I have just ordered a new XTR D4D, to replace my RX8, should be a bit more economical

I was just wondering where abouts Rav4's are made?

Also, the XTR has no roof rails, I will want a roof rack though. I prefer the roof rack fitting on roof rails, so is it possible to fit roof rails to the XTR, or do I have to go for the standard roof rack, without rails.

Just a couple of weeks to wait now, for it to arrive.

Matthew

Welcome to TOC Matt, from a fellow ex-RX8 owner. (I recognise your name from RX8OC).
I believe you could have ordered roof rails as an option. If it's too late, you could ask 'Parts King', who is a dealer and offers TOC members discount, for a price to supply the rails, and fit them yourself?

A warm and wet welcome frae up here in sunny Scotland.

I know for a fact the the RAV4 is not made in Scotland yet. So that narrows things down.

And I also know that your new purchase is likely to last for quite a few years, given my experience.

As regards a 2nd seat in the car, I had one put in for convenience. Took the back seats out thus forcing the 'children' to buy their own cars. It worked.
Then have a Fiat Punto for carrying things; and a Trafic minibus for shifting long big things. I stopped using roof racks etc as they came apart when I overloaded them.... shame I didn't take photos of what used to be carried on a roof rack....!!


By the way, Italy cheated at the football the nite and the Spanish referee allegedly owns a holiday home in Tuscany now. We wis robbed!!

[quote name='sywy' post='693972' date='Nov 17 2007, 11:35 PM']Welcome to TOC Matt, from a fellow ex-RX8 owner. (I recognise your name from RX8OC).
I believe you could have ordered roof rails as an option. If it's too late, you could ask 'Parts King', who is a dealer and offers TOC members discount, for a price to supply the rails, and fit them yourself?[/quote]

I was really sad to see the RX8 go, as I loved it, but the running costs were getting far too high. I am sure the RAV4 will be much more economical than the RX8.
Thanks for the info on the roof rails. I need a roofrack for my windsurf board. I am a bit spent out now, but at least I know it can be fitted. I will try and sort it out after Christmas.

How are you finding the RAV4 after the RX8?

Matthew

If you believe Wikipedia (the internet toilet wall):

RAV 4.3's :

[b]Currently, the RAV4 is produced in two locations in Japan: Toyota's Tahara, Aichi assembly plant, and under contract by Toyota Industries in its Nagakusa, Obu, Aichi plant. However, when Toyota's Woodstock, Ontario, Canada assembly plant comes online in 2008, models sold in North America will be assembled exclusively there (effective May 2009).[/b]

[b]Toyota Motor Corporation has a large automotive plant in Tahara which makes many Lexus-brand cars and some Toyota models.[/b]

[b]In 2007, Toyota released an update of its full size truck, the Toyota Tundra, produced in two American factories, one in Texas and one in Indiana, and "Motor Trend" named the 2007 Toyota Camry "Car of the Year" for 2007. It also began the construction of two new factories, one to build the Toyota Rav4 in Woodstock, Ontario and the other to build the Toyota Highlander in Blue Springs, Mississippi.[/b]

4.1's and 4.2's were built at Tahara, Aichi (again according to Wikipedia)

Matthew,

I put roof rails on mine, they are Genuine toyota ones and i paid extra about £50 for the Silver ones as opposed to the Black (Silver rails Graphite car, i like it). Black are about £220 Siver about £270. Your dealer should give at least 10 0/0 off parts. I have noticed though that there are Black copy ones on E Bay now which are considerably cheaper. They are easy to fit just bolting down into pre drilled holes in the roof which have plastic blanking covers on. Rich.

[quote name='rav man' post='694436' date='Nov 18 2007, 09:36 PM']Matthew,

I put roof rails on mine, they are Genuine toyota ones and i paid extra about £50 for the Silver ones as opposed to the Black (Silver rails Graphite car, i like it). Black are about £220 Siver about £270. Your dealer should give at least 10 0/0 off parts. I have noticed though that there are Black copy ones on E Bay now which are considerably cheaper. They are easy to fit just bolting down into pre drilled holes in the roof which have plastic blanking covers on. Rich.[/quote]

Thankyou, thats interesting.
Do you have a picture of yours, I would be interested to see what it looks like with the silver rails.

I haven't at the moment sorry, but i noticed a few Avensis in Graphite with Silver rails (Audi also) and liked the look of them. Rich.

[quote name='matfrost' post='693981' date='Nov 18 2007, 12:01 AM']How are you finding the RAV4 after the RX8?[/quote]

Obviously a totally different experience, but I'm quite enjoying it. But then, I have the T180 .
I was never a speed merchant, but having the T180 helps fill the power gap.
As you say economy will be better. I'm getting 34-36mpg. You should get a bit more on the 140bhp engine.

