The A/C light comes on in winter also because the A/C compressor has to run to dehumidify the air to keep the windows from fogging up. The air will still be warmed even when the A/C compressor is running. A/C is not limited to only cooling the car on hot days. A/C should be run every few weeks year round anyway to keep it from seizing due to non-use.
Worth adding: I did not have a trade in and the best internet quote for that car was $500 below sticker. I insisted on color silver and $1K below MSRP. Once I got the feeling the manager was willing to let me walk out without the car I agreed to $834 below MSRP. Took me one hour today, did not have any luck yesterday at two other dealerships. Hope that helps.
Well, have now seen the base cloth, limited cloth, and limited leather. The cloth where you sit and your back hits is different from the supporting fabric on the sides. The cloth in the limited is slightly better in the limited than in the base, but the same scratchy supporting fabric is there where your arms hit. Why, I have no idea. Why would you make steps to compete with the CRV and offer awful fabric. (The leather, otoh, is very nice, but to get leather you are almost guaranteed to have to get a loaded AWD and that is ~28K... out of our budget.)
Overall, I feel about the rav the same way I always do about Toyota's: it will be a dependable, functional, quiet vehicle that we do not love because of interior comfort. The controls are laid out ok, but the interior is (imo) ugly. The armrests are fabric (the rough kind) for some reason. They give you audio controls on the limited's steering wheel but the controls look chintzy and unattractive, and there are only 4 of them as I recall. The Mariner's fit & finish and material quality inside is far better, but... it's a Ford and we know what that means. I was really hoping that with the advances that Honda has made in interior fit/finish, and even Hyundai (we are very impressed with the new Sonata!), that Toyota would get a clue, but alas... same old Toyota. They went partway but for a few hundred more could've gone much further.
The only real question is whether we spring for a dependable but completely unexciting RAV or wait for the new CRV...
Does anyone know when the 2006 RAVs crash test ratings will be available?
shifting is seemless and the right gear is always piced. Very happy. The 2.4 is the perfect engine for this truck. We got 21 mpg the first tank!! Frank
We have 700 miles on our '06 4cyl. RAV4 (Limited AWD) and we are getting 25 mpg every time we fill up. Most of our driving is highway...probably 80%. (The closest grocery store is 12 miles away.) My wife is in love with this vehicle. Here in the mountains of Vermont we get at least a dusting of snow almost daily so we really appreciate the AWD.
Thanks for the report. Since we haven't had snow in DC here in a few weeks (and since we bought the RAV4), I'm curious: How seemless and responsive is the 4WD system? Have you had any need for the manual operation, or does the automatic detection work sufficiently?
I currently drive an Acura RSX. Neither I, nor anyone else my family has ever owned an SUV or truck. I had a baby 9 months ago, and even though I swore I would not give up my ride for a “mommy car” I know the time has come. The only thing that fits in my trunk is her stroller!!!
I LOVE the new Rav4. I drove a base model on Friday and was pretty impressed. I am worried about a couple things, power being the first!!! I live in Pittsburgh- snow, hills, etc. I fly up hills in my RSX (which I like) will I be able to achieve the same results in the 4cylinder? I am not interested in the V6 I commute 50+ miles a day to and from work . so I am also concerned about mileage. I am not in a hurry, but I am excited about the possible purchase. I know I want the Sport 4, moon roof in pacific blue. Should I wait for more choices on dealer lots to get a better price? How long do you think that will take? :shades:
Talk about disapointment... My girlfriend waited a week for her sport rav2006 and on the second day it became stuck in 4WD!!! She took it to the dealership today... no word yet! Has anyone heard of this happening yet?
THE BACK DOOR IS A PAIN AT LEAST THE BACK WINDOW SHOULD FLIP UP. LIKE THE CRV. THE STD. TONNEAU COVER AND SUPPORT POLES ON THE LIMITED WON'T LAST TOO LONG THEY ARE JUNK. BUT I THINK THAT MORE BUYERS ARE INTERESTED IN MORE CUP HOLDERS THAN PRACTICAL ITEMS LIKE SIDE AIR BAGS. THIS FALL WHEN ALMOST ALL THE MAKES WILL HAVE A NEW REDESIGNED SUV THERE WILL BE MORE USEFUL CHOICES. I COULD LIVE WITHOUT A MOON ROOF SUPER ALLOY WHEELS OR 16 SPEAKERS.
