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Comments
(And yes, it's pretty expensive for a compass in a self-dimming mirror I think, but it'd be *nice*!
Regards,
M
I'd really like to pick he ext. and int. colors and the exact options I want, without having to take a couple of thousand $'s of options that I don't want.
There has been lots of discussion here about doing this and it is all decided on a regional level. Toyota has no say in what each region allows. In general though you cant break up a package and take some features from one and features from another. Also the the exterior/interior colors are fixed at the factory so there is no variation there.
What a lot of my clients do is pick the exterior color and then modify the interior here aftermarket.
How do you want to build yours? What don't you want in it? Since each region is different some may be able to suggest something that is specific to one area or another.
the Toyota Canada site, but not on the US site....can a US
dealer order that accessory for a Rav4 that I picked up
a few weeks ago?
All the more reason to know what's where wiring-wise in the Rav4... I wonder if the official Toyota repair manual for this vehicle is worth the money (however much that is...)?
after market moldings would be an exact color match.
Eventually all this info will be available. Right now the dealers only know "we sell at MSRP" it seems or most of them.
Toyota's process is not very customer friendly. I ORDERED a Chevy S10 pickup some years ago and it was very straightforward, they told me no problems and it went real smooth.
This has been a common complaint with Toyota and with Honda. In the Honda system it's easy. There are no options - except maybe Navi - so just choose your tranny, engine and color.
Toyota may be coming around to this system but they still use 'packages' to group commonly desired options.
Here is the reason: They are both producing for the mass market and they are trying to get to a least common denominator. Neither manufacturer wants to be a niche producer like Mazda or Subaru. Their marketing surveys the market, and both do it extraordinarily well, and determine what the greatest volume of buyers want.
Two reasons why..
- it's easier to sell more vehicles this way; and
- one of the tenets of both production systems, especially Toyota's, is that the more you produce of one thing in one process at one time the better your quality will be. Stopping the line to make adjustments to make this then that then this then that screws up quality. GM/F have always tried to do the customization method because the volume always was huge and likely they could find one vehicle somewhere in the country that met even the most specific buyer's desire. With shrinking volume customization is a major thorn in side of production and quality control.
Most everyone would love a custom built car, if the wait was only a few days to perhaps a couple of weeks to get it.
Then again, I don't know anyone who has ever used one of those Intellifit machines or myvirtualmodel.com to custom order a pair of jeans.
Steve, Host
Correct. The Scion idea is make a 'basic loaded' model and then accessorize it to the max if possible. The same with the FJ Cruiser next month.
Trucks certainly have a lot of potential accessories but autos? I dont think so much other than for the 'tuners'.
- it's easier to sell more vehicles this way; and
- one of the tenets of both production systems, especially Toyota's, is that the more you produce of one thing in one process at one time the better your quality will be. Stopping the line to make adjustments to make this then that then this then that screws up quality. GM/F have always tried to do the customization method because the volume always was huge and likely they could find one vehicle somewhere in the country that met even the most specific buyer's desire. With shrinking volume customization is a major thorn in side of production and quality control."
KD--I've never had any complaint about the Toyota model, but the middle men take all the fun out of "ordering" a vehicle. When we "requisitioned" (that was the term our salesman preferred) our 04 Rav4 we waited 5 months only to find out that Gulf States Toyota couldn't/wouldn't get a car (in their allotment) even close to what we had requisitioned. The dealership was great and we had no complaints w/ the salesman, but GST is for the birds.
In my area you had better take what is available on the lot or through dealer trade (often including a bunch of expensive add-on packages) or expect to wait...and wait...and never get the car you wanted. It didn't help that we were working with a small dealership who had no "pull" in the system.
Gogiboy
I would choose the dark-blue or red with the tan interior. I'm just thinking that to get that color combo with that option package and at the dealer with the best price could be difficult. Sure the dealer could trade, but there is a charge for that, if for no other reason then someone has to drive the vehicle or it has to be put back on a truck.
When I bought my wife's '00 Silverado we went to the dealer, paid $500 over invoice, ordered every option we wanted and got the vehicle 8 weeks later. I'd guess we saved over $1,500 by not buying options we didn't want, that were on the vehicles in the lot.
This was my 2nd drive of V6 Sport and first drive of the V6 Limited. I drove them without a dealer chaperon.
Again the V6 is very smooth and quiet at idle and cruise at any speed (touched 90 in the Sport). The V6 is very powerful and actualy takes some getting use to start of smoothly as it just goes. Acceration at any speed is terrific. Transmission is very smooth with nice shifts. It has a "mini-tipronic" mode that lets you drop to 4th for accel by just pushing the lever to the right slightly and I found this handy. There is some noise from the engine exahust I think it is when you make large throttle applications. Handling of the Sport is very good, and the steering is very quick. This is good but you have to keep track of it. The Sport ride is firm and has some tire noise on cement pavement. I made a few very hard quick turns with large throttle applied . Things were good but my guess the tires are no match for the chassis or the V6. The sport had Bridgestone Duelers and the Limited had Yokohama G91 Geolanders. I think the G91s were quieter and better handling but hard to tell in a 20 min ride.
The Limited was a little quieter and slower steering with a little more body lean in quick turns.
Both cars are lots of fun and very respectible with loads of power. 70 is just under 2000 rpm. 40 MPH in traffic was about 1200 to 1500 RPM and very quiet.
