focus c-max v vauxhall zafira

[craig_374357807]

hi there im looking for a bit of advice,i am new to caravaning and have just bought our first van which is a 1994 compass rallye gte,i am pulling it with a ford focus c-max 1.6tdci 109bhp 2004 model.i find it struggles on some hills or in a head wind,also it is a nightmare to reverse up a hill into my drive way which is not particulary steep but the car stinks of burning clutch..we are thinking of getting a 1.8 or 2.0 petrol zafira does any one think this would be a good move and would make towing more comfortable,do u have a zafira or have a c-max which has the same probs............

 

[giant]

hi craig , just answered another member , weve got a 2000cc TDCi great drive . were new to caravaning , it pulls a senetor vermont with ease . at 60 mph in 6th gear without van it will do 62 mpg, with the van 30/35 mpg. but what you lose pulling the van you gain the rest of the time , brian

 

[RogerL]

The petrol Zafiras won't be particularly economical, compared to a diesel C-Max.

The Zafira-A 2.0DT ('99-'04) has a low towing limit but the Zafira-B diesels ('05-on) make good towcars.

 

[Paul_374295069]

I tow with a 2.0ltr c-max auto and it is a great tow car. My previous car was a 1.8 petrol manual and it was great to apart from the smelly clutch when reversing and even when sitting in traffic solo it was awful,it seems to be a trait with the c-max. As far as the Zafira goes the c-max is a far superior car.

 

[Dave_374330759]

Hi there, have a look at the thread a bit lower down - Anyone towed with a C-Max. I've used a 2 litre petrol Focus and a 2.0 litre diesel C-max and essentially they are the same car although the C-max is a bit bigger inside and a bit heavier.

I would not go back to a petrol even for solo use. The diesel pulls better, is quicker and more economical and goes like a rocket solo (0-60 time is about the same as petrol but the 30-60 overtaking is about twice as fast). You'll probably find that a diesel has a higher towing limit as well (the 2 litre petrol focus was 1200kg whereas the 2 litre diesel C-max is 1500kg)

We pull a Pageant Provence series 6 (MTPLM of 1420kg)with our C-Max and it cruises well at 60-65 in 6th although on long hill you do have to drop a cog if the engine revs get below about 1400rpm. I can't quite get the mpg of Brian but we are more than satisfied with 30 when towing and 55 on a run. We live out in the styx so most of our driving is short runs around the country lanes where we get 45-48mpg - I've got a 1600cc petrol Focus which struggles to get 35.

 

[jomarkr]

Hi Craig

I've also just posted a reply to another member re the C-Max...

I know what you mean about the burning clutch smell as i sometime have to reverse up quite a hill but it always disaptes afterwards & doesn't seem to do any damage...

I don't know what weight your van is but you seem to be having a different driving experience to me with the same car... don't know what model yours is but mine is a Zetec with the firmer suspension which copes well & doesn't struggle at all when towing uphill or in winds but then my van is a lighter model which probably doesn't weigh more than 1050kg in total.

Cheers

Mark

 

[daniel_374368544]

hi you dont even need a c max to tow with i am using a 2.o tdci focus 3 door will pull 1500kgs. i am pulling 1230kgs dont even know its on. the only thing is i can not use 6th gear when its not dead flat but it pulls great in 5th dont need to drop down unless its a really bad hill 42mpg with van 56 mpg without carnt ask for more than that!!!!

 

[PaulHull]

I pull a Swift Rapide (825kg unladen) with a 115bhp 1.8 petrol Zafira (Mk1).

It makes a great towcar - it's much more stable than my previous car (06 Vectra) but it does lack power when you show it a hill. The diesels in the Mk1 don't have a great towing figure but our 1.8 ain't too bad on fuel (about 20mpg with the van, 30 withuot). The 2.2 doesn't use a great deal more juice but I should imagine will be much better at pulling up hills.

I've not tried the C-Max but I have all the towcar I need in the Zafira. If you get a 1.8 from 2001 onwards they have 125bhp which is probably more useful. I wouldn't want to pull a van at the cars limits if I had any hills to climb tho but for a light van it's great.

Hope this helps!