Looking To Purchase A Used Rav4

[nvisibl]

Hi there, first post in the forum.

Not yet an owner but soon will be.

Would appreciate some advice from someone if you please?

I've seen a few seemingly good deals for used Rav4's on the following UK dealers website www.arnoldclark.com

Thing is though the ones that are catching my eye have either 2 or even 3 previous owners.

Forinstance

http://www.arnoldclark.com/detail.html?ac_...;$ac_pp=10

Should I stay away from Ravs of this age with so many previous owners?

Or do you think its worth enquiring into further? i.e. Finding out about service history and the likes

[Boro Sera]

Hi mate,

Welcome to TOC.

I can't really advise you on Ravs myself , but there are plenty of active RAV4 owners on here who will no doubt regail you with everything you need to know.

Good luck

Rich

[Best-Gear]

Hi

I have just been through the same thing... and bought a XT3 in a private deal.

I spent too long going around the dealers, and apart from one in Edinburgh, found that the non-Toyota dealer's preparation and general stock quality was poor.

As for that one you linked, it has has 3 owners in 4 years, which is very strange...plus it seems too cheap... going by the prices I have seen around central scotland....

Many of the non Toyota dealer Ravs I saw had had paint too, which is not so good.

I ended up checking out cars across the country on autotrader, and got mine 140 miles away from home.... which was lucky, as I did look at 14 in and around london too before I bought...

DJ

[BigBaz]

For what its worth..... my observation is that it is only a 3 door version. I have had 3 door 4x4's in the past and found them to be a pain if you need regular access to the back seats. Maybe like me, these previous 3 owners didn't do their homework before purchasing ?

[Fujisan]

Have a read of the recent Rav px topic, you might find it interesting.

Think Baz made a good point about it being a three door ........and it's multi owner.

[Parts-King]

Pardon me for a blatent piece of advertising, but we have 5 in stock, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page, then click approved used cars QUEENSFERRY, cheers Kingo

PS We have a band of PROFESSIONAL drivers who deliver anywhere in the UK :)

[nvisibl]

Thanks for your respone everyone.

I suspected that I may have heard from you guys saying something along the lines of : "Don't touch it, its probably due to the generally common head gasket issue"... or something, just as example.

So maybe its worth my checking out further in case the multiple ownership has been down to mere cosmetic preference (for example) rather than a fault or intermittent mechanical issue.

Thanks King, its a 3dr i'm after though and I notice you mainly have 5 dr models.

Looking specifically for a 3dr 2.0L of good condition for around £6k - £7k will be purchasing within 3-5 days

[dave.m]

Hi Nvisibl,

Looking for a Rav ? Like you I checked out Arnolds. It was the london road branch I visited when I was looking.

The car they had was a bit older than I was looking for, so they checked their stockfinder with my details and

shipped one from one of the Toyota branches (Ayr I think). This was the car I bought, it was 1 year old and I still

have it. Arnold Clarks get a bit of stick some times but I had no hassle at all, it is after all now the biggest car

company in the UK. I would hazard a guess that the one you viewed was an ex fleet car or similar.Thats the first

owner, the next two as others above have said probably found it impractical. I had a similar situation with a

Landrover I had.

Anyway (he gets to the point eventually ) about a month back, in passing I saw a cracking 3 door

Rav at Peters car co in Motherwell. This used to be Reg Vardy, but I have been told that Peter is his son and

has taken over some garages on his own. So would imagine he is a reputable dealer. Try a google search as

they have a website.

Good luck, enjoy the Rav when you find one, they are great cars.

Dave.

[nvisibl]

nice Dave, thanks

[nvisibl]

Ended up I bought the car above, the black 3Dr NV, pick it up tomorrow. ( B) )It comes with full service history, and each service was done in a Toyota garage.. no major issues either, just run of the mill stuff like brake pads etc... Condition perfect, couldn't ask for better and at a decent price too.

Only one thing to sort out asap and thats ditching the standard tape player for a good CD or MP3 player.

Can anyone give me any advice on what type of CD player to go for, as in to make sure that it will fit into the NV replacing whats in there already?

Also is there any recommendations out there for a satnav system? I've searched the forum and can't see anything other than a ?t180?

Many thanks for your help

[dave.m]

Nvisibl,

Decided to join the Ravers after all (or is that Rav'rs) :D anyway well done hope you got a good buy.

Re the stereo, the only member I can think off on this forum who changed it was Biton Walstra. The one he bought

was a Kenwood I think which had sat nav built in. These units are very expensive about £900 I think. Bear in mind

you will need to buy a double din unit, or use an adaptor for the fascia. If you decide to go for a CD/Radio type do

a google search, I was looking myself. A half decent one will set you back £200-£300. There are plenty on the

market, and you can pick up a decent portable sat nav for £150.

Remember to post some photos, we love to do some cyber tyre kicking on here.

Good luck.

Dave.

[nvisibl]

cheers Dave, thanks again...

would be nice to have it all in one but for sure a bit expensive when I could just go for a portable and it would do the same job

[chatman]

cheers Dave, thanks again...

would be nice to have it all in one but for sure a bit expensive when I could just go for a portable and it would do the same job

Welcome nvisibl to the RAV4 club & TOC :thumbsup:

They have some CD double din units popping up on eBay quite regularly..do a search for RAV and feast away....as for satnav..I would go for a portable unit, tomtom or garmin, these offer the better units with more details on them and easily upgradable.....

[nvisibl]

Hi Chatman, thanks, and for the advice

[Uncle Bob]

All seem quite...i can take it nvisibl is cruising around in the newly purchase RAV4 :)

[nvisibl]

yea true, i picked it up from the garage today and have given it a whirl.

Very happy with it.. but for a rattle at the back door area which i'll have the garage sort out next week anyway.

Sound system needs a drastic overhaul.. thought I would just get away with replacing/ adding a CD player but the Speakers need to go too.

[Fujisan]

Well done and good luck with the stereo upgrade

Enjoy your RAV!

PS Plenty of pictures please.

[dave.m]

Nvisibl

Good stuff glad you like it as I remember What Car called the 3 door petrol Rav the

GTI of 4X4's so keep an eye on that speedo !!!!

If you do get round to changing the stereo keep us informed, its something I'm thinking about myself.

If you need some pointers when changing Speakers, theres a member on here called Pipps or Uncle Pipps.

He has his own website, if you search members profiles you will get it or some one may paste it here.

Anyway he has made some mods, the Speakers being one of them. Have a look, it may save you some

heartache.

Dave.

[nvisibl]

ok doke Dave.. thanks guys

[dave.m]

Nvisibl,

Any news on the stereo front yet? Still pondering doing this myself but would like to see photo

of fascia etc fitted.

Dave. ;)