Back to Reliability.

[Smani]

Hi all, Just bought my first Toyota, a  RAV4 hybrid 2017 and waiting to be ready. 

Explaining the title, few years ago I spent 3 years fighting with my Ducati Multistrada, best bike I ever had but had to fix it every time I want to ride it, so went back to Japanese bikes and happy days again. (will never corner or have same sort of torque, but every time I push the start button on my KAWA, guess what: It fires up!).

Then, driving a Ford Kuga for the past 7 years, same story, always engine malfunctions that never been diagnosed properly, several time into limp mode and resetting itself until spent 4 months, yes! 4 months from Dec.21 until April.22 in a specialist garage.  Pick it up on a Friday afternoon and Saturday sold it! Back to !Removed!! But actually never owned a Japanese car, I was between Honda, Mitsubishi and Toyota, after a main thing: Reliability.  Loved to drive the CRV but loved more the RAV4.  No very impressed with fuel consumption, but hey ho, 2.5l petrol and if it is reliable as everyone says, I will be a happy bunny for few years to come.

I am a bit of diy in terms of regular services (Oil, filters, brakes, etc) so I hope can share, learn and contribute to the forum soon.

See you around.

(will post some photos as soon as I get it)

[flash22]

Keep on top of maintenance, and you will be fine, use the correct grade of oil ect

 

Ford, at least they circled the problem, the durashift is awful gearbox

if it's your first hybrid it’s a very different way of driving once up to speed be very light on the throttle, you only really need the top 1/4 to 1/3 of throttle, learn to coast up to junctions and down hills, easy on the brakes, if you boot it everywhere your MPG will take a hit it's all about smoothness and flow

[Smani]

3 minutes ago, flash22 said:

Keep on top of maintenance, and you will be fine, use the correct grade of oil ect

 

Ford, at least they circled the problem, the durashift is awful gearbox

if it's your first hybrid it’s a very different way of driving once up to speed be very light on the throttle, you only really need the top 1/4 to 1/3 of throttle, learn to coast up to junctions and down hills, easy on the brakes, if you boot it everywhere your MPG will take a hit

Thanks! Yes, I noticed it is a total different drive. The test drive route was rubbish, very short and country lanes only for 15min, but it was the dealer policy.  Put the foot down couple of times and was impressed with the response. Only later found searching the model versions that I may be lucky to find this one, the basic version, business plus I think, but with lots of extras. Someone did a nice specs up for me.😁

[Smani]

Out of curiosity, why my original title has been changed and shows "Removed". I hope I didn't brake any rules already, on my first minutes on the forum?  Was it because I wrote the world !Removed! referring to Japanese cars? 

[Big_D]

Welcome Marcos

As for Toyota reliability, have a look at this

 

[flash22]

Oh yes, It's kept 12-PG on here

 

[Bernard Foy]

Unusual statement “best bike I ever had but had to fix it before every ride” 🤔??

[FROSTYBALLS]

Hello Marcus -welcome to Toyota Owners Club.

3 hours ago, Smani said:

Out of curiosity, why my original title has been changed and shows "Removed".

Whatever word you chose has triggered the profanity filter. Send me a personal message including a more suitable user name, and I'll ask admin to change it.

[Smani]

9 hours ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

Hello Marcus -welcome to Toyota Owners Club.

Whatever word you chose has triggered the profanity filter. Send me a personal message including a more suitable user name, and I'll ask admin to change it.

OMG! I just used "Back to !Removed!".  What a funny world we live in nowadays.   What we are going to do in the nearby future when we need to class colours, genders or nationalities?  Oh well, will think of a new title and ask you to change, thank you.

[Smani]

13 hours ago, Bernard Foy said:

Unusual statement “best bike I ever had but had to fix it before every ride” 🤔??

Hi Bernard,

Yes, contradictory but that's exactly what that bike was. Had RD350s, XT600, Fazers, R1s, always Yamahas, none of them gave me such confidence in riding, torque, power or the way the Ducati Multistrada handles.  Saved my ***** couple of times with the fancy cornering ABS, Cornering with the Multi was as easy and pleasure as any sport bikes, but all of these with a price of unreliable electronics shutting down the bike at its own will, leaks of fluid brake, radiator hose blew up. And it was a brand new bike, mostly of these done in warranty, but a true hassle.  Back to Japanese bikes, and all I do for the past 3 years is Fuel, Oil and filters for the past 20K miles.  

And that is exactly what I am expecting with Toyota. Want to drive it, not fix it. 😁

[Eddiefh]

14 hours ago, Smani said:

Hi all, Just bought my first Toyota, a  RAV4 hybrid 2017 and waiting to be ready. 

Explaining the title, few years ago I spent 3 years fighting with my Ducati Multistrada, best bike I ever had but had to fix it every time I want to ride it, so went back to Japanese bikes and happy days again. (will never corner or have same sort of torque, but every time I push the start button on my KAWA, guess what: It fires up!).

Then, driving a Ford Kuga for the past 7 years, same story, always engine malfunctions that never been diagnosed properly, several time into limp mode and resetting itself until spent 4 months, yes! 4 months from Dec.21 until April.22 in a specialist garage.  Pick it up on a Friday afternoon and Saturday sold it! Back to !Removed!! But actually never owned a Japanese car, I was between Honda, Mitsubishi and Toyota, after a main thing: Reliability.  Loved to drive the CRV but loved more the RAV4.  No very impressed with fuel consumption, but hey ho, 2.5l petrol and if it is reliable as everyone says, I will be a happy bunny for few years to come.

