Newbie Seeks Buying Advice

[jac-in-a-box]

Hi All

First post, so please be gentle!

I'm considering buying a Rav4 pretty much unseen, I live in NE Scotland and the car is located in the Midlands.

The car looks great from the pictures I've seen and is '97 3 door GS model finished in Black. A set of nice alloys, a chrome A frame front bar, side steps and wheel arch extensions have been fitted. A claimed genuine mileage of 42k, long MOT and tax and with a full service history - though will be due a service soon.

I "think" I've asked all the right questions...accident damage, cosmetic damage, tyre condition etc and it's all coming back as good.

My only minor concern is that it has been used for towing a caravan.

Before I embark on a long trek to view and hopefully buy, is there anything else I should ask and what should I look for in particular on the car before parting with my cash?

Are there any known weak areas on the car?

It looks as though I may get the car for around £3.4k - would this seem to be a good price on private sale?

My aplogies if this sort of info' is available elsewhere on here - I've looked but can't see it!

Jackie

[chatman]

Hi All

First post, so please be gentle!

I'm considering buying a Rav4 pretty much unseen, I live in NE Scotland and the car is located in the Midlands.

The car looks great from the pictures I've seen and is '97 3 door GS model finished in Black. A set of nice alloys, a chrome A frame front bar, side steps and wheel arch extensions have been fitted. A claimed genuine mileage of 42k, long MOT and tax and with a full service history - though will be due a service soon.

I "think" I've asked all the right questions...accident damage, cosmetic damage, tyre condition etc and it's all coming back as good.

My only minor concern is that it has been used for towing a caravan.

Before I embark on a long trek to view and hopefully buy, is there anything else I should ask and what should I look for in particular on the car before parting with my cash?

Are there any known weak areas on the car?

It looks as though I may get the car for around £3.4k - would this seem to be a good price on private sale?

My aplogies if this sort of info' is available elsewhere on here - I've looked but can't see it!

Jackie

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Seing cars from only pictures can be a bit decieving

Have you done a HPI check on the car. I would not touch until this comes back clear. Especially if paying with cash.....

Towing a caravan should not prove to problematic but can put starin on drive train parts.

Take along a friend or someone who knows more about the mucky oily bits especially on a car this old....Are you viewing the car at someones house or over a mobile phone number.... if the latter be carefull

Hope these help

[sjrainsford]

All I can say is, be carefull on this one. It's a long way to go to be let down, and there are lot's of Rav4's about, especially of that age. If I were you, i'd stick you kneck out for a 1998 model. They received a face lift in that year, which greatly improved the look of them.

Apart from that, don't worry about finding one with a low mileage too much, they are pretty bullet proof as far as the mechanicals are concerned. If it all checks out, then it should prove to be quite a reliable motor. The 3S-FE engine is fairly simple, and that means less to go wrong. Expect 25 - 30mpg. Also, with the facelift came quite a few nicer looking models with wide arches like the freesport, edge and reebok editions.

However, if you like the car then that is what matters. It's you that 's gotta drive around in it at the end of the day!

As far as being gentle is concerned, we couldn't be anything otherwise! It's one car I don't think any of us could really complain about!

[Uncle Bob]

Welcome to the Rav4 section of the TOC

[sjrainsford]

Oops, sorry. Yes, welcome to the forum!

[jac-in-a-box]

Thanks for the welcome...and the advice guys :)

As typical with me, I generally ignore advice and go my own way (a womens perogative!) However I did heed some of it.

The car I spotted was actually on eBay, it looked rather nice and seemed a bargain for the price, especially when compared with the prices being asked at dealers and privately...seems prices firm up in Scotland as winter approaches.

I wasn't prepared to bid until I could speak to the seller. Sadly I didn't get the chance before the auction closed and some one else had bid and won.

None-the-less I contacted the seller and suggested I'd still be interested should the seller be "messed" around.

2pm on Saturday he called after being messed around! So it was a swiftly packed bag and with hubby in tow it was a swift 350 mile trip to Nottingham...the car was far better than I expected, original gleaming gloss black paint, unmarked alloys and it drove superbly.

Checked out on HPI and the deal was done.

Two minor problems have come to light since:

The alloys are Toyota 6 spoke items - I haven't got the multi spline tool for removing the security cap covering the wheel bolts. If you know what I mean, would I be able to get one from a dealer? Going to be in trouble if I get a puncture!

There is a small clunk from the rear when I change gear. Reading earlier posts this may be a mount on the rear axle?

Hubby is quite adept at the DIY thing - easy to replace? Any other clue what it may be if not this mounting?

What is the best workshop manual to buy? The car is due a service soon,man with a spanner thinks it should all be quite straightforward?

I'll post some pics when it stops raining; for once I think I may have got a bargain!

Thanks, Jackie

[jonbr]

Sounds like a good buy :)

The small clunk from the rear when I change gear does appear to be normal. My '04 XT4 had it. I adjusted my driving style just slightly and it doesn't happen any more :D

[Uncle Bob]

Sounds like the locking wheel nutkey has been lost, a good tyre dealer should have a tool to get the locknuts off, then buy yourself a new set :) .

[chatman]

Sounds like the locking wheel nutkey has been lost, a good tyre dealer should have a tool to get the locknuts off, then buy yourself a new set :) .

