Estate car or 4x4

[HomerS1]

We have just ordered a new Abbey caravan with a MTLP of 1460 KGs. Our current Estate Car (Toyota Avensis 2.0 D) isn't up to the task so I'll be looking to change. I was thinking of either a 2.0 or 2.2 td Mondeo Estate as with rising tax and fuel costs I was hoping to avoid a 4x4. Any thoughts please?

 

[RogerL]

The Vectra Estate 1.9CDTi(150) is slightly bigger than the Mondeo as it's built on the Signum floorpan which is 130mm longer wheeelbase than the Vectra Hatch/Saloon. Kerb weights are 1525-1556kg which is only just above your Abbey but the Mondeo will be around that figure as well.

A heavier, but physically smaller, estate would be the Volvo V70. The Mondeo and Vectra have caught up and overtaken the "big" Volvo, at least in terms of interior space.

 

[Guest]

Before the Loony Tunes and Numpties start on about 4 X 4's, maybe you should decide how, where and when you will use your caravan.

If you are going to be a summer user visiting commercial sites a good sized estate or people carrier car will probably do the job well.

If you intend to do all year round caravanning and use CL's and basic field typs sites travelling on the worst of roads in all kinds of weather then a 4 x 4 may suit your towing requirements better.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Well I've always considered my X Trails to be estate cars and they are available in 2WD

"That's all folks"( to be hummed to a suitable loony tune !)

 

[RichardS1]

Hi Chris, I currently drive an Accord Tourer as a company car and have towed our caravan MTPLM 1499kg with the Honda and it is a capable towcar. Kerbweight of the Honda is 1632 so you would be around 89% with the Abbey. Euro has made a valid point though you need to take into consideration what caravanning you will be doing. We use the caravan all year using a decent amount of CL's so for us personally a 4x4 is a far more suitable towcar. If however you intend to caravan primarily in the summer months I can recommend the Honda.

 

[RayS]

I'm sure there are some exceptions, but one of the attractions of 4x4 v. estate car is that the 4x4 may have a much shorter overhang - i.e. distance from rear axle line to towball, which helps to maintain attitude and improve stability. Also, so estate cars have quite modest maximum towball loadings relative to the size of vehicle, which is quite a consideration with a van over 1400 kg.

 

[RogerL]

Chris is looking specifically at estates, not 4x4s. The Ford S-max shouldn't be ignored. It's an MPV but performs very well as a conventional estate.

 

[Garfield]

We have just replaced our 110bhp Sharan tdi with a 2.0tdci S-Max which leaves the Sharan standing on performance and roadholding though we have not towed our 20' 6berth twin axle caravan yet, which the shaz managed ok. As Euro says if you drive a low annual mileage most of which is towing and using CL's then a 4x4 is probably the best option. We are at the other end of the scale and drive a high mileage, only using the caravan 3-4 times a year on commercial sites and my wife and I are both "enthusiastic" drivers so the sports mpv S-max gave the best combinaton of performance and economy and is the first car I have owned that actually put a smile on my face since I sold my BMW 530i 6 years ago.

 

[Guest]

http://static.flickr.com/95/266424411_bfd308d161_m.jpg

 

[rayc]

Chris, Have you considered the diesel Honda CRV? There are plenty of bargains out there now that the replacement is on the horizon. It is no bigger than a standard estate car and if the road fund licence continues to be banded on CO emmissions it will be in the middle bands 177 gm/km. It has a nose weight of limit 100kg and very reliable.

 

[DavidW1]

Hi Chris,

Your MTLP is about the same as our Olklahoma and thats quite a heavy van.

I have towed with Family Estate and 4x4 and know my personal prefference which is 4x4 every time. Reasons being extra kerbweight & more traction, plus the confidence that towing with a large powerful tug, with auto in our case, brings to vanning. You can just go anywhere to any site in any weather, with no worries.

Our solution is to use a mini size car for the daily driver and the Isuzu "truck" for towing although I realise this wouldn't work for everyone.

If I was wealthy enough, a big Merc diesel estate might pursuade me I didnt need 4x4 but none of the current Ford range have the weight or traction to come near - I also tow a horse box ocasionaly which stuffs almost anything but a large 4x4

 

[Guest]

Although tax is a contentious issue, I would not allow it to justify a decision either way. Both types of vehicles have excellent advantages, and some disadvantages. The final decision is yours, and yours alone and I feel that although asking for advice might seem useful, I suspect it is more likely to cloud the issue as you can get totally contradictory answers, all of which are correct.

If you have a specific vehicle in mind then by all means ask if anyone who has the same, to share their experiences with you. But look at what the primary function of the vehicle will be, and pick a model, that you like, from within that format. Don't forget that even models of the same make and type of vehicle can produce different results as a tow car. Maybe the 'Friday' car scenario is still with us.