Honda

[SterlingWhiteRose]

I know others have made suggestions of cars for me on another thread, but I'm in confusion over what I want, and need.

Ideally looking for tow car suggestions under £20k ish and 3 years old or younger, lower miles the better, big boot space, practical, powerful (or at least powerful enough), with a Kerb weight around the 1800kg mark (new van is 1622kg).

Been looking now at:
FORD KUGA
HONDA HRV

Always drawn back to Eclass Merc and A6 Avant, but they cost so much. Not too keen on Volvo cars, but like the XC60 and new XC90 (latter again too dear). What about the Sorrento?

Any views on these cars. I'm wary of buying on basis it can pull van, then finding out it pulls it badly.

Thanks

 

[Thingy]

Looking at the Honda, do you actually mean the CR-V, the HR-V is a four seater and an absolute bag of you know what. CR-V is OK but Iwasnt impressed with it at all. Apart from the fact its as ugly as sin. The Kuga is liked by a lot, but I thought the boot was too small.

 

[SterlingWhiteRose]

Yeah sorry meant C-RV Doh, sorry

 

[SterlingWhiteRose]

Sorrento always seems popular, bit know nothing about Kia. My neighbour has a Sportage and hates it mind. KUGA could do with being heavier. Ideally looking for something at 1800kg.

 

[ProfJohnL]

There's no one here who can tell you what car is going to suit you best. That is personal choice that only you can make.

However I'm always a little sceptical when is see posts were someone is trying to debate large car or 4x4, as it usually means the ego wants a 4x4, but the pragmatist looks to the as its what will be used far more in solo. So whilst a 4x4 may meet your towing needs, it will be a millstone for the daily commute.

Its probably better to consider when you will be spending most of your driving time, and look to maximise the comfort there even if its slightly compromised as a towing vehicle. Obviously the car must be capable of legally and safely towing your caravan, but there are cars out there.

You have as much access to the internet as most of us on the forum so use it to look specifications, and cars for sale.

Good luck

 

[SterlingWhiteRose]

Thanks ProfJohnL, not too sure how to take the message actually ha ba, part of me takes it a bit personally, but I'll take ot as advice as I'm sure it is intended.

It's funny you say about ego/vanity for the 4x4 and pragmatism for large car. I kind of agree, with the pragmatist view, but not the vanity of 4x4. I own a Mondeo Estate and I love it, I don't really want an out and out 4x4, but looking for something heavier than my Mondeo, and the SUVs seem to be the majority of what fit that bill.

Ideally I would get E Class Merc or Audi A6 (as noted in previous post), but they are just a note too dear.......however I'd accept some criticism of vanity/ego there for the Merc/Audi. The Audi gives added benefit of four wheel drive too though. But Merc classier inside and drives beautiful.

I guess I'm asking for suggestions of good tow cars that are heavy enough to warrant swapping my Mondeo, so I cam consider them. However, I do really like my Mondeo, and tempted to keep it to tow, but new van almost exactly 100% of kerbweight (though as stated before car will well exceed kerb weight and can pull 2100kg, the van will deffinatly be less than the MTPLM).

Hope that helped defend me/explain why I'm asking/my dilemma.

 

[SteveC2]

The Sorento is a good tow car. I had a KX2 for a few years and it behaved well, I would be happy to have one again. Mine was a 2010 so I don't know what may have changed in that time. It's not a luxury car, a little agricultural and the cabin feel slightly clunky. Newer ones have had a big price hike which may may make them less attractive.
It's not a full time 4wd, but just engages when necessary. In fact it will disengage automatically above a fairly low speed to protect the system. So 2wd most of the time which helps fuel consumption. You still pay a penalty in weight of course but for towing that's no bad thing.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

but new van almost exactly 100% of kerbweight (though as stated before car will well exceed kerb weight and can pull 2100kg,

Just because the car has a 2100kg towing capacity it doesn't mean a caravan at that weight. A caravan is a very high-sided trailer, hence expert recommendation to tow approx 85% of kerb weight for new tuggers and certainly no more than 100%.

the van will deffinatly be less than the MTPLM).
.

Repeat this statement after weighing the van on a weighbridge.

 

[Thingy]

The Prof has made a very good point. I myself have a Shogun, it gets used three times a year for caravanning and thats it. Apart from the odd bit of snow now and then, its really a boys toy. It has one more trip in it and then I will be reverting to a "normal" car.

Like you, I looked at the E class estate, 5 series touring, A6 Avant and Passat Alltrack. However, I am alsomt certainly going to go for the XC70, which I have previously owned and utterly loved. As the XC70 is finished now as a production there are some decent bargains to be had. Its being replaced by the V90 with a cross country version to come later.

 

[Hutch]

I was going to buy the XC70 loved the car but my wife could not drive it as she has the seat upright and the headrest pushed her head forward and are non adjustable. Went for a Santa Fe. On my second one now. Think about the Skoda superb estate 4x4 , a friend of mine has one and its a very nice car.

 

[Thingy]

Think about the Skoda superb estate 4x4 , a friend of mine has one and its a very nice car.

Think I would rather have it with a VW Passat badge, arent they basically the same car? And the A6?

