Well, the title of this thread is "RAV4 #3 arrives" .... Should now be "RAV4 #3 departs" !!
So bought the RAV4, did a full machine polish, fitted the sports muffler, upgraded head unit, changed spark plugs, new MAF, bigger battery, etc, as it was going to be a keeper with its great service history and low mileage.
Found out the OH didn't really like driving it as it is an Auto. I have another car and a VW Bus already, so don't really need a THIRD vehicle for myself so not really needed.
Then it goes in for a service and needs a new sump pan as that was porous due to rust (so $400 to fix); The fuel filler pipe behind the arch trim I had already treated with Krust as not looking that healthy.
Then the air con stopped working - found the mag clutch had sacrified itself and likely the compressor had failed as well - so that needed replacing. Decided to get a new water pump fitted at the same time as after 11 years, likely seen better days so all that work was around $900 at an independant garage (Toyota wanted around $2,000 to do the work).
Then go out for a drive to get a takeaway meal (bear in mind this car is not getting much use so at this stage done maybe 800 miles since buying?) and on way home big banging noises from underneath - pull over and have a look ... Heat shield above exhaust rusted off mounts and now loose and banging up and down.
Next day I jack up the car and have a closer look and as I move bits and pieces and tap parts, get showered with rust particles all over the place! The underneath really needs a full, serious, derust and reseal.
The hanger failing really was the last straw! Car has cost me nearly $2 a mile in repair costs and I was not enjoying driving it, just waiting for the next thing to fail each time I got in
So made up a replacement heat shield hangers from an opened up baked bean tin can (be damned if I pay Toyota $50 for some wafer-thin repair part) and rivet into place and put it up for sale!
The only positive I guess is that I had bought the RAV4 for a very good price, so after the near $2,000 I spent on servicing, parts and repairs, I only lost about $700 selling it to a dealer as I just wanted shot (he is now selling it at well over $3k more then he paid me!)
Definitely fell out of love with this RAV!