Hello, Looking At Buying A Rav 4 - A Few Questions...

[cruella]

Hello :)

I may be a new convert to the world of Rav 4, I feel I may be setting myself up for some mockery - but I shall persevere!

I generally drive classic VWs; a 1963 Beetle with a hot engine that is too nice and too low (more to the point) to smoke around the speed hills of London in the winter or a split screen camper van; lovely but colder than a cold thing!

I have succumbed to the need for a modern car (with heating), I like the idea of being a little higher up then your average small car and would feel more secure on the motorway with something chunky wrapped 'round me ;) Also we may move out to Kent so some off roading ability seems sensible.

I toyed with the idea of a Freelander (please, don't flame me) as I love the look of them, but the reviews and reputation have horrified me! My VW club mates have pointed me in the direction of the Rav 4, I used to have a 3 door one as a company car in the early 90's, but haven't given it much thought until now.

To this end, I have had a look about and am going to look at a 2005, 5 door petrol XT3 with 47,500 miles on the clock on Saturday. It is at a dealer's and the asking price is £5,495. I am looking to get a little bit more of a deal on this.

My questions are - is this a good deal? What should I offer? What should I look for when I go and look, known common faults etc - I know nothing about modern cars! What should it have in the way of service history? What bits should I check?

Oh - and how much is road tax? All the reviews say it is pricey on a Rav 4 - but I haven't bought any for about 10 years!

Thanking you in advance :)

Jules

[Hoovie]

Hi Jules,

no one here will mock you :) The Freelanders do look very nice - and you get plenty of time to admire them while waiting for the breakdown trucks to arrive ;)

I have a 2005 Petrol 5-door XT3 also and am very pleased with it. I know prices have dropped (or rather plummeted), but it seems to me £5,495 really is well priced to sell, especially at a dealers. Go for a deal by all means, but I cannot imagine you will get a decent RAV4 of that age much cheaper at all, so if it is a good one that you like the look of, I would be inclined to have it.

I *think* I paid £210 Road Tax in May. It WAS due to go up by £100 in March, but that is now limited to a rise of just £5 in March and I think an extra £25 in March 2010. Who knows after that!!

What does wrong? Nothing! on the petrol ones at least. I would check the specs of the car are what you are after. The XT3 is effectively the Entry Level spec (there was an XT2, but very rare). As an entry level car, it is very well equipped, but the XT-R, XT-4 and XT-5's all have more kit -but at a higher price.

Re the driving position - I went out in out Punto yesterday night as the RAV was still frozen up and I really noticed the lower driving position and missed the high-up seating position. Although our Punto is way better economy, we always used the RAV when going out anywhere as it is much more comfy to drive around in and that higher driving position and being able to see around more is far more relaxing.

Whichever RAV you end up, enjoy and post us a picture ;)

[cruella]

Thank you :)

I've been looking around for a while and this one is certainly the lowest mileage I have seen for the price, they seem to hold their prices fairly well, which is no bad thing. I was really looking for a sturdy (warm) winter runabout so can't justify spending much more when I already have two cars! Him indoors would be very underwhelmed. Besides, I'm not too proud!

I have made an appointment to see it on Saturday, so will report back then.

Jules :)

[bothwell_buyer]

Thank you :)

I've been looking around for a while and this one is certainly the lowest mileage I have seen for the price, they seem to hold their prices fairly well, which is no bad thing. I was really looking for a sturdy (warm) winter runabout so can't justify spending much more when I already have two cars! Him indoors would be very underwhelmed. Besides, I'm not too proud!

I have made an appointment to see it on Saturday, so will report back then.

Jules :)

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

5 doors??? :g:

think of all those hinges......

you might be able to get Block Hinge Insurance to cover the VWs as well? :lol:

[cruella]

Thank you :)

I've been looking around for a while and this one is certainly the lowest mileage I have seen for the price, they seem to hold their prices fairly well, which is no bad thing. I was really looking for a sturdy (warm) winter runabout so can't justify spending much more when I already have two cars! Him indoors would be very underwhelmed. Besides, I'm not too proud!

I have made an appointment to see it on Saturday, so will report back then.

Jules :)

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

5 doors??? :g:

think of all those hinges......

you might be able to get Block Hinge Insurance to cover the VWs as well? :lol:

Yerse - 5! Doors!! :D

Does this (almost) fabled hinge insurance cover windows as well? I have 23 of them on my camper van - all hinged! :o Special deal for bulk purchases?

