Tow car ideas please...
Discussion
Ok, so we made the fatal decision to go view a whole load more caravans today.
What started off as a relatively cheap idea around pulling a 4 berth Bailey 510 Ranger, 2004 model at £6k, with my wifes current Golf GTi, seems to have resulted in us setting our minds on a 2011 Bailey Olympus 546 6 berth. (my sister died last year so we often take her daughter, my niece, away camping with us when we can, so that makes 5 of us)
http://www.greentrees-adventurestore.co.uk/caravan...
The wifes car will now have to be changed. She has, for some reason, taken a shine to her parents Honda CRv diesel, her sister also has one too, but I'm trying to talk her out of it as I think they're exceptionally dull, albeit painfully reliable no doubt.
So far, she has considered a Tiguan after viewing this afternoon and also a Kuga. The Tiguan currently wins due to being slightly more suited for towing the van we are looking at, according to the car/tow website.
Her car was always going to be replaced in the near future, albeit it earlier next year.
Budget is £15k, it needs to be decent spec, not too big and ultimately reliable and reasonable servicing/running costs.
Disco 3 and X5 too large, Volvo XC90, like the Honda is too dull.
Any ideas of stuff that I should be considering other than the above?
Many thanks
Matt
What started off as a relatively cheap idea around pulling a 4 berth Bailey 510 Ranger, 2004 model at £6k, with my wifes current Golf GTi, seems to have resulted in us setting our minds on a 2011 Bailey Olympus 546 6 berth. (my sister died last year so we often take her daughter, my niece, away camping with us when we can, so that makes 5 of us)
http://www.greentrees-adventurestore.co.uk/caravan...
The wifes car will now have to be changed. She has, for some reason, taken a shine to her parents Honda CRv diesel, her sister also has one too, but I'm trying to talk her out of it as I think they're exceptionally dull, albeit painfully reliable no doubt.
So far, she has considered a Tiguan after viewing this afternoon and also a Kuga. The Tiguan currently wins due to being slightly more suited for towing the van we are looking at, according to the car/tow website.
Her car was always going to be replaced in the near future, albeit it earlier next year.
Budget is £15k, it needs to be decent spec, not too big and ultimately reliable and reasonable servicing/running costs.
Disco 3 and X5 too large, Volvo XC90, like the Honda is too dull.
Any ideas of stuff that I should be considering other than the above?
Many thanks
Matt
MattS3 said:
so we often take her daughter, my niece, away camping with us when we can, so that makes 5 of us)
http://www.greentrees-adventurestore.co.uk/caravan...
I don't know how old the children are but you can get awnings with sleeping pods in them. Might be the cheaper option!http://www.greentrees-adventurestore.co.uk/caravan...
As regards tow cars I have a 55 plate Hyundai Sante Fe however cant say its exciting, and its very thirsty. The advantage is its no more thirsty when towing the caravan!
MattS3 said:
Ok, so we made the fatal decision to go view a whole load more caravans today.
What started off as a relatively cheap idea around pulling a 4 berth Bailey 510 Ranger, 2004 model at £6k, with my wifes current Golf GTi, seems to have resulted in us setting our minds on a 2011 Bailey Olympus 546 6 berth. (my sister died last year so we often take her daughter, my niece, away camping with us when we can, so that makes 5 of us)
http://www.greentrees-adventurestore.co.uk/caravan...
The wifes car will now have to be changed. She has, for some reason, taken a shine to her parents Honda CRv diesel, her sister also has one too, but I'm trying to talk her out of it as I think they're exceptionally dull, albeit painfully reliable no doubt.
So far, she has considered a Tiguan after viewing this afternoon and also a Kuga. The Tiguan currently wins due to being slightly more suited for towing the van we are looking at, according to the car/tow website.
Her car was always going to be replaced in the near future, albeit it earlier next year.
Budget is £15k, it needs to be decent spec, not too big and ultimately reliable and reasonable servicing/running costs.
Disco 3 and X5 too large, Volvo XC90, like the Honda is too dull.
Any ideas of stuff that I should be considering other than the above?
Many thanks
Matt
I can certainly recommend the Tiguan , we have a 170ps diesel and with a 1400kg caravan on the back ,it easily copes , OH loves the higher seating position , with the drivers seat set for my long legs , there is still room for me in the back , 8.9secs 0/60 makes it no slouch either What started off as a relatively cheap idea around pulling a 4 berth Bailey 510 Ranger, 2004 model at £6k, with my wifes current Golf GTi, seems to have resulted in us setting our minds on a 2011 Bailey Olympus 546 6 berth. (my sister died last year so we often take her daughter, my niece, away camping with us when we can, so that makes 5 of us)
http://www.greentrees-adventurestore.co.uk/caravan...
The wifes car will now have to be changed. She has, for some reason, taken a shine to her parents Honda CRv diesel, her sister also has one too, but I'm trying to talk her out of it as I think they're exceptionally dull, albeit painfully reliable no doubt.
So far, she has considered a Tiguan after viewing this afternoon and also a Kuga. The Tiguan currently wins due to being slightly more suited for towing the van we are looking at, according to the car/tow website.
Her car was always going to be replaced in the near future, albeit it earlier next year.
Budget is £15k, it needs to be decent spec, not too big and ultimately reliable and reasonable servicing/running costs.
Disco 3 and X5 too large, Volvo XC90, like the Honda is too dull.
Any ideas of stuff that I should be considering other than the above?
