Mot Refusal

February 6, 2009

3 years with VW Audi dealer

5 years with Citroen dealer

8 years with Toyota dealer

3 years actually with Ford

and Now with Honda UK

Prior to Honda (I have to say that someone may be watching)

Toyota knock spots off any other franchise I have worked with inc Audi VW

The Avensis did get noted to VOSA but not because it was a fault, It was a characteristic of the vehicle that did not effect the performace of the car and so that testers know not to fail it on them, Yes the Avensis does have a tough time with reliabilty, but the Rav is up there with the Camry and Starlet for reliability.

In 8 years i never ever fit a master cylinder to a Rav, Had plenty of customers and trade question it sinking though.

Prior to my current Rav which is my 5th, I had a Freelander (Yes laugh i know & im in the trade as well), I have never known a car so well from underneath to a point every trip was an adventure, Fantastic to drive but I got to know it a little too familier.

Sorry but every manufacturer have there problems (New lexus diesel IS models with engines going pop) modern diesels cost a fortune with there finely tuned engines with injectors at £300+ each, Turbo's at £2k

Its modern cars and they are not cheap, Its always amazed me how customers would not buy a £250 extended warranty for a car with £15k of bits on but will spend £150 on a laptop or TV.

My spongy brake pedal passed its MOT test today with flying colours !

Only my opinion, You may feel you have a bad one, there is one in every model but I know where I would be when it comes to buying a car Japan every day, certainly not a Ford or Peugeot.

February 7, 2009

As I have learnt over the last couple of years the Toyota rav 4 has many characteristics well that how Toyota put it , for one you get the creeping brake pedal which is a characteristic of the car ( a PROBLEM not my words but the mechanics at Toyota Stratford ) and yet another characteristic of the car is the dual mass flywheel braking down all in all I have come to the conclusion the rav 4 is and it hurts me to say this a poor car , parts are very expensive , and I don’t care what part kings says they are ( no offence mate but they are ) , labor changers are also very expensive . I do love the look of the car and the design but all in all my faith in Toyota has gone... I have all ways own fords up till about two years ago, they to have there problems but parts are cheaper and labor is cheaper,, as the rav 4s have depreciate so much in value over the last year, im stuck with the car for the near future. So if you are thinking about buying a rav 4 think about it very hard you might end up the same as many people on here paying out thousands of pound to put them right.
Don’t mean to have ago at any one on here, you have all been so helpful and the forum is great, I read with interest ever day. But I have come to the conclusion the rav 4 aren’t all that it’s made out to be

I would have to agree with you that your current RAV4 has been problematic but i do feel you've just been unlucky, I've owned Toyota's for over 16 years and have owned around 21 of them, not one has ever let me down and yes spares can be more expensive but overall you need less spare parts than other make of car on the road.

Toyota's parts quality is second to none, as a rule when they make a part it almost last the lifetime of the vehicle, of all the 21 Toyota I've owned I've never fitted a start motor, alternator, wheel bearing, suspension bush, never had any electrical problems ands that includes my current supra which is almost 25 years old.

It would seem Toyota's along with most other makes of car are also having problems with dual mass flywheels, maybe its a high wear item and nows need to be replace as often as the clutch.