Birddog
Member
Well count me into the out of state owners club. I have been watching the RAV 4 EV for years, reading the forum and wondering about warranty support. I went to my local dealer numerous times and tried to talk to them about the car, but I was just another “nobody” wanting an electric car. I got a chance to test drive a Tesla at the Dallas Showroom and look at the car up-close. It got my juices running again. So just for the heck of it I did an Auto trader search for the Rav and found a Columbia Mo. Dealer with one for $24,000. They had bought it at a Toyota auction. According to them the car was a factory take back due to the 2nd owner’s complaints. They put the car through all their procedures in Texas and then Toyota sold it to a non-California dealer and put a 12 month or 60,000 odometer mile warranty on it. I met the delivery driver in Springfield Mo. and drove it home. Figuring the trip right at a hundred miles, I thought I would be safe if they gave it the full charge as they promised. However, it rolled off the trailer showing only a 75 mile range and had not been given the extended range charge. I still thought it would be doable because the range was based on the previous owners driving habits. So I headed home riding the rear end of my daughter’s car as close as I could, using all the mileage saving techniques I knew. At the halfway point I had gained 17 miles of range so I was feeling pretty confident. I even got some real time coaching from Dennis, one of the site moderators as I drove. I arrived home in Rogers Arkansas with 13 miles to spare and an efficiency rating of 4.3. No charger was in the car, so a local search found a Kum and Go convenience store with free charging 14 miles away. A tense drive got me there with 3 miles to spare and an overnight charge put me back on the road. (A charger is on order.) My initial thoughts are very good toward the ownership so far. I also purchased a 5 yr, 100,000 mile warranty, and they know it is an electric vehicle. So it may take a while but I should be able to get repairs. I have a lot to learn about the car. Stay tuned.