Hi

[Whitey7]

Hi, just thought I'd pop in here to say hello. We're in the process of changing my wifes car and she has her heart set on a Rav. Anything we should look for? We've been looking for a 2.0 VVTi manual VX and have seen a couple locally at main agents but to be honest, they've been a bit ropey around the edges.

Tomorrow I'm looking at a Blue one (non two tone). 51 plate, 2 owner car with only 28k up with full Toyota history. Fully serviced and MOT'd last month. It's the model we want and it's sub £9k whereas all the main agent ones are touching the 10k with 40-60k on the clocks and thats if you can find a VX at all (Seem to be a lot of GX's though). It certainly sounds okay and if the photos are anything to go by it'll be the one. However :

Are there any inherant problems with these that I need to be aware of? Being a private sale, although it's significantly cheaper, i won't be getting the Toyota used car warranty!

Apart from the Leather and the body kit (wheel arch extensions) what were the difference between the GX and the VX?

We'd obviously like to get into the later XT models but they are all a little too steep at present. Ehat year was the VX discontinued and the XT's introduced.

Apologies for sounding thick but ask be a BMW or Golf question and I'd be right back at you, Apart from a Celica many moons ago we are Toyota virgins!

Cheers

Trevor

[Boro Sera]

Hi Trevor,

Welcome to TOC.

I can't help you with any of your questions personally, as you probably know more about the Rav4s than me.

I'm sure some of the Rav4 owners will be along soon to help you out.

Rich

[Uncle Bob]

Hi, just thought I'd pop in here to say hello. We're in the process of changing my wifes car and she has her heart set on a Rav. Anything we should look for? We've been looking for a 2.0 VVTi manual VX and have seen a couple locally at main agents but to be honest, they've been a bit ropey around the edges.

Tomorrow I'm looking at a Blue one (non two tone). 51 plate, 2 owner car with only 28k up with full Toyota history. Fully serviced and MOT'd last month. It's the model we want and it's sub £9k whereas all the main agent ones are touching the 10k with 40-60k on the clocks and thats if you can find a VX at all (Seem to be a lot of GX's though). It certainly sounds okay and if the photos are anything to go by it'll be the one. However :

Are there any inherant problems with these that I need to be aware of? Being a private sale, although it's significantly cheaper, i won't be getting the Toyota used car warranty!

Apart from the Leather and the body kit (wheel arch extensions) what were the difference between the GX and the VX?

We'd obviously like to get into the later XT models but they are all a little too steep at present. Ehat year was the VX discontinued and the XT's introduced.

Apologies for sounding thick but ask be a BMW or Golf question and I'd be right back at you, Apart from a Celica many moons ago we are Toyota virgins!

Cheers

Trevor

Hi Trevor,

the RAV4 you are looking at has next to no common faults, leaking sunroof is the only thing that springs to mind .

The MK2 RAV4 was face lifted around late 2003 when the XT range started.

As a far as what to look for when buying used, it not RAV4 problems but problems common to all used cars, Get an HPI check, ( http://www.hpicheck.com/newfrontend/?supplier=goog ) this is priority , vehicle should be quite and smooth, in the case of the RAV4 it drives like a car ,good handling,brakes etc, makec sue all electrical items work as can be expensive to fix at Toyota :( .

Insurance should be around a group 12 and road tax is one down from the top bracket.....other than that ,good luck,

Bob.

[pmb]

I've a 52 plated (sept 02) dark blue petrol VX with 29k 1owner(me) The VX was 2K more than the GX. 1K was for the leather (a chap very local has a GX with leather option) The wheels and tyres are different and the famous rear spoiler that doesn't like car washes. Also don't think you get the 6 cd changer on the GX. I might still have the brochure - if I have then I'll see about any other differences.

[pmb]

Found the brochure. The VX has a limited slip diff and on some colours colour keyed front and rear bumpers. That's about all the standard differences in addition to the ones mentioned in my previous post.

[Whitey7]

Thanks for that.

Well I did the round trip of 215 miles to see it and...........................I bought it . It really is 10 times better than the others I've looked at. Okay it needs a damn good valet (give me two days and it's shine like a new pin) and it has a couple of pin dents in the N/S/F door but it's very original. The alloys are just starting to blow their silver so a refurb will be required in the future and it'll need 4 new boots.

But taking all that into consideration it drives exactly as it came out of the showroom. It's tight, rattle free and everything just feels new. it's a 28k sept 01 "51" and it's had only 2 lady owners. It has every invoice and service sheet from new and has religiously been serviced every Sept in it's life (5 stamps in the book from the supplying dealer). Suprised to see new discs and pads all round on a 28k car but it was for corrosion on the hub section (!) and they were done about 9k ago. Brake fluid done on the last service as well. Taxed till Feb and MOT til Sept 07. All for £8500 paid? I reckon I've probably saved about £1500 on the main dealer prices I was looking at and bought a straighter car.

