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[Patrick Goff]

Good morning

Booked my RAV 4 Excel in for its first service and to have a new exhaust. Some thief cut through it to try to steal the catalytic converter. I'm told by Toyota that here are no precious metals in RAV4 hybrid exhausts so a £1200 bill for nowt. Had the car just over 12 months, mileage curtailed by lockdown at just under 5,000 miles. Really enjoyed the car, happy with 47mpg (one day in France managed 61+mpg) .Not happy altogether with it off road - not because it isn't a capable 4x4 but because the paint finish is so soft and scratches if a bunny sneezes on it. Despite paying extra for the additional paint protection all the dealer did was try to polish out the marks. 

[Catlover]

In my opinion the extra cost for paint protection is a waste of money. Did it once when the wife was buying a brand new C1, never again, just not worth it.

I use Williams Rockit waterless wash and wax. The more coating, the better the protection. Demos regularly in Ideal World shopping channel where they have a bonnet ALREADY with Williams applied, they spray canned paint (like a vandel would), leave it under bright lights of study, then apply the Williams and just useing a microbibre cloth the paint came off. Same demo with brid droppings on Williams protected surface, and again using lighter fuel, light it, let it burn out, quick wipe with fresh Williams and any lighter fuel liquid is removed and a further layer of protection applied. A serious amount of monet saved over dealer paint protection.

If I owned a Rav 4x4 the most off road I wouuld use it on is a wet grass verge I had to park on. Other then that be useful on snow covered roads.

[Patrick Goff]

Thanks for the Willams suggestion. I tend to go off road on forest tracks or along riverside tracks in France and Germany, picnicking. Car copes well except every bush it brushes leaves its mark.

[Andy P]

5 hours ago, Patrick Goff said:

Thanks for the Willams suggestion. I tend to go off road on forest tracks or along riverside tracks in France and Germany, picnicking. Car copes well except every bush it brushes leaves its mark.

Get a ceramic coat put on it to protect the soft paint

[PaulinhoT]

Hello and welcome to the T.O.C.

 

I would go with a ceramic coating.