Cheap tow car?!
Discussion
We've racked up just over 105,000 miles in our A6 Avant now, and at 10 years old the old girl is looking a bit tired.
So it probably won't happen this year, but I've started to think about our next car.
Problem being is that we're doing a large house refurb/extension starting next year so funds will be low!
In an ideal world I'd go and buy a 2 year old Discovery or A6 Allroad, but we just can't justify it at the moment.
So, I've been browsing Autotrader etc. for cheap estates that are comfortable and can do the job. Bear in mind we have a large twin axle.
I don't really want another Audi, as it would just be the same car that we currently have. Merc E Class seem to be coming up a lot, like this:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
This one looks lovely, but it's 2 years older than our current car and I think they want too much money for it:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
Must haves:
Diesel (preferebly 3 litre)
Automatic
Cruise control
Front & Rear parking sensors
Leather
Heated seats
Large boot
Self levelling suspension (I think I'm right in thinking that this is standard on the E Class?)
Preferably 17" alloys (the sweet spot between looking crap and looking good, comfortable ride, whilst being affordable to buy tyres!)
Cheers!
So it probably won't happen this year, but I've started to think about our next car.
Problem being is that we're doing a large house refurb/extension starting next year so funds will be low!
In an ideal world I'd go and buy a 2 year old Discovery or A6 Allroad, but we just can't justify it at the moment.
So, I've been browsing Autotrader etc. for cheap estates that are comfortable and can do the job. Bear in mind we have a large twin axle.
I don't really want another Audi, as it would just be the same car that we currently have. Merc E Class seem to be coming up a lot, like this:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
This one looks lovely, but it's 2 years older than our current car and I think they want too much money for it:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
Must haves:
Diesel (preferebly 3 litre)
Automatic
Cruise control
Front & Rear parking sensors
Leather
Heated seats
Large boot
Self levelling suspension (I think I'm right in thinking that this is standard on the E Class?)
Preferably 17" alloys (the sweet spot between looking crap and looking good, comfortable ride, whilst being affordable to buy tyres!)
Cheers!
I presume you mean a Citreon C5? And not a C5 Audi A6?
I'll be honest - I don't like Citreons. And I'm not sure they do anything bigger than a 160bhp 2.0? Which, coming from a 3.0 with 230bhp will be a serious step down in power and performance with the caravan on the back.
You're right though - cheap as chips!
I'll be honest - I don't like Citreons. And I'm not sure they do anything bigger than a 160bhp 2.0? Which, coming from a 3.0 with 230bhp will be a serious step down in power and performance with the caravan on the back.
You're right though - cheap as chips!
yes, I have a saloon and have toured quite a bit and it pulls my 1350kg Bordeaux easy, even up steep hills in Germany etc. Returns 50 mpg bare and 25-30 with van. Slips in/out of 5/6th gear nicely. spec is nice too. I wanted a 32od/A4/230 but they were another 4k. It WAS a compromise BUT the saving was worth it, imho. Its not our daily driver, just a longer distance fuel saver.
S10GTA said:
Why not spend some money on your current car if money is tight, rather than buying an unknown quantity?
I think this is probably what I'll do 
Thought the Merc would be a nice change but the nose weight is an issue.
Like you say, at least I know the car.
Get the house renovation done and then get a new car, I think.
Hmmm, that old dilemma! Looking at the second Merc you put up price will be based on the perceived better quality a low mileage car makes......it seems to attract a ridiculous premium these days.
If you weren't fussed about 4 wheel drive a 5 series BMW might be worth a look. Not sure what nose weight you require but my 520d saloon takes 90kgs - better than my wife's X3 as it happens which I think when we looked was only 80kgs.
I have been looking an and off for a year now as neither of our cars makes an ideal tow car (520 is a saloon, X3 a petrol) but can't actually find anything which really justifies the change. If I did I would probably settle for a Grand Cherokee.....but I can't even settle on doing that because the petrol head in me wants the 5.7 hemi and really I should be looking at the 3.0 diesel!
I suspect if you are looking to do it cheap you last post may be the best option.....which through indecision and a desire not to spend money was where I got to!!
If you weren't fussed about 4 wheel drive a 5 series BMW might be worth a look. Not sure what nose weight you require but my 520d saloon takes 90kgs - better than my wife's X3 as it happens which I think when we looked was only 80kgs.
I have been looking an and off for a year now as neither of our cars makes an ideal tow car (520 is a saloon, X3 a petrol) but can't actually find anything which really justifies the change. If I did I would probably settle for a Grand Cherokee.....but I can't even settle on doing that because the petrol head in me wants the 5.7 hemi and really I should be looking at the 3.0 diesel!