We have a new rav and love the 2.4 motor. I do not think you will have any issues. Just remmeber this is not an RSX but a 3600 lbs SAFE 4wd suv and you will be fine:) Frank
where did you come up with this? the poles are aluminum. They will last fine... The cover is like any other cover. its fine. I love how someone can come up with crap like this without any experience.. Its called talking off the cuff.. who has 'super alloy" wheels and 16 speakers?? what does this have to do with anything??
Well take a look at the www.frizmall.com site. They have Sports coming in at very good amounts off list. And Chambersburgh is not far from Pittsburgh I do not think. In NY the local dealers a playing it coy and want MSRP unless it is loaded Limited it seems. I image it will take a few months before that clears. I am going to wait to drive the V6 Sport. My guess on the highway, the V6 with 5 speed, which has a much lower rpm at highway speeds will do close to I4 with 4 speed on MPG.
Yes, it will work with *ANY* portable audio device with a standard miniplug headphone jack (e.g. CD player, satellite, mp3 player, walkman, DVD player, whatever).
I was wondering if I would be better waiting for the 6 cylinder which I heard will be out the end of January. I looked at the mileage difference and it looks to be only about 1 or 2 more miles less per gallon. Does anyone know what would be the pro's of a 4 and con's. I can't believe they would make two different engines and only have that much difference in the mileage ratings. Thanks for taking time to reply.
she didn't have anything locked and the 4WD button wasn't on...it kicked into 4WD when she drove onto :confuse: a dirt road and never clicked back off...still no word!!!
I just bought a 2006 RAV 4 in the Blizzard Pearl color. My dealer is pushing the paint sealant / rust proofing package. I'm looking for advice on whether the benefit of this service is worth the $700 the dealer is asking. Dealer says the paint sealant will protect the car from acid rain for 5 full years and the rust proofing will help deaden the road noise by up to 30%.
well, the 4cyl is $1915 less than the 6. So, if that's important to you, best not to test drive the 6cyl, as you'll be spending the extra.
I'd say that the reason Toy. has kept the 4 cyl in the lineup is to keep the entry price on the vehicle as low as possible. Also- I wouldn't be surprise if the actual fuel economy difference will be a bit more than the EPA estimates reveal. With all that extra power available, some drivers might want to use it.
IMHO - paint sealant is nothing but a coat of wax that you could do yourself. It's pure dealer profit. Rust proofing actually will reduce road noise but it's completly un-necessary on todays cars. When was the last time you saw a rusted out car? It just doesn't happen like in years past. In fact, after market rust-proofing may do more harm than good by sealing in moisture and or blocking drain holes. You already have a 5 yr - 50k rust guarantee from Toyo.
When you look at the RAV think Camry.. 80% of all Camry's are the same 4c. IMO the sales/availability will end up being the same on the RAV.
RAV=Camry Highlander=Avalon
In the new iteration of the Highlander they will likely drop the 4c model. The RAV has it all over the 4c Highlander. Now make the 4c Highlander the Hybrid model and then you have a good potential to increase volume.
I'm a finance manager at a Dodge/Honda dealership, and I can vouch from experience that some environmental packages are worth the money.
Some paint protectants (not all, some) are substantially more than a coat of wax. I offer a product that guarantees the customer they won't have permanent bug splatters, acid rain, oxidation, or paint damage from bird droppings/tree sap for 5 years.
To demonstrate this product, I show people a piece of painted metal covered that has had the protectant applied and spraypaint the metal. After this dries, I take a cloth and simply wipe off the paint. You CANNOT do this on unprotected paint.
In regards to actual rustproofing, most manufactures will actually void your factory rust warranty by applying an aftermarket rustproof product. Be careful!
BTW, $700 is way too much for an environmental product.
Agree with the others, to some extent. Bear in mind, first, that although such add-ons seem like only a few extra hundred dollars on an already expensive new car, these things can literally double or triple the dealer's profit on a sale, so it's why they push them so hard.
Second, I, too, have heard favorable testimonials about some paint protectants, which can really act like teflon. They're not superhuman force fields, but can certainly be more than a coat of wax. Be sure to find out what the dealer's selling and investigate on your own.
Rustproofing is, I agree, a complete waste of money. You'd have to regularly park a modern car in the Dead Sea to see rust.
