Mk 1 Hyundai Santa Fe diesel

[Mikey_74]

Has anyone or does anybody tow with an older Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel, I'm considering buying one, about an 05 plate?

Any thoughts? I'd love the later Mk 2 type with the 2.2 diesel in, much much nicer to look at, I think the Mk2 is gorgeous but out of my price bracket, I'm also considering a Sorento but they're more costly, heavier on Diesel and quite big in comparrison to the Santa Fe

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

hi in laws had mk1 santafe fe no problems. we have santa fe2 and love it. the sorento has a much better kerb weight than the santa fe mk 1 and can tow alot more than the santa fe mk 1. whats the mtplm of your caravan?.

jo

 

[Philspadders]

friends of mine tows a nice 4 berth compass with one and find it very easy to tow with (itsan 03). However the clutch failed but that was on a very steep hill start at Napps in Cornwall.

I tow a swift charisma 565 with an mtplm of 1500kgs using sportage xe 2.0crdi . Tows at 60 in 6th on the flat at 2000rpm for mile after mile. Hill starts are easy,towing is a dream and even my friend tried the sportage and found it more relaxing than the santa fe.

Last year we had a convoy to Cornwall but found i left him behind on the hills and that's with a heavier van and little gear changing.

The santa fe and sorento both take larger tyres...more expense and being permanent 4 wheel drive the tyres dont last too long- even the sportage tyres go a bit quick.

I only use a 4 x 4 due to the often late and very early weekend ways on some very wet and hilly farm sites where the 4 x 4 is very useful.If it was not for that i would not have bothered

 

[Philspadders]

the sante fe and sportage all share the same chassis and much of the running gear..they are all or were made in the same factory in Korea.. The sorento share s the tuscon chassis and running gear.

 

[Mikey_74]

Thanks for the info, our van is 1600kg's 26ft twin axle, not a heavy van for it's size, almost a light weight, I curently tow with a Rover 75 diesel estate, it tows it well, I just want more weight for safety sake, I like both, by choice I'd go for the Sorento, but cheaper running costs of the Santa Fe appeal as I do 22k miles a year driving solo and more often than not alone in my car

 

[Pat_374304630]

Hi Mike,

I tow with an 05 plate 2ltr diesel. Brilliant car, I get about 35mpg solo and 33.4 towing. Buy it and you won't regret it, unless of course someone has trashed it.

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

if you buy the mk1 santa fe what % will you be towing at?.

jo

 

[Mikey_74]

If my van is fully loaded it'll be between 89% to 92% depending on where get the cars weight from

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

hi mike the kerb weight of the mk1 is 1705kg and your caravan is 1600kg looking on what tow car thats 94%. if your an experianced tower then it should be okay. i tow at about 88% and thats fine.

ive seen a mk1 santa fe towing same van as mine a series 6 wyoming at 1678kg. it looked okay but i wouldnt do it lol.

jo

 

[Delndi]

I had an 04 Santa Fe from new and put 156K on it in 5 years. Towed the Abbey 214GTS as if it wasn't there. The only problem I had in its early life was the high pressure fuel line kept blowing and had to be carried in to the nearest dealer but once they fitted the modified part (after about 5 attempts) all was well. Have to admit their 5 year warranty is excellent - never any quibbles - just sorted out a replacement car and got on with the job- they even refunded half the fuel costs when they gave me a petrol Santa Fe for a couple of days

 

[Moth_5041363]

I tow a 1500kg caravan with mine and love it, its the best tow car I've used, lots of power and good mpg

 

[waffler]

Had a 53 santa fe and now have 05 sorento so can comment on both.

SF comfortable, about 35 mpg and a good tow car. Never slipped on mud. Downside fly wheel was bimass which meant it couldn't clear the heat when towing especially when manourvering on site. Had mine replaced with solid flywheel under warranty.

Sorento, uncomfortable and thirsty, 2.5 auto gives 20 towing 1580 and about 25 solo. But briiliant tow car. Rock steady.

Choice depends on use. We are out at least 100 nights a year, use CLs and rally and only use sorento for towing. If you have to have only one car in the family the santa is probably better.

Buying SF check clutch. Buying sorento check rear door bottoms are plastic and not metal, inside. Also note that 60 k service on sorenta is mega money.

 

[Mikey_74]

Thanks to all that have commented, I have purchased an 05 plate maunaul diesel Santa Fe, I've owned the car for around 2 weeks and so far I'm impressed, I washed the caravan yesterday, and I had the day off today, curiosity got the better of me, I hitched up and set off on my own very little adventure, I was out about an 1 1/2 hours just playing, and I have to say on 1st impressions it seems pretty good, stable, enough power, (although I will be chipping it soon) and comfy, my only comment is it seemed a little bouncy but the van was empty and I didn't check the nose weight, but other than that superb!! )

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

hi mike, i found out whilst on holiday that the guy next to us also has an 05 plate santafe and he tows a twin axel fleetwood heritage there about 1700 mtplm. he tows at about 95% im sure he said. the 05 santa fe's have a heavier kerb weight than the earlier same model.

hope this helps

jo

 

[swift2008]

We have just ordered a new 7 seat Santa Fe auto which is actually very slightly bigger than the 08 Sorento which we are trading in.

The SF Auto has a kerb weight of 1987kg and is rated to tow 2000Kg whilst the manual has a kerb weight of 1961 Kg and a 2500kg tow capacity.

As stated previously the Sorento Auto returns around 20mpg towing and 25-27 solo.

 

[harry_374370805]

hi mike .harry here in edinburgh, have just come back from a trip right up to thurso at the top off scotland any further and we would have fell in the sea . i have a 54 plate 2.o ltr santa fe turbo .it pulled up some off the steepest hill up north in top gear towing my bailley scorpio no prob and returned about 28 to 30 to the gallon , i have had it 10 months now and love it harry philp (ex aa patrol for 37 yrs )

 

[Mikey_74]

Thanks to all who have gone to the trouble of replying to me, well it's only 5 weeks until we set off for 2 weeks in Devon and then a week to our favourite site in Wales, so fingers crossed with a full van the car will be happy and not give me any trouble, now do I get it chipped before we go or wait till I get back and have a few extra pounds for ice creams whilst away? )

 

[ronmoggy]

Mike,i towed with a 55 plate 2.0crtd manual for about two years.the only problem i found with it was first gear seemed to be too high.it struggled to pull away on a slope and i had to slip the clutch to get moving.apart from that it was brilliant.my son in law has it now and it has done 46.000 miles still on original tyres