I put a fair amount of mileage on our long-term Toyota RAV4 this weekend, a car that to me is pure pleasure. Not remotely a fan of the Suburban or Tahoe, but the RAV4 is a fantastic city car to me. I often carry musical equipment, and it's got a wide-swinging rear door and plenty of space with two rows of fold-flat seats. It's easy to park and the visibility out the windows is absolutely fantastic...
However, I absolutely hate the constant beeps and whistles. I take my seatbelt off and the car isn't turned off yet? It beeps. I'm a full-grown adult. I don't need to be reminded that my seatbelt is off. (For the record, I ALWAYS drive with it on.) I also don't like the fact that I need to click the key fob twice or three times to unlock the passenger door and the back. (Beeps three times for that, too) Again, I would prefer one-touch lock or unlock, but to some that's a safety issue. And frankly, these beeps and bells and whistles are common to many modern cars, such is the way of technology. Minor annoyances in what is otherwise a delightful car.
But what I really love about the RAV is its PUNCH. It's got a very smooth, quick V6, and I logged a lot of miles on the highway. When you need to pass, just jab the accelerator and the transmission downshifts effortlessly, kicking the little SUV forward with gusto. I had wondered why an automatic-transmission SUV would have a tach needle. Now I know. Yes, I'm aware that in the picture, the car is stopped and the MPH dial is at zero. Our insurance doesn't cover your accident if you shoot a blog picture while accelerating on the highway. I believe that's under the "too dumb to deserve coverage" section, part 101c.
Doug Lloyd, Senior Copy Editor, @ 13,954 miles
carlisimo says:
12:49 PM, 04/ 2/07
I reached under my Miata's seat and disconnected the driver's side seat belt sensor, to stop the beep.
If it were up to me, seat belt reminders wouldn't go off if the parking brake was engaged. When I'm in motion I always have it on.
funkymunky says:
01:19 PM, 04/ 2/07
Parking brake isn't engaged. I do it usually to open my garage. Put the car in park (leaving it idling) and get out to open my garage. Beeps to high heaven. Fortunately, it stops after about 10 seconds.
desmolicious says:
01:54 PM, 04/ 2/07
If they only designed the FJ cruiser to have the same outwards visibility as the RAV4
duh_rel says:
02:16 PM, 04/ 2/07
For a minute there, I thought those gauges were photoshopped, because they look somewhat digitally cartoon'ish. I recall test driving a RAV4, but don't remember the gauges looking like that since it was at night.
gmarshall56 says:
04:36 AM, 04/ 3/07
I agree with the PUNCH. I stated in other blogs how you have to hang on to the wheel when you stab the throtle on this thing because it'l take off on you real quick.
My dry cleaner is located in the same shopping center as my grocery store. So I'll stop at the cleaners, complete my transaction there, hop back into my RAV ('07 Sport, V6, odo=7k) and proceed about 25 yards to a parking spot in front of the grocery store. If you put the vehicle in gear and proceed without fastening the seat belt, the beeping begins after about 1 second, continues for another 10 seconds, then changes its cadence to a rapid beeping, as if to threaten that the thing is going to explode if you don't put that seat belt on!
Oh and if its going to beep, why does it have to be a sissy sounding beep? It sounds like some kind of freshly hatched bird ("cheep cheep!!"). Give us a manly sounding alert, especially when we are using the key fob outside the vehicle. When I exit the vehicle and lock the door with the key fob, sound the horn like most every other type of vehicle! Now when I'm at my grocery store, I know when theres another Toyota in the lot because I can hear the cute "cheep cheep!"
gmarshall56 says:
04:36 AM, 04/ 3/07
I agree with the PUNCH. I stated in other blogs how you have to hang on to the wheel when you stab the throtle on this thing because it'l take off on you real quick.
My dry cleaner is located in the same shopping center as my grocery store. So I'll stop at the cleaners, complete my transaction there, hop back into my RAV ('07 Sport, V6, odo=7k) and proceed about 25 yards to a parking spot in front of the grocery store. If you put the vehicle in gear and proceed without fastening the seat belt, the beeping begins after about 1 second, continues for another 10 seconds, then changes its cadence to a rapid beeping, as if to threaten that the thing is going to explode if you don't put that seat belt on!
Oh and if its going to beep, why does it have to be a sissy sounding beep? It sounds like some kind of freshly hatched bird ("cheep cheep!!"). Give us a manly sounding alert, especially when we are using the key fob outside the vehicle. When I exit the vehicle and lock the door with the key fob, sound the horn like most every other type of vehicle! Now when I'm at my grocery store, I know when theres another Toyota in the lot because I can hear the cute "cheep cheep!"
cbmorton says:
09:09 AM, 04/ 3/07
Both the duration of the seatbelt warning beep and how many clicks on the remote it takes to unlock all doors are dealer-programmable settings.
I prefer the default of two clicks to unlock the entire vehicle, but I had the dealer get rid of the extended seatbelt beep for me. Now it only beeps for six seconds when the engine is first started. Like other people here, I always buckle up when hitting the road, but there are occasions when you just want to move the vehicle a short distance at very low speeds.
funkymunky says:
11:54 AM, 04/ 3/07
Gmarshall:
I couldn't disagree with you more. You WANT it to sound the horn when you lock the door? Why is that necessary? My blog was about how it makes too many noises, too many bells and whistles. I drove our long-term Fit last night and appreciated how much it doesn't make those noises. When you lock the doors, you can hear the thunk of the locks. You don't need it to beep.
alpha01 says:
08:04 PM, 04/ 3/07
Is it possible to reprogram the key fob? For example, there are simple instructions for most Nissan models on when/how depressing the lock button - or the unlock button (twice for all doors) - is silent or not....
Something to check out.
cbmorton says:
06:13 AM, 04/ 5/07
All of the settings (including the lock/unlock beep enable/disable) are only changeable by the dealer, unfortunately. There's actually quite a list - I printed it out and ticked off all the changes I wanted to get them done at the same time.