How do you reckon it sounds.

Was the trip computer a VX only thing as well. I did not even know they had one!

[Uncle Bob]

Sounds like you have bought a cracking motor.....all we need now is a few photo's to look at .

[chatman]

Thanks for that.

Well I did the round trip of 215 miles to see it and...........................I bought it . It really is 10 times better than the others I've looked at. Okay it needs a damn good valet (give me two days and it's shine like a new pin) and it has a couple of pin dents in the N/S/F door but it's very original. The alloys are just starting to blow their silver so a refurb will be required in the future and it'll need 4 new boots.

But taking all that into consideration it drives exactly as it came out of the showroom. It's tight, rattle free and everything just feels new. it's a 28k sept 01 "51" and it's had only 2 lady owners. It has every invoice and service sheet from new and has religiously been serviced every Sept in it's life (5 stamps in the book from the supplying dealer). Suprised to see new discs and pads all round on a 28k car but it was for corrosion on the hub section (!) and they were done about 9k ago. Brake fluid done on the last service as well. Taxed till Feb and MOT til Sept 07. All for £8500 paid? I reckon I've probably saved about £1500 on the main dealer prices I was looking at and bought a straighter car.

How do you reckon it sounds.

Was the trip computer a VX only thing as well. I did not even know they had one!

Your love the VX.... I have a D4D VX and find it very comfortable to drive and the elavated position is perfect to get a good view of the road ahead. 28k for an 01 year is very good and with FDH is even better.... :D :D

Yes the trip computer is good but they read out by about 4 mpg (belive there has been a tread on this) so mine reads 45mpg but when checking I get between 39 and 41 mpg which is good

You should also have the 6 disc cd changer under the passenger seat.....

Post some pics up soon..............

[ahmurray]

Hi Whitey, congrats on your purchase - I've got a 2002 VX Auto, no real probs over past 18 months, only sunroof leak and bubbling alloys same as yours. its a good car to drive and own.

Make sure you track down a replacement tailgate opener to allow the rear door to open the full 90 degrees it was designed to - plenty of info on this forum as to how to get one and very easy to fit even for a bodger like me!

Enjoy!

Ali

[Whitey7]

Thanks for the comments. The tailgate mod is on the list already.

Let me know what you reckon. Pick it up tomorrow.

[Uncle Bob]

What a great choice in colour :D .

[Whitey7]

Talking of colour Bob, whats it called? Anyone know the colour code for it? I have a few minor chips that I would like to touch up before they go rusty.

[pmb]

You already know it's Lagoon Blue. Looking at my can of paint that Toyota supplied when the car was purchased it doesn't give any info apart from 8M6 but I don't think that is an order code!

[Whitey7]

8M6 adds up. On the chassis plate it metions it so that must be it.

I thought it was Lagoon Blue but went into Toyotas today and asked for a pot of it and they asked what year. They then went on to tell me that Lagoon Blue didn't exist back in 2001! They needed a chassis number or reg number (which I couldn't remember). I will have great pleasure now in returning to them and asking again for a pot of Lagoon Blue for my 2001 Rav!

Thanks for that.

[Uncle Bob]

Well i have a slight twist on this colour subject.......the brochure for my RAV4 calls the colour Lagoon Blue with a paint code of 8M6, but when i ordered the touch up stick, the code was still 8M6 but the colour was called Blue Mica ;) .

Part number of the pack is "PZ448-S8M60-09 Blue Mica 8M6".

[Whitey7]

Thank you Bob. That may have been the confusion. I'll take your part number and the chassis / reg number in and hope that eventually I get the right colour.

Just out of interest, whats the match like?

[Uncle Bob]

Thank you Bob. That may have been the confusion. I'll take your part number and the chassis / reg number in and hope that eventually I get the right colour.

Just out of interest, whats the match like?

Errr..i've not used it yet , but the colour on the lid looks fine

[Whitey7]

Well peeps, we've lived with it for approx. 1 month and?...................I think we will be selling it soon. I can't fault the car at all, it's just not our cup of tea. We decided to have a complete change from what we were used to driving plus we needed the space. However neither of us can really get on with it. For my wife it's the handling and the general way a 4x4 feels on the road she can't get on with. She's been used to MX5's, and more recently a VW golf 1.8t GTI so it's all come as a bit of a shock. Me? the same really but I also feel that although it has all the bells etc. it doesn't excite me, it doesn't feel special when you drive it. It's a good car don't get me wrong, maybe it's just me.

Not sure what the hell to go for now but I think we do need to think again.

[Uncle Bob]

Only 4 weeks ownership , maybe you should keep it over the winter ,and see if it turns out to be a much for versatile vehicle than the Golf or Mazda.

I could go on the defence of the RAV4, but at least you did buy one , only later to find out its not your cup of tea.

I did the same with a Lexus IS200, but that took me 18 months to get bored with it.......good luck with whatever your next vehicle is, and do pop in to tell us about it .