HEAVY TOW CAR - Second attempt!!

[Ivorwetwun]

Don't wish this thread to go the way of the recent enquiry re- heavy tow car, but......
I currently tow with an Hyundai santa Fe, which in fairness has been a very reliable tug, but Mrs W
wants to go back to a saloon car. My van has un unladen weight of 1460 kgs, max weight 1590 kgs, so
my choice is very limited. Fancy the Jag XF, no problem there re- weights, but concerned with reliability issues.
BMW 520d is a possibility, but that is apparently a 98% match, however, we never load the van, prefering to load the car as the van is kept several miles away.
Audi A6 another possibilty, as is the Volvo S80.
All comments re- reliability, weight matching, etc, etc, would be appreciated.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Ivor,

Lets get the towing ratio out of the way first. It is always better to keep the the trailers weight as small as possible, though there is no universal 'safe' ratio, as good towing is about getting a range of vehicle and trailer criteria in balance.

There are far to many different vehicles that are legally capable of towing your caravan to list, but you have narrowed the desired types to saloons.

To maintain the best chance of a good match you are almost certainly looking at the larger luxury makes. In that ilk you have already identified Jaguar XF, Don't forget Mercedes Benz E class, BMW 7 series, Volvo 7 series.

I am hesitant to suggest large Audi models because they tend to be on the lighter side, though they have plenty of power.

Not quite saloons, but still very capable are some of the bigger MPV's

Ultimately its what legal and what you would feel safe driving pulling the caravan. There's no prizes for frightening yourself with a marginal outfit. You may need to emphasis that the size of caravan you have needs a bigger vehicle.

 

[otherclive]

Ivor,

Look at one of the caravan-car matching websites. I think one of the clubs has a link. Then look at Warranty Directs reliabilty Index which shows the information relating to cars covered by Warranty Direct. These tend to be 3 years and older as that is when the first owners tend to sell them on and they will be out of manufacturers warranty. Volvo S80 with autoconvertor boxes are good weighty towcars chaper than BMW/Audi and much under-rated. Bear in mind that repair costs at WD can reflect some cars being repaired at Main Dealers, some at speciaist independants and some at local multi-make garages. With something like BMW, Saab,Audi and Volvo you can generally find a good specialist independant.

 

[anotherDavid]

I have been towing a 1600Kg MTPL Fendt with a Mercedes E Class estate without difficulty and have now done 28K miles towing.With the seats down it has a vast space for carriage and the 3l diesel consistently returns 25mpg towing. I have had no reliability problems at all in 5 years. It is however a big car and car parks particularly multi- storey need some care.
David

 

[Surfer]

A Ford Mondeo 2.0L Estate will tow that unit easily but if fully laden at 100%.

 

[RayS]

Like David I tow 1500 kg van with MB E class but only a 220 cdi auto. 26 mpg towing around 50 solo. Not all have split fold rear seats which you need for awning poles etc. Tiprtonic box easily used as manual on long descents. Not goood on ice or wet grass but no car on HS tyres will be.

 

[Whittakerr]

Ivor
My caravan has a MTPLM of 1595kg and I pull it with the new model BMW 520d which has an unladen weight of 1700kg which makes it a 94% match.
I went for the 8 speed auto gearbox and its pulls the van with no trouble whatsoever. I would defiantly recommend the car, the only drawback are the £800 for a factory fitted tow bar & electrics, but it is electrically retractable at the push a button in the boot, and folding rear seats are a £250 option. I get around 43mpg solo and 30mpg towing.
Roger

 

[Scotland_fan]

How about an Alfa 159 3.2 V6 JTS Q4 (4 wheel drive) Sportwagon (Estate). 1800+ kg's kerbweight, 1700kg's max tow weight and a car that looks better than anything else out there....not that I'm biased of course!

Oh and if anyone comes back with comments on reliability concerns.......get with the times you old sticks in the mud!!!

 

[RogerL]

How about an Alfa 159 3.2 V6 JTS Q4 (4 wheel drive) Sportwagon (Estate). 1800+ kg's kerbweight, 1700kg's max tow weight and a car that looks better than anything else out there....not that I'm biased of course!

