What new towcar?

[superlightr]

my wife has said the same - those extra inches all count..........;)

[ColinM50]

crankedup said:

I was going to suggest the Skoda Superb, but you may be happier with a VW with the same engine floor pan.

I'm not snobby at all especially since my son bought an Octavia. Checked with a dealer an having a test drive in a Superb on Saturday, so may thanks for the idea. I had one on hire in France a few years ago and was very impressed, thought it was aptly named. One little gizmo I thought was a fab idea was that at the side of the drivers seat it had a little flap where they put an umbrella. Clever eh?

[crankedup]

ColinM50 said:

crankedup said:

I was going to suggest the Skoda Superb, but you may be happier with a VW with the same engine floor pan.

I'm not snobby at all especially since my son bought an Octavia. Checked with a dealer an having a test drive in a Superb on Saturday, so may thanks for the idea. I had one on hire in France a few years ago and was very impressed, thought it was aptly named. One little gizmo I thought was a fab idea was that at the side of the drivers seat it had a little flap where they put an umbrella. Clever eh?

TBH when I read about your current previous cars I did wonder if I should mention the Skoda (no offence intended). But imo they are such good cars and value I just had to give it a mention.
Let us know how you get on, good or otherwise.

[ColinM50]

Didn't have the test drive, despite telling the salesman four or five times that I'm only interested in an auto and can't see the point of a "keep fit" gearbox, guess what car he had for me to test? Yup, it was a manual.

"Ah but sir these are so easy to drive you won't even realise it's not an auto". Oh really???

[surveyor]

Might I suggest having a look at a Volvo XC60 d5. Nice cars to drive, don't feel huge and the extra height helps those who need it feel more confident

[ColinM50]

Thanks Surveyor, it's on the list

[AyBee]

ColinM50 said:

Didn't have the test drive, despite telling the salesman four or five times that I'm only interested in an auto and can't see the point of a "keep fit" gearbox, guess what car he had for me to test? Yup, it was a manual.

"Ah but sir these are so easy to drive you won't even realise it's not an auto". Oh really???

Should have driven it in first until it went bang with the salesman in the passenger seat

[crankedup]

ColinM50 said:

Didn't have the test drive, despite telling the salesman four or five times that I'm only interested in an auto and can't see the point of a "keep fit" gearbox, guess what car he had for me to test? Yup, it was a manual.

"Ah but sir these are so easy to drive you won't even realise it's not an auto". Oh really???

Salesman knows better than you what car to buy

Still worth trying elsewhere though.

[Jazzer77]

To pull that weight in a smaller package you may to go 4x4.

Skoda Yeti 2.0Tdi
Freelander 2.2TD - rated for 2000kg and will do it with ease. A great towcar but thirsty around town.
Kuga 2.0Tdi - 2000kg

[Andy Zarse]

Jazzer77 said:

To pull that weight in a smaller package you may to go 4x4.

Skoda Yeti 2.0Tdi
Freelander 2.2TD - rated for 2000kg and will do it with ease. A great towcar but thirsty around town.
Kuga 2.0Tdi - 2000kg

Yeti Tdi 170 4x4 rated at 2100kg. And drives wonderfully "car-like" when not towing, not like the usual 4x4 tanks. Definitely go have a look.

[smifffymoto]

Subaru Outback,older models have a 4 speed auto that is not that refined but still does the job.

[hornetrider]

Andy Zarse said:

Yeti Tdi 170 4x4 rated at 2100kg.

That's interesting. I'm sure when I checked a few years ago that these were only rated really low.

[Rosscow]

hornetrider said:

Andy Zarse said:

Yeti Tdi 170 4x4 rated at 2100kg.

That's interesting. I'm sure when I checked a few years ago that these were only rated really low.

http://www.skoda.co.uk/models/new-yeti/performance

[hornetrider]

Rosscow said:

hornetrider said:

Andy Zarse said:

Yeti Tdi 170 4x4 rated at 2100kg.

That's interesting. I'm sure when I checked a few years ago that these were only rated really low.

http://www.skoda.co.uk/models/new-yeti/performance

Thanks for that, quite a variance across the models then with only the new 150PS diesel having the 2100kg rating.

I actually saw one in red at the last site we went to, was a Monte Carlo. Looked the business (for a diesel min-MPV)

[Andy Zarse]

hornetrider said:

Rosscow said:

hornetrider said:

Andy Zarse said:

Yeti Tdi 170 4x4 rated at 2100kg.

That's interesting. I'm sure when I checked a few years ago that these were only rated really low.

http://www.skoda.co.uk/models/new-yeti/performance

Thanks for that, quite a variance across the models then with only the new 150PS diesel having the 2100kg rating.

I actually saw one in red at the last site we went to, was a Monte Carlo. Looked the business (for a diesel min-MPV)

There are some good leasing deals at the moment, I was quoted about £700 upfront and £230pm inc VAT. And that was for a top spec Outdoor L&K 170 with a detachable tow ball and 13 pin electrics fitted. (Oh and the brochure says it can tow up to 2100kg)

[Andy Zarse]

Rosscow said:

Andy Zarse said:

The interesting thing with nearly all Audis is how spectacularly well they manage to get so little interior room into any given body shell. It's like they designers are intent on anti-packaging. Is it humanly possible for any normal adult to get in the back of an A4 Avant?

Interesting - I've not noticed a problem with the A6 and have had many weekends away with 4 up.

Next weekend it will be 5 up on a stag weekend to Amsterdam, so that will test it!

It should do, it's a mid sized exec saloon! The A4 is bloody tiny inside, five of us went to Guildford one night, I couldn't move my feet in the back, I've been in more spacious bubble cars!

All I'm saying is, model for model and class for class, Audis are poorly packaged from a space point of view, whatever their other many benefits.

[ALY77]

Given what I take to be the MTPLM weight of the van I would suggest you are going to struggle getting anything lighter than will safely tow.

We nearly bought a 5 series but opted for a Mk2 Kuga awd for our van which is plated at 200kg lighter than yours and I'm still twitchy as the van loaded will be just over 90% of the cars kerbweight.
Granted I'll only be dragging it with an empty car from storage to home before loading the car up with the family, awning etc, but you are really looking for something with a good weight in it, not just a high towing capacity on the V5.

[Rosscow]

For a big family with a big caravan, the new Mercedes V-Class looks lovely.