ESP and Self-levelling suspension of Sorento/Santa Fe/CRV

[Tim2]

Hi Folks

I'm looking at changing my tow car, I currently tow a Bailey Senator (Series 5/1500kg)with a Vauxhall Monterey. I am looking at changing to a Sorento, Sante or possibly Honda CRV.

I wonder if anyone who has experience of towing with these cars could comment on the value(or otherwise) of the ESP and/or self levelling options. I'm leaning towards the Sorrento on price as I was hoping to stay around £20K but would consider these options if they're worth having.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Tim

 

[Tim2]

Sorry I, also, meant to ask about how people have found manual/auto gearboxes. As some of you may have read I had a lot of trouble with auto gearbox on my current towcar Vxh Monterey (Isuzu trooper) and had to replace it TWICE despite having an additional oil cooler fitted. I'm looking at diesils

 

[Cockovan]

Hi,

Can't comment on any of the vehicles in your list but have owner/own 2 Toyota automatics. I tow about 7000miles a year took the first to 120,000 with no problems at all, this one is on 44,000 and still no problems. No additional anything needed on either. My Landcruiser is the size of your Monterey but for 20k you could get a nice 3/4 yr old - just run in!

Alan

 

[JasonR_374341560]

My brother in-law tows our old Senator with the latest CRV 2.2 diesel. No auto box available plus auto 4 wheel drive only kicks in when needed and it drives more like a car than the Sorento. No doubt if you go off roading the Sorento would be the better choice. For regular driving and towing he likes the more refined Honda and it also has towing stability system. Fuel consumption with caravan he's had around 30-33 with the 6 speed manual and over 40mpg solo.

He kept up with us well on all but steepest hills as well, but we run a 4.2

 

[otherclive]

I have an 04 Sorento auto with 5 speed box. It is a very relaxed car to drive on M and A roads but does'nt compare to my son's CTV diesel for road holding and economy. The Sorento gives 30-32mpg overall and 22-24 mpg towing 1400kg. However the Sorento tows better than the son's CRV and has been said is better off road which it has been on occasions. The Sorento deals with floods better than the CRv due to its much higher air intake. I was caught in last July's Midlands floods and the Sorento went through water which was above its door seals. Overall its relaibilty has been total.

So its dwon to your personal choice.

Cheers

Other clive

 

[otherclive]

Sorry the sl suspension is excellent but mine does not have ESP. I think the facelift model with higher power engine has ESP but not SL. Not sure ESP is a benefit on something like a Sorento has its size and height mean I hav eto drive it diffently to a more car like vehicle. Don't most 4x4 rollovers occur when hitting kerbs, or making sudden changes in direction which I would not see ESP as helping. I have raed a road test report of 4x4 like the Sorento where the testers have seen ESP as an advanatge. Some 4X4s such as LRs, CRV would benefit from it, but not something as agricutural as the Sorento!

Cheers

Other Clive

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Other Clive,

Quote "Don't most 4x4 rollovers occur when hitting kerbs, or making sudden changes in direction which I would not see ESP as helping."

ESP was developed for the Mercedes S-class, but then immediately fitted to the first generation Mercedes A-class - because stability issues is exactly what ESP will help correct.

And ESP would certainly help 4x4 vehicles remain right side up, because they all have similar (or worse) geometries compared to the A-class

Robert

 

[Lutz]

Besides, ESP is not primarily to prevent a rollover (that's just the net result in the worst possible case), but to prevent a swerve in the first place, before hitting anything and rolling over.

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Tim

Have a look at uksorento.com.

There are over 1500 Sorrie members many of whom tow caravans.

Mine is a 05 2.5crd. Don't go for the petrol. Personally I prefer the manual which tows our Senator Wyoming with ease. The latest version , as said earlier does not have sl. There are many prefacelift models around , low mileage, less than two years old for

 

[rob_jax]

"I had ESP on my previous car and never felt it operate. But then I don't like a F1 champion."

Actually you shouldn't feel anything - ESP doesn't grab the car by the shoulders and shake it - it quietly applies one or two wheel brakes using the ABS system to return the car to stability.

And the fact that very few people can drive like a F1 champion is the very reason why ABS, ESP and other safety systems have been rolled out across models - most of the time you don't need these systems, but a bit of road ice or rain and you'd be happy they were fitted.

For example, when Mercedes introduced ESP across the complete A-class range, accidents rates fell for that model and by a significant amount too - and I don't think most A-class owners engage in traffic light burn-outs. Once the safety benefits were clear, Mercedes then gave away their ESP technology to all the other car manufacturers - the licence to use ESP was provided free of charge...

Robert

 

[Lutz]

I wouldn't quite agree with your statement, Robert, that you won't feel a thing when ESP deploys. Because brakes are applied when it does, my experience is that it feels a bit as though the engine is about to stall. The sensation is not as violent as the vehicle 'shake' experienced with some ABS units, though, when they cut in during an emergency stop.

It's well worth deliberately inducing an ESP reaction by driving around on a wide open space, such as an empty supermarket car park, and then suddenly sawing at the steering wheel, just to get a sense of the system working, so that one is not startled when it does unexpectedly (not to be recommended, though, unless you're absolutely sure the car actually has ESP).

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Lutz - I take your point:

I was trying to suggest that if the driver was familiar with the brake pedal modulation from some ABS system - then they're not going to feel anything like as much "feedback".

The feedback is also very much car and manufacturer dependent - and some cars when you are close to the point of ESP activation, the car is already doing enough jiggling around to hide the ESP feedback...

Robert

 

[Tim2]

Thanks everyone

I've been out looking this week and I'm being drawn towards a new or newish Kia Sorento. Sorentos seem to be coming out at a good price compared with the Sante Fes. A question on Sante Fe- do the 5 seater versions (06+ model) have a boot cover? I looked at a 7 seater version and they don't have a load cover.

Thanks again

Tim