Mr Bell said:
I bet it will be the Manual Mondeo and it wil be a good choice. Be very wary of the Citroen.
Hi
I have a 2008 1.9 tdi VW Touran (ideal for dog carrying!), though this engine is 105 BHP the six speed gearbox is ideal for towing a 1300 KG MTPLM Ranger 550/6.
Fuel consumption is 26-28 MPG driving 60-70 MPH car and caravan loaded up with kids dog bikes and er in doors. I can get easily 44-50 mpg around town, (not towing) you just need to change gear before 2000rpm- easy once you get used to it.
When I replace this car in Dec 2012 I will go for the new 1.6 tdi, this has the same power as above (105BHP) and even better fuel figs. Check the figs on the TOWMATCH website.
Regards
Tim
I have a 2008 1.9 tdi VW Touran (ideal for dog carrying!), though this engine is 105 BHP the six speed gearbox is ideal for towing a 1300 KG MTPLM Ranger 550/6.
Fuel consumption is 26-28 MPG driving 60-70 MPH car and caravan loaded up with kids dog bikes and er in doors. I can get easily 44-50 mpg around town, (not towing) you just need to change gear before 2000rpm- easy once you get used to it.
When I replace this car in Dec 2012 I will go for the new 1.6 tdi, this has the same power as above (105BHP) and even better fuel figs. Check the figs on the TOWMATCH website.
Regards
Tim
I have to say that with 15K to burn, you do have a good range of cars in that price range to choose from. I've never been a "4 wheels and a board" lover as they were not that good back in the 70's and even today you have to change a whole powertrain if fitting a second hand motor.
For over 20 years I had Renaults of all types and they proved very reliable. The last one a 1998 Laguna estate had 209'000 on the clock when i sold it on. I found the brand a hard one to beat for reliability and ease of DIY maintainence.
I have now got a BMWdiesel powered Rover 75 tourer which is more than capable of towing 1600Kgs. BMW reckon the engine is good for 300'000 miles before major surgery, so it should last well.
A lot depends on wether you will be doing the repairs on the car or you will be using a garage for that. Citreon can be heavy on the wallet in the garage. Plus there are several complicated electronic systems etc that are beyond DIY.
Octavia's are favorite with taxi firms and are also used by police forces so you do have to be carefull not to pick up a hack that has already been thrashed. Ex police CID octavia's are generally good value and come with a comprehensive service record. You can find both VRS versions and uprated diesel ones on the market through specialist ex-police and civil service disposal dealers.
What ever you decide, I would certainly take a mechanic friend with you to weed out the dodgy ones. When I looked for my Rover, i saw about 20 cars before getting a good one. One supposed 85K mile full service history car had a well worn steering wheel, saggy back seat cushions and a front bumper that looked like it had been hammerite'd as there were so many stone chips under the fresh lick of paint. Honestly it looked like it had been shot at with a shotgun. Best bit was they wanted 3 grand for this ex-taxi bucket of bolts with another car's service book in the glove box. I eventually found a near mint 120K conessuer SE tourer with true full service history and every concievable extra bar 2, for a very respectable £1950 notes and a full MOT.
So take your time and look, test drive and beg rides in all the models you would like, and checkout the spares and service side of things before jumping in with both feet.
Good luck with your search.
For over 20 years I had Renaults of all types and they proved very reliable. The last one a 1998 Laguna estate had 209'000 on the clock when i sold it on. I found the brand a hard one to beat for reliability and ease of DIY maintainence.
I have now got a BMWdiesel powered Rover 75 tourer which is more than capable of towing 1600Kgs. BMW reckon the engine is good for 300'000 miles before major surgery, so it should last well.
A lot depends on wether you will be doing the repairs on the car or you will be using a garage for that. Citreon can be heavy on the wallet in the garage. Plus there are several complicated electronic systems etc that are beyond DIY.
Octavia's are favorite with taxi firms and are also used by police forces so you do have to be carefull not to pick up a hack that has already been thrashed. Ex police CID octavia's are generally good value and come with a comprehensive service record. You can find both VRS versions and uprated diesel ones on the market through specialist ex-police and civil service disposal dealers.
What ever you decide, I would certainly take a mechanic friend with you to weed out the dodgy ones. When I looked for my Rover, i saw about 20 cars before getting a good one. One supposed 85K mile full service history car had a well worn steering wheel, saggy back seat cushions and a front bumper that looked like it had been hammerite'd as there were so many stone chips under the fresh lick of paint. Honestly it looked like it had been shot at with a shotgun. Best bit was they wanted 3 grand for this ex-taxi bucket of bolts with another car's service book in the glove box. I eventually found a near mint 120K conessuer SE tourer with true full service history and every concievable extra bar 2, for a very respectable £1950 notes and a full MOT.
So take your time and look, test drive and beg rides in all the models you would like, and checkout the spares and service side of things before jumping in with both feet.
Good luck with your search.
tim5 said:
Have you checked the maximum braked towing weight of the car as more than likely it will be a lot lower than the current one?
To be truthful i have been looking at other cars to get a comparison on what i could get for the budget i am looking for. I was looking at the top 100 tow cars from the pratical caravan mag and there was a small part about the Kia sportage 2ltr deisel, so i have been investagating further about the car and its a reasonable tow car and can buy one second hand with very little millage on them. The one thing i like the look of is the 7 yr warrenty as i want to keep the car for a while. I know a little bit about these cars as my dad used to own a hyundai tuson which basically is the same car with a different badge on it. That car (4x4) was a great peice of kit BUT not very economical tho but not really bad either. The 7 year warrenty is a plus when buying a car which i would keep for a long period of time.
