Rav4 '97 - things to look for

was.deevey

Hi all,

My gut tells me that Id prefer a 15 year old car that was 3 or 4 times the price new than a newer 10 year old car that was cheap as chips. Stop me right there if you thing I'm being an Idiot ?

So I'm off to look at a '97 Rav4 Auto tomorrow, living abroad so prices are kinda high and just want to get decent bang for buck really. I've been to see two of them already they seem decent enough - not much different to most other 2.0's and bloody nice to drive (especially round here where a lil bigger/higher is most certainly safer!)

So what anyones views on them, what breaks - or should I just look at 8 or 9 yr old newer honda city with similar milage :-S

The one I'm going to peek at tomorrow is bloody low milage (91k) - probably genuine as quite a few cars are only driven a day or two a week as second cars (daily road restrictions based on number plate - e.g. you cant drive Mondays if you have ABC).

Another one we saw already looks pristine in and out, feels great to drive - full service history, a few upgrades (HID Lights) genuine seller and completely upfront about everything - unfortunately including the oil leak (he has offered to reduce the price as much as a repair will cost though if I bring a mechanic and it might just be a damn $2 o-ring).

Was also considering Honda CRV's - but took one out on the road, and while it drove nicely was just a bit - "Bus like"

Bigus

Nothing to look out for on 97 Rav that's a proper Toyota , I drove a 200000 mile one here recently that went for export and it reminded me how good they were.

Window regs is the only problem I can think of

ba_barabus

Rust, that's all I've even seen on them

was.deevey

I drove a 200000 mile one here recently that went for export and it reminded me how good they were.

It'll probably end up over here with 80,000 miles on it hehe..

Thankfully theres very few rusters here due to the weather - dry+30º heat most of the year except typhoon season :P

Would it be worth having a mechanic look at the Leaky one ? .. one thing I particularly liked about it was it was the "L" model with the better engine, nicer fittings, manual gearbox (more poke than the auto) and on/off 4x4 option

Bigus

was.deevey wrote: »

It'll probably end up over here with 80,000 miles on it hehe..

Thankfully theres very few rusters here due to the weather - dry+30º heat most of the year except typhoon season :P

Would it be worth having a mechanic look at the Leaky one ? .. one thing I particularly liked about it was it was the "L" model with the better engine, nicer fittings, manual gearbox (more poke than the auto) and on/off 4x4 option

Absolutely, but try a can of oil seal softener in it after you buy it cheap and you might save a few bob, where are you ?

dgt

Rust and ignition barrel (as pointed out by Our Man in Havana at a meet )

Apart from that not much else!

Big Nasty

Petrol stations! :eek:

was.deevey

Absolutely, but try a can of oil seal softener in it after you buy it cheap and you might save a few bob, where are you ?

Philippines ... the guy already changed the head gasket - which would probably be the most expensive to fix. On doing some reading it looks like it could be the oil pan, distributor o-ring or somewhere around the crankshaft :-S ...

It'll only cost a tenner to have a mechanic look at it most likely before buying - need to out the one tomorrow before re-visiting the leaky one as girl selling it doesn't even know if its the 4x4 version LOL but looks in decent nick and might be a bargain (seems to have the 4x4 switch on the dash).

dgt

OP are you in Metro-Manilla?

was.deevey

OP are you in Metro-Manilla?

Yep Yep living in QC

dgt

was.deevey wrote: »

Yep Yep living in QC

I go my radio in Trinoma, Handyman to be exact

There's a district with nothing but accessory shops for cars, begins wit a B, I can't for the life of me remember what the name of it is

Is Victor Benz still going strong?

Edit: Banawe

was.deevey

hehe, only living about 15 mins from trinoma, you lost me at Victor Benz though :-S ...

Haven't been in Banawe - might be worth a punt just to see whats around - so many damn dealers though (probably why we haven't gone there yet).

Last one we tried in Makati was trying to sell a "genuine" car to us which had "no accident history sir".... yet 2 blown airbags (steering wheel and console rubber was replaced) new Rad, New Alternator, new Manifold, and frontend under the bonnet that had just been resprayed and looked like it had been pulled out with a crowbar - talk about a lemon!

Are you still living over here ?

dgt

was.deevey wrote: »

hehe, only living about 15 mins from trinoma, you lost me at Victor Benz though :-S ...

Haven't been in Banawe - might be worth a punt just to see whats around - so many damn dealers though (probably why we haven't gone there yet).

Last one we tried in Makati was trying to sell a "genuine" car to us which had "no accident history sir".... yet 2 blown airbags (steering wheel and console rubber was replaced) new Rad, New Alternator, new Manifold, and frontend under the bonnet that had just been resprayed and looked like it had been pulled out with a crowbar - talk about a lemon!

Are you still living over here ?

Yes you see some mad stuff there I remember seeing a Tamaraw crammed with people and the rear axle attached to the body with a chain :eek: the pollution from some of the vehicles there make my car with it's burning oil problem seem eco friendly

Victor Benz is in Pag Asa, near road 13 not too far away from SM EDSA. We had a gander in the yard, had a lovely 850i and various Mercs, chap that ran it was a gent for showing us around

When we went to Banawe, we couldn't be prised away :pac: there was a shop that sold nothing but engines and all the stock at the front on the street! :cool:

Hope the Jeepneys are still flying about!

Sadly I don't live there (I would love to though, last time I was there was in 2009) alas I will return there someday to visit my many relatives

was.deevey

Yeah you see some completely nuts stuff for sure (11 people on a Trike for example!) ...

Wonder how much a completely stainless steel kit-car jeep would set you back in Ireland :P

There's actually a tasty looking 1998 316i in Banawe that I'm trying to convince herself to look at (had one before) - its a lil more expensive than the Rav4, but maybe worth a look at even to get us in into the area :P - spending a fortune on taxi's just looking for the car!

Its a bitch trying to get a legitimate seller who actually transferred the ownership into their own name - half the people who buy second hand cars don't bother due to it being too time consuming (have to get to the original city/office) and the transfer fee is about 100 euro (2 or more weeks wages for the majority).

One car we checked had 3 previous owners and never changed the title - would cost about 500 euro alone just to change the title.

On the plus side Insurance (TPL Only) is a tenner for the year...almost impossible to insure a car over 10 years old (7 in some cases).

was.deevey

Any other opinions before we possibly bite the bullet ?

dgt

Better a car you know has the paperwork than a car with fake plates! :eek:

Do you need the car on the day you can't drive it?

And with the price of petrol there, would something bigger fit the build?

was.deevey

Petrol ain't that cheap here, 1.05 euro per litre appx at this stage, so bigger not really a good idea, 2.0 is fine with me, or even a 2.5 diesel, but haven't seen a clean Pajero (my second choice) under 19 yrs old for the same money.

I work nights so peak driving is not really an issue.

Heading out in 10 mins to see the white Rav4 .. they have all the paperwork correct and re-registered properly, so we'll see.