Jim, This is only my personal experience - - which may be counter to everyone else's.
We had a 2002 Toyota Rav 4 which we liked very much until last summer when the transmission self-destructed at 120,000 miles. (I'm a stickler for maintenance - - our other vehicle is a Chevy Astro van with 244,000 miles on it and continues to deliver daily dependability.) Our Rav 4 received regular maintenance including tranny flushes every 30,000 miles, and I had the service records. But it turned out that Toyota was having "software problems" and the computer was sending bad signals to the transmission which caused it to shift at inappropriate times and resulted in its destruction. The Toyota dealer who evaluated the problem said that they've been seeing this problem a lot in Rav 4s, and had received several "Dealer Alerts" from Toyota on the subject. The guy knew what the problem was on the phone even before I brought in the vehicle! Bottom line: despite this being a manufacturer's defect, Toyota did not stand behind the product since it was off warranty. The only o ption they offered us was to replace the entire transmission for $4500.00. We dumped the Rav 4 that week and bought a new Subaru Forester (which has loads of cargo capacity). So far so good with the Forester - - it's superb in the snow and gets 29-30 mpg on the highway. Anyhow, although we've had 2 Toyotas in the past, I don't see us ever buying another simply because of the dependability issue we (and reportedly many others) experienced. Had the company stood behind the problem, I'd feel differently. As long as you're driving a 1969 GMC pickup, it's suggestive that you're not wed to driving a new vehicle. I'd recommend finding a good used Chevy Astro van (they're no longer being manufactured). The 4.3 V-6 is a fabulous motor, and the transmissions are virtually bulletproof (ours is the original). More than adequate cargo room, and all dry, cozy, and heated/air conditioned. I've owned two since 1988 and loved them both. When my present one dies, I'll follow my own advice and look for another one. Whatever you decide, good luck! George P. -----Original Message----- From: jim...@earthlink.net <jim...@earthlink.net> To: Phono-L@oldcrank.org Sent: Sun, Mar 7, 2010 2:46 pm Subject: [Phono-L] Vehicle? I am on the verge of getting a new vehicle & thought I'd ask the advice of Phono-L members since, like myself, you all have need to haul antique phonographs. I'd like to have cargo capacity to transport the "typical" Victrola (XVI), the "typical" Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph (C-250) as well the Orthophonic "Credenza" - when I need to haul an Orthophonic changer or a Capehart, I'll continue to use my 1969 GMC pickup. I want a smaller, more economical 4 cylinder vehicle & have looked at Hondas (all of which have too small a cargo area except the "Element" which I consider unattractive) & Toyotas (Scion, Metric, RAV 4 & Venza,all of which will accommodate the above mentioned machines) & am leaning towards the RAV4 but thought it might be nice to get your input before making a final decision. Thanks! Jim Cartwright Immortal Performances, Inc. jim...@earthlink.net _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
