My (wife's) New Beauty

[JC180]

Hi all,

After a 3 year hiatus, I am back in the Toyota fold, having previously owned a comfortable and trouble free Avensis for four years and went and bought myself an even more comfortable and nearly as trouble free Mercedes. My wife has owned an HR-V for the past 2 years.

Looking for a Rav, as she would not contemplate a CR-V, we saw and test drove a few 4.2's although they were a bit cheap and low rent unless they had a few toys so we considered an XT4 Auto before I chanced upon a lovely Cadmium Green 2006 XT5 selling privately for little more than the 55 reg XT4 which were contemplating.

It was an absolute steal, has done 28K, has all the toys inc keyless go (brilliant), bluetooth + parking sensors and still 7 months to run.... I'm loving it! :) :)

Anyway here are some pics with a coat of Collinite 476 and the new side steps which I sourced from Kingo and fitted on Sunday (without a ramp and in freezing condition, Ouch!)

Sorry for the crap blackberry photos.

Regards

Jacob

[cruella]

Wow!! That's very pretty - I'm jealous! :)

[Hoovie]

Hi all,

After a 3 year hiatus, I am back in the Toyota fold, having previously owned a comfortable and trouble free Avensis for four years and went and bought myself an even more comfortable and nearly as trouble free Mercedes. My wife has owned an HR-V for the past 2 years.

Looking for a Rav, as she would not contemplate a CR-V, we saw and test drove a few 4.2's although they were a bit cheap and low rent unless they had a few toys so we considered an XT4 Auto before I chanced upon a lovely Cadmium Green 2006 XT5 selling privately for little more than the 55 reg XT4 which were contemplating.

I had an HR-V before I decided to sell it and bought a cheap low-rent RAV4.2 ( :censor: ) - It is Cadmium Green though, so maybe that makes it slightly more acceptable

Nice looking car she has there and a lot better then a CR-V

[bothwell_buyer]

nice

[JC180]

Thanks All

No offence Hoovie, problem was my wife was perfectly happy with her Honda but I sold it and bought a newer model which had problems and caused months of grief. She couldn't find a car she liked more than her HR-V so I had to push the boat out and buy her luxury spec...

Thats all there is to it really, the standard spec didn't float her boat so I had to go for leather...

The car is a beauty and very comfortable.

2 issues however,

1. The car is NOISY, the engine particularly so, I know it is unfair to use my Merc as a yardstick with which to measure refinement but it is a particularly noisy car. It does ride smoothly though at speed.

2. The car is THIRSTY, I struggle to get more than 20mpg for short trips around town and 30mpg seems average for an 80mph motorway trip. In my merc which is supercharged, I can easily get 25mpg around town and 40mpg on a steady 80mph over a longer trip. It is also a tad weedy.

These two issues both point to the 1AZ FE engine which is a bit long in the tooth and could do with a more efficient and refined replacement.

The good news,

OH THERE'S LOADS! The seats are excellent, there is loads of space up front, excellent build quality, lovely dials, good ventilation, the auto box is a match for my mercs for smoothness of the changes, good space for 5 average sized humans, Speakers are good for music (phone is a bit unclear though), boot space is pretty good, (door is a bit of a nuisance but worth it for the spare wheel which does much for the styling too), stowage space is excellent (cupholders all round are crap), very good specification on all but XT3, superb classy styling, paintwork is a massive step up from turn of the century toyotas as well.

Like I said, I and my wife are loving it and are glad to be staring at a Toyota Badge on the wheel boss again!

Oh one more thing, factory fit Yokohama Geolanders are poor in Snow and may be contributing to the noise factor. I am hoping some Michelins will sort the latter issue in the future.

[chatman]

Nice RAV JC180.............. Like the Reg as well....... Some one near me has the Reg starting 006 but it's on an even impressive BMW M5 :drool:

Your wife is very lucky... I don't let mine near my RAV often.... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Calisto]

Looks like you got a great bargain there... and in a nice colour....but the best bit is that its an auto. :P

[Plutus]

Welcome fellow auto driver.

I agree with your "likes" but have to say that we find ours remarkably quiet.

We have a Merc (petrol) to compare and OK the RAV is not quite as quiet but very nearly.

