What tow car do you have? And what will you choose next time? Please click here as our Tow Car Editor looks at the options. Which is best? Petrol, diesel or hybrid?
Petrol, diesel, hybrid ... what do you tow with?
- Thread starter LizziePope
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- Oct 12, 2013
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Diesel for us ! Got it last year , really happy with the performance off it , and towing performance so will have it as long as we can . Don't fancy anything electric .
Craig .
Craig .
- Nov 11, 2009
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Over the years I have towed with petrols and endorse the point made in the article. My best petrol towcar was a Saab 9000 CSE 2.3 turbo which towed superbly, but even my 740, Mondeo and BX non turbos were okay, but fuel consumption wasn't great. Although taken as a percentage of overall mileage it wasn't real hardship. My last non turbo petrol towcar was a 2014 2.0 NA 150bhp Forester and that really did seem uncomfortable when towing even a relatively low 1300kg. It may have been the CVT box but golly did she like revs, thats why I decided to go back to a diesel. If had had bought the XT Forester then not withstanding low fuel consumption I would have still had the car. Must admit though that driving a solo petrol again after 14 years of diesel was sheer delight, so quiet.
Motoreasy the warranty company have recently published data confirming that modern diesels are not any where near as reliable as the old chuggers, or modern petrols, given their lighter components and higher power-weight ratings, and warranty claims are higher than petrols. But I guess that longevity isn't a real selling point to many buyers.
Motoreasy the warranty company have recently published data confirming that modern diesels are not any where near as reliable as the old chuggers, or modern petrols, given their lighter components and higher power-weight ratings, and warranty claims are higher than petrols. But I guess that longevity isn't a real selling point to many buyers.
- May 7, 2012
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While I can see the basis of the conclusions I think like everybody else without a crystal ball we cannot be sure of the answer and possibly basing the article on one specific model is probably not a wide enough selection to draw firm conclusions.
We have swapped to a petrol this year, which tows reasonably well but needs more work with the gears on hills. There is a fuel penalty but for us it looks like about 4 mph average both solo and towing, which is not too bad. That depends a lot on the combination and how you drive however so everybodies figures will be different. There is a saving on the purchase price and insurance though which goes someway to offsetting the higher consumption. I have never done the arithmatic so do not know how I stand overall but the difference has not hit us.
When it is time to change we will look at all options again. I would consider a hybrid but most look to have puny IC engines so we will see what is there at the time and how the budget goes.
We have swapped to a petrol this year, which tows reasonably well but needs more work with the gears on hills. There is a fuel penalty but for us it looks like about 4 mph average both solo and towing, which is not too bad. That depends a lot on the combination and how you drive however so everybodies figures will be different. There is a saving on the purchase price and insurance though which goes someway to offsetting the higher consumption. I have never done the arithmatic so do not know how I stand overall but the difference has not hit us.
When it is time to change we will look at all options again. I would consider a hybrid but most look to have puny IC engines so we will see what is there at the time and how the budget goes.
ProfJohnL said:Icaru5 said:Diesel all the way
Until diesel is no longer available or something better comes along. B)
Exactly that Prof. Unfortunately, instead of trying to tempt us away from our beloved, yet these days very much maligned diesel cars by subsidising investment in the right technologies and proposing real alternatives (which a car with a few hundred kilo’s of batteries and very limited range certainly isn’t), the government will just continue to further increase levels of taxation for those deemed irresponsible enough to enjoy the benefits of driving a diesel.
I for one will continue to enjoy those benefits, and pay the “guilty as charged” tax. Maybe they will even pain a large red “X” on my drivers door for being such an apparently irresponsible member of the community, but until I can no longer buy one, or I am offered a better alternative, like I say, Diesel all the way
Parksy
Moderator
- Nov 12, 2009
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I'm another demonised diesel driver. :evil:
I bought my caravan on the basis that I would tow it with a fairly hefty diesel powered 4x4 type vehicle, and government policy at the time was to encourage drivers to choose diesel engined vehicles.
Government policy has now changed and owners of diesel powered cars are being penalised.
If I had to change my diesel powered towcar for a hybrid or petrol powered vehicle I'd also have to change the caravan for a smaller and less well equipped model.
In the interests of fuel efficiency I got rid of my old 2.8 td Pajero towing vehicle and bought a 2.5 td Kia Sorento which is a cleaner and better alternative, and I own a Fiesta 1.6 ecomatic diesel car as my daily drive. The Fiesta returns over 50 mpg around town on the school and supermarket run and it attracts zero road tax because it is considered to be a 'clean' diesel engine.
The financial penalties involved in my switching to a vehicle currently endorsed by the tree huggers and also a suitably small caravan which could be towed by the green alternative far outweigh the costs involved in sticking with what I already own.
Caravanners as a group ought to lobby our local MPs to reduce any financial penalties incurred by our choice of towing vehicle.
