New Rav4 Owner!

[Stuart Ainslie]

Hello all, new member here :D

My Rav4 is being delivered at lunchtime today - really looking forward to having a go in it. I've always had sporty hatchbacks before, so this is new territory for me, but I've decided to go for practicality + fun + a bit of economy (diesel), and this seemed to fit the bill...

It's a 55 plate, Rav4 2.0 D-4D XT-R 5dr, only 20k on the clock - here's a pic from the dealer website:

I'll probably be back on here in the next few days with some newbie questions for you all - but anything in particular I should be checking for on the new car?

Cheers

Stu

[St Thicket]

Congratulations! You've made great choice!

I think the most obvious thing to check is the dual mass flywheel... you can most certainly notice that it's faulty by the resonance of the engine when driving with low rpm, like about 800-1200 rpm. That's how I noticed anyway.

Anyway, I'm no mechanic, so I assume that some other member of the club will help you further.

Oh, by the way, welcome to the club :D

[dave.m]

Welcome to the club, enjoy your Rav

And remember to cast your vote, see link -

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.p...80&start=80

Not much to worry about except the dual mass flywheel failing (which is pretty rare) as St Thicket has said.

[Hoovie]

welcome :D

I would also suggest that you have a check for any corrosion on the road wheels - this is a bit of a common thing with Toyoya alloys generally and the 3 year warranty covers free replacement.

Not sure if yours is still under 3 years still?

[Stuart Ainslie]

Thanks guys - yeah it hits it's third birthday in December so hopefully I can spot anything serious before then!

[john1944]

Thanks guys - yeah it hits it's third birthday in December so hopefully I can spot anything serious before then!

Dont worry about all these guys warning you about potential problems. The Rav is a brilliant car and 20k on the clock for a 55 plate is excellent. You have bought it at the right time of the year, and in my experience will get around 48 m.p.g out of her.

Good luck

[Stuart Ainslie]

Well I had my first proper drive in it yesterday, and yes I love it! Nothing like what I was originally expecting from a big chunky diesel - it's very nippy, light and responsive. Piece of ***** to park too, which is good because living in the centre of Brighton you have to be good at the old parallel parking!

I have noticed a bit of 'bubbling' on one of the wheels though - you guy reckon a Toyota dealer will just swap it over for me?

Cheers

Stu

[dave.m]

Stu, take your Rav to your nearest dealer and show them the bubbly alloy.

It should be replaced under the 3 year warranty.

[Hoovie]

agree with dave.m - and also check the one under the spare wheel cover

it is not a major deal, but as Toyota have this covered under their warranty, be silly not to take advantage

[local hero]

Welcome to the club Stu, you shouldn't have any problems at all with an 05 rav with 20000 mls on it, and if you want you can of course extend the warrantee to 5yrs, but they are so good not many bother, Also i think Johns comment that you should achieve 48mpg is a little ambitious, one member on here "Chatman" has done this on a brim to brim fill up, but around 40mpg is more realistic in the real world, enjoy your new car mate

Local Hero AKA (Stew)

[john1944]

Welcome to the club Stu, you shouldn't have any problems at all with an 05 rav with 20000 mls on it, and if you want you can of course extend the warrantee to 5yrs, but they are so good not many bother, Also i think Johns comment that you should achieve 48mpg is a little ambitious, one member on here "Chatman" has done this on a brim to brim fill up, but around 40mpg is more realistic in the real world, enjoy your new car mate

Local Hero AKA (Stew)

Local Hero, Sorry mate but i dispute your figures. My Rav 4-3 does in excess of 50 m.p.g.

[local hero]

No problem John, mine does 98.5 if i find a 3 mile downhill stretch, but its not realistic..

[Hoovie]

probably worth an interject on the MPG side just to say the On-Board Computer seems to vary between accurate to 25% out, so whatever MPG you DO get, base it on a brim-to-brim, not on the OBC ;)