[quote name='sywy' post='694506' date='Nov 18 2007, 10:58 PM'][quote name='matfrost' post='693981' date='Nov 18 2007, 12:01 AM']How are you finding the RAV4 after the RX8?[/quote]

Obviously a totally different experience, but I'm quite enjoying it. But then, I have the T180 .
I was never a speed merchant, but having the T180 helps fill the power gap.
As you say economy will be better. I'm getting 34-36mpg. You should get a bit more on the 140bhp engine.
[/quote]

Ahm selling ma lawnmower wi a 120bhp engine if ony of ye are interested....

[quote name='rav man' post='694436' date='Nov 18 2007, 09:36 PM']They are easy to fit just bolting down into pre drilled holes in the roof which have plastic blanking covers on. Rich.[/quote]

Can you just confirm the fitting, as I asked in the dealer and it was suggested that to fit the roof rails, you have to remove the headlining and drill holes through the roof.

Ham shankers.

Rails

[url="http://techdoc.toyota-europe.com/aimuploads/%7BB7A2CC0D-E781-184E-FFA0-074B7AD3E781%7D/RoofRails%2063401-42050-B0%20AIM%20000%20500-00.pdf"]http://techdoc.toyota-europe.com/aimupload...00%20500-00.pdf[/url]

Cross bars

[url="http://techdoc.toyota-europe.com/aimuploads/%7B063444BC-346D-293B-353C-EC1B39DB346D%7D/Cross%20bars%20%20PZ403-J0621-00%20AIM%20000%20543-01.pdf"]http://techdoc.toyota-europe.com/aimupload...00%20543-01.pdf[/url]

[quote name='anchorman' post='696256' date='Nov 23 2007, 03:58 PM']Ham shankers.

Rails

[url="http://techdoc.toyota-europe.com/aimuploads/%7BB7A2CC0D-E781-184E-FFA0-074B7AD3E781%7D/RoofRails%2063401-42050-B0%20AIM%20000%20500-00.pdf"]http://techdoc.toyota-europe.com/aimupload...00%20500-00.pdf[/url]

Cross bars

[url="http://techdoc.toyota-europe.com/aimuploads/%7B063444BC-346D-293B-353C-EC1B39DB346D%7D/Cross%20bars%20%20PZ403-J0621-00%20AIM%20000%20543-01.pdf"]http://techdoc.toyota-europe.com/aimupload...00%20543-01.pdf[/url][/quote]

Thanks for the quick response. Its handy to have the information to hand. Maybe I will just get them and fit them myself. Looks easy to me.

Matthew

Installation time 30 minutes for both sides. Perhaps that is for vacuuming the swarf out of the car!

Give me strength. No wonder some of them have a bad name.

Enjoy your roof bars

Matthew

I have found a TSB for fitting of the genuine Toyota cross bars.

If you intend fitting them, pm me with your email address and I will send it to you unless anyone can tell me how to upload a pdf file?

Cheers

Fitting is dead easy, theres no drilling the threaded holes are already in the roof. Remove the little plastic covers and you will see, two black bolt heads holding down a metal bracket. The bars bolt down into these holes. The gen Toyota ones come with decent instructions. The bars bolt down and you snap on the end caps to cover the bolts.

Well done to your main dealer for telling you you have to drill the roof and remove the lining . Nice to see the high level of product knowledge on display. They do afterall have to know about a range of about six or seven cars. R.

[quote name='anchorman' post='696310' date='Nov 23 2007, 05:36 PM']Installation time 30 minutes for both sides. Perhaps that is for vacuuming the swarf out of the car![/quote]

Or, maybe it's the time to work out that it's turn the spanner anti-clockwise to undo the existing bolts that are fitted in the mounting holes.

Matthew, Anchorman and ravman have of course sorted you, there are no roof bars on mine, but I can assure you the mounting holes are there - I've used them to mount some comms antennas. Oh, and I didn't have to remove the roof lining to get the coax to them!

I hope you were talking to the salesman, but even then it's outrageous!

Cheers

" Or maybe it's the time to work out thats it's turn the spanner anti-clockwise to undo the existing bolts that are fitted in the mounting holes"

Anti-clockwise is a bit techinical , i prefer Rightey Tightey, Lefty Loosey. R.

[quote name='rav man' post='696562' date='Nov 24 2007, 01:20 PM']Anti-clockwise is a bit techinical , i prefer Rightey Tightey, Lefty Loosey. R.[/quote]

Fair comment . Maybe if they used "Lefty Loosey" in the instructions, they could get the install time down to 15 mins.

Hang on though, "Rightey Tightey"??? Don't they put the bolts back in with a Brumagem screwdriver (that's a )?

.....and another thing, I'm going to get really confused with left handed threads. "Lefty Tightey, Rightey Loosey"

Cheers