LUTZ LUTZ are you there????????? you have been selected!!!!

[steven_374420387]

Hi, I am new to caravanning and have am waiting delivery of a Lunar 534. MPtw is 1350KG(or something like that). I messed up when we ordered it because at the moment we have a Seat Altea XL 2.0 138bhp with only a maximum towing weight of 1400kg(Manufact Rec) and therefore near 97%.... So, after appologising to my wife for my big mistake we are now looking at a new Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDI XE... the XE is quite a bit less cost than the XS/XT/Titan... However, there a number of less features on the XE... could someone please give me some advice on whether the XE will do the job or that we should consider the XS which I know was voted towcar 2008????? any advice would be very welcomed... Thanks Steven

 

[Lutz]

I've been away on holiday (too far to take the caravan this time) and I only had sporadic chance of visiting this forum while away so please accept my apologies for delays in replying.

I'm sorry, but I have to refrain from making recommendations for particular towcars so long as the respective outfit is within manufacturers specifications. A 1400kg caravan is obviously going to be within the limits specified for any Sorento so further comment on the suitability or otherwise of any particular variant is based on personal preference and one's own priorities, and I don't wish to interfere there.

By the way and for what it's worth, the Seat Altea XL 2.0 138bhp would not be a 97% match with a 1400kg caravan but approx. a 95% one. The weight ratio is calculated based on the kerbweight of the car, not its maximum towing weight, and according to my database, its kerbweight is around 1469kg.

 

[robin_374370707]

You will also only be at approx 95% if you loaded the caravan to its max mtplm 1354 as per the buyers guide in pc mag I know that is the figure that you use for working out the % but depending on how much you load the % could be lower, the caravan empty using the miro (which i know can be wrong) is a 79% match approx. The only way to know for sure is to load both car and caravan and weigh at a weighbridge. The main thing is that the match is a legal match anyway its just that they recommend 85% especially for new caravaners.

Robin F.

 

[RayS]

The current Kia Sorento is being replaced later this year, so all the existing model that will be available here are already in the country and the choice is not all that wide.

Without too much publicity, Kia also increased their prices a few months ago due to either US$ or euro shift against GBP, so even with them paying the VAT the deal may not be as good as you imagine. However, a great tow car if you can find the one you want, but don't expect to get one exactly to you choice from the options list.

 

[mick_5041113]

Go to this site for a definitive report and compare your options.

http://www.whattowcar.com/

 

[Lutz]

I wouldn't call the 'whattowcar' site definitive. There are too many errors in it for it to be treated as more than a guideline for initial comparisons.

 

[steven_374420387]

I agree!!