Oh and if anyone comes back with comments on reliability concerns.......get with the times you old sticks in the mud!!!

It'll be reliable, it's an Opel/Vauxhall underneath - the GM Premium platform was originally meant for the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia and Saab 9-5 as well as the Alfa but GM and Saab dropped development in favour of Epsilon II so only Alfa used it - and Alfa also used all the other GM features like the engine, transmission, suspension, and electrical systems - rather than Fiat items.
If you want an Insignia, just buy one!

 

[seth1]

Thats correct apart from the electrical system is Fiat.Shame the rest of the car isnt.One good thing though at least GM spares are cheaper and more readily available than fiat.Personally i,d go for the 2.4mjet.At least have a test drive in one,the grin factor is brillant.Then when you get bored do what i did send it back and get the factory upgrade kit fitted.

 

[RogerL]

Thats correct apart from the electrical system is Fiat.Shame the rest of the car isnt.One good thing though at least GM spares are cheaper and more readily available than fiat.Personally i,d go for the 2.4mjet.At least have a test drive in one,the grin factor is brillant.Then when you get bored do what i did send it back and get the factory upgrade kit fitted.

Spares pricing is perverse - spares for Vauxhalls were often cheaper at Saab dealers!

 

[seth1]

Ah yeah,but i mean compared with Fiat/Alfa prices.
1 x alternator of Fiat agent £490.00
1 x alternator of GM agent £210.00
Exactly the same part.

 

[xtrailman]

Don't wish this thread to go the way of the recent enquiry re- heavy tow car, but......
I currently tow with an Hyundai santa Fe, which in fairness has been a very reliable tug, but Mrs W
wants to go back to a saloon car. My van has un unladen weight of 1460 kgs, max weight 1590 kgs, so
my choice is very limited. Fancy the Jag XF, no problem there re- weights, but concerned with reliability issues.
BMW 520d is a possibility, but that is apparently a 98% match, however, we never load the van, prefering to load the car as the van is kept several miles away.
Audi A6 another possibilty, as is the Volvo S80.
All comments re- reliability, weight matching, etc, etc, would be appreciated.

From PC mag
Top 5 in 1725/1899kg
jag xj 2.7 TDVi exc
LR freelander 2.2 TD4E HSE
Ford S-Max 2.2 TDCi TIT
Mit outlander 2.2 Di-DC Dia
Citroen C5 touer 2.2 HDI EXC

 

[Ivorwetwun]

Thanks for all the replies. Pretty well decided on an XF Jaguar. Just hope that it is reliable!!

 

[cooky1]

Thanks for all the replies. Pretty well decided on an XF Jaguar. Just hope that it is reliable!!

Nice one. No reason why the XF should be unreliable. They have always had good reports and reviews.

 

[RogerL]

Thanks for all the replies. Pretty well decided on an XF Jaguar. Just hope that it is reliable!!

Nice one. No reason why the XF should be unreliable. They have always had good reports and reviews.

Honest John has found a few issues http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/jaguar/xf-2008/?
£1150 to reset the bonnet airbags after hitting a dog that did no damage - electrical issues on the early versions - DPF problems if used on short runs.

 

[Ivorwetwun]

Thanks for all the replies, but, been an' gon an dun it.
Read all the reviews I could, including honest John, etc, but found an
XF, 3 litre deisel, £40k new, 18 months old, 16k miles for £23k.
Still has 18 months warranty to go, so hopefully will find out if it
is reliable. Picking it up on Wednesday, fingers and legs crossed!!!!

 

[Ivorwetwun]

Thanks for all the replies, but, been an' gon an dun it.
Read all the reviews I could, including honest John, etc, but found an
XF, 3 litre deisel, £40k new, 18 months old, 16k miles for £23k.
Still has 18 months warranty to go, so hopefully will find out if it
is reliable. Picking it up on Wednesday, fingers and legs crossed!!!!

 

[seth1]

Very nice too

 

[andyp1]

I tow a large Twin axle with a VW Phaeton , absolutely superb and a bargain second hand !

Andy