One thing I liked about the Limited vs. the Sport was the power driver seat. Much more easy to adjust and it seemed that the vertical range was bigger( I am 5'7" and like to sit high.)If only one person will drive the car then the manual seats are fine I think since once you get them set it is ok. But they take some fooling with and getting the seat back angle where you want it is a little tedious for me.
I connected my Scangauge to both cars to try to get MPG readings. This is simple as it plugs into the test connector on the left side under the dash.I am not sure of the accuracy but the average for about 20 miles was 16.4 MPG much like the C&D number. This included lots of 30 to 70 and 50-70 full throttle accels and some 0-60 full throttle accels. At a steady 65-70 it seemed like 26-31 mpg. GPH readings were around 2.2 GPH at 70. This is better than my Audi A6 2.7T. Full throttle flow was 22+GPH! The Audi is like 19. So that extra liter of engine size on the RAV4 will eat up fuel if you drive like a mad man. This was on semi level ground with slow rises and decents. But it was hard to hold the speed constant , watch the Scangauge display and the traffic.
One problem with buying the RAV4 is you cannot get what you want. In NY you cannot get a Sport with Side Curtain bags for example. Also one thing the dealer brought up is if you buy out of state like Fizmall you do not get the benifit if the NY Lemon law if you have bad luck with the car. Not a big deal but something to know. By the way, the salesman offered the thought that he thinks that very few people with buy the V6 and I was one of only 3 people who had called for a test drive of v6.
After the rides I had a price discussion with the salesman and then then the manager. The salesman's offer was $500 of MSRP. To make a long story short, after a polite 10 min. discussion the manager settled for $500 over invoice but only on the two v6s that had in stock. So you can get a deal if you work at it and are not fast to take the first offer.
(Anxiously awaiting my Rav4!)
Marty
I think this type mirror is avaiable on the Sport and Limited but not the Base.
I got approved yesterday for a 36 month car loan at 4.74% from my credit union. Anyone should check with thier bank or credit union before financing through Toyota.
BTW - I didn't get a dime off of MSRP - every V6 in town has been sold or is on a waiting list.
the thrill is over. Why did you pay MSRP.?
Or so your dealer tells you. Of course, it wouldn't be difficult for "every V6 in town" to be sold or "on a waiting list" when they probably just got a couple of the scant few sent in the initial shipments and he already told you that you had the first V6 in the city.
You paid the price to be first.
We're in Washington state, and the best price we've found (through a broker) isn't close to that.
One thing to watch is if you buy from out of state, your state's "lemon laws" will not apply. Not that you need them with a Toyota but you never know. Unless your in a big rushl, wait a month, prices are coming down. And go to the dealer prepaired to buy, with all the price info etc. The cars are scarce in NY too but it is possible to get $1000 or more off MSRP. And yes soem salesmen are wise guys who dismiss you when you say "I am not paying MSRP". If you buy a stripped model you will not get much off. Most of the cars I see have seen in NY are 80% loaded except for leather which I have not see at all.
Good luck
thanks.
- Marty
Well I finally got to take a base V6, and a 4 Cyl. Sport for a short test drive. Both seemed powerful enough for everyday driving, but I did like the V6 better. It seemed to have less engine noise and ride better than the Sport with less road noise. It just might have been the tires on the Sport but I noticed the road noise more in it than the base V6. The gas pedal was more sensitive on both than I am use to, but not hard to adjust to. The dark gray interior in the Sport is nice, and the fender flares add a little protection from stone chips, but I still think I will try for a Limited V6, if they every come in. If I have to order, I think I’ll wait to order a 2007.
Thanks everybody for all your great input, it has really been a big help reading all your comments, please keep them coming.
Jim C.
The car I drove had been delivered the day before and had not been prepped. I drove the Sport for only about 20 miles. The car was not fuly warmed up when I left the dealer.During this 20miles I made many full throttle accelrations from 0-60,30-50,50-70mph etc. One run was from 50-90.I did not try to get good mpg at anytime except when I was driving a short way at 65-70 at a steady speed to try to get mpg and fuel flow readings.
So the 16.4 mpg was for the overall 20 miles. Unless you are 16 years old driving your dad's V6 RAV, that is probaby the worst mpg the RAV4 will ever get! During the steady drivng at 65-70 the car seemed to be getting between 27 and 31 Mpg. As I said earlier it was hard to hold speed, read the scan gauge and speedometer and watch the traffic at the same time. At 65-70 the gallons per hour were around 2.2 which is about 31 mpg at 65. From the short time I had, I think the v6 will provide awesome performance when you need it and good mileage when you drive it reasonably to get good mpg. With the 5 speed it turns very slowly (1980 rpm) at 70 so the mpg should be very reasonable with a lite foot.
I am buying one with the V6.
If your really concerened about $ and mpg and do not haul heavy loads or are in the moutains consider the i4. I have driven it and it is very nice with good power. People here have reported 30 mpg here at 60 or so on trips.
Where I drive its hot, dry, and flat--so no concerns about cold weather or hilly areas that may negatively affect the MPGs.
As for a different SUV--I was only referring to other SUV's that are more "roomy" and "less expensive"--I wasn't referring to MPGs. My point was simply that if the RAV4 were to be getting 16.4 MPGs, then, in my opinion, there are several other SUVs that we may consider that get similar gas mileage (i.e., in the 16 MPG range) but which are more roomy on the interior and are less expensive than the RAV--that's all.