 

[Hutch]

Didnt realise you were a snob,
Yes they are really but the Skoda has an umberella in the right hand rear door,
My friend tows his Coachman 560, and is very happy with it. Not many second hand ones around though.

 

[Thingy]

Didnt realise you were a snob,

I remember the Skoda of the 70's and 80's. Its a hard image to get out of your head. Mind you, I remember NSU pre Audi.

Never mind the umberella, Im a caravanner, rain doesnt scare me B)

 

[ProfJohnL]

Thanks ProfJohnL, not too sure how to take the message actually ha ba, part of me takes it a bit personally, but I'll take ot as advice as I'm sure it is intended.

It's funny you say about ego/vanity for the 4x4 and pragmatism for large car. I kind of agree, with the pragmatist view, but not the vanity of 4x4. I own a Mondeo Estate and I love it, I don't really want an out and out 4x4, but looking for something heavier than my Mondeo, and the SUVs seem to be the majority of what fit that bill.

Ideally I would get E Class Merc or Audi A6 (as noted in previous post), but they are just a note too dear.......however I'd accept some criticism of vanity/ego there for the Merc/Audi. The Audi gives added benefit of four wheel drive too though. But Merc classier inside and drives beautiful.

I guess I'm asking for suggestions of good tow cars that are heavy enough to warrant swapping my Mondeo, so I cam consider them. However, I do really like my Mondeo, and tempted to keep it to tow, but new van almost exactly 100% of kerbweight (though as stated before car will well exceed kerb weight and can pull 2100kg, the van will deffinatly be less than the MTPLM).

Hope that helped defend me/explain why I'm asking/my dilemma.

Hello SterlingWhiteRose

Let me assure you my comment was intended as advice.

Another concern has occurred to me about your driving licence and when it was issued, as this would affect if you can tow the caravan you have ordered. The critical date is 1st Jan 1997. Before this date the basic licence came with Cat BE. This allows driver to tow all normal caravans, but licences issued after this date will only have CatB and are restricted for light vehicles and trailers not to exceed a combined MAM of 3500kg

MAM refers to the legal maximum weight limit for each part of the combination so it's the equivalent of the caravan's MTPLM and the car's GVM
These two limits added together must not exceed 3500.

It is best practice and also a requirement on some licences for the MAM of the trailer must not exceed the ULM (Unladen mass) of the tow vehicle. You will find it is generally the case for light vehicles where the ULM is as high as 1600kg the payload will be at least 400kg giving a GVM of at least 2000kg (typically a Mondeo is even higher!)

This would give your new caravan and current car a combined MAM of at least 3622kg which exceeds the Cat B limit of 3500kg

Note this is all about the maximum limits of the car and trailer, not how an outfit is loaded. So you can't mitigate this by reducing the applied loading.

 

[Thingy]

Its a fact too that some SUVs, though a tad heavier are simple crossovers and the fact the suspension is raised and they stick huge wheels on them can actually make them an awful ride. If you like your Mondeo so much, stick with it, but I would advise real caution with the loading and weights you describe. To my mind, its an accident waiting to happen.

Although you can theoretically tow up to 100%, even the most experienced will tell you it isnt advisable. Not only that, but some cars make poor tow cars even at 85% because of the way they are set up.

As the Prof has already said, its a personal choice. You need to drive them all and have a look on a campsite to see what other people are using.

 

[Hutch]

You could think about this one, no 85% advice here.

http://dailym.ai/24REJas

 

[DrZhivago]

the ego wants a 4x4, but the pragmatist looks to the as its what will be used far more in solo.

If anyone is a pragmatist, I am. As a pragmatist I do my own repairs and servicing , and my 4x4 allows me to crawl underneath without jacking it up, a huge time saver, added to the fact that I can pull a caravan out of the mud, get the provisions when only the more serious 4x4s and tractors can move around here in the Welsh hills when it snows, and I can pull dead tree stumps out of the ground.

Sounds pragmatic to me.

So whilst a 4x4 may meet your towing needs, it will be a millstone for the daily commute.

Not sure why it's a millstone. Oh, it does not have the silky smoothness or style of a modern saloon - it's a box on wheels - and I have got abusive stickers from Greenies on my windscreen on the few occasions I park in a city. But I don't give a light - I'm pragmatic.

 

[SterlingWhiteRose]

Prof, thanks for the advice. I appreciate it, and take ot completely as advice now.

For info, I'm older than I sound, ha ha, so my licence is pre 97, full entitlement without additional tests.

Thingy, yes I do love my Mondeo, solo it's great and it's been pulling my 1500kg caravan like a dream.

I'll let you know the weight at a weighbridge once we get the new van. Never been to one before, but will endeavour to so so....does ot cost?

I just looked at Jag XF Sportbrake, seems to fit the bill EXCEPT a rubbish towbar nose weight of 75kg!!!! My Mondeo is 90kg

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

I'll let you know the weight at a weighbridge once we get the new van. Never been to one before, but will endeavour to so so....does ot cost?

Our local one, a private steel company, charges £6 for a duplex weighing. They will do 2 weighings on the same ticket and the calculated difference is then also printed on the ticket. Drive on the bridge towing the van for first weight, unhitch and drive car off bridge for second weight. So you get train weight, van weight and car weight all on the ticket.

 

[SterlingWhiteRose]

Sounds good, will have to find my local weighbridge