When we are on site we use far less power and resources than a family jetting off on their package holiday, and because we generally support the British leisure industry, not to mention the British caravan manufacturing industry, I'd suggest that on balance, touring caravan owners are 'greener' than most other holidaymakers so we deserve some consideration from government environ-'mentalists'.
I bought my caravan on the basis that I would tow it with a fairly hefty diesel powered 4x4 type vehicle, and government policy at the time was to encourage drivers to choose diesel engined vehicles.
Government policy has now changed and owners of diesel powered cars are being penalised.
If I had to change my diesel powered towcar for a hybrid or petrol powered vehicle I'd also have to change the caravan for a smaller and less well equipped model.
In the interests of fuel efficiency I got rid of my old 2.8 td Pajero towing vehicle and bought a 2.5 td Kia Sorento which is a cleaner and better alternative, and I own a Fiesta 1.6 ecomatic diesel car as my daily drive. The Fiesta returns over 50 mpg around town on the school and supermarket run and it attracts zero road tax because it is considered to be a 'clean' diesel engine.
The financial penalties involved in my switching to a vehicle currently endorsed by the tree huggers and also a suitably small caravan which could be towed by the green alternative far outweigh the costs involved in sticking with what I already own.
Caravanners as a group ought to lobby our local MPs to reduce any financial penalties incurred by our choice of towing vehicle.
When we are on site we use far less power and resources than a family jetting off on their package holiday, and because we generally support the British leisure industry, not to mention the British caravan manufacturing industry, I'd suggest that on balance, touring caravan owners are 'greener' than most other holidaymakers so we deserve some consideration from government environ-'mentalists'.
- Nov 11, 2009
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Fully endorse Parksy sentiment. Only yesterday two London boroughs announced possible plans to ban all petrol and diesel cars. Only hydrogen, hybrid or electric will be allowed to enter without a penalty charge. They haven’t said how they would deal with a hybrid when it is operating on ICE alone!
- Oct 12, 2013
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- Nov 11, 2009
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What’s the petition going to support ? Is it for Parliament to debate in which case you would need 100000 signatures. Surely the best way would be for people to write directly to their MP and also lobby the two clubs.
Although I do believe it would be a Canute like act as ( forgive the pun) the tide has turned. Irrespective of politicians efforts or lack of to clean up city air the motor makers have already indicated the way they are going. I was in a car dealers yesterday and I was offered a exceptionally good deal on a small diesel SUV, when what I was interested in was the small petrol turbo model. So good was the deal I could have been tempted to go with it, as diesel will have a good few years to run and going into city areas is something I rarely do as public transport is fine.
Although I do believe it would be a Canute like act as ( forgive the pun) the tide has turned. Irrespective of politicians efforts or lack of to clean up city air the motor makers have already indicated the way they are going. I was in a car dealers yesterday and I was offered a exceptionally good deal on a small diesel SUV, when what I was interested in was the small petrol turbo model. So good was the deal I could have been tempted to go with it, as diesel will have a good few years to run and going into city areas is something I rarely do as public transport is fine.
- Mar 14, 2005
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I fully understand the resistance to change away from diesel power that caravanners have, and I have no objection to trying to keep taxes down, especially those that start to penalise peopel who have previously followed government advice and pressure to move to diesel.
We have seen this before, when previous governments (of all persuasions) have encourage working people to look for work out of their home area, then allowed the passenger transport industry to shrink the networks and frequencies and charge much more for their services. This pushed more people into private cars.
I support the moves to make private transport greener, but I also recognise the solutions that are currently available are not direct replacements for our present day vehicles, and they will not suit all road users at the present. But work is underway to improve particularly electric vehicles and of course the infra structure to develop viable alternatives to meet the transport needs of the nation.
However it would naive to believe that our current freedoms of choice to drive what we want, and where we want will remain the same. They won't - There will be pressure to change, & we will see an increasing number of local authorities limiting access to certain areas. Taxation will increase, and it ultimately means that all drivers will have to re evaluate what vehicles they drive or have access to, and where and even when we drive or use transport.
It will affect caravanners, exactly how is difficult to predict in detail, but I believe the industry needs to urgently start looking at how it is going to meet the inevitable call for lighter caravans.
We may have to reconsider how we use our caravans, Is touring in the traditional sense going to be possible, perhaps we have to look towards placing the caravan for a season, I don't know for sure but I've got my sandwich boards ready becasue the "The End Of The World is Nigh" :blink:
We have seen this before, when previous governments (of all persuasions) have encourage working people to look for work out of their home area, then allowed the passenger transport industry to shrink the networks and frequencies and charge much more for their services. This pushed more people into private cars.
I support the moves to make private transport greener, but I also recognise the solutions that are currently available are not direct replacements for our present day vehicles, and they will not suit all road users at the present. But work is underway to improve particularly electric vehicles and of course the infra structure to develop viable alternatives to meet the transport needs of the nation.
