Estate tow car, sub £2,500, pulling 1500kg...
Discussion
My friend and I are buying motocross bike for the occasional weekend track blast. We've decided on going halves on a box trailer and tow car. The trailers we're looking at are around 400kg unladen. with a couple of bikes and kit I think we should be under 1000kg.
What would you guys recommend as a reliable tow car? It'll be my daily as well, I do around 150 miles per week mostly around town. An automatic would be great but not absolutely essential.
So far I've been looking at the Volvo V70 and the E39 BMW 525d touring as potentials.
Any other I should consider? I'm open to all suggestions.
ETA - Bad maths. Trailer is 400kg unladen so with kit and bike should easily be sub 1000kg, can't edit title now. Doh!
What would you guys recommend as a reliable tow car? It'll be my daily as well, I do around 150 miles per week mostly around town. An automatic would be great but not absolutely essential.
So far I've been looking at the Volvo V70 and the E39 BMW 525d touring as potentials.
Any other I should consider? I'm open to all suggestions.
ETA - Bad maths. Trailer is 400kg unladen so with kit and bike should easily be sub 1000kg, can't edit title now. Doh!
Edited by Humble Pi on Monday 19th August 19:52
The E Class is your answer but due to the year check thoroughly for rust.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Vectra
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
2.2d 407 Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Laguna Initiale
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Dynamique
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
All the above are reliable & will tow 1000kgs.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Vectra
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
2.2d 407 Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Laguna Initiale
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Dynamique
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
All the above are reliable & will tow 1000kgs.
Seriously look at a van instead.
Most of your budget will go on a box trailer which will need secure space to park (as well as clamps, lock etc).
SWB Tranny or Vivaro will easily take a couple of crossers. Careful if you look at a Vito as they aren't as tall inside for a crosser.
Vans can be racked for helmets, gear etc and can be slept in at weekend meets.
Most of your budget will go on a box trailer which will need secure space to park (as well as clamps, lock etc).
SWB Tranny or Vivaro will easily take a couple of crossers. Careful if you look at a Vito as they aren't as tall inside for a crosser.
Vans can be racked for helmets, gear etc and can be slept in at weekend meets.
My brother has a MX bike and runs a box trailer of a volvo petrol 2L C30. He says it struggles a bit and it's only unbraked and about 650kgs.
Based on that i'd advise diesel.
There is hardly anyone at his meets with a box trailer. nearly everyone has a panel van but he always has alot of interest people looking around it, asked where he got it from etc. Panel vans can be alot of hassle, not that nice as a daily (unless you spend a bit and get a decent one), bit of a gamble for the annual moment of terror (sorry MOT haha) and a target for vandalism.
Box trailers hold their money really well. I had one before getting a panel van and caravan combo in a previous life road racing.
Dont under estimate the amount of stuff you'll take, so get the biggest box trailer and estate car combination available. once you've added in a table and chairs, tools, fuel, pressure washer, water tank, awning, yadda yadda yadda. all adds up and it's heavy kit, so will quickly overwhelm smaller weight and towing limits/numbers.
we currently have a 2008 Honda accord estate, 2.2 iD-Tec. It's superb, can tow 1700kgs and the drivetrain is excellent. the auto is supposed to be really good and over engineerd. That would be my pick if you can find one in budget. go for the post 2008, it didn't change until the accord was dropped from UK sales circa 2017/18.
I wouldn't worry about miles, we've taken ours from 45k to 110k and not a single thing has started to rattle, give greif, need fixing. Just routine servicing and consumables.
HTH
Adam.
Based on that i'd advise diesel.
There is hardly anyone at his meets with a box trailer. nearly everyone has a panel van but he always has alot of interest people looking around it, asked where he got it from etc. Panel vans can be alot of hassle, not that nice as a daily (unless you spend a bit and get a decent one), bit of a gamble for the annual moment of terror (sorry MOT haha) and a target for vandalism.
Box trailers hold their money really well. I had one before getting a panel van and caravan combo in a previous life road racing.
Dont under estimate the amount of stuff you'll take, so get the biggest box trailer and estate car combination available. once you've added in a table and chairs, tools, fuel, pressure washer, water tank, awning, yadda yadda yadda. all adds up and it's heavy kit, so will quickly overwhelm smaller weight and towing limits/numbers.
we currently have a 2008 Honda accord estate, 2.2 iD-Tec. It's superb, can tow 1700kgs and the drivetrain is excellent. the auto is supposed to be really good and over engineerd. That would be my pick if you can find one in budget. go for the post 2008, it didn't change until the accord was dropped from UK sales circa 2017/18.
I wouldn't worry about miles, we've taken ours from 45k to 110k and not a single thing has started to rattle, give greif, need fixing. Just routine servicing and consumables.
HTH
Adam.
Useful resource.
Edit to add - Honda Accord iD-tec auto can only tow 1100kgs. Manual = 1,700kgs.
You may find this type of reduction for Auto Gearbox across the make/chassis combo you choose. so worth checking !
http://www.towingcapacity.co.uk/
Edit to add - Honda Accord iD-tec auto can only tow 1100kgs. Manual = 1,700kgs.
You may find this type of reduction for Auto Gearbox across the make/chassis combo you choose. so worth checking !
http://www.towingcapacity.co.uk/
I have a 1999 V70 2.5 diesel it says in the book it can tow1600kg....yes it can but struggles on the hills, so take tow weights with a pinch of salt, the lighter the trailer loaded the better
like already said, where are you going to stow the trailer? they can be targets for thieves!
good luck
like already said, where are you going to stow the trailer? they can be targets for thieves!
good luck
Thanks for the input guys.
For some reason van prices have gone silly atm, don't if it's the time of year or what. Vivaro was first choice but the gearbox problems a lot of them suffer concerns me, next choice was Expert/Dispatch but again, price shave gone silly on these lately.
Shame because I'd much prefer a van to a trailer & car.
For some reason van prices have gone silly atm, don't if it's the time of year or what. Vivaro was first choice but the gearbox problems a lot of them suffer concerns me, next choice was Expert/Dispatch but again, price shave gone silly on these lately.
Shame because I'd much prefer a van to a trailer & car.
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