Fabric and leather protection is always way-overpriced, and equal to the same $10-20 bottle of the stuff you can buy and apply yourself. BUT, sometimes dealers will offer to clean any and all scuff marks and stains for life, so if you think of it as an insurance policy, then it's arguably worthwhile.
But for all these options, remember that you can shop around for better deals on these services.
I don't find the noise a problem at all - engine, road, wind - but I'll know more after I drive to New Hampshire and back this coming weekend. Likewise for the shifting - it does tend to downshift under any signuificant low-speed load, but again I'll wait until I get some more hills under my belt. My V6 Jeep Grand Cherokee was pretty bad on that score, so this seems fine to me. rs
I understand that at present.. but the Highlander will be moved to a new platform next year and for comparison purposes the RAV and the Camry are in the same price range based on 4c power plants while the Highlander and Avalon appeal to the same market based on 6c engines.
Tell me the name of your product you hawk and I bet some members in the Store Bought Waxes Part II (No Zaino Posts) discussion will tell you that $6 worth of wax is better. Unless you're a Zaino fan. :-)
Waving a piece of painted metal around sounds like a parlor trick. All that mop and glow stuff is just an extra profit center for the dealer.
I find it hard to believe that dealers can get a product that the general public can't buy and apply themselves. I'm curious to hear what this stuff is too.
Back in the 80's the buzz at dealers was about "polyglycoat". IIRC it ran about $200. Big bucks for a wax type product you could buy at any auto parts store. If there was some magic formula out there you wouldn't be able to turn a page of Car & Driver without reading about it.
you: Does anyone know what would be the pro's of a 4 and con's.
me: Do a $/hp analysis, and think about little extra you're paying for so much more! I would think that if you're planning on keeping the RAV for a very long time, and can live with the moderate power do the 4cyl. If you're going to trade or private sell the Rav in 3 years i think it will be much easier to sell the 6cyl. and get a good price.
My personal opinion is that the 6cyl is what makes the Rav special. If I wanted a 4 cyl. SUV there are many other competitors out there with actual sale prices $5K+ less money. I'm looking at an ad right now fro an Xterra S auto/6-cyl 4x4 that's MSRP $25K and has $5,500 rebates and discounts. I'm not saying the Xterra is perfect or a direct competitor, but consider VALUE. Do side-by-side comparisions and see where the Rav comes out, then look at real-world prices and see if you think 4 cyl. Ravs are still a good deal.
If you were to come out ahead buying a V6 vs a 4 cylinder after 3 years because you are going to get so much more money back at resale, then it would cost less to lease a V6 than a 4 cylinder.
Depends where you live; climate etc. The factory should have dealt with rust-proofing. I've never heard of an after-market application of that. The metal used in manufacture is supposed to be rust resistant. Check the owners manual or Toyota web site. Or do you mean undercoating? That doesn't cut road noise noticeably. Ive been there.
There is a process that a custom shop can do that involves removing all the carpeting and seats and then they lay down a lead-impregnated material over the entire floor of the vehicle. This will lower the noise about 75%. For my Olds van it is about $800.00; mostly labor.
As for paint sealant...The vehicle comes clear-coated. My neighbor just had his new Land Rover coated with some kind of clear-coat that has to be baked on. He's an off-roader and this is supposed to protect from rock chips and scratches. Pricey stuff.
Don't get caught up with dealer-offered extras. If it was worth consideration, the factory probably would offer it as an option. I hope this was helpful.
Actually the Rav4 is VERY quiet, I honestly have no idea where this comes from? We took a 160 mile trip last weekend and were amazed on how quiet at highway speeds (65-70 mph) it was..
Well there are residuals and residuals. No one knows today what the market will say the true residual is for the RAV4 3-5 yrs from now. The dealers I spoke with are using 58% for 3 yrs now for the I4.
There is no "parlor trick" in what I show the customer. Tell you what, take some black spray paint and put it on your personal car, then take a cloth and try to wipe it off. Then tell me it's a "parlor trick".
There was a short time ago when we had a vehicle Xziloned on the showroom floor and I would actually spraypaint the vehicle and then wipe off the dried paint.
Believe it or not, not all of our products are just extra profit centers. Everything I offer a customer has value and is a win-win. If it doesn't benefit the customer, I don't offer it (etch is a good example).
The 4WD light came on when she hit the dirt road and never went back off...the dealership said it is a "bad cellinoid?" It shorted and is being repaired...she'll get it back on Wed.???!!!???