I suspect if you are looking to do it cheap you last post may be the best option.....which through indecision and a desire not to spend money was where I got to!!
Huffy said:
Hmmm, that old dilemma! Looking at the second Merc you put up price will be based on the perceived better quality a low mileage car makes......it seems to attract a ridiculous premium these days.
If you weren't fussed about 4 wheel drive a 5 series BMW might be worth a look. Not sure what nose weight you require but my 520d saloon takes 90kgs - better than my wife's X3 as it happens which I think when we looked was only 80kgs.
I have been looking an and off for a year now as neither of our cars makes an ideal tow car (520 is a saloon, X3 a petrol) but can't actually find anything which really justifies the change. If I did I would probably settle for a Grand Cherokee.....but I can't even settle on doing that because the petrol head in me wants the 5.7 hemi and really I should be looking at the 3.0 diesel!
I suspect if you are looking to do it cheap you last post may be the best option.....which through indecision and a desire not to spend money was where I got to!!
This is the problem!If you weren't fussed about 4 wheel drive a 5 series BMW might be worth a look. Not sure what nose weight you require but my 520d saloon takes 90kgs - better than my wife's X3 as it happens which I think when we looked was only 80kgs.
I have been looking an and off for a year now as neither of our cars makes an ideal tow car (520 is a saloon, X3 a petrol) but can't actually find anything which really justifies the change. If I did I would probably settle for a Grand Cherokee.....but I can't even settle on doing that because the petrol head in me wants the 5.7 hemi and really I should be looking at the 3.0 diesel!
I suspect if you are looking to do it cheap you last post may be the best option.....which through indecision and a desire not to spend money was where I got to!!
If money were no option, then personally I think I'd plump for a new style A6 Allroad, something like this:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
I don't really like proper 4x4's (but the wife would love one). The A6 has been a brilliant towing machine, it's just looking a bit tired!
There doesn't seem to be too many cars that tick all the boxes. The new 5 series touring is nice (my Dad has just got a new 530d) but it's not as big inside.
Guess I'll get a few bits done and keep the old girl for another year or 18 months!
Rosscow said:
This is the problem!
If money were no option, then personally I think I'd plump for a new style A6 Allroad, something like this:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
I don't really like proper 4x4's (but the wife would love one). The A6 has been a brilliant towing machine, it's just looking a bit tired!
There doesn't seem to be too many cars that tick all the boxes. The new 5 series touring is nice (my Dad has just got a new 530d) but it's not as big inside.
Guess I'll get a few bits done and keep the old girl for another year or 18 months!
If money were no option, then personally I think I'd plump for a new style A6 Allroad, something like this:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
I don't really like proper 4x4's (but the wife would love one). The A6 has been a brilliant towing machine, it's just looking a bit tired!
There doesn't seem to be too many cars that tick all the boxes. The new 5 series touring is nice (my Dad has just got a new 530d) but it's not as big inside.
Guess I'll get a few bits done and keep the old girl for another year or 18 months!
Like that A6 (start stop aside). I know what you mean about proper 4x4's - I'd kind of prefer to have the Jeep as an extra car rather than an only car if that makes sense!
I too have found that things that tick all the boxes are hard to find - the more so if you are on a budget......add in this latter bit and most of what I have looked at is "tired" in one way or another or in some cases most ways. Whilst I am still half heartedly looking I conclude I would rather deal with my known problems than have to rectify someone else's unknown problems which may be much bigger!!
I'm also in the market for a tow car circa £7k, as we have decided to plump for a caravan.
It will also serve as my wife's runabout (she is at home, looking after our 18 month old baby, so no commuting mileage), and will double up as our family car for doing longer trips in, with/without the caravan. We would rarely go more than 200 miles on a non-caravan trip.
Requirements:
Used estate with decent load capacity.
ISOFIX
3 Series size - I've touted a 5 Series/E Class size but she says too big for day to day driving
Reliable - I'd ideally like a BMW 330D Touring, but am very wary of N47 engine timing chain issues at my budget
Has enough torque to pull a 4 berth caravan comfortably without wheezing at the first sight of an incline
Reasonably economical when not towing
Doesn't make me feel pensionable when driving it (ETA: yeah, I know, caravans ....)
Doesn't have a costly DPF/DMF/Turbo/Fuel Pump/Injector issue about to drop in my lap
Annual mileage will be maximum 10k/pa including towing. We plan to do 5-6 trips away each year, which would include one long trip to, say, France.
