CrisPDuk

Mrs D fancies a change in motor, and has seen a 96 Rav that she quite likes the look of. I'm obviously going to check it over but are there any known weak points that I should be aware of?

Diablo

Hi

As standard, gearbox is a bit clunky (but not stiff) and the rear diff thuds a bit, but they are well made and pretty reliable.

Same as any soft roader - check for damage unerneath, and as for any used car check everything works, body ok, mechanically sound. Engine should be smooth, quiet, etc.

Steel wheels will be rusty, alloys corrode, but thats pretty much all.

I did 25,000 miles in one and absolutely nothing at all went wrong.

Oh, and it should hit 60 in less than 9 seconds

RESSE

iTrader: (1)

Cris

My wife runs a 1995 2.0 GX three door - purchased from main Toyota dealer in January 2003.

To date only one thing has failed on the car, and that was the battery (replaced with Toyota one with 3 year guarantee).

We have thoroughly enjoyed the car and apart from the above it has and is 100% reliable.

Things to check are the usual + get underneath to see if it has been used off road (not many are but......you need to be careful).

Central locking/key fob thingy can be it bit tiresome at times - bearing in mind the car you might be buying is 8 - 9 years old.

Great fun and good to drive.

I think the GX model is the one with alloy wheels etc.

Best of luck,

Richard

CrisPDuk

Thanks chaps, the one she is looking at is a 2 litre automatic GX had a good look round it last night, but couldn't take it for a test drive as it was boxed in at the back of his lot. We're going back on sat for a test drive, but I've a feeling a foot may be put down, as last night there was a sly mention of P/Xing my Scoob for it

RESSE

iTrader: (1)

Wives - can't live with 'em and can't kill 'em.

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

My GF had a 1995 GX - no alloys, IIRC GX is the electrics - mirrors, windows, central locking etc over the SX

Bought it in 2001, nothing has gone wrong with it for over 40,000 miles. Sold it last year to my mum and its run faultlessly too (thank **** for that!).

One thing you might get is a clunk changing from 1st to 2nd at the rear, I think its a worn diff mount - nothing serious.

The only other thing to check is the fuel filter. Its a bitch to change and some dealers don't bother even though its supposed to be done during the service

Brendan Hughes

auto? Yeuch!

Do the FAQ here help?

http://rav4world.com/

MooseRacer

Mrs Moose has had a 97 GX from new. Been absolutely faultless, and good fun to drive in it's own way.

Her's does tend to eat tyres for some reason though

CrisPDuk

PMSL

Actually I believe you can kill 'em, it's not getting caught that's the trick