Maybe it depends on the model. I test drove the base w/4WD on a tar-covered highway (50-60mph) and heard plenty of engine and drivetrain noise. Perhaps, at 70-80mph the wind and road noise is high enough to overtake the engine and drivetrain noise that you don't hear it anymore, I dunno. I wonder if the V6 model can make things better.
Overall, I found the RAV (base model) to be far more noisier than my '03 Maxima SE. And I believe the Max is noisier than a typical Camry.
Ah yes, the molecular adhesion stuff. Here's a couple of posts about that:
"Does anyone know anything about the "Xzilon" molecular Adhesion that the dealership offers at the table for about $400? I live in Georgia and just purchased the XC90 and was told we get a lot of acid rain in our area? Any opinions?"
The response:
"Its mop and glo, its not worth it. Just wax your car."
The author of that response was a long time car salesman. :shades: Here's the link to the post:
Comments
A/C is not limited to only cooling the car on hot days.
A/C should be run every few weeks year round anyway to keep it from seizing due to non-use.
Hope that helps.
Toyota web site does not have this color.
Is this something new ?
Overall, I feel about the rav the same way I always do about Toyota's: it will be a dependable, functional, quiet vehicle that we do not love because of interior comfort. The controls are laid out ok, but the interior is (imo) ugly. The armrests are fabric (the rough kind) for some reason. They give you audio controls on the limited's steering wheel but the controls look chintzy and unattractive, and there are only 4 of them as I recall. The Mariner's fit & finish and material quality inside is far better, but... it's a Ford and we know what that means. I was really hoping that with the advances that Honda has made in interior fit/finish, and even Hyundai (we are very impressed with the new Sonata!), that Toyota would get a clue, but alas... same old Toyota. They went partway but for a few hundred more could've gone much further.
The only real question is whether we spring for a dependable but completely unexciting RAV or wait for the new CRV...
Does anyone know when the 2006 RAVs crash test ratings will be available?
We have a barcolona red Limited and love it!! Very happy
Frank
Frank
I LOVE the new Rav4. I drove a base model on Friday and was pretty impressed. I am worried about a couple things, power being the first!!! I live in Pittsburgh- snow, hills, etc. I fly up hills in my RSX (which I like) will I be able to achieve the same results in the 4cylinder? I am not interested in the V6 I commute 50+ miles a day to and from work . so I am also concerned about mileage. I am not in a hurry, but I am excited about the possible purchase. I know I want the Sport 4, moon roof in pacific blue. Should I wait for more choices on dealer lots to get a better price? How long do you think that will take? :shades:
THE STD. TONNEAU COVER AND SUPPORT POLES ON THE LIMITED WON'T LAST TOO LONG THEY ARE JUNK.
BUT I THINK THAT MORE BUYERS ARE INTERESTED IN MORE CUP HOLDERS THAN PRACTICAL ITEMS LIKE SIDE AIR BAGS.
THIS FALL WHEN ALMOST ALL THE MAKES WILL HAVE A NEW REDESIGNED SUV THERE WILL BE MORE USEFUL CHOICES.
I COULD LIVE WITHOUT A MOON ROOF SUPER ALLOY WHEELS
OR 16 SPEAKERS.
Frank
Frank
They have Sports coming in at very good amounts off list. And Chambersburgh is not far from Pittsburgh I do not think.
In NY the local dealers a playing it coy and want
MSRP unless it is loaded Limited it seems. I image it will take a few months before that clears. I am going to wait to drive the V6 Sport. My guess on the highway, the V6 with 5 speed, which has a much lower rpm at highway speeds will do close to I4 with 4 speed on MPG.
I'd say that the reason Toy. has kept the 4 cyl in the lineup is to keep the entry price on the vehicle as low as possible. Also- I wouldn't be surprise if the actual fuel economy difference will be a bit more than the EPA estimates reveal. With all that extra power available, some drivers might want to use it.
RAV=Camry
Highlander=Avalon
In the new iteration of the Highlander they will likely drop the 4c model. The RAV has it all over the 4c Highlander. Now make the 4c Highlander the Hybrid model and then you have a good potential to increase volume.
Some paint protectants (not all, some) are substantially more than a coat of wax. I offer a product that guarantees the customer they won't have permanent bug splatters, acid rain, oxidation, or paint damage from bird droppings/tree sap for 5 years.
To demonstrate this product, I show people a piece of painted metal covered that has had the protectant applied and spraypaint the metal. After this dries, I take a cloth and simply wipe off the paint. You CANNOT do this on unprotected paint.