I am conscious that anything diesel at my end of the market will be somewhat leggy in terms of mileage, so am erring towards petrol, as I'm worried that any saving made at the pump with a diesel could be blown apart with one big bill at the garage.
Thoughts?
It will also serve as my wife's runabout (she is at home, looking after our 18 month old baby, so no commuting mileage), and will double up as our family car for doing longer trips in, with/without the caravan. We would rarely go more than 200 miles on a non-caravan trip.
Requirements:
Used estate with decent load capacity.
ISOFIX
3 Series size - I've touted a 5 Series/E Class size but she says too big for day to day driving
Reliable - I'd ideally like a BMW 330D Touring, but am very wary of N47 engine timing chain issues at my budget
Has enough torque to pull a 4 berth caravan comfortably without wheezing at the first sight of an incline
Reasonably economical when not towing
Doesn't make me feel pensionable when driving it (ETA: yeah, I know, caravans ....)
Doesn't have a costly DPF/DMF/Turbo/Fuel Pump/Injector issue about to drop in my lap
Annual mileage will be maximum 10k/pa including towing. We plan to do 5-6 trips away each year, which would include one long trip to, say, France.
I am conscious that anything diesel at my end of the market will be somewhat leggy in terms of mileage, so am erring towards petrol, as I'm worried that any saving made at the pump with a diesel could be blown apart with one big bill at the garage.
Thoughts?
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Wednesday 14th September 16:56
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Wednesday 14th September 16:57
PurpleTurtle said:
I'm also in the market for a tow car circa £7k, as we have decided to plump for a caravan.
It will also serve as my wife's runabout (she is at home, looking after our 18 month old baby, so no commuting mileage), and will double up as our family car for doing longer trips in, with/without the caravan. We would rarely go more than 200 miles on a non-caravan trip.
Requirements:
Used estate with decent load capacity.
ISOFIX
3 Series size - I've touted a 5 Series/E Class size but she says too big for day to day driving
Reliable - I'd ideally like a BMW 330D Touring, but am very wary of N47 engine timing chain issues at my budget
Has enough torque to pull a 4 berth caravan comfortably without wheezing at the first sight of an incline
Reasonably economical when not towing
Doesn't make me feel pensionable when driving it (ETA: yeah, I know, caravans ....)
Doesn't have a costly DPF/DMF/Turbo/Fuel Pump/Injector issue about to drop in my lap
Annual mileage will be maximum 10k/pa including towing. We plan to do 5-6 trips away each year, which would include one long trip to, say, France.
I am conscious that anything diesel at my end of the market will be somewhat leggy in terms of mileage, so am erring towards petrol, as I'm worried that any saving made at the pump with a diesel could be blown apart with one big bill at the garage.
Thoughts?
First question it is to tow a caravan what size is the caravan and what weight. a 3 series won't likely tow a double axle.It will also serve as my wife's runabout (she is at home, looking after our 18 month old baby, so no commuting mileage), and will double up as our family car for doing longer trips in, with/without the caravan. We would rarely go more than 200 miles on a non-caravan trip.
Requirements:
Used estate with decent load capacity.
ISOFIX
3 Series size - I've touted a 5 Series/E Class size but she says too big for day to day driving
Reliable - I'd ideally like a BMW 330D Touring, but am very wary of N47 engine timing chain issues at my budget
Has enough torque to pull a 4 berth caravan comfortably without wheezing at the first sight of an incline
Reasonably economical when not towing
Doesn't make me feel pensionable when driving it (ETA: yeah, I know, caravans ....)
Doesn't have a costly DPF/DMF/Turbo/Fuel Pump/Injector issue about to drop in my lap
Annual mileage will be maximum 10k/pa including towing. We plan to do 5-6 trips away each year, which would include one long trip to, say, France.
I am conscious that anything diesel at my end of the market will be somewhat leggy in terms of mileage, so am erring towards petrol, as I'm worried that any saving made at the pump with a diesel could be blown apart with one big bill at the garage.
Thoughts?
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Wednesday 14th September 16:56
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Wednesday 14th September 16:57
Its the same thing I have been pondering. Currently using a Hyundai Sante Fe to tow 1,3its 11 years old now so feeling it should be changed. Bought it new but the current model is a lot more money than I want to spend.
Caravan we are towing weighed 1,300 kg out the factory so I reckon probably need to say around 1,600 kg, apart from anything else the caravan we tow isnt going to get smaller, but when we trade in might get bigger!
I am looking at a budget of about 15k.
