Another Toyota grabs my heart and wraps it round it's finger

**Zak33** · 09-04-2005, 08:48 AM

OK....I thought the MR2 would be the last. I thought I was hardened. But I was wrong. Another Toyota has grabbed my heart, wrapped it around it's little finger, and flicked me to the floor.

I love Rav4's

I can't help myself, and I ask for forgiveness, although to be fair it was the ultimate one (in my opinion)

A Rav4 D-4D VX .Thats a 2.0 Turbo Diesel (a good 'un too) with 4 doors, and being a VX its loaded....nice leather, removable rear seats, front rubbder bars, side chrome sill bars, rear lower bar, chrome Rav4 plate on the front, Aircon, and Roof, half way decent stereo (not bad at all) permanent Chelsea Tractor 4x4, trip computer, cunningly built into the dash with the stereo display, so using one screen.

HELL I LOVE IT. Being carefull, driving to see where the trip computer rested on 100miles driving on A and B roads with no dual carriageways, I got 43mpg and going hell for leather, it dropped to 37mpg.

And she DOES go....and corner. Proper corner. Shocked? Bet your ASS I was shocked. Can't believe it. Low body roll, proper front end grip (with a gentle guiding hand) and real traction out of tight corners. Its destroys that legacy Estate 2.0 petrol...tears it a new one to be honest.

But it should really. Its enough dough. This 52 plater, loaded with toys, is gonna get £15000 with 33,000 miles. Kielder green, grey leather. I had forgotten how hormonal Toyota dealers got over them, but I've had trade enquiries on it already, so its good value.

Scary question: Would Zakster own one? Blummin cose to saying yes, too. Except for thelong term worries of having permanent 4x4 interms of cost of tyres, servicing and stuff....hell...YEAH.

I have falled in love again. Damn you Toyota. Really suprised me again, you buggers.

Alfasudcrazy · 10-04-2005, 09:30 PM

I agree its also my favourite Toyota - and I generally hate all Jap cars with a passion

Flibb · 10-04-2005, 09:44 PM

Havent tried a rav 4, tend to stick to land rovers myself. Mainly rather old range rovers, some series stuff and the parents 110. DO get the od strange look when its 3 up in the front, and ones the dog. My wifes current company car is a new astra, cant believe how bad the visibility is, think might go 4x4 when we get a new car.

AFter using my 1971 series 2a land rover as a shed for the past 2 year, its time to get it back on the road again, so am about to rewire it. 0-60 downhill only, earplugs as standard and seat belts an optional extra, great fun

Classic car insurance and free historic vehicle road tax also help

Butuz · 10-04-2005, 11:32 PM

Hmm rav 4, reminds me of the 80s suzuki santana / vitara.

One to steer clear of IMHO unless your gonna slam it to the ground and fit 21" chromes and look like a total nugget..

Butuz

Tumble · 11-04-2005, 07:21 AM

The 80's Suzuki's are actually miles better than the Rav4.. much prefer them.

Howard · 11-04-2005, 07:41 AM

Hmm. Most 4x4s like that will have pretty touch suspension and tyres. They're "made" for off-road! Shock horror! The most they'll ever see nowadays is the grass verge though

I don't like the Rav4 really.. If I was going for a 4x4 I'd get something a bit bigger and beefier.

I don't like Suzuki Grand Vitaras either. Hate them. They have the same firm suspension and ride (you can plough through speed bumps at 40MPh and it won't do a thing.) which is good I guess, I just wasn't impressed with the engine. There was hardly any torque in the low revs whatsoever. The turbocharger (We had a 2L TD model) must be the only thing keeping it going! The engine would go nowhere without it!

It has this annoying central locking system too which means you had to turn the key twice to lock all the doors and not just the driver's one or some bollocks.

[GSV]Trig · 11-04-2005, 07:57 AM

Rav 4...

If it wasnt for the keyring's I'd slap you

schmunk · 11-04-2005, 08:21 AM

Vitara (Escudo) Pikes Peak anyone?

dkmech · 11-04-2005, 08:41 AM

Was any part of that thing ever anywhere near a suzuki vitara?

Flibb · 11-04-2005, 08:42 AM

Possibly the driver sat in one once.

schmunk · 11-04-2005, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by dkmech

Was any part of that thing ever anywhere near a suzuki vitara?

That's not important - this is:

Engine
Type: Twin-Turbo V6
Displacement: 1998 cc
Horsepower: 985 bhp @ 8100 rpm

**Zak33** · 11-04-2005, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by Flibb

Possibly the driver sat in one once.

lmao...yeah...possibly

I tell you all...Rav4 is a good car. It feels really very nice, and it handles hugely better than I'd have thought. Off road? Yeah...wet field maybe. But its not for off road is it, its for horse shows, Bucks County Show etc. And I promise it's nice to drive. It really is.

As for SJ's.....Tumble has convinced me (with video evidence) that those scary old SJ410's that allegedly fall over, ARE good off road. Genuinely good.

The video evidence is hysterical

and worthy of viewing

Flibb · 11-04-2005, 09:55 AM

Yep those SJ are good off road, they use one for recovery on a local 4x4 course. They use a kinectic recovery rope, although if the other vehicle is really stuck the suzuki ends up flying backwards. And yes they do fall over, we were doing one course and the SJ behind us fell over, the driver + navigator just hopped out and jacked it back upright, hardly took any time. We had a bit of banter with the driver, he was going on about him getting places we couldnt (probably true), our reply was we would get there eventually, but would have our 6 mates in the back, a tent and the beer. Then a 101 FC turned up and drove staright through the area we had both been stuck in, they had just dropped 1/2ton of ballast in the back to weight it down a bit. Due to its hudge tyres it had no grip, by increasing the weight they increased grip. We discussed the fact that the FC would go places we couldnt, but you could fit your 20 best mates in the back and tow a craravan, and carry enough beer to keep you going for weeks.

**Zak33** · 11-04-2005, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by Flibb

they had just dropped 1/2ton of ballast in the back to weight it down a bit. Due to its hudge tyres it had no grip, by increasing the weight they increased grip.

that is a heaven sent description (and proof) of the "wide tyres dont increase grip, but wieght does" theory I struggled to show to everyone last year

Flibb · 11-04-2005, 10:46 AM

Heres a pic of a 101FC (just grabbed on google). That ones got standard sized tyres. The first time the FC entered the course we were at it hit some soft mud and just sat there spinning. So they dragged it out using a tractor, dumped some weight in the back, then drove straight through all the bits we struggled with.

Tumble · 11-04-2005, 11:10 AM

Those FC's are just awsome, awesome beasts.. what i wouldn't give to own a good one

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