....your order that is....

Big Kev

[iiyama]

Cheers fella, Ill look him up. Not collecting the car untill Thursday, so it will probably be friday before I start the mods! Taking the trailer up to collect as the Mrs is not to comfortable driving over any distance. We are near Southampton, the Rav is in Braintree!

[DjRav]

Cheers fella, Ill look him up. Not collecting the car untill Thursday, so it will probably be friday before I start the mods! Taking the trailer up to collect as the Mrs is not to comfortable driving over any distance. We are near Southampton, the Rav is in Braintree!

At last someone else from nr Soton! Thought this was a Scootish club for a while there!

No Ravs to buy round here though, I had to go to Yeovil to get mine (also a little Black number). Good luck keeping it clean!!

Dave

[Big Kev]

Cheers fella, Ill look him up. Not collecting the car untill Thursday, so it will probably be friday before I start the mods! Taking the trailer up to collect as the Mrs is not to comfortable driving over any distance. We are near Southampton, the Rav is in Braintree!

At last someone else from nr Soton! Thought this was a Scootish club for a while there!

No Ravs to buy round here though, I had to go to Yeovil to get mine (also a little Black number). Good luck keeping it clean!!

Dave

"SCOOTISH".....is that no racialisticism....? Hoiidayed with Rav in Portsmouth for a week not long ago....lucky guys....great coast.

Big Kev

[DjRav]

To a Southampton man, saying how nice the "Portsmouth" area is would far greater a sin than actual Racialisticsm.

Long History, say no more

Dave

Ps For "Great Coast" down my way, see Dorset! For a coast- Southampton only has Docks!

[Big Kev]

To a Southampton man, saying how nice the "Portsmouth" area is would far greater a sin than actual Racialisticsm.

Long History, say no more

Dave

Ps For "Great Coast" down my way, see Dorset! For a coast- Southampton only has Docks!

Yep....doned Dorset too, and seriously thought of living there. Agree re Southampton itself....awfy disappointful.

[iiyama]

Southampton is a dump, so is Pompey! Live between them and can't wait to leave. Quite fancy SW France!!

Only ever owned black cars, FTO, RX7 FD, A class. All black. Actually thats not quite true, I am white van man as well and The car in the garage is yellow/silver and black. However the 0-60 time of just over three seconds dosent give me much time to look at the colour!!

[iiyama]

Well to update this little ownership episode.....

Have lived with the three door for around eighteen months now and the Mrs. loves it, except for the fuel economy or lack thereof. Even on a run I dont get more then 28mpg, ok I lie. One occasion I got an indicated 36mpg but boy I was trying very hard! It is also a little lacking in boot space so to that end we have been looking around over the past two weeks for something else. Looked at an M class or two but the Mrs couldn't operate the handbrake, (which is operated by your left foot!), and started looking at X5's. However today we went to look at a five door '07 XTR with leather interior and ended up putting a deposit on it. Collect it on Saturday so I'll take some pictures of the old before it goes and the new when we get it, (after all a forum is nothing with out pictures right?).

Now according to t'internet the XTR is not a full time 4x4 which I guess makes it a 4x2. Maybe! So even though its the same engine, (2.0 VVT-i), it would appear to have better fuel mileage. We will see!

[gjnorthall]

No - it's a true 4X4. It starts off always in 4WD then reverts to 2WD. There are a number of sensors which feed an ECU and when conditions dictate - it will apply variable drive to the rear wheels. This improves the fuel economy compared to the 4.1 and 4.2 with permanent 4WD. Although it's a bigger / heavier car - you'll do better on fuel than your current 3 door.

[iiyama]

Marvelous! :)