Many thanks
Matt
The CRV does, on paper look the sensible choice. Whilst it won't be my car, I do actually enjoy driving her Gti when I have to, I can't imagine that would be the case with the CRV (or any SUV type vehicle to be honest)
The Mitsubushi looks hideous in my eyes, and the Kia Sportage is certainly better on the eye, but towing wegihts seem to let it down a bit.
The Tiguan in 170bhp diesel spec looks like it could deliver, the 140bhp seems to hint at it being a little slow though.
There is also a 2.0 petrol which knocks out around 180bhp, only 20 shy of her current GTi so that might be a good middle ground in terms of power delivery and overall driving experience.
One thing I have kept away from is a Freelander 2...........are the a bad car?
The Mitsubushi looks hideous in my eyes, and the Kia Sportage is certainly better on the eye, but towing wegihts seem to let it down a bit.
The Tiguan in 170bhp diesel spec looks like it could deliver, the 140bhp seems to hint at it being a little slow though.
There is also a 2.0 petrol which knocks out around 180bhp, only 20 shy of her current GTi so that might be a good middle ground in terms of power delivery and overall driving experience.
One thing I have kept away from is a Freelander 2...........are the a bad car?
MattS3 said:
I do actually enjoy driving her Gti when I have to, I can't imagine that would be the case with the CRV (or any SUV type vehicle to be honest)
There speaks a man who's never driven an X5! 
There's a reason why they're so popular.
I completely understand if they're too big for your needs, but don't dismiss the X5 as just another SUV. My x40d is about the closest thing to a performance saloon car as you can get (despite being on stilts).
To tow something big, you're going to need power and weight. Big diesels supply the power where you want them (low in the rev range) so I'd be looking at something with a V6 diesel.
Whilst some of the larger estates are capable, you really want to build-in a margin of safety, so whilst I know a Subaru Legacy will tow some of the largest caravans "legally" they're not that heavy (circa 1500Kg) so you run the risk of the tail wagging the dog.
My brother has a new C-class estate which pulls his twin-axled monster well-enough but at anything over 60mph starts to wag. I suspect that would be the case with any tow car, as it's most likely the aerodynamics of the caravan at play, but having something heavier up front can't hurt.
Your budget puts you in for a decently-low mileage Merc ML, BMW X5 or many others of that ilk.
Of the smaller soft-roaders, the Honda CRV and Toyota Rav-4 don't assign *much* torque to the rear wheels, but the Nissan X-Trail is a competent-enough 4WD vehicle with a decently-powerful diesel option, and is relatively heavy. That'd be my choice if the aforementioned ML/X5 type vehicles are too large.
Whilst some of the larger estates are capable, you really want to build-in a margin of safety, so whilst I know a Subaru Legacy will tow some of the largest caravans "legally" they're not that heavy (circa 1500Kg) so you run the risk of the tail wagging the dog.
My brother has a new C-class estate which pulls his twin-axled monster well-enough but at anything over 60mph starts to wag. I suspect that would be the case with any tow car, as it's most likely the aerodynamics of the caravan at play, but having something heavier up front can't hurt.
Your budget puts you in for a decently-low mileage Merc ML, BMW X5 or many others of that ilk.
Of the smaller soft-roaders, the Honda CRV and Toyota Rav-4 don't assign *much* torque to the rear wheels, but the Nissan X-Trail is a competent-enough 4WD vehicle with a decently-powerful diesel option, and is relatively heavy. That'd be my choice if the aforementioned ML/X5 type vehicles are too large.
Spuffington said:
There speaks a man who's never driven an X5!
There's a reason why they're so popular.
I completely understand if they're too big for your needs, but don't dismiss the X5 as just another SUV. My x40d is about the closest thing to a performance saloon car as you can get (despite being on stilts).
Apologies, if I thought the x40d was avaiable at £15k, I'd have had it on the list There's a reason why they're so popular.
I completely understand if they're too big for your needs, but don't dismiss the X5 as just another SUV. My x40d is about the closest thing to a performance saloon car as you can get (despite being on stilts).
The previous 3.0D version is starting to look (in my eyes) a little dated now, but I've heard it's a great tow car. The RFL at £485 is little wincing as well.
I'll maybe offer up the X trail as an option, but pretty sure she'll dismiss the boxy looks, just as she did with a Jeep thing.
Edit - Just checked the X Trail diesel and the tow weight is down at 1500kg. That rules it out of the equation
Edited by MattS3 on Monday 4th August 15:49
I'm sure c. 2008 vintage E70 3.0d's are coming into your price-range now? The VED dropped to around 285quid on those following a bit of a remap BMW did to get them under the horror of the VED bracket. Unfortunately, I found that out after I bought my original pre-LCI X5.
Dated or not, I'd still give them a look. The x40d is clearly out of your price-range, as you say. But the 3.0d is no slouch and would prove a good tow-car.
Interestingly, the X5 is about the only model in the BMW ranges that I've had which has been totally reliable. They also hold their value really well, so that's something to consider in the grand scheme of running costs.
Dated or not, I'd still give them a look. The x40d is clearly out of your price-range, as you say. But the 3.0d is no slouch and would prove a good tow-car.
Interestingly, the X5 is about the only model in the BMW ranges that I've had which has been totally reliable. They also hold their value really well, so that's something to consider in the grand scheme of running costs.
Watchman said:
MattS3 said:
Edit - Just checked the X Trail diesel and the tow weight is down at 1500kg. That rules it out of the equation
Ooh, is it? Well, that's disappointing.My W164 ML320CDI can tow 3500Kg. That sort of means "anything you can throw at me".
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