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
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?
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
R0G said:
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".
Crikey this is harder work than I imagined, I guess I'm looking to get to under 80% as opposed to being happy with 85% weight ratio which is causing issues.
The van itself would probably get used 6-8 times a year, all trips with in a radius of no more than 100 miles, more often than not around 50 from where we live, in north Norfolk, which means no motorways for at least an hour of any journey we might make.
The van is supplementary to a regular holiday taken abroad, not a replacment for them.
Majority driving on single lane A roads would negate the longer drives where a big 4x4 is required I think.
Looking at the list in my head so far:
Tiguan - 2 litre petrol on 85% weight ratio, marginal but might suffice and 4x4 albeit it Haldex,
Kuga - 2 litre diesel but a little lighter than the Tiguan, so potentially ruled out.
X Trail - Wife doesnt like it, looks to much like an estate car.
Skoda superb - as above, but it is an estate car
Sportage - Not powerful or heavy enough
X3 - The 2.0d with 178 BHP looked really promising until I read about the cam chain and coke issues.
X5 - The 2006-2010 model years are in budget but tax is crazy for such an age of car
CRV - Still looks good on paper. Disappointingly so.
Ultimately the car will in be driven less than 500-600 miles per year towing a caravan, with probably the other 9k predominantly be driven solo, so I'm trying not to buy a car based on the van, more a car based on using the van occasionally but within safety tolerances.
If I was happy to replace my S3, I'd probably sell my MX5 too and buy a Disco 4 3.0 diesel which would do an admiral job, but I'm really not keen on having to drive such a big, less fun vehicle on a daily basis.
Decisions decisions.
The van itself would probably get used 6-8 times a year, all trips with in a radius of no more than 100 miles, more often than not around 50 from where we live, in north Norfolk, which means no motorways for at least an hour of any journey we might make.
The van is supplementary to a regular holiday taken abroad, not a replacment for them.
Majority driving on single lane A roads would negate the longer drives where a big 4x4 is required I think.
Looking at the list in my head so far:
Tiguan - 2 litre petrol on 85% weight ratio, marginal but might suffice and 4x4 albeit it Haldex,
Kuga - 2 litre diesel but a little lighter than the Tiguan, so potentially ruled out.
X Trail - Wife doesnt like it, looks to much like an estate car.
Skoda superb - as above, but it is an estate car
Sportage - Not powerful or heavy enough
X3 - The 2.0d with 178 BHP looked really promising until I read about the cam chain and coke issues.
X5 - The 2006-2010 model years are in budget but tax is crazy for such an age of car
CRV - Still looks good on paper. Disappointingly so.
Ultimately the car will in be driven less than 500-600 miles per year towing a caravan, with probably the other 9k predominantly be driven solo, so I'm trying not to buy a car based on the van, more a car based on using the van occasionally but within safety tolerances.
If I was happy to replace my S3, I'd probably sell my MX5 too and buy a Disco 4 3.0 diesel which would do an admiral job, but I'm really not keen on having to drive such a big, less fun vehicle on a daily basis.
Decisions decisions.
Spuffington said:
Not sure what you're comparing the X5 VED rates to(?), but as I said, everything from 2008 should be 285-ish rather than 465 which it definitely was for the very first of the E70's.
I don't see that as horrendous.
Also, the Disco 4 is very definitely not a driving machine and if you were to go down the route of chopping in the S3 and MX-5, the X5 would more than adequately replace them for driving fun.
X5-fanboy I might be, but worth having a testdrive IMO.
I've been looking Spuffington, but nothing under £15k with the right tax bracket.I don't see that as horrendous.
Also, the Disco 4 is very definitely not a driving machine and if you were to go down the route of chopping in the S3 and MX-5, the X5 would more than adequately replace them for driving fun.
X5-fanboy I might be, but worth having a testdrive IMO.
£280 models are here http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/bmw/x...
andye30m3 said:
When I was looking for a tow car for to use to get the race car about the Audi A4 / A6 Quattros with the 3.0tdi had good tow capacity.
I ended up with an A4 3.0tdi and have been very happy with it, drives and handles well, more economical than the bigger 4x4's and quite happily tows 1500kg without ever feeling like it's struggling (official tow capacity is 2000kg I think)
Pretty sure the 3.0TDi Audi is the higher tax bracket too?I ended up with an A4 3.0tdi and have been very happy with it, drives and handles well, more economical than the bigger 4x4's and quite happily tows 1500kg without ever feeling like it's struggling (official tow capacity is 2000kg I think)
I was debating just getting a cheap old Isuzi 4x4 for around £3k which would be cheaper tax, but don't really want a 4th car, and one which is only going to get used so very little.
I also like to have a few creature comforts and a 15 year old 4x4 wont give me that that.
I'm struggling to justify the MX5 after doing less than 150 miles so far this year, just if I sell it my kids will moan at me.
Yep, definitely needs to be user (wife) friendly for the other 354 days when it wont be towing a caravan.
The 3 litre German estates are attractive but the road tax isn't that favourable on the cars in the bracket we're looking to spend.
