Anyone want to buy a 1999 Toyota Rav4 LX?
"Perge modo et qua te ducit via dirige gressum," said Venus to Aeneas.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Less is More, and Cute
We picked it up yesterday. It had only eleven miles on it when we drove it out of the showroom. I have never had an easier car-buying experience. SmartUSA controls the pricing, so the dealership can't do any haggling. All they did was offer me the extended warranty which I bought and financing which I declined. Anyone getting on the waiting list for one of these can expect to be on hold for a year. Supposedly, I could now flip it on Ebay and make several thousand, but I think I've bonded with it. It's just so cute and it's been many years since I had a convertible. Also, if at any time I decide to change the color of the car, for under a thousand dollars I can buy a complete set of panels to replace all the blue ones. The black sections are the steel safety cell. It received a five star crash test rating so it's not the accordion it seems to be. We asked the dealer about the demographics of the buyers. He said that it emcompasses the full range. College kids who scrape together enough to finance it to the max, as well as doctors who can afford anything but feel strongly about owning a car that makes sense. It is as good with gas as C's Prius, and I'll have an easy time parking it in Manhattan. The inside is surprisingly roomy and we won't mind driving it to Florida.
Anyone want to buy a 1999 Toyota Rav4 LX?
Anyone want to buy a 1999 Toyota Rav4 LX?
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17 comments:
Holy crap. I don't think I could get my balls in that car, let alone the rest of me.
You're right though... it's super cute... I love the color.
I'm thinking that Smart car is just about the cutest thing I have seen in ages. I love the shot on the circle drive, but think it would be much more fabulous if captured at early dawn.
I can not yet deprive myself of my zippy CTS, but when I do, I will consider this for a city car. Love it!
Dear Milkman, one of our neighbors, a tall guy, came ambling over this morning and had to get into the driver's seat. He couldn't believe how spacious it is. What has been shrunk is not the cockpit. Remember, there's no back seat, and the trunk is big enough for carry-on luggage or groceries.
I guess you won't be picking up any hitchhikers anytime soon.
How odd, my word verification is: wwww
It is pretty cute. And I share your love of convertibles, but I don't know if I would drive it from Fla. to NY. I've no idea what the ride is like and the last subcompact I drove over a long distance made me want to buy a new spine.
However, it is adorable and I don't mind admitting I'm envious.
I loved zipping around Paris in le car. You always wanted to buy a baquette and have it stick out through the sunroof.
To drive it out of the showroom - did they have to open it up or did you just use the main entrance?
Driving down I-95 with this... wow, that's brave. You should just put it on the back of a pick-up.
I love it!
And I'm sure it's roomy. I was surprised how comfy I was in a VW bug a few years back.
My only concern is that there's probably not enough room in the boot for all my t-shirts, let alone Tim's, when we head up to P-town!
Henry, I drove it straight out the front door of the showroom! I've done that drive south twice now. Once in a rented Ryder truck (nightmare) and once with C in his Prius (a fun trip).
Oh no you DIN'T! You got a SmartCar!!! Yay! Enjoy the gas mileage!
I do like them. But of course I would. I drive a MINI.
Dear Mark,
One needs exactly three t shirts per day in Ptown. The saunter/coffee one, the gym one and the evening one. Same in Fort Lauderdale (and Madrid, for that matter). This car can handle that.
Someone often parks their blue and silver Smart down the road, it's confusing because I used to know a coke dealer who drove around Amsterdam in one of those.
Hot to Trot!
This is the first time I've seen the safety cage in black. I thought they were all stainless steel.
Dear Gavin/Y/O/Y, the steel cage comes in either silver or black. I also like the fact that I can drive it as either a standard or an automatic, and the convertible top is entirely automatic.
It would fit in the back of my truck. I love it! I don't know how practical it would be in this climate, though. I saw quite a few Smart Cars in Vancouver, but have yet to see one this far north.
Does it have a name, yet?
Thank heavens you've left Montreal.
My Bill drove one of those glorifed golfcarts around here over a coupla winters and it was hellish from the get-go. The thing rode like a bicycle on a beach in the snow.
That said, i love love love the colour.
Dear Tank,
Exactly. This car will never be touched by a single snow flake. Come fall, it will transition to Fort Lauderdale. Where all cars should be golf carts.
it must be one of those things you need to see in person. pictures don't do it justice.
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