[cruella]

You couldn't make it up, could you? - part 1!

After arranging to go and see aforementioned jalopy tomorrow - a journey which would involve a not inconsiderable train journey and a holding promise from the dealer, I receive a phone call at work today:

"Is that Julie?"

"Yes"

"Oh, um, this is a colleague of Mark who arranged for you to come and see the Rav4 tomorrow, there's been a bit of a problem."

Oh really, what kind of problem, have you sold it?"

"No; it's worse than that..."

"Oh really, what kind of worse?"

"Well, someone has ran into the back of it - and it looks like it's going to be a Cat C right off!" :o

"RAN INTO THE BACK OF IT!!! WHERE WAS IT - PARKED ON THE ROAD?"

"Nooooo; I was taking it for a little service before you saw it..."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH! :censor:

[anchorman]

You propably don't want me to say it sounded like a good buy as well?

Look on the bright side. Your train may have been cancelled.

Seriously, keep looking Jules you'll come across something.

Good luck.

[dave.m]

To be honest, I would say at that price it would have been too good to be true

Never mind, sometimes its better to get one with a known history. Maybe you could say

if someone on here was selling one, yes a member, you could expect it to be a genuine

no hidden agenda, car ? Well well, whats this ? Ok its a bit older but its top of the range

with all the goodies :D :D See link -

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=89804

There may even be a deal in there somewhere. ;)

[anchorman]

Auto Trader website is quite good;

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/c...ons=&page=5

It took me to one in here at a similar price;

http://www.romseycarcentre.co.uk/561/temp/showroom.htm

[Hoovie]

That sounds a nice car, Dave.

The Facelift versions had some nice extra safety features inthe form of seat and curtain airbags, but apart from that, looks a good one with all the gear

EDIT: the RAV4s prices are dropping like stones!!

[dave.m]

That sounds a nice car, Dave.

The Facelift versions had some nice extra safety features inthe form of seat and curtain airbags, but apart from that, looks a good one with all the gear

Compared to others maybe a bit expensive, but you pay the extra for the top of the shop model. Low miles too

[Hoovie]

That sounds a nice car, Dave.

The Facelift versions had some nice extra safety features inthe form of seat and curtain airbags, but apart from that, looks a good one with all the gear

Compared to others maybe a bit expensive, but you pay the extra for the top of the shop model. Low miles too

And buying a car from a member of an Owners Club usually means it has been cared for in the best way. One to consider for sure (and the Wine Red and Silver combo looks good as well)

[cruella]

The one at the Romsey Car Centre is THE one! I was supposed to look at it tomorrow

There's a couple more on there - an 04 jobbie with 65k on the clock for £4,195, which is fairly local to me, so I might drop by the car lot tomorrow.

The two that really interest me are a 55 XTR at £5995 with 57k on the clock, but its in Sheffield, so will probably be gone before I get up there :(

And a 55 XTR with only 17k on the clock , which is more than I was hoping to spend at £6,650, but is fairly near at Esher, there's a chap looking at it in the morning, so I might get a chance to look at it.

I'm sure the red car is perfectly gorgeous Dave - but *girl thing* red isn't really my colour*girl thing* In fact, I'm not even that comfortable with silver! I like dark things... :)

Thank you all for your much valued input - I'll keep you posted; it could only happen to me! :D

[Hoovie]

well, if you don't like Silver, then the Argenta would not have been right for you ;) Call it Karma!

The RAV4's look best in the Dark Colours, IMO (although mine is silvery green ) - The Black is very nice!

a 55 XTR at £6k sounds good - My local dealer is advertising a 2005 XTR with 29k miles for £10,000 - rather optimistic. - and a 2005 XT3 with 28k miles for £10,000 as well

[Remoh1]

good god prices have dropped, I paid £7995 for a 54 plate 5 door xt3 in may which at the time was a grand less than most places wanted, dealers must be suffering really badly at the moent their stock has dropped in value by 30% or more thats gotta hurt

[Hoovie]

I just wish I was buying now - Reckon I must have lost £4k a year in the 2.5 years had my RAV4.

On the plus side, it's been an excellent car and all cars have dropped in value a fair amount.

[bothwell_buyer]

number 2 RAV came up from London earlier this year....a silver twin for number 1!

How much do they want for the bent RAV????????