I am a bit of diy in terms of regular services (Oil, filters, brakes, etc) so I hope can share, learn and contribute to the forum soon.

See you around.

(will post some photos as soon as I get it)

Great car choice, think you will find the rav4 very easy to work on more so than a Corolla as you’ll have a bit more ground clearance. 
there’s lots of YouTube videos on the service side of the rav4 

[Smani]

13 hours ago, Big_D said:

Welcome Marcos

As for Toyota reliability, have a look at this

 

The driver observance is very unreal! Who would see the stopped car and even the brand and model??😆

[Smani]

Hi all, just explaining the changing on the title, I wanted to reference Japanese cars and bikes as reliable and used an abbreviation for Japanese which computer says no removed.  

[Smani]

Dealer promised that I will have the car next week, just before I pick up my wife and boy at airport, so it will be a nice surprise, specially for him. His mum and myself never been much of car lovers, so don't know where this passion came from 😁.  Last year, at the age of 5 he started riding his own motorbike and loves getting it dismantled and serviced with me.

 I just hope everything is done on time, which I am a bit sceptic about. With the two short weeks between the deal and the hand over, I think it is a bit pushy to get valeting, intermittent service and MOT all done in a busy dealer and its garage. 

Well, I hope I get the service and MOT because I remember the salesman saying anything needed within 3 months will get done. Car was first registered in July 17, so it is already recommended on My Toyota website the intermittent service. 

 

[Bernard Foy]

Most dealership sales personnel are honest and helpful, however I always have a witness with me when clinching a deal. 

[Smani]

 

Hi all,

She's home! The handover was smooth, but for my disappointment the car hasn't received full valeting as promised. Obviously it was very clean and shiny externally but only noticed how dirty the seats were and few bits that haven't been checked when got it home. Well,  salesman (can we say that? or should I use salesperson?? - mad world!) promised a call back to book in and double check few things like scuff plates coming off and internal cleanness. I will clean the seats myself, can't wait for that.

Now, a very strange thing: The service book showing the full service from other dealer contains the first delivery info with a different Reg number from another existent car. Same VIN number but different REG, year and model version.  And it looks like it has been filled at the same time of the last service, before handing over to me,  same pen and handwrite.  

I called the other dealer service department who originally sold from new and did the first 4 services and they confirmed the service history with my reg number, so a bit of relief, but what on earth they tried to do in this dealer where I bought it from??

It looks it has been serviced, at least the engine oil is new and fluids all up to the level, but I will need some explanations on this as it can cause me problems in the future when I sell or need warranty.

Anyway, happy with the car so far. As mentioned before, someone else did a nice specs up for me in getting roof rails, chrome pack, side steps, Dashcam and boot liner.

Driving it yesterday between A roads and town managed an average of 46mpg, impressed that could run on EV up to 40mph for a bit.  Couldn't get the Battery fully charged though, even in a good run through straight A roads and in town it discharges quickly.  But I think that's how it is?

Well, time to start learning and sharing at the other sessions of the forum. 

See you around.

👍

 

[Bernard Foy]

Hi Marcos, glad that you’re delighted with your new Toyota. As long the vin number and the reg numbers tally up I wouldn’t be too worried about a number that a service person had written down. However, I would point it out to the dealership you bought the car from and ask them to rectify it. Do not rely on them calling you back if you don’t hear from them again within 48hrs, you call them and make an appointment to suit your timetable. Furthermore I wouldn’t clean the seats either, the car should be delivered to you in spotless condition, and you shouldn’t accept less, after all you have paid good money for your car and accepting less than you are entitled to is not a good way to start a relationship with your dealership.

[Yugguy1970]

You will never see the Battery fully charged, it doesn't really work like that.  It balances between using and charging the Battery according to what's most efficient.

[Bernard Foy]

For the longest Battery life of any kind of Battery and for optimum performances it should never be fully charged or fully depleted.

[Smani]

2 hours ago, Bernard Foy said:

Hi Marcos, glad that you’re delighted with your new Toyota. As long the vin number and the reg numbers tally up I wouldn’t be too worried about a number that a service person had written down. However, I would point it out to the dealership you bought the car from and ask them to rectify it. Do not rely on them calling you back if you don’t hear from them again within 48hrs, you call them and make an appointment to suit your timetable. Furthermore I wouldn’t clean the seats either, the car should be delivered to you in spotless condition, and you shouldn’t accept less, after all you have paid good money for your car and accepting less than you are entitled to is not a good way to start a relationship with your dealership.

Hi Bernard,

You are absolutely right! Thanks.

After all, reliability and good relationship with dealer was what drove me to Toyota. I will make my bit to keep like that. The joy of the new car is a bonus. (really liked it).

I popped in there and spoke with the site manager who checked and found the discrepancy odd, however he promptly checked and printed out the service history and asked me to keep together the log book.  Also confirmed that I will have the full valeting in the car and apologise for the inconvenience. 

[Bernard Foy]

Good man Marcos, sometimes if you don’t stand up for what is right and for your entitlements it may make it more difficult for others who come after you to do so.👏👏🚗

[Smani]

There she is!

Little story: My previous car was brown (not my choice of colour but as the RAV4 I went for the car conditions and specs) and my little boy always called it "Brownie".

As he was abroad, I never said was changing the car, all he knew was our "brownie" finally came back home from the garage after 4 months of repairs.

I wish I could show his reaction when I pick him and his mum up at the airport when he saw the "New Brownie"! 😍