And this from a model with no rear parcel shelf (I've taken it out cos' I'm sick of it).

The only thing I would change is to give the engine more low end torque, but I did know when I bought it

that it's only 2 litre driving a heavyish vehicle with an auto box.

[Hoovie]

Thanks All

No offence Hoovie, problem was my wife was perfectly happy with her Honda but I sold it and bought a newer model which had problems and caused months of grief. She couldn't find a car she liked more than her HR-V so I had to push the boat out and buy her luxury spec...

Thats all there is to it really, the standard spec didn't float her boat so I had to go for leather...

I have actually added a lot of bits and pieces to my RAV4.2 to make it more 'interesting' and luxurious, so I do get the point that maybe the RAV4.2 XT3 models being lesser-specified then you/she may have wanted :)

I was surprised when I was looking at the RAV4.3 (briefly) that the XT3 model on that had a number of things removed that were present on the RAV4.2 XT3. I especially spotted the plastic steering wheel and lack of wheel audio controls which was disappointing in a car in that price bracket. The RAV4.3 XT5 is however very nicely kitted out.

I loved my HR-V as well actually - apart from lack of power and it had a full leather install which made it a bit different. Ran it for 4 years but had a prang at exactly the same time as spending £600+ on mechanical repairs, so the love was waning :(

[dave.m]

Welcome to the club, nice Rav. Enjoy

[anchorman]

Rats..............

If I'd known XT5s had sweeties in the door I would have had one.

Nice motor mate!

[JC180]

Rats..............

If I'd known XT5s had sweeties in the door I would have had one.

Nice motor mate!

Thanks again all.

Yes Anchorman, the sweeties are brilliant and gives the car a real premium feel B)

Its a shame the wife has crept the car in to a rendered wall today and given the front bumper a small outbreak of acne.

Anyone know of a good bodyship or mobile repairer in the Manchester area? I am very discerning when it comes to paintwork (have some horror stories) and only perfection will do!

Cheers

Jacob

[topper200]

lol women drivers eh?

[anchorman]

Rats..............

If I'd known XT5s had sweeties in the door I would have had one.

Nice motor mate!

Thanks again all.

Yes Anchorman, the sweeties are brilliant and gives the car a real premium feel B)

Its a shame the wife has crept the car in to a rendered wall today and given the front bumper a small outbreak of acne.

Anyone know of a good bodyship or mobile repairer in the Manchester area? I am very discerning when it comes to paintwork (have some horror stories) and only perfection will do!

Cheers

Jacob

That's awful luck mate - for both of you.

I can recommend this company which is in my home town;

Brian Hunt > Vehicle Bodywork And Body Repair in Buxton area

Tel: 01298 813103 - Hunts Gar Station Rd, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak, Derbyshire, SK23 9RE

Somebody may know a good one a bit closer but painting plastic and getting a real good match is an @rse. If you stand and look at the back you may already see some variation in the plastics that make up the rear door and wheel cover and you can expect a little variation when you get the bumper done. It will mellow with time.

You could also ask around for a good "chips away" man but I don't know one.

Keep your chin up mate.

[chatman]

Its a shame the wife has crept the car in to a rendered wall today and given the front bumper a small outbreak of acne.

Take it off her right now :o :o

She obviously does not deserve a car of this magnitude and quality......Make her wash your car for a week as punishment....

[JC180]

Been away so just popped back to this thread.

Thanks Anchorman, it got me down for a bit but these things do happen! I see colour discrepencies all the time on plastics, Hondas are terrible for it though.

Chatman, make her wash my car.... don't make me laugh, she has never washed her own car in her life let alone mine!

I have done both cars interiors and exteriors today and waxed hers last week (mine has Jeffs acrylic at the moment so no need) and I'm knackered.

I might use a chips away guy as my car has a small bumper scuff and pin dent in the fuel filler cap that are really annoying me. I see everything and know it won't be 100% but hey a full bumper respray will be a couple hundred at a bodyshop.

Just need to find a good one. I can give you the names of plenty of crap ones!

All the best

Jacob

[anchorman]

I'm sure she's gutted just the same. Main thing is nobody hurt - only pride!