Caravan and Car combination

[Katiebe]

Over the months there has been a great deal of debate and good quality information that I have had the pleasure of reading regarding car and van matching, I intend to purchase a van and hopefully the correct vehicle towards the end of this year.

Not being a UK resident at the moment, and not knowing the UK car/van market as well as some of the contributors to this forum, I would like someone to give me some advice on the following please⇨

I have GBP10000-12500 to spend of a luxury 2 berth, but at or around 1750kgs MTPLM,(fixed bed and end washroom) and up to GBP20000 for a vehicle, preferable a rear wheel drive saloon car rather than a 4x4.

Could you recommend a complete combination (car with perhaps european DVD drive command sat/nav and quality van) within the parameters of the foregoing, even if you go somewhat beyond a little bit for the sake of flexibility, I could perhaps stretch the budget a little?

regards Katie

South Africa.

Thanks in advance for your valued inputs.

 

[JasonR_374341560]

DVD request makes me assume you intend to tour in Europe quite a lot. You will not be able to buy and insure in the UK without a "permanent" place of residence. UK insurance companies restrict number of days travel in Europe, so you will need to check that you can get insurance cover and that you can get covered if you intend to spend a lot of time out of the UK.

In built command Satnav is expensive in many new cars, a top of the range Tom Tom,Garmin or Navman would be cheaper, do the same job and be more practical for exploring cities on foot.

No doubt somebody can advise on van and car, but do make sure you can get covered for your travel plans.

 

[Gareth111278]

So we're looking for a big car! 2,050Kgs kirbweight at least. got to be a BMW or Merc deisel estate i'd recon, what does

 

[Gareth111278]

BMW 530d SE 5d , diesel Estate 2005 '05 plate. about

 

[Lutz]

If you're coming from South Africa and intend to spend significantly more time touring the European continent than the UK, it would probably also be worthwhile buying both car and caravan there, too. Not because Continental caravans are any better (that has been debated lots of times in this forum) but should you need spares or service, that would be easier to come by with a Continental make (very few UK caravans are exported so service may be a problem). Besides, caravans on the Continent are, on the whole, cheaper, too.

 

[Gareth111278]

Found this , brilliant site

http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/bmw.htm
Our 530 is only 1650 ish so bit on the light side for the 85% 'rule' but its max tow is 2000kgs.

 

[Gareth111278]

Found this , brilliant site

http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/bmw.htm
Our 530 is only 1650 ish so bit on the light side for the 85% 'rule' but its max tow is 2000kgs.

OOps , just had a propper look its 1850kgs for a Deisel Estate , i was looking at a petrol saloon.

 

[Lutz]

The cuddles.abelgratis site is OK for a rough guideline, just to get an approximate overview of what may or may not be suitable, but it has many shortcomings, so the information that it gives needs to be treated with a good deal of reservation. You will therefore definitely have to get confirmation from other reliable sources, such as manufacturers' specifications, before committing yourself to a purchase.

 

[Katiebe]

The cuddles.abelgratis site is OK for a rough guideline, just to get an approximate overview of what may or may not be suitable, but it has many shortcomings, so the information that it gives needs to be treated with a good deal of reservation. You will therefore definitely have to get confirmation from other reliable sources, such as manufacturers' specifications, before committing yourself to a purchase.

Wow!!!

stimulating response, gentlemen, thank you.

I will be based in Scotland on my return to the UK, but with a fair amount of continental travel, in the (hopeful) absence of a 4x4 I would consider going a little bit beyond the 85% factor, as some 80% of driving would be without my new caravan, and hence the reason for a saloon car.

As a fairly experienced driver, with towing capability I would consider up to 87-88% perhaps....!!!!

Based on this proposed update, can you further advise with a litle bit more concise detail?

Your valued comments are very much appreciated, I;m certainly listening.

rgds Katie...

 

[Katiebe]

The cuddles.abelgratis site is OK for a rough guideline, just to get an approximate overview of what may or may not be suitable, but it has many shortcomings, so the information that it gives needs to be treated with a good deal of reservation. You will therefore definitely have to get confirmation from other reliable sources, such as manufacturers' specifications, before committing yourself to a purchase.

Is there a 4x4 on the market that could deliver a MPG figure of 38 plus average non towing figure? capable of easy pulling the 1750 MTPLM van?

 

[Katiebe]

I should have mentioned a 4x4 in the GBP20k region either new or good 2nd hand.

 

[cooky1]

20k could get you a 2004 3.0d BMW X5 from a main dealer.

 

[Gareth111278]

Just had a look on Parkers Used car guide they quote 32MPG for the X5 3.0 deisel.

 

[Paul_374312742]

Katie

You will find a full search on new caravan models at http://www.caravan.homedns.org

You can then put in your desired maximum weight that you preffered vehicle can pull to see what models are available.