Oh, and I had a split screen VW campervan...one of the easiest engine swaps I've ever done....and quickest. 4 bolts and that was it!! I managed to punch a conrod through the crankcase on the 1200 engine but got hold of a 1300 job. Eventually the rust got the better! Slept in it while working in Wanlockhead - the highest (?) village in Scotland during a winter years ago. We were hanging telephone multi-core cables in blizzards and terminating cable at the top of telegraph poles....... the old Commer vans had good heaters! The VW didn't!!

[cruella]

number 2 RAV came up from London earlier this year....a silver twin for number 1!

How much do they want for the bent RAV????????

Oh, and I had a split screen VW campervan...one of the easiest engine swaps I've ever done....and quickest. 4 bolts and that was it!! I managed to punch a conrod through the crankcase on the 1200 engine but got hold of a 1300 job. Eventually the rust got the better! Slept in it while working in Wanlockhead - the highest (?) village in Scotland during a winter years ago. We were hanging telephone multi-core cables in blizzards and terminating cable at the top of telegraph poles....... the old Commer vans had good heaters! The VW didn't!!

I bet you wish you'd kept the dub if you look at what they're worth today! Mind you, they've still taken a drop due to this here credit crunch

You're right about the heating though - and mine has a propex (gas) heater! It has got a 2.2 engine though.

The very reasonable price of your lovely marque at present is one of the things that has convinced me to get one! I think the bloke that rang me was still a bit stunned by the turn of events today to think about the price of the salvage! :D I'll keep you all posted on my higgledy piggledy progress...

[Hoovie]

I always fancied a VW Camper - the Samba's look really cool :)

PS - on the RAV4 section of TOC we never stay on topic, so don't worry on meandering conversations ;)

[bothwell_buyer]

number 2 RAV came up from London earlier this year....a silver twin for number 1!

How much do they want for the bent RAV????????

Oh, and I had a split screen VW campervan...one of the easiest engine swaps I've ever done....and quickest. 4 bolts and that was it!! I managed to punch a conrod through the crankcase on the 1200 engine but got hold of a 1300 job. Eventually the rust got the better! Slept in it while working in Wanlockhead - the highest (?) village in Scotland during a winter years ago. We were hanging telephone multi-core cables in blizzards and terminating cable at the top of telegraph poles....... the old Commer vans had good heaters! The VW didn't!!

I bet you wish you'd kept the dub if you look at what they're worth today! Mind you, they've still taken a drop due to this here credit crunch

You're right about the heating though - and mine has a propex (gas) heater! It has got a 2.2 engine though.

The very reasonable price of your lovely marque at present is one of the things that has convinced me to get one! I think the bloke that rang me was still a bit stunned by the turn of events today to think about the price of the salvage! :D I'll keep you all posted on my higgledy piggledy progress...

2.2??!!!!

When I was at crail in August there was a chap with a lowered VW camper - never got to talk to him about his set-up...but couldn't stop laughing!!!

He beat loads of Corsas and little boys toys on the quarter mile drag!! Awesome! Having been beaten by a campervan, they sloped off in embarrassment :lol:

Theres a garage up here in Shotts that specialise in tuning up and vamping 'dubs' - there's some crazy units there!

[cruella]

Both of my vdubs are 'cal look' and will/have done a turn on the strip at Santa Pod - memo to self: Take cooking gear out of camper before launching hard! :D Hot engines in vw's are all very well, just not very erm, 'hot' when it counts!

Back to the topic in hand - is a granite a special edition with the same everything else bar the wheels?

I have been scouring the ads - and found a couple more to look at, but I've gone all 'ladyminded' Should I look at an '04 one at what looks to be a bit of a seedy 'Arthur Daly' type dealers? Can they 'fiddle' with them, or are they pretty much what you see is what you get? I can't decide to go and look, or to spend another £1500 and go and look at the '05 and '55 models? Is there any changes/improvements to the cars between the '04 and the '05 models?

So many questions - I know it's how you learn, but I do feel a bit of a numpty...

[dave.m]

The Granite was indeed a special edition. Not sure about the spec, have a look at post 6 here to get a comparisson of

models and specs. See link -

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.p...hl=recreational

Allways better to buy from reputable dealers, our resident parts expert Parts_King works for Lindops Toyota

and may be able to advise if they have anything to suit your needs. Try sending him a PM.

[cruella]

Very informative thread link that - thanks :)