Looking for a retirement truck/SUV Toyota
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 8:06 am
There comes a time in life that you need a dependable car that you really have time to keep super nice and that time for us is retirement. I have been less than impressed with the brand we have been driving in that they do not seem to fix known problems of little parts that produce big repair bills. No need to mention the brand and thus cause a fuss.
On the recommendation of a mechanic and what problems he sees, we are looking at Toyota. i thought that maybe a nice Tacoma truck is something my wife would put up with and our daughter could inherit. Had some business in Richmond, IN and stopped at a Toyota/Nissan dealer. I could not hardly enter the truck as my knees would not go under the steering wheel. All Toyota would have to do is add a telescoping wheel and/or make the thing go higher to get my knees under. I also knew that the hood bulges interfering with seeing the close pavement would quickly disqualify this one for Barbara. I guess on the knees under the wheel problem--what i am saying is that when you get older, you have to be able to slide in like an old person with a bad back. After all my back was hurting a bit that day, and it probably will get worse as I age
I looked at SUV's and while impressed with the big one sitting over and actual truck frame, the Rav4 looked like a good compromise.They had a 2018 and a 2019 and the 2019 will soon be available with hybrid at 40MPG while the standard engine is 30MPG. Whele the steering wheel did not tilt high enough, it did extend outenough to get my knees under easily--a solution for the Tacoma if they want to sell to old guys.
Anyway, the 2018 had the same bulging hood as the Tacoma and some sort of goofy radio that looked added on--like someone added an etch-a sketch screen by chopping a hole in the dash and jamming one in. The 2019 had both of those problems cured, but if you want total compatibility with a phone running navigation and such, you need an Apple I-Phone. Of course it has its own Navigation system, but that seems like buying a Garmin GPS that no one uses anymore, when your phone can find anything on the planet and link turn by turn directions.
While the salesman was signing some papers for a sale to another customer, I did look at the full size truck and it fit me like a glove, so I know they can get the ergos correct or at least get them closer to correct dealing with the space limitations inherent in each platform. I will say that the 2019 Rav4 is a big step forward from the previous model in being able to see your surroundings.
On the recommendation of a mechanic and what problems he sees, we are looking at Toyota. i thought that maybe a nice Tacoma truck is something my wife would put up with and our daughter could inherit. Had some business in Richmond, IN and stopped at a Toyota/Nissan dealer. I could not hardly enter the truck as my knees would not go under the steering wheel. All Toyota would have to do is add a telescoping wheel and/or make the thing go higher to get my knees under. I also knew that the hood bulges interfering with seeing the close pavement would quickly disqualify this one for Barbara. I guess on the knees under the wheel problem--what i am saying is that when you get older, you have to be able to slide in like an old person with a bad back. After all my back was hurting a bit that day, and it probably will get worse as I age
I looked at SUV's and while impressed with the big one sitting over and actual truck frame, the Rav4 looked like a good compromise.They had a 2018 and a 2019 and the 2019 will soon be available with hybrid at 40MPG while the standard engine is 30MPG. Whele the steering wheel did not tilt high enough, it did extend outenough to get my knees under easily--a solution for the Tacoma if they want to sell to old guys.
Anyway, the 2018 had the same bulging hood as the Tacoma and some sort of goofy radio that looked added on--like someone added an etch-a sketch screen by chopping a hole in the dash and jamming one in. The 2019 had both of those problems cured, but if you want total compatibility with a phone running navigation and such, you need an Apple I-Phone. Of course it has its own Navigation system, but that seems like buying a Garmin GPS that no one uses anymore, when your phone can find anything on the planet and link turn by turn directions.
While the salesman was signing some papers for a sale to another customer, I did look at the full size truck and it fit me like a glove, so I know they can get the ergos correct or at least get them closer to correct dealing with the space limitations inherent in each platform. I will say that the 2019 Rav4 is a big step forward from the previous model in being able to see your surroundings.