Discussion
Going to trade in our Octavia vrs estate for an SUV due to towing needs and the VRS doesn’t meet the 85% guidelines.
It needs to be 2tonne, needs to be comfortable but most of all reliable and if possible not full of gremlins as it’ll be used as a family car first and towing car second.
Got £13k max, what say you?
X5, Touareg, RR ...
It needs to be 2tonne, needs to be comfortable but most of all reliable and if possible not full of gremlins as it’ll be used as a family car first and towing car second.
Got £13k max, what say you?
X5, Touareg, RR ...
The L322 Range Rover is a good shout, as long as it is PROPERLY historied.
If you want a diesel, go for the TDV8. If you want a petrol, go for the 4.2 Supercharged.
But the most important thing is history. Rich, invoiced, juicy history.
Your ideal car would be a one or two owner "money no object" maintained vehicle, sold only because it was being replaced with an L405.
ETA: Be prepared for the "Range Rover effect" if you do get one. This is essentially a situation that arises after owning a Range Rover, where all other SUVs (no matter how good), are not quite Range Rovers. You have been warned.
If you want a diesel, go for the TDV8. If you want a petrol, go for the 4.2 Supercharged.
But the most important thing is history. Rich, invoiced, juicy history.
Your ideal car would be a one or two owner "money no object" maintained vehicle, sold only because it was being replaced with an L405.
ETA: Be prepared for the "Range Rover effect" if you do get one. This is essentially a situation that arises after owning a Range Rover, where all other SUVs (no matter how good), are not quite Range Rovers. You have been warned.
Edited by MorganP104 on Monday 2nd April 21:51
SBN said:
Going to trade in our Octavia vrs estate for an SUV due to towing needs and the VRS doesn’t meet the 85% guidelines.
It needs to be 2tonne, needs to be comfortable but most of all reliable and if possible not full of gremlins as it’ll be used as a family car first and towing car second.
Got £13k max, what say you?
X5, Touareg, RR ...
Is it the car that needs to be 2 tonne or the towing weight? It needs to be 2tonne, needs to be comfortable but most of all reliable and if possible not full of gremlins as it’ll be used as a family car first and towing car second.
Got £13k max, what say you?
X5, Touareg, RR ...
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
For your budget this is probably as good a tow car as you can get.
But what is the weight of the thing you are towing? I've towed caravans for years and never felt that I needed to get caught up in the must have a 4x4 / SUV to tow brigade. Unless you want to park the van on muddy fields there really is no need. (even then I've had issues before when a landrover couldn't cut it and the farmer's tractor was needed!) Remember the 85% guidelines is just that. I've comfortably towed way in excess of this with no concerns, just need to be careful at speed particularly on motorway declines, and find that family estate cars will be just as good (if not better) in 99% of conditions (5 series estate, Passat estate, Insignia estate, mondeo etc)
Worth browsing "tow car of the year".
I am probably more risk averse than most here in that if i had a 13k limit I wouldn't buy a RR as i wouldn't have deep enough pockets to maintain and repair it properly. if it was a very low use tow car maybe it would be different but if its the main car its going to pick up wear and tear at a reasonable rate. with a family in tow id probably shoot for the newest, lowest mileage options that will have high uptime and low-ish costs. i presume a half decent Kia or Hyundai would be heavy enough? certainly comfort wise etc it would do the job. You might get lucky with a RR of course!
All the suggestions of LR's and RR's are lovely but i personally wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.
Your budget is quite healthy and would get you into a nice Honda CRV, Rav4, Kia sportage/ Sorrento and Hyundai Clones ix35/Tucson/Santa Fe. The badges may not be to everyones taste but they are all good.
Our CRV is a very good motor, it's well thought out;flat floors, erognomics, kit levels etc.etc. If looking into one of these then go for a higher spec one as it has everything you'd want.
Your budget is quite healthy and would get you into a nice Honda CRV, Rav4, Kia sportage/ Sorrento and Hyundai Clones ix35/Tucson/Santa Fe. The badges may not be to everyones taste but they are all good.