However it would naive to believe that our current freedoms of choice to drive what we want, and where we want will remain the same. They won't - There will be pressure to change, & we will see an increasing number of local authorities limiting access to certain areas. Taxation will increase, and it ultimately means that all drivers will have to re evaluate what vehicles they drive or have access to, and where and even when we drive or use transport.
It will affect caravanners, exactly how is difficult to predict in detail, but I believe the industry needs to urgently start looking at how it is going to meet the inevitable call for lighter caravans.
We may have to reconsider how we use our caravans, Is touring in the traditional sense going to be possible, perhaps we have to look towards placing the caravan for a season, I don't know for sure but I've got my sandwich boards ready becasue the "The End Of The World is Nigh" :blink:
- Jul 18, 2017
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We have a 2005 3.0l diesel vehicle which thankfully does not have a DPF fitted. Solo we get about 30mpg but when towing at 60mph this drops down to about 20mpg. If we tow at 50mph the mpg jumps up to over 24mpg towing a 2000kg caravan. No intention of a changing the vehicle for a newer one as it has only done 112k miles and is running well with no issues.
- Jul 22, 2014
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I don't know why you assume that. As diesels are going out of favour, car makers can simply substitute petrol engines without changing general specification, if a petrol option is not already avaialble. They are certain to do this as there will always be a market for powerful tow-capable cars and SUVs, not just for caravanners but also for the horse trailer market and for famers with livestock trailers. Where I live in the sticks there is a high proportion of such vehilcles being seriously employed and they will not be going away.Parksy said:
Eg I have a diesel 3.0 l Jeep Grand Cherokee which would tow almost anything. Mine is the previous model, but the current model seems to be currently available in the UK only with that same diesel engine. However in the US and other World markets it is also available with a range of petrol engines from a "modest" 3.6 l to an insanely powerful supercharged 6.2 l V8. In fact our American friends in the Jeep forums tend to regard the diesel version as an under-powered plodder. WIth diesel going out of favour I am sure that Jeep will bring, say, at least that 3.6 l petrol engine into the UK as an option in the near future. Other car makers will similarly re-shape their options.
I don't think we need to worry until even petrol engines get banned.
- Nov 11, 2009
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It was quite common to see Disco and Range Rover V8 and Mitsubishi Pajero V6 too. When I lived in Cumbria one local had a V8 Defender. So it’s all perfectly feasible and with engines such as the Ford eco boost giving the Mustang a good performance I suspect the market for higher power vehicles will go in that direction supplemented hybrid power too.
how fickle we are...or are we..a decade and an half back road tax was £180 a year ok 17 years or something back pre the CO rating system ... logically road tax should be nearer £300 a year .yes i am well aware some do pay that i'm merely doing the average by that i mean the average car .ive always towed with the average car ford galaxy seat vauxhall vectra, insignia ford mondeo ..All were less to tax than 17 years back in the case of the lets face it the not so small insignia just £110 a year ,now £115. the new roadtax system has been set at £140 for the average car regardless of CO ratings ...of course i realise for many on here given the choice of vehicle you've decided upon none of the above is the case.but i see so many caravans being towed by average cars i wonder if this fuse/ hype is being blown out of proportion? yes things are changing and whats what is unclear Afterall there is no blacket charge for diesels at the moment its a euro4 thing either petrol or diesel and it is a charge not ban ..you read headlines that this city or that city is going to ban diesel cars yet the reality is its merely a headline grabber . London apparently was going to charge just diesel, well that changed.IF a city does decide they will ban certain cars or charge them extra surely it will use euro rating regardless of it being a diesel or petrol just like London has.. for now i will not worry about bans or charges i will carry on driving my low road tax diesel cars and remember I've had coming up to 2 decades of cheaper road tax thats saved this peasant a fortune and will carry on doing so for at least the next 5 years .happy motoring
- Jul 22, 2014
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Raywood said:
From the article : "For example ... there will be new criteria for steering mechanisms. A steering box leaking oil would be a minor fault, but there is room for interpretation on the part of the tester. So, while some might see it as trivial, others might see it as dangerous and fail the car."
Apart from the diesel smoke aspect, I cannot see what is new there. Things like that have always bee open to interpretaion by the tester. That is why testers have to be skilled mechanics and not booking clerks. If you look at an existing MoT certificate you will see an area for "Advisory Information"; in fact it is a rather large area.
For example I am currently running with an advisory that there is a pinhole in a front CV rubber boot. Other testers might have failed on that. But as an engineer (and one who has worked in a main dealer workshop among other things) I know the joint is not going to fail catastrophically without first deteriorating to a point where it is going to be groaning, knocking and jolting on turns (I've seen them like that too) and without another MoT test coming first while in that state. Any play or knocking would be a failure, as would a significant amout of gease being thrown out.
- Nov 11, 2009
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Raywood said:
I think this was discussed on a recent thread about new MoT rules. But in areas of emissions not a great deal has changed and any well maintained diesel should not have a problem passing.
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