Towing car for £3k

[10AE]

Any excuse to look at the Classifieds

I'm considering purchasing a caravan (yes yes, shoot me now, ban me from PH etc etc! ). Most of the 'vans I'm looking at are about 1100-1200kg fully laden. Using the 85% rule, I'd need a car with a kerb weight of about 1400kg or so.

I would like it to be an estate, if possible. This isn't essential but would give more flexibility. It certainly needs to be a diesel due to MPG over longer distances especially in Europe. When not towing, which would be most of the time TBH, it'd be a daily driver so would need to be comfortable, reliable and reasonably cheap to run.

I'd rather not get a big ol' 4x4 type thing, as this would be OTT for 95% of my use.

Air con / climate will be essential. Cruise would be nice but not essential. Manual preferred but auto considered. Age isn't a big deal but 2002-2003 onwards would be nice.

Oh, and it needs to be around £2.5-3k.

I've considered

Volvo S60/V70 D5 (163) - Had one of these before, great cars. Quite expensive still and can be costly if they start going wrong.

VW Passat TDI 130, possibly the 2.5 TDI.

Ford Mondeo TDCi 115/130

Alfa 156 JTD 1.9/2.4

Audi A4/A6 TDI

Any experiences of the above for towing or anything I've missed?

[CraigyMc]

Oblig: MX-5.

(sorry)

ETA: Skoda Octavia or Superb would both do the job.

[Chrisw666]

10AE said:

I'd need a car with a kerb weight of about 1400kg or so.

A new Polo should be about that

How about the Volvo XC70 or Audi all roads, the greater ride height will make hitching easier. Though it seems like the perfect oppottunity to justify a Range Rover or Disco

[ian_c_uk]

Octy would be ideal, I've towed with 1.8T 4x4, and my dad tows with a 1.9 TDI 110, both cope fine (4x4 better for performance / muddy CL's, TDI better for economy)

[jagracer]

There is no 85% rule, it's a made up figure. You need to go off the plated and towing weights of the car.

[ian_c_uk]

jagracer said:

There is no 85% rule, it's a made up figure. You need to go off the plated and towing weights of the car.

First, yes... but 85% is "common sense" in caravan towing circles, especially for first van. You don't want the tail wagging the dog.

Oh, for the OP, if your first van, shorter rear overhang = better, the closer the towball is to rear axle, the less likely to snake.

[Waugh-terfall]

Audi Allroad 2.5TDI would make a good tow car, must be able to nab one of them for around £3k now?

[10AE]

ian_c_uk said:

First, yes... but 85% is "common sense" in caravan towing circles, especially for first van. You don't want the tail wagging the dog.

Oh, for the OP, if your first van, shorter rear overhang = better, the closer the towball is to rear axle, the less likely to snake.

Thanks. I'm using the 85% 'rule' as a guide. Technically my 306 could tow a 1200kg 'van but I'd not want to do it.

It'll be my first van if I get one, but I have towed some pretty hefty trailers before that are bigger and heavier than the vans I am looking at. Mind you, they have been twin and triple axle so a bit more stable.

[jagracer]

OP, looking at your age in your profile, have you taken the B+E test or whatever it's called?

[rallycross]

BMW 525d or 530d saloon or tourer (costs more).

Omega will do just as good a job and for your budget will get a newer example than the BMW.

Have used lots of different cars for towing and found the omega and BMW best in this price range, xr4x4 was good but too old. also tried v70 t5 and Mondeo v6 too soft at the back.

Some omega's and bmw tourers have self levelling suspension and it makes a big difference (tried both) if you can find one.

[CraigyMc]

Chrisw666 said:

10AE said:

I'd need a car with a kerb weight of about 1400kg or so.

A new Polo should be about that

How about the Volvo XC70 or Audi all roads, the greater ride height will make hitching easier. Though it seems like the perfect oppottunity to justify a Range Rover or Disco

For £3K, or did you miss that in the title?

C

[bobthepsycho]

10AE said:

Ford Mondeo TDCi 115/130

This. It has 1800kg towing limit, has a kerbweight of 1500kg, and a gross weight of 2000kg. Which all means that it can tow a 1500kg legally on a post-1997 licence.

And its what I use to tow my 1000kg caravan - plenty of torque and no issues at all.

[Chrisw666]

CraigyMc said:

For £3K, or did you miss that in the title?

C

I missed that but an early discovery would be in budget (and likely broken)

[Waugh-terfall]

Too higher milage?

2001 'Y' Audi Allroad 2.5TDI quattro Tiptronic - 180,000mi - £2,850

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/audi/...

[jagracer]

bobthepsycho said:

This. It has 1800kg towing limit, has a kerbweight of 1500kg, and a gross weight of 2000kg. Which all means that it can tow a 1500kg legally on a post-1997 licence.

And its what I use to tow my 1000kg caravan - plenty of torque and no issues at all.

My Mondeo 130tdi had a gross train MAM of 3600kg which put it out of the class B licence scope.

[wackojacko]

W124 Merc.


Vauxh_al has one to tow his MK1 Golf race car, he adores it .... cruises at 80 leptons with ease.

Volvo Estate of somesort

Those Audi all roads are good when they are working but alimightely expensive when they are not.

[crankedup]

ian_c_uk said:

Octy would be ideal, I've towed with 1.8T 4x4, and my dad tows with a 1.9 TDI 110, both cope fine (4x4 better for performance / muddy CL's, TDI better for economy)

Agreed, best tow car by miles and great value on the used market. My own Fabia Estate tugs my caravan just fine as well (1.9tdi)

[Caulkhead]

This:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Low mileage, auto, torquey 2.2 diesel and self-levelling suspension.

[Waugh-terfall]

Caulkhead said:

This:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Low mileage, auto, torquey 2.2 diesel and self-levelling suspension.

Wow, look at that dildo on the centre console! Even if he doesn't like it, the OH might...

[Vulgar LS2]

If you can afford to run a car just for towing how about a P38a range rover, I picked one up last dec for under £3k and it is just used for winter/towing duties and you don't need to worry about weight as it will pull anything. We tow a 26ft caravan (twin axle) and still get the same mpg from it.