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SUVs Toyota RAV4 Toyota RAV4 pre-2006
2123 messages, Last post on Aug 20, 2009 at 7:57 PM
You are in the Toyota RAV4 Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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Replying to: petl (Oct 13, 2004 5:29 pm) I used to be an avid Toyota fan,coz I have seen a Toyota Corona with 756,000 klms, roughly 472,000 miles.The car look ugly from the outside but purred like a car out from the dealership.Haven't seen any car yet with that kind of mileage and coming from a country where heavy traffic is around 10 miles per hour. It was amazing to see a car run that much and I bet may still be going.That was about 3.5 years ago. I subscribe to CR too via the net and the magazine (the magazine I discontinued,as a protest to CR), thats why I have faith on Toyotas in the area of reliability. I also test droved the Rav 4 and the Honda CRV before buying it and even with my laymans senses I find the Rav 4, more peppy, agile and better looking. Thus I bought a RAV 4 2003, from Antwerpen Toyota Maryland, and they charged me 16.5% APR coz they say I didn't have enough credit history.(I was only in the U.S for 10 months). They further told me that sideairbags are a joke and you don't really need it coz it harms small passengers. The naive me bought that line without question. Eight months later, I was wondering why Honda gave me a 4.5% APR on a Pilot for my wife. My co-workers who came to this country as nurses too got a Honda Odyssey on their 7th month of stay. APR 6%. Does Toyota have a racial preference among buyers? Correct me if I'm wrong but that is how I feel. I could give you the Vin no of that Odyssey to prove I'm not fabricating anything. In the course of my work as an OR nurse I was thrown into orthopaedics and you would see an amazing difference in terms of injuries and probably survival rate of T-boned victims with and without side-airbags. It is downright scary,and messy, my tough stomach gives in sometimes. Even the best doctors would't be able to patch up those mutilated bodies back to even a bit of normalcy. If you see if first hand you would close your eyes and shell out more money just to get a car with sideairbags. The few thousand bucks is well worth it.Believe me a portruding left ribcage, or losing half of a human face is not a pretty site, much more if it is you or a family member.If you face the same predicament or line of work that I am in, you would understand why I call my RAV4 a cute ute I mean C O F F I N. Yes, I wouldn't deny I'm a converted Honda fan now. I find Honda more humane coz they put most of their safety features on their low end models and not just on the more expensive ones. Models which are about the only one I could afford 2 years ago.Toyota lost me (not that it matters to them losing one client for life who will make it a lifelong crusade to convert people to any brand but Toyota, converted 6 and counting)because their dealers lied to me about the importance of sideairbags, swindled me at 16.5% APR (people with really bad credit got better rates than me)THE SWINDLING PART I CAN TOLERATE BUT LYING ABOUT SIDE-AIRBAGS IS UNFORGIVEABLE. To sum it up I converted to Honda because Honda has a social conscience that translates to making safe vehicles for the moneyed as well as those with less in life.Toyota is out for profit and profit alone.In it's quest to unseat GM as the topdog in the car business, it has forgotten the very people that put it as topdog no 2, the masses, the very market that laps up their products with unwavering trust and faith on the T brand.Toyota, how much more billions do you need before you even try putting a sideairbags on your low end cars? The one that most of the masses can afford. PS Nevertheless, I'm in this forum to solicit the advice of people who had experiences with Pick-ups. Whats the best pick-up to lease for two years out their next to the Tacoma (I was 3 days close to getting one to replace my Rav 4 but the Tacoma tipped during the rollover test, besides I don't think it has airbags too.)The pickup should have sideairbags and a V6 engine, manual or AT is OK.
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So what did you learn from your experience as a first-time US car buyer? I hope you learned not to take the salesperson's words at face value. Some of them will take advantage of people who do not know any better. Do your own research, including researching financing options, and make your decisions based on that. Learn to protect yourself. I don't doubt that a vehicle with side airbags is safer. But I've driven for over 30 years, most of the time in vehicles with NO airbags at all, and I've been fine, so I don't view a modern vehicle with front airbags but without side airbags as a coffin. That is ridiculous, and that is where you lose sympathy and credibility. Don't like your RAV4 because you think it is unsafe? Get rid of it; it has high resale value. And stop crying about it.
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Replying to: suvshopper4 (Oct 14, 2004 6:31 am) Thanks a lot. |
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I'll repeat my original statement. Don't knock CR for the apparent problems you have encountered with Toyota. It still looks like you are looking for a reason to switch (justifiably?). I'll refrain from commenting on the rest of your post (since only one side of the story has been presented). suvshopper4 seems to have covered it pretty well.
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Replying to: petl (Oct 14, 2004 7:08 am) I realize I may be at the wrong forum coz no one is taking seriously my plea for advice on what is one of the better pick-ups to lease. Could you direct me to the most unbias site, The brand of the lease truck does not matter to me as long as it is not a Toyota Pick-up. For the record, inspite my knocking of CR, for them recommending the RAV4, I still have faith of them. My IPOD, PDA,computer, lawnmower,and interior or exterior paints are CR best buys. When it comes to cars, only then I would take their advice cautiously. |
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You found your way to this forum. Why can't you find your way to a Pickup forum??? |
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this whole topic about side air bags is full of cry babies. auto companies have resisted safety belts and air bags for years. why direct your venom at car manufacturers, when their history shows they always resisted safety and clean air standards? if side air bags are so important to you, quit complaining and do something about it. get hold of your legislator and have them enact a law like they did with catalytic convertors, seat belts, and front air bags. your other option is to not buy the rav4. either way stop complaining. all you're doing here is whining.
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I am taking you seriously. The only advise I can give is to gather as much information you can from the different message boards and car mags. However don't expect to get unbiased opinions. CR is still your best bet. Your issues with Toyota seem to clouding your reasoning senses. It's like your trying to blame Toyota and CR for your decision to buy the RAV without side air bags. The RAV was recommended by CR based on reliability and how well it perfomed during testing (period). Information reguarding safety issues are available in the Consumer Reports and on different web sites. The fact remains Toyota manufactures reliable vehicles throughout the world. If you wish not purchase one again is fine. I'm certainly not going to recommend any truck for you to buy. If it malfunctioned or did not perform (on the road or in an accident) as well as you expected, you may be angry with me. No hard feelings. Good luck in your search for your dream truck.
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Replying to: petl (Oct 14, 2004 8:49 am) Thanks a million,I'll still consult CR now and then for the truck I need.I hope the other forums I've visited would answer my questions about Pick-ups, last time I've visited it, twas an endless discussion of packages, options, launch dates for 2005's.Twas beyond my poor brain could understand. I love this country coz of someones freedom to whine and be a crybaby in an intelligent way without getting shot. Whiners have made cars a lot safer.Whiners shake up status qous leading to better and better products.Reasonable whiners make this forum a great place to be. You have a good day. |
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depends what you call reasonable. doers get things done, not whiners. you're right about whiners. reminds me of the spoiled kid stomping his feet at the grocery store because his mother won't buy him a candy bar. as adults there is a better way. |
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