Caravan we are towing weighed 1,300 kg out the factory so I reckon probably need to say around 1,600 kg, apart from anything else the caravan we tow isnt going to get smaller, but when we trade in might get bigger!
I am looking at a budget of about 15k.
I would be seriously looking at either a rear wheel drive or 4 wheel drive car if I were you.
That basically means a BMW 3 or 5 series, Mercedes C or E class, Audi A4 or A6, or a 4Motion Passat. Left field choices include Subaru Forester.
Reason? My in-laws purchased a 2011 Toyota Avensis estate (2.2 diesel) to use as their main tow car for their Bailey Pageant (MTPLM of around 1500kg).
When loaded, it really struggles up hill and on damp/wet grass. All of the weight is over the rear wheels, making the front end light, and the front wheels have very little traction.
Either that or get a car with self levelling suspension?
I'd also be wary about the lack of torque with a petrol engine - but I don't have any experience. I'd guess at a lot more gear changes needed?
That basically means a BMW 3 or 5 series, Mercedes C or E class, Audi A4 or A6, or a 4Motion Passat. Left field choices include Subaru Forester.
Reason? My in-laws purchased a 2011 Toyota Avensis estate (2.2 diesel) to use as their main tow car for their Bailey Pageant (MTPLM of around 1500kg).
When loaded, it really struggles up hill and on damp/wet grass. All of the weight is over the rear wheels, making the front end light, and the front wheels have very little traction.
Either that or get a car with self levelling suspension?
I'd also be wary about the lack of torque with a petrol engine - but I don't have any experience. I'd guess at a lot more gear changes needed?
Chicken Chaser said:
Bookmarked. Pretty much same requirements as purple turtle. I'm on the 3500kg limit and can't use my van due to weight. No caravan yet but expect it'll be around 1500kg.
So you don't have B+E category?If not, if you have a caravan with a MTPLM of 1500kg, your car must have a MAM of 2000kg. The combination of maximum allowed weights cannot exceed 3500kg.
Getting a towcar that can tow 1500kg but itself can only be 2000kg could be limiting.
PurpleTurtle said:
I'm also in the market for a tow car circa £7k, as we have decided to plump for a caravan.
It will also serve as my wife's runabout (she is at home, looking after our 18 month old baby, so no commuting mileage), and will double up as our family car for doing longer trips in, with/without the caravan. We would rarely go more than 200 miles on a non-caravan trip.
Requirements:
Used estate with decent load capacity.
ISOFIX
3 Series size - I've touted a 5 Series/E Class size but she says too big for day to day driving
Reliable - I'd ideally like a BMW 330D Touring, but am very wary of N47 engine timing chain issues at my budget
Has enough torque to pull a 4 berth caravan comfortably without wheezing at the first sight of an incline
Reasonably economical when not towing
Doesn't make me feel pensionable when driving it (ETA: yeah, I know, caravans ....)
Doesn't have a costly DPF/DMF/Turbo/Fuel Pump/Injector issue about to drop in my lap
Annual mileage will be maximum 10k/pa including towing. We plan to do 5-6 trips away each year, which would include one long trip to, say, France.
I am conscious that anything diesel at my end of the market will be somewhat leggy in terms of mileage, so am erring towards petrol, as I'm worried that any saving made at the pump with a diesel could be blown apart with one big bill at the garage.
Thoughts?
I like autotrader these days as you can add in perfomance/drivetrain preferences quite easily and it throws up things you wouldn't have initially thought of.It will also serve as my wife's runabout (she is at home, looking after our 18 month old baby, so no commuting mileage), and will double up as our family car for doing longer trips in, with/without the caravan. We would rarely go more than 200 miles on a non-caravan trip.
Requirements:
Used estate with decent load capacity.
ISOFIX
3 Series size - I've touted a 5 Series/E Class size but she says too big for day to day driving
Reliable - I'd ideally like a BMW 330D Touring, but am very wary of N47 engine timing chain issues at my budget
Has enough torque to pull a 4 berth caravan comfortably without wheezing at the first sight of an incline
Reasonably economical when not towing
Doesn't make me feel pensionable when driving it (ETA: yeah, I know, caravans ....)
Doesn't have a costly DPF/DMF/Turbo/Fuel Pump/Injector issue about to drop in my lap
Annual mileage will be maximum 10k/pa including towing. We plan to do 5-6 trips away each year, which would include one long trip to, say, France.
I am conscious that anything diesel at my end of the market will be somewhat leggy in terms of mileage, so am erring towards petrol, as I'm worried that any saving made at the pump with a diesel could be blown apart with one big bill at the garage.
Thoughts?
How about a V50 D5?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
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