Daily Driver/Tow Car. What have I missed?
Discussion
Hi all
I'm looking to replace my 1998 Volvo V70 T5 with a more suitable tow vehicle. My Volvo has a braked towing limit of 1600kg which my trailer and track car just about tip, so I'm taking that as an excuse to start to plan the next daily steed.
Budget is anything up to £6k for something nice, but I'd rather spend half of that, if not less
I recently borrowed a 2003 ML270 CDI to tow with and that was an eye-opener. I hadn't thought to look at these sorts of vehicles but with a braked towing limit of 3.5T there's not a lot I couldn't get away with moving. Man maths has led me to begin looking at other SUVs from the early to mid 2000s such as the VW Tourag, L322 RR, and E53 BMW X5.
As this car will also be my daily driver however, I'm more inclined to go for one of three German 3.0 diesel estates. 530d, A6 3.0 TDI, and the Benz E320 CDI. These vehicles all have braked towing weights that would cover my bases, and should be a nicer daily drive than the SUVs. They perhaps won't tow as nicely, but that's the trade off I'm going to have to think about.
I'm led to believe that the E53 X5 will be the perfect middle ground between beefy tow car, and nice-to-drive daily driver. I can get a really nice one for budget, or a really poor one and spend a few quid making it nice, so this is currently my top contender.
L322 Range Rover is a bad idea I know, but there's something about them I've always liked. This vehicle will very much be run into the ground, so starting with a big lad at the end of its life perhaps could be okay. They don't actually break down, do they?
The ML270 I've borrowed, you can get a very nice one of those for £2k. It's definitely a buyers market with these cars, and I do quite like how unloved they are. The qualities I enjoy about my Volvo are parking it anywhere, not washing it, and generally not having to worry about it. The ML seems to have the same qualities.
So why the thread? Well, there's probably something I'm missing. I didn't consider the ML until borrowing it, and my view on this escapade has skewed slightly. I didn't expect it to be any good!
My daily commute is only around 5 miles if I drive - so a diesel isn't really required, but I'm not sure what a 4.6 iS E53 will get to the gallon whilst towing
Other driving is 15 miles or so to my unit where the cars are, or 2/3 hour trips to see family and friends. I'd avoid a diesel, but I think a pre-Euro4 diesel should be fine.
So, what else have I missed? What else must I consider.
Friday thoughts
cheers
Dan
I'm looking to replace my 1998 Volvo V70 T5 with a more suitable tow vehicle. My Volvo has a braked towing limit of 1600kg which my trailer and track car just about tip, so I'm taking that as an excuse to start to plan the next daily steed.
Budget is anything up to £6k for something nice, but I'd rather spend half of that, if not less
I recently borrowed a 2003 ML270 CDI to tow with and that was an eye-opener. I hadn't thought to look at these sorts of vehicles but with a braked towing limit of 3.5T there's not a lot I couldn't get away with moving. Man maths has led me to begin looking at other SUVs from the early to mid 2000s such as the VW Tourag, L322 RR, and E53 BMW X5.
As this car will also be my daily driver however, I'm more inclined to go for one of three German 3.0 diesel estates. 530d, A6 3.0 TDI, and the Benz E320 CDI. These vehicles all have braked towing weights that would cover my bases, and should be a nicer daily drive than the SUVs. They perhaps won't tow as nicely, but that's the trade off I'm going to have to think about.
I'm led to believe that the E53 X5 will be the perfect middle ground between beefy tow car, and nice-to-drive daily driver. I can get a really nice one for budget, or a really poor one and spend a few quid making it nice, so this is currently my top contender.
L322 Range Rover is a bad idea I know, but there's something about them I've always liked. This vehicle will very much be run into the ground, so starting with a big lad at the end of its life perhaps could be okay. They don't actually break down, do they?
The ML270 I've borrowed, you can get a very nice one of those for £2k. It's definitely a buyers market with these cars, and I do quite like how unloved they are. The qualities I enjoy about my Volvo are parking it anywhere, not washing it, and generally not having to worry about it. The ML seems to have the same qualities.
So why the thread? Well, there's probably something I'm missing. I didn't consider the ML until borrowing it, and my view on this escapade has skewed slightly. I didn't expect it to be any good!
My daily commute is only around 5 miles if I drive - so a diesel isn't really required, but I'm not sure what a 4.6 iS E53 will get to the gallon whilst towing
Other driving is 15 miles or so to my unit where the cars are, or 2/3 hour trips to see family and friends. I'd avoid a diesel, but I think a pre-Euro4 diesel should be fine.
So, what else have I missed? What else must I consider.
Friday thoughts
cheers
Dan
Not much to add, except if you haven't heard the Audi 3.0 V6 diesel with a Supersprint exhaust then you must…!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN0Zc2CaYYU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN0Zc2CaYYU
Kewy said:
Not much to add, except if you haven't heard the Audi 3.0 V6 diesel with a Supersprint exhaust then you must…!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN0Zc2CaYYU
Who'd have thought it sounded like a V6!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN0Zc2CaYYU
The inline 6 diesel from BMW also sounds 'nice' with a sports exhaust, but let's not get carried away.
Kewy said:
E36Dan said:
Who'd have thought it sounded like a V6!
The inline 6 diesel from BMW also sounds 'nice' with a sports exhaust, but let's not get carried away.
You're a sarcy little so and so these days aren't you DannyThe inline 6 diesel from BMW also sounds 'nice' with a sports exhaust, but let's not get carried away.
A leftfield option would be a 300C it has the same drivetrain as the E Class but you get a more low mileage example:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Otherwise I'd go for the E320:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Otherwise I'd go for the E320:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Have a BMW E39 3 litre diesel auto as tow car and it went very well on the way to spa earlier in the year.
I used to use my parents Mercedes E Class (newer car) - also very good - 3 litre V6 twin turbo diesel auto. - Wish I had bought this off them.
My brothers landrover tows well but bit loud and no good for long distances
If you can live with a 4x4 - go for it - personally I love the estate cars
Forgot to say - both estate cars have air self levelling suspension - well worth having.
I used to use my parents Mercedes E Class (newer car) - also very good - 3 litre V6 twin turbo diesel auto. - Wish I had bought this off them.
My brothers landrover tows well but bit loud and no good for long distances
If you can live with a 4x4 - go for it - personally I love the estate cars
Forgot to say - both estate cars have air self levelling suspension - well worth having.
Edited by crossie on Friday 3rd May 12:50
Thanks, yeah the 300c is basically an E class anyway but I'd rather have the real McCoy.
I wish a nice E39 was attainable without too much hoo-har but I'm worried they're a bit old now. 530d has always been desirable too so less likely to find a good one. Though I recently found that the petrol cars have the same braked tow limit so perhaps a nice 530i would be more suitable.
I wish a nice E39 was attainable without too much hoo-har but I'm worried they're a bit old now. 530d has always been desirable too so less likely to find a good one. Though I recently found that the petrol cars have the same braked tow limit so perhaps a nice 530i would be more suitable.
As above the Grand Cherokee is a very good option
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Mercedes ML320 SE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Mercedes ML320 SE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
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