Newby - Fool Or Wise Guy?

[Ravintow]

Hi All, and a Happy Christmas,

Well, there I was last week quietly filling up my old VW camper with overpriced Orkney petrol (110/L) and I saw this lovely little blue RAV sitting there in the rain looking all forlorn, so after paying I wandered over 'just to have a look' and fell in love with her immediately. She looked absolutely immaculate, and with only 53K on the clock for an S Reg, and at just £1,995 - it just seemed too good to be true, so went in to make a few more enquiries. Turns out it was the 2nd car of an elderly couple who purchased it from this local dealer with only some 9K on the clock and has only done aprox 3K/yr since. Regularly serviced and MOT'd by him (all docs stamped for me to see). Now they've bought a fairly new Volvo from him. and put the RAV in as P/X. Took her for a test drive, and she purred along. Engine bay and underneath looked as immaculate as the interior, and just one tiny needle-like scratch on the bonnet was the only bodywork damage. So on an impulse 'jumped in' and paid full asking price as he said he just couldn't possibly take anything lower, and felt someone else might jump in if I started dithering (it had only come in some three hours ago) When I got home phoned a friend to tell him the news, who after giving him the description said "That's my neighbour's car" - and confirmed all the dealer had said! 'Coincidence'? Anyway, I've now been running her for almost a week, and absolutely no problems to date. Will need a couple of tyres soon, and was shocked at cost of these (£150 +VAT each!) - or 3 times as much as the Camper's. Insurance is hefty too, which was a shock after my old Landy - Group 10 apparently, so again twice as much as the VW. Road Tax due at end of July??? (showing £150 on the current disc). So... 'Fools rush in'? - or did I get a bargain? I know absolutely NOTHING about the marque, so any advice/comments etc would be gratefully received (I don't know if that 'counts' as a question, but I'm sure the Moderator or whatever s/he is called will 'edit' it out if it is) I now look forward to joining T.O.C. and 'swopping stories'. All the Best for 2009

[Boro Sera]

Hi mate and welcome to TOC

Not that knowledgable on RAVs myself, but it sounds to me that you got yourself a gem !

Good luck

[Red Yaris 54]

Welcome to TOC

Sounds like you have picked up a good buy there

[Phoenix999]

Ravintow.... welcome to TOC

Get over to the RAV forum and ask the guys over there.... you will find they are a friendly and very knowledgeable bunch

[Ravintow]

Ravintow.... welcome to TOC

Get over to the RAV forum and ask the guys over there.... you will find they are a friendly and very knowledgeable bunch

Thanks - all of you. Can now breathe again, and will get over to the RAV forum pronto

[Blue84]

Hiya

Welcome to TOC.

Sounds like a good find there, must've been 'fate' for you to have found it :)

[Ravintow]

Hiya

Welcome to TOC.

Sounds like a good find there, must've been 'fate' for you to have found it :)

Hi there. Yes, I'm a great believer in 'fate' - which makes me do some very 'impulsive' things at times (like purchasing a vehicle 'on sight' of which I had absolutely no prior knowledge/experience of the marque!) I thinkthe RAV4 has the same engine as your MR2s?

This looks like a good, helpful, knowledgeable and friendly club, and am looking forward to chatting in the future. Cheers.