Refined family car with low ratio

[glasgowdan]

I'll be in the market for a boat-towing car next year and wonder what I should look at. I don't know much about cars at all!

Budget up to £15k, and it'll be the main family car so must be semi-smart for commuting.

A low gearbox is needed for beach launches, and auto.

Thanks

[C350Akra]

For a beach launch you are more in need of 4 wheel drive. There are a number of crossovers that could meet your needs, not many of the autos have low ratio gears, probably limited to the Jeep range, the Renegade Trailhawk certainly does, also the 2.0 Diesel Limited I think. You can pick up a 3 year old one for around your budget. They have limited tow capacity though, you do not mention weights.

[glasgowdan]

Yes, absolutely after a proper 4wd, not a suv/traction assist/whatever they call it thing!

Towing weight isn't high, 1.1T, but it needs low ratio gears to get out of soft sand, up steep slipways etc

[Bill]

Should get a good Discovery 4 for that which will do everything you could possibly want and more.

[Bill]

And, as if by magic... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Walter Sobchak]

Toyota Landcruiser,Disco 4 or FFRR.

[C350Akra]

You would also get a good Jeep Grand Cherokee for that budget.

[C350Akra]

Could come up with more options if you gave us some more guidelines:

What size of car
Estimated annual mileage/economy required

For example, recently I bought a 2018 Jeep Renegade Tough Mudder for about £15K for my wife. This can tow up to 1.5 tonnes, delivers 40+mpg, has low ratio gears, is automatic and comes with parking sensors, satnav, heated seats and steering wheel etc. It is a small car though.

[glasgowdan]

Yeah a bit of space would be needed for family trips/weekends away etc. Not too worried about extreme economy, as long as it's not down in the 20's!

[C350Akra]

Okay, so looking at a Discovery, Grand Cherokee, Land Cruise and others of that type. Good hunting!

[rosejem]

You may be able to get a good Subaru outback for you're budget.
Good practical car with all wheel drive & 2.5 petrol engine.

[Walter Sobchak]

glasgowdan said:

Yeah a bit of space would be needed for family trips/weekends away etc. Not too worried about extreme economy, as long as it's not down in the 20's!

Most of the big diesel 4x4s of that era aren’t going to do much more than mid-high 20s in normal driving to be fair.

[Terzo123]

As has already been mention , a Jeep Grande Cherokee.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2020...

[C350Akra]

Walter Sobchak said:

glasgowdan said:

Yeah a bit of space would be needed for family trips/weekends away etc. Not too worried about extreme economy, as long as it's not down in the 20's!

Most of the big diesel 4x4s of that era aren’t going to do much more than mid-high 20s in normal driving to be fair.

Not so, £15K will get you a good Grand Cherokee about 5-6 years old. These will get around 30-32mpg in mixed driving, so will the 2010 on Range Rover Sports and Discoveries.

[Walter Sobchak]

C350Akra said:

Not so, £15K will get you a good Grand Cherokee about 5-6 years old. These will get around 30-32mpg in mixed driving, so will the 2010 on Range Rover Sports and Discoveries.

Can’t speak to the Grand Cherokee as I’ve not driven one bit have no reason to doubt it, I used a D4 of a friends when they were on holiday for a week and couldn’t get it above 28 though!.

[Bill]

D4 gets high 20s at best IME.

[C350Akra]

I have to admit that I am generally light on fuel use, so Disco and RRS may be lower than 30 generally

[ClaphamGT3]

Also, bear in mind that low ratio 4 wheel drive and lockable diffs will count for little if you don't have the right tyres. A lot of the LR products will come with enormous diameter wheels and ultra low profile tyres. These will offset a large amount of the advantage that comes from your drive set-up.