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Here I would love to share with you our travels and adventures as international mushroom consultants. MEMOIRS about husband Pieter Vedder, who was a SCIENTIFIC PIONEER in Commercial Mushroom Cultivation Education. His practical handbook is in 9 languages and is called the MUSHROOM BIBLE: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2020/08/modern-mushroom-growing-2020-harvesting.html

Saturday, July 9, 2011

{'Ravy', My Toyota RAV4 is 14 today!}

Today is a very special day as my Toyota RAV4 2-door 'Ravy' has 'his' 14th birthday! It makes me feel good. Above all, this car was such a lovely thing to receive for my birthday then. It had to be special ordered in Japan because of wanting a shift stick with cruise control and a 'male part' for hooking up our little trailer. At the time that I got it, it was very popular in France and it took the USA by storm as well.
Automobile Magazine's 1997 Automobile of the Year is the Toyota RAV4 read: Automobile Magazine Announces Toyota RAV4 as Auto of the Year. You can read some of its history 1997 INFORMATION.
Some Magazine Reviews:
  • New Car Test Drive: 1996 Toyota Rav4: The new king of the minis
  • 1997 Toyota Rav4 - A trend setting Toy(ota)
  • 1998 Toyota Rav4 - A small, spunky, head-turner   
Some Newspaper Reviews:
  • USA Today: Toyota RAV4 is Consumer Reports' Best small SUV, March 18, 1997
  • Detroit News: Toyota RAV4 though pricey, has broad appeal 1997
  • Chicago Sun-Times: Toyota's new, hot-selling RAV4 small sport/utility vehicle is terribly cute, practical and more affordable than larger sport/utilities.
  • New Standard: 'Cute utes' invade a growing sport utility market, Sept 1, 1996
  • Autopage: Toyota RAV4 - Best in Class Mini - SUV 

But WHY did we keep it this long???
Because RAV4 continued in 2000 available as a 4-door model only.
So no longer as a cute 2-door... Read: - RAV4 HISTORY -.
Me and my 'Cute Ute'... I LOVE this car!
What does RAV4 stand for?
Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-Wheel Drive

'Ravy' only twice got new tires and has been always very reliable.
Very good fuel economy!
Do you like my 'Ravy'?
Oh sure, 'Ravy' can carry things on the roof too, as well as behind in the little trailer we got for him.
In the center of the bumper you see the square opening, that's where the male part goes for the trailer.
Ravy served us well, he did haul many a load for us, for the construction of our Rose Suite and for hauling furniture from the Savannah harbor, Miele appliances from Atlanta...
Went all the way to Key West with our German 'son and daughter-in-law' and to Orlando with our other German 'son and daughter-in-law'. With us to Central Valley in New York. So he's been to many states, always being loyal.
Therefore we keep him! Besides; he is in excellent shape.

Related link:
Toyota RAV4 Automobile of the year 1997 in Automobile Magazine of January, 1997 Pdf

19 comments:

  1. THANKS for all the comments on my previous post! It helped me get past those bad days where I felt like a rag... Let's hope that next Tuesday it will not hit me as hard. I've had a few times where it went this way but we have to keep positive.
    Again, thank you so much!

    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Mariette,

    Have been thinking of you dear friend and glad to see that you are posting again.
    Your little Rav4 is cute and you look so beautiful. The post and photos are fun and thanks for sharing.
    Toyota's are such great cars and we have many over in NZ too.

    Happy weekend and hope that you are feeling well.
    Hugs
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  3. Liebe Mariette,

    mit einem Wort: beeindruckend.