In regards to actual rustproofing, most manufactures will actually void your factory rust warranty by applying an aftermarket rustproof product. Be careful!
BTW, $700 is way too much for an environmental product.
Second, I, too, have heard favorable testimonials about some paint protectants, which can really act like teflon. They're not superhuman force fields, but can certainly be more than a coat of wax. Be sure to find out what the dealer's selling and investigate on your own.
Rustproofing is, I agree, a complete waste of money. You'd have to regularly park a modern car in the Dead Sea to see rust.
Fabric and leather protection is always way-overpriced, and equal to the same $10-20 bottle of the stuff you can buy and apply yourself. BUT, sometimes dealers will offer to clean any and all scuff marks and stains for life, so if you think of it as an insurance policy, then it's arguably worthwhile.
But for all these options, remember that you can shop around for better deals on these services.
Frank
rs
Next year all 4 might be on different platforms.
Waving a piece of painted metal around sounds like a parlor trick. All that mop and glow stuff is just an extra profit center for the dealer.
Steve, Host
How is the noise factor? I have been reading conflicting reviews about that subject.
BTW, I saw your Barcelona Red on the rav4world website. Very nice ride!
Ken
Back in the 80's the buzz at dealers was about "polyglycoat". IIRC it ran about $200. Big bucks for a wax type product you could buy at any auto parts store. If there was some magic formula out there you wouldn't be able to turn a page of Car & Driver without reading about it.
me: Do a $/hp analysis, and think about little extra you're paying for so much more!
I would think that if you're planning on keeping the RAV for a very long time, and can live with the moderate power do the 4cyl. If you're going to trade or private sell the Rav in 3 years i think it will be much easier to sell the 6cyl. and get a good price.
My personal opinion is that the 6cyl is what makes the Rav special. If I wanted a 4 cyl. SUV there are many other competitors out there with actual sale prices $5K+ less money. I'm looking at an ad right now fro an Xterra S auto/6-cyl 4x4 that's MSRP $25K and has $5,500 rebates and discounts. I'm not saying the Xterra is perfect or a direct competitor, but consider VALUE.
Do side-by-side comparisions and see where the Rav comes out, then look at real-world prices and see if you think 4 cyl. Ravs are still a good deal.
Compare the lease costs and see.
There is a process that a custom shop can do that involves removing all the carpeting and seats and then they lay down a lead-impregnated material over the entire floor of the vehicle. This will lower the noise about 75%. For my Olds van it is about $800.00; mostly labor.
As for paint sealant...The vehicle comes clear-coated. My neighbor just had his new Land Rover coated with some kind of clear-coat that has to be baked on. He's an off-roader and this is supposed to protect from rock chips and scratches. Pricey stuff.
Don't get caught up with dealer-offered extras. If it was worth consideration, the factory probably would offer it as an option. I hope this was helpful.
Larry
Actually the Rav4 is VERY quiet, I honestly have no idea where this comes from? We took a 160 mile trip last weekend and were amazed on how quiet at highway speeds (65-70 mph) it was..
Frank
There is no "parlor trick" in what I show the customer. Tell you what, take some black spray paint and put it on your personal car, then take a cloth and try to wipe it off. Then tell me it's a "parlor trick".
There was a short time ago when we had a vehicle Xziloned on the showroom floor and I would actually spraypaint the vehicle and then wipe off the dried paint.
Believe it or not, not all of our products are just extra profit centers. Everything I offer a customer has value and is a win-win. If it doesn't benefit the customer, I don't offer it (etch is a good example).
Clear-Coat is nothing but a coat of paint without pigment. It does next to nothing in protecting your paint from the elements.
I wonder if the V6 model can make things better.
Overall, I found the RAV (base model) to be far more noisier than my '03 Maxima SE. And I believe the Max is noisier than a typical Camry.
"Does anyone know anything about the "Xzilon" molecular Adhesion that the dealership offers at the table for about $400? I live in Georgia and just purchased the XC90 and was told we get a lot of acid rain in our area? Any opinions?"
The response:
"Its mop and glo, its not worth it.
Just wax your car."
The author of that response was a long time car salesman. :shades: Here's the link to the post:
volvomax, "Volvo XC90 SUV" #4489, 4 Jan 2006 10:19 am
Sounds like snake oil to me.
Steve, Host