We've being towing an Elddis Xplore 304 with our 2012 Qashqai, 1.5dci for a couple of years but at 10 years old it was in need of frequent insertions of money as things broke. So we decided it was time to get something newer.
We liked the Qashqai very much and it was very economical to run (excluding repair bills). So we looked for a new model and opted for a 2018 Qashqai with a similar 1.5dci engine but enhanced compared to the old one.
What a difference! Apart from much better styling the mpg is significantly improved. On a run to Inverness from Skye we would typically get about 58mpg in the old car. In the new one last week we got 82mpg. On a longer run through the Highlands we would still get about 56-58mpg in the old one but now we're getting over 77mpg on the same route.
Towing used to give us about 34mpg now we're getting about 44mpg.
There are more bells and whistles, most of which I like and the engine is much quieter and not like the old sewing machine sound we used to get. Gear ratios seem different and clutch and throttle seem lighter. Ride is also smoother.
Footnote: When we first started towing our Xplore 304 with the 2012 Qashqai we noticed a loud 'crack' noise from the near side rear of the car. It would only happen a few times on a journey and when we went over speed control bumps or those irritating ramps in road works. We thought it was something banging around in the caravan locker and I spent a while putting in some foam and wrapping things up but the problem was still there. Never a problem when not towing.
Two clear Mots later and heading for another one they discovered the rear near side coil spring was broken. Not in two but not attached to the plates at the bottom - or however its fixed. It must have been like this for a couple of more years and never picked up.
The new car tows the van well and there's no cracking noise anymore.
We liked the Qashqai very much and it was very economical to run (excluding repair bills). So we looked for a new model and opted for a 2018 Qashqai with a similar 1.5dci engine but enhanced compared to the old one.
What a difference! Apart from much better styling the mpg is significantly improved. On a run to Inverness from Skye we would typically get about 58mpg in the old car. In the new one last week we got 82mpg. On a longer run through the Highlands we would still get about 56-58mpg in the old one but now we're getting over 77mpg on the same route.
Towing used to give us about 34mpg now we're getting about 44mpg.
There are more bells and whistles, most of which I like and the engine is much quieter and not like the old sewing machine sound we used to get. Gear ratios seem different and clutch and throttle seem lighter. Ride is also smoother.
Footnote: When we first started towing our Xplore 304 with the 2012 Qashqai we noticed a loud 'crack' noise from the near side rear of the car. It would only happen a few times on a journey and when we went over speed control bumps or those irritating ramps in road works. We thought it was something banging around in the caravan locker and I spent a while putting in some foam and wrapping things up but the problem was still there. Never a problem when not towing.
Two clear Mots later and heading for another one they discovered the rear near side coil spring was broken. Not in two but not attached to the plates at the bottom - or however its fixed. It must have been like this for a couple of more years and never picked up.
The new car tows the van well and there's no cracking noise anymore.
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