What Tow Car?! Challenge!

[BazT]

Happy Easter! I'm after some suggestions for daily/tow cars please!

This has a number of criteria, first and foremost because i already have one, a boring Vectra, but would ultimately like to replace/combine it and a couple of road toys with something a little more interesting/fun, and secondly, because, for now, i do not have B+E entitlement!

The trailer, i have plates for both 1600kg and 1490kg Mass.

The cars that i tow are 750-900kg hatchbacks.

Ideally diesel for the obvious reasons! And an Estate.

I'd really like it to be fairly modern with bluetooth/aux connectivity etc, relative comfort, pace

Budget; ideally i'd like to keep it around, if not a little less than £8k.


I've recently been looking at things like diesel e39/e90/e60/a4/a6, an e90 318d Msport really fits the bill, i like the cheaper tax on later ones... The main problem is not really knowing any weights, so experience of similar situations would really help here, as well as just general experience of cars! Open to other suggestions of course!

TIA!

[BazT]

Thanks all, some good suggestions!

I've used a few V70's, they differ greatly, FWD softer sprung models can be succeptable to badly placed loads and a bit wallowey at the rear especially, but the sportier stuff and AWD models are fantastic tow cars, we had an 855 AWD for years that was fantastic. Just not a fan of the newer models with crap electrics etc - V70R AWD has been a nightmare tbh. Plus many of the newer models, V50/60 seem smaller and a bit down on power, even the diesels.


Any info on weights? No B+E means that's an important part for me, hence a lot of the big/4x4 suggestions are out i'm afraid!

helix402 said:

No to a 318d. Or any 4 cylinder BMW.

Expand on that please?! I think the 2.0 should be fine power-wise, circa 140hp(lots of torques!) and after all isn't far different to what i use now, a 2006 Vectra CDTi150.

[BazT]

helix402 said:

BazT said:

Expand on that please?! I think the 2.0 should be fine power-wise, circa 140hp(lots of torques!) and after all isn't far different to what i use now, a 2006 Vectra CDTi150.

318d has the N47, famous for it stretched and snapped timing chains. Also doesn't do much better mpg than the 3.0. The petrol 4s are equally as bad.

Ahh, yes I was aware of a few of the common issues but thought the later ones weren't as bad?! It'll be '10> LCI car I'll be going for if at all, cheaper tax, better spec & prettier IMO!

[BazT]

ZX10R NIN said:

2011 508 GT 92k 200bhp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2009 Mondeo Titanium X Sport 74k175bhp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2007 E320cdi Avantgarde 70k 220bhp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2007 E320cdi Sport 80k 220bhp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Some good suggestions there to broaden the search, thanks! Though those particular ones are mostly Auto's, which I probably didn't specify, but would rather a simple manual tbh!