I know i have been talking about the mondeo and vauxhall and skoda and also the citreon.
I can deffinatly say i wont be buying the Citreon, the vauxhall insignia well its a nice car but im un decided, will have to take one out for a run. The mondeo i really like but they are as common as muck, but will do the job i want it to do, so still considering it, the skoda im starting to say no.
I like the idea of the VW touran 1.9. I really like the ford Kuga but well out of my budget and to be truthful doesnt have a massive boot!
Would i be able to get a VW touran 1.9 for around 15k which isnt to old and with low millage??
Im welcome to more suggestions as the more cars i can look at the better chance of me getting to best car for my needs.
Thanks so far.
I know i have been talking about the mondeo and vauxhall and skoda and also the citreon.
I can deffinatly say i wont be buying the Citreon, the vauxhall insignia well its a nice car but im un decided, will have to take one out for a run. The mondeo i really like but they are as common as muck, but will do the job i want it to do, so still considering it, the skoda im starting to say no.
I like the idea of the VW touran 1.9. I really like the ford Kuga but well out of my budget and to be truthful doesnt have a massive boot!
Would i be able to get a VW touran 1.9 for around 15k which isnt to old and with low millage??
Im welcome to more suggestions as the more cars i can look at the better chance of me getting to best car for my needs.
Thanks so far.
If I were you I'd stop looking, and grab a good Mondeo. Yes, they're common as muck - but that's because they're cheap to run, cheap to maintain, and do the job that people want them to do. After five, without major problems (company cars, we didn't change them because things went wrong), when we stopped getting a company car we didn't look any further than another Mondeo.
The only think uncommon about ours is the colour - but that suits us!
The only think uncommon about ours is the colour - but that suits us!
Hi My mate got a volkswagen touran 1.9 HDI and he gone away travelling from doncaster - southampton --Isle of wright with his caravan and two dogs full awning and fishing gear.he says it a great towcar so i think this is worth considering .but i have a 2010 Citroen Grand Picasso HDI and this pulls my 2008 Bailey discovery mercury two berth but it has a fixed bed at the back and bunks at the front with no problem but saying that a bit out of your price range it cost me £21,000 ( it has Paddles around the steering wheel EGS system) and i think it the best towcar i have ever had but the choice is yours,,,,,,,,,
I think i will just get my self a mondeo TDCI, i cant seem to get a better car for what i need. It will do everything i want.
Test drive the xtrail T31, the 171 bhp version with satnav.
Mine has been totally reliable, as was the previous xtrail (although that model did have some turbo failures). Mine didn't.
Whatcar has them as the best buy second hand.
Huge boot, i removed the shelf and drawers to make it even bigger.
Four wheel drive auto, for when we have another bad winter, great for traction towing, and for pulling off wet grass.
Look for the 2009 models onward, the early models had the DPF Regen light come on, while my car to date hasn't.
And thats only with 14k up in two years, ie short journeys.
Mine has been totally reliable, as was the previous xtrail (although that model did have some turbo failures). Mine didn't.
Whatcar has them as the best buy second hand.
Huge boot, i removed the shelf and drawers to make it even bigger.
Four wheel drive auto, for when we have another bad winter, great for traction towing, and for pulling off wet grass.
Look for the 2009 models onward, the early models had the DPF Regen light come on, while my car to date hasn't.
And thats only with 14k up in two years, ie short journeys.
good idea, i am just been careful with weights as im on the B licence as dont want to complete an extra test! i am getting confused with weights for making sure i am in the 3500kg limit!!
Mr Bell said:
That makes things difficult.
But the 2009 xtrail has a GVW of 2170kg. For all the diesel models.
Which leaves you a margin of 1330kg for a caravan.
The 2.5 manual petrol models are 2050kg GVW. Leaving a margin of 1450kg for a caravan.
Oddly i traded in a senator Vermont 2004 year, recently that had a MTPLM of 1333kg.
Just over the limit, for the diesel but not the petrol versions.
i would like a bailey senator as they are a very nice caravan, BUT the van will push me over my limits. most cars i have looked at have a gross weight of 2000kg which is fine but the towing weights arnt very good, the mondeo has a good tow weight and is just over 2000kg, i hate the fact i am restriced, its just not fair, money all the way.
Why not take the towing test? you seem prepared tp pay 15k for a car,and be limited to your combination.Take the test cannot cost much more than £600, then you can have the caravan, car combination you desire.Chabces are you will do the test anyway one day,And the longar you put it off, no doubt the price will go up and the test itself will become more difficult too.
I would recomend a Citroen C5 2litre diesel .I own a 2008 plate. And with over 35 years towing experiance can say that this is by far the best tow that I have ever owned. Nothing comes close to it for sure footed and comfortable towing.Despite what some of the know alls say the build quality of these car is very good ,my c5 is three years old now ,and I can honestly say that I have not had a single problem not even a light bulb. I purchased my car after having them recomended to me by a car leasing company that has a fleet of them. If Citroen are as bad as some try to suggest then why do BMW Volvo Jaguar Ford and Mitsubishi All fit Citroen engines and drive trains to some of their vehicles ? could it be because they are the best.
hi there i totally understand where you are coming from, citreons are good on the side of engines and the other parts, infact they have some great deals on the car at the mo. i do like the C5 especially the estate as it has everything im looking for. The only problem i know about with citreons is that the electrics just give up, BUT i might be wrong with that, and for money well you can get alot for what you buy!
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