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I saw about two sets of locking wheel nuts on eBay last week... Cant remember how much but not as expensive as a new set from MrT

Hope you enjoy the Rav..... Should see the forum get plenty of use soon as the cold wet white stuff is coming soon...

[sjrainsford]

If you look on the Haynes website, they do a manual for it but it's an american edition unfortunately.

Apart from it driving on the other side of the road, most of the main mechanicals are the same. And if it's just for DIY servicing etc then it will do the job. I've got one and it's come in quite usefull.

As far as servicing goes, they are quite good cars to work on. Little things are what I like, like the fact that you can easily change the oil without raising the front of the car cause you can reach underneath.

[jac-in-a-box]

Hi Guys

Thought I'd add a little update...

The wheels and security bolts on the wheel nut covers - Toyota were friendly, but ultimately couldn't help. The problem was not with the actual wheel nuts but the cover plate on the wheels, it's secured with some sort of security bolt itself..anyway a little deft work with a hammer and punch the screws were removed (without damage!) A slot was cut across the head of the screw and they can now be taken out with a screwdriver.

Perhaps this picture will show better...couldn't get the cover off!

Bought a Chilton manual from Amazon around £12.00 delivered from a company in US - Hubby seems happy enough with it.

As for the car itself; it was treated to a full service and a new Battery as it was sounding a little tired in the cold weather...and it's wonderful!

I bought the RAV because I needed something that would get me out and about when winter arrived, it looked good and should offer decent reliability.

I normally run around in a Boxster S and it scares the life out of me in frosty weather and is just about unuseable in the snow...living at the bottom of a very steep cul-de-sac doesn't help either!

So we had some snow, a good couple of inches, which would normally leave me stranded...the Rav was superb! Happily went past a line of cars struggling in the snow with absolute ease.

Undoubtedly the best 4 wheeled purchase I have made (well the most sensible perhaps!)

Lovely to drive, good economy and cute looking too! First time I've ever considered and eBay purchase - pleased to say it worked well. A nice genuine car from a genuine seller.

Downsides? It hasn't got central locking! Honestly, I miss it...and with the recent cold weather the locks freeze up despite having sprayed them with Duck Oil. Would it possible to retro-fit, I assume I might be able to get the bits 'n pieces from a breaker?

Tyres...probably going to need some new ones soon, what are the favoured make...best place / cost to buy?

Found some tyres from Colway which seem to be reasonably priced

http://www.colwaytyres.co.uk/ CTrax AT, thoughts?

Finally, a picture...seem to have developed quite an attachment to it!

Sorry if I've rabbited on a bit...tis a "girl thing" :D

Jackie

[JITSU]

:D Looks a nice little RAV.

I tow a 17ft Caravan with my SWB Model and it Tows it no problem,plus it's easier to reverse etc because it's so short!

The 'Clunk' is usuially soft rubbers on the rear Diff mounting,these can be easily replaced (or adjust your driving,this stops it too) both of my RAV's do it if your a bit harsh on your Gear changing,pulling away etc.

[Uncle Bob]

As to this site... http://www.colwaytyres.co.uk/ the Colway tyres will be remoulds /retreads, which is a new tread pattern added to an old tyre casing, they are rather frowned upon in the motoring world , but in the same breath they are used by rally drivers doing 120 mph down dirt track roads , so they can be that bad .

[sjrainsford]

Gotta say, nice purchase! It looks well smart in black!!

Am shocked about the central locking though. Hasn't it even got the lock/ unlock button inside? The only reason I ask is because my central locking only works with the remote. If I use the key to unlock/ lock the car only the one door unlocks.

[jac-in-a-box]

Thanks for the comments guys :)

Colway Tyres...do seem to have some favour with the rally world. Thought at around £40 a corner and with a chunky tread pattern they would be worth a go for the winter. I have some serious hills to climb (and descend) where I live!

If not a good choice - recommendations and what should I expect to pay please?

"Clunkiness"...not so noticeable with a slow gear change, if it's a trait of the cars, then I'm not going to get worried about it!

Central locking...certainly no central locking controls in the car. The only remote locking / unlocking facility is for the rear door - a button on the central dash.

The car is a '97 GS model and seems to have the minimum of equipment - no abs, aircon, sunroof.

But no central locking? That's too much; it's just, well, so old fashioned :D

But I can forgive it's lack of modern "driver aids" (just!)

Jackie

[chatman]

Thanks for the comments guys :)

Colway Tyres...do seem to have some favour with the rally world. Thought at around £40 a corner and with a chunky tread pattern they would be worth a go for the winter. I have some serious hills to climb (and descend) where I live!

If not a good choice - recommendations and what should I expect to pay please?

"Clunkiness"...not so noticeable with a slow gear change, if it's a trait of the cars, then I'm not going to get worried about it!

Central locking...certainly no central locking controls in the car. The only remote locking / unlocking facility is for the rear door - a button on the central dash.

The car is a '97 GS model and seems to have the minimum of equipment - no abs, aircon, sunroof.

But no central locking? That's too much; it's just, well, so old fashioned :D

But I can forgive it's lack of modern "driver aids" (just!)

Jackie

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Look at it another way. The less electronic gizmos you have the less there is to go wrong and cost the earth to put right.

Japanese cars are always in the top ten of any survey carried out...