I know it's only relative, but larger cars equals larger bills (tyres, discs, pads, suspension etc) and having 3 cars to tax and insure already, getting stuffed another £250 over and above a normal car for road tax does come into consideration. Also there is the size issue of trying to park a German barge in the supermarket car parks etc (her GTi has a few battle scars and that's not a big car)
Also have to factor in when the vehicle comes to be sold in 3 years time and is then worth buttons, no one is going to pay £4-5k for a car which costs £500 a year to tax.
I know we have to make a compromise somewhere, just juggling which ones currently.
The 3 litre German estates are attractive but the road tax isn't that favourable on the cars in the bracket we're looking to spend.
I know it's only relative, but larger cars equals larger bills (tyres, discs, pads, suspension etc) and having 3 cars to tax and insure already, getting stuffed another £250 over and above a normal car for road tax does come into consideration. Also there is the size issue of trying to park a German barge in the supermarket car parks etc (her GTi has a few battle scars and that's not a big car)
Also have to factor in when the vehicle comes to be sold in 3 years time and is then worth buttons, no one is going to pay £4-5k for a car which costs £500 a year to tax.
I know we have to make a compromise somewhere, just juggling which ones currently.
Watchman said:
Rosscow said:
I have a 2006 A6 3.0TDI Quattro (manual) and it is £280 a year tax.
Pulls my large twin axle brilliantly - I also have the adaptive air suspension and I think that really helps.
Seen here last week:
Air suspension makes towing so much easier. That is a lovely set-up you have there.Pulls my large twin axle brilliantly - I also have the adaptive air suspension and I think that really helps.
Seen here last week:
GreatGranny said:
Just seems overkill to me for towing less than 1000 miles per year.
90% of the use will be solo where it will be relatively expensive to run.
Its not a huge van.
Most large ish estates or MPVs will tow it fine.
He's only traveling an 1-1.5hrs from home
So the final decision was made by taking the caravan purchase out of the equation and choosing a daily driver that she liked. 90% of the use will be solo where it will be relatively expensive to run.
Its not a huge van.
Most large ish estates or MPVs will tow it fine.
He's only traveling an 1-1.5hrs from home
The CRV ticked all the right boxes, incredibly well built and engineered which doesn't seem to be the case for much of the German stuff (I know, we've had 2 VW's and 3 Audis, of which I've still got one).
She liked the drive, we had a really pleasant experience at the Honda dealership negotiating the deal (first time I've ever bought a car from a dealer, always bought privately) and I've sold her GTi within 48 hrs of advertising it.
The Bailey 456 has a deposit on it and we're collecting it the weekend of the 23rd once we're back from Italy.
It's around 82% towing ratio, so should do the job we require of it.
For sure the Honda isn't exciting but it does offer practicality and reliability.
I've got my S3 and MX5 for the things that the Honda might be lacking.
Just flicking back through old posts and saw this....
Latest update.....wife liked driving the CRV but never really jelled with it, however, I really enjoyed the slightly slower pace but better view of the road in the CRV.
I sold the CRV to a friend who had just written his off, my wife got a VW Tiguan , which she loves, to coin a marketing phrase, its just like a Golf...
I sold my S3 and bought a Discovery 4 3.0 XS.
It's a completely different drive to what I'm used to, but has practicality and comfort in spades.
Latest update.....wife liked driving the CRV but never really jelled with it, however, I really enjoyed the slightly slower pace but better view of the road in the CRV.
I sold the CRV to a friend who had just written his off, my wife got a VW Tiguan , which she loves, to coin a marketing phrase, its just like a Golf...
I sold my S3 and bought a Discovery 4 3.0 XS.
It's a completely different drive to what I'm used to, but has practicality and comfort in spades.
GreatGranny said:
Thats what wives do :-)
So now you have 2 towcars!
The Disco will be superb at towing.
used to love towing with my wifes XC90 but because of her change of job = longer commute it was too expensive to use as an everyday car
Big diesel, 4x4 and auto makes a great combination.
Any trips out planned?
We have weekends on the east coast, Clumber park and chatsworth booked and a week in Dorset so far.
Will add more weekends no doubt.
You sound like you've got a few good trips sorted. Enjoy.So now you have 2 towcars!
The Disco will be superb at towing.
used to love towing with my wifes XC90 but because of her change of job = longer commute it was too expensive to use as an everyday car
Big diesel, 4x4 and auto makes a great combination.
Any trips out planned?
We have weekends on the east coast, Clumber park and chatsworth booked and a week in Dorset so far.
Will add more weekends no doubt.
Edited by GreatGranny on Tuesday 24th March 16:02
Not towed with it yet, but that's due to change next week. Off to Cambridge for a long weekend, then later in April we have another weekend away, but only just up the road on the coast in North Norfolk.
Then away on the first May bank holiday, somewhere down in Suffolk.
Despite saying we wouldn't tow far, I've decided we'll be having 2 weeks in France in August as well, (our trip to Australia has been put back to Xmas but don't want to miss out on a summer holiday) potentially in the Loire valley, but still discussing final destinations.
I must admit, I saw that you'd booked there and thought it offered great facilities and was in a nice area.
i'm debating between that and here http://www.chalain.com/uk/camping-chalain-temoigna...
Different area of France but looked to offer some more things to do, albeit more travel time too.
i'm debating between that and here http://www.chalain.com/uk/camping-chalain-temoigna...
Different area of France but looked to offer some more things to do, albeit more travel time too.
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