    Frohe Grüße
    Angela und Elisabeth

    ReplyDelete
  4. Liebe Mariette,
    er steht da wie eine "Eins".
    Es sit ein schöner Wagen. Vor allen dingen funktionell.
    Hoffentlich hast du noch lange Freude an ihm.
    Ich wünsche dir eine schönes Wochenende
    Irmi

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dearest Mariette
    Excuse me for the corny term, but I want to say "get outta here". I have the EXACT SAME CAR!!!!!!! What are the chances!! We brought her (she is called Sophie!) to Greece but unfortunately so much dust got in the engine that it standing in the garage waiting for a new engine. The engine wil have to wait for a while (so expensive) but I can't bear parting with her. I ABSOLUTELY love this car! Also she has seen us through huge snow masses in Denmark where other people just got stuck. This car ROCKS!
    All smiles,
    and much love
    Joan

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ben niet zo trouw ben ik bang: rij inmiddels in mijn 3e RAV. Vervelend dat je iedere week zo'n last hebt van de medicatie ...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jaja, die Toyota's zijn niet kapot te krijgen. Ik heb een Carina en die is inmiddels 18 maar ik peins er niet over om hem weg te doen, er mankeert nooit iets aan, moet nog maar zien of ik ooit weer zo'n betrouwbare auto krijg.

    fijn weekend
    Brigitta

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your little Rav4 is cute and you look so beautiful. The post and photos are fun and thanks for sharing... have a green one too,and adore !!! :)
    hugs
    lila

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi!!!
    Welcome back here. Yes, hope NO bad side effect.
    Your beautiful Rav4, Japanese car☆☆☆

    Hugs and lots of Love, Orchid.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dearest Mariette,
    Your car looks great, and you look gorgeous!!!

    I love Toyota, even if I just totaled my 2009 Camry, but I'm not going to leave Toyota. I'm probably getting another Camry.

    A friend wrote in an email: "you have a good car (I frowned as I thought--my car is gone!) because the car saved you from any injury." She was right, I didn't suffer any injuries, other than neck pain for a few days. I doing fine now.

    (((( hugs to you and Pieter ))))

    Doris

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hallo Mariette, hoop dat het wat beter gaat met je? Zo te zien is het een stoer en krachtig autoo(tje)!

    Liefs van Janny

    ReplyDelete
  12. WELL ... if you aren't the cutest thing ever! Love your 14 year old car.

    My VW Cabrio convertible will be 11years old in September .. it has only 92,000 miles and has traveled/moved from Orlando Florida to Bend Oregon!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello Mariette, hope you're feeling better! Ravy is darling and a perfect little vehicle for you. Happy Birthday Ravy!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Pleased to see your are blogging again - and here's to you feeling better.Lovely car!! I am always very faithful to my cars too, and why not!!
    have a lovely weekend dearest Mariette, and thank Pieter for looking after you so well- he obviously has brought you lots of cups of tea to make you feel better!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello Mariette,
    i enjoyed your article about your cute and loley car..and appriciate your way of introducing your car...it's just like your friend...
    Best wishes for both of you...
    Hemant

    ReplyDelete
  16. So, glad to read that you are feeling better ... may you regain and maintain your strength, my friend.

    I love that your Rava has taken such good care of you (you must take good care of it too!). And yes, the 2-door is brilliant! Hubby has a Toyota Tunder truck and he loves it! Your post speaks volumes to my live "simple" state of mind. If its working and is reliable why replace it? ... (the "old" me would so want a new SUV ... but the "new" me is going to hold on to the current one as long as it has life in it).

    Stay well and I think birthday wishes are in order if your Rava is having a birthday and you recieved it for your birthday .. Happy Birthday!!! xo keeping you in thought and prayers..blessings, HHL

    ReplyDelete
  17. Querida y dulce amiga Mariette:
    He estado orando por ti, y me alegra ver que te sientes mejor, y te ves muy feliz en estas fotos.

    Sin duda alguna tienes un gran carro, sobre todo muy lindo y que ahorra gasolina.

    Cuidate mucho, te mando un fuerte abrazo, que Dios te bendiga siempre.

    Tu amiga:

    Laura =)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love your Ravy I had 3 2dr ravs at once just sold one now I am down to 2. My wife and I each drive one. Mine has 187k miles and is a 1999 convertible. It never needed anything never complains and is great on gas.
    Can I recommend joining RAV4World.com We have all kinds of information for Rav4's and would love to have you as a member.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hello
    I have a RV 4 1997 in french guiana. he look like yours, but have a harder life in the Amazonas roads!
    Love forever my Ravy!!
    Regards

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your visit and comment.

Mariette...

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MARIETTE'S BACK TO BASICS © 2009. All rights reserved - Text and images may not be copied for distribution or sale.

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