Our CRV is a very good motor, it's well thought out;flat floors, erognomics, kit levels etc.etc. If looking into one of these then go for a higher spec one as it has everything you'd want.
SBN said:
Going to trade in our Octavia vrs estate for an SUV due to towing needs and the VRS doesn’t meet the 85% guidelines.
It needs to be 2tonne, needs to be comfortable but most of all reliable and if possible not full of gremlins as it’ll be used as a family car first and towing car second.
Got £13k max, what say you?
X5, Touareg, RR ...
Where are you based? I may be interested in your vrs if you sell it...It needs to be 2tonne, needs to be comfortable but most of all reliable and if possible not full of gremlins as it’ll be used as a family car first and towing car second.
Got £13k max, what say you?
X5, Touareg, RR ...
It’ll be pulling a 2002 5 berth caravan that my parents own but no longer use. I’m thinking of some cheap summer holidays because we did camping last year and the kids loved it down by the beach. The caravan weighs in at 1.6 tonne before you put anything in it... newer caravans are lighter but will cost me £6k upwards for one that my vrs will pull... so it boils down to pumping 6-8k in a caravan to sit in a field or year or chop in the VRS for something we can use all year round. New car always wins 😂
I’m looking at the 85% rule, a SUV is lovely but aside from tyres and servicing I’m more worried of it going epically wrong. A nice fast Uber estate would be my preference, is welcome any views on large German fast estates and pulling caravans of this size
PM me of your interested in the VRs it’s a 2011 2.0tfsi high spec manual estate, done 72k and full leather, sat nav and sun roof
I’m looking at the 85% rule, a SUV is lovely but aside from tyres and servicing I’m more worried of it going epically wrong. A nice fast Uber estate would be my preference, is welcome any views on large German fast estates and pulling caravans of this size
PM me of your interested in the VRs it’s a 2011 2.0tfsi high spec manual estate, done 72k and full leather, sat nav and sun roof
SBN said:
It’ll be pulling a 2002 5 berth caravan that my parents own but no longer use. I’m thinking of some cheap summer holidays because we did camping last year and the kids loved it down by the beach. The caravan weighs in at 1.6 tonne before you put anything in it... newer caravans are lighter but will cost me £6k upwards for one that my vrs will pull... so it boils down to pumping 6-8k in a caravan to sit in a field or year or chop in the VRS for something we can use all year round. New car always wins ??
I’m looking at the 85% rule, a SUV is lovely but aside from tyres and servicing I’m more worried of it going epically wrong. A nice fast Uber estate would be my preference, is welcome any views on large German fast estates and pulling caravans of this size
PM me of your interested in the VRs it’s a 2011 2.0tfsi high spec manual estate, done 72k and full leather, sat nav and sun roof
This is a towing review for a 520d, you could pick up a 2012 530d for your budget. The extra power won't make loads of difference for its towing ability as it is the weight and stability that is key.I’m looking at the 85% rule, a SUV is lovely but aside from tyres and servicing I’m more worried of it going epically wrong. A nice fast Uber estate would be my preference, is welcome any views on large German fast estates and pulling caravans of this size
PM me of your interested in the VRs it’s a 2011 2.0tfsi high spec manual estate, done 72k and full leather, sat nav and sun roof
https://www.thetowcarawards.com/tow-car/bmw-520d-2...
You need to check the plate on the caravan to see what the gross weight is. The BMW has a towing weight of 2000kg so will probably be legally OK but you may not be hitting the 85% guide. A big estate car will be as good a tow car as most SUVs (except the large ones). Plus I presume you have a B+E licence.
My old man has a 2008 3.0 CRD Grand Cherokee that also benefitted from a remap, tows very well. Had my freelander 2 on the back of it when I purchased it a few months ago and did well considering the weight. Not sure what your caravan weighs but my freelander must be around 2000kg.
Had my Spire Gt3 race car on the back of it too, couldn't even tell it was on there but that is under 500kg in weight.
Had my Spire Gt3 race car on the back of it too, couldn't even tell it was on there but that is under 500kg in weight.
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