Recomend me a Tow car for Sterling Searcher

[abrmoto]

I currently have a Merc ML270 CDi and a Ace Supreme Twinstar.
I find the merc is a little sluggish with the van in tow and struggles to pull in top, is forever dropping a gear, auto box, and will not change back up. i find this very anoying and uses loads more fuel.
We collect our new 2011 Searcher at weekend and am thinking of changing car as thing searcher will be same as Ace as both about same weight. i am being drawn to the VW Touareg 3.o TDi, but open to other options. Budget approx 15k but willing to look at options bith sides of that.

 

[MichaelE]

Out of interest what age is your present ML,i towed Elddis Crusader twin axles (heavier vans) with 2 ML270's and never had any issues with them changing down.
The second one a 54 plate didnt tow like the first one from new (would take ages to change up then drop down gears as speed was lost) they changed the gearbox exchange unit and that sorted the issue so it was then like the first.
Im on my second W164 (new shape) now and cannot fault them.224 bhp and a seamless 7 speed auto

 

[abrmoto]

ML is a 52 plate 2003 mdel W163. 2.7 but sure they are only about 174bhp, 5 speed auto. Looking for a more relaxed tow car, ML is hard work engine wise, she drive straight ture, no problems, even on single roads is great, but at motorway towing speed is a nightmare, 3 350 mile Cornwall trips on, I am ready to kill it!!

 

[MichaelE]

It does depends how old you want to go too?
Any of the big marques are all as good as one another if thats what you want, you would not be disapointed with any of them.
174 bhp is pretty powerful and by the sound of its Kia's etc wont powerful enough for you?

 

[abrmoto]

will be honest, looking at Disco's, Range Rover, Touareg and Q7 in the main. Will be used mainly as tow car and family car, have another car for work comute. Looking for 200bhp plus. Searcher is big van to so will have to be the bigger end of the 4x4 spectrum as well. Not heard any bad reports regarding Touareg so am seriously drawn to that at moment.

 

[MichaelE]

The Q7 is too big , try and avoid the Touareg (go for the 3.0 not the 2.5) with air suspension, it will knock your fillings out in sports mode!! Disco's 2.7 around 188 bhp
Everything else all good will do the job
For your £15k the age of the car will be a factor that would get you an 06 plate Touareg but an 54 plate D3 for example

 

[Beachball]

Have a look at this a Nissan Pathfinder 2.5 TD Auto should be a good match for Sterling Elite Searcher T/A 2011 The choice is yours abrmoto

 

[abrmoto]

Think going for 3.0 Touareg have found one I think.

 

[Beachball]

There is plenty to choose from have look in the Exchange Mart and online .......

 

[abrmoto]

Ordered 56 plate 3.0 V6 at weekend, thanks for all input.

 

[cooky1]

What about an X5? There are some 2006 models which have 218bhp and tow beautifully

Sorry, didn't see your last post

- you've found a replacement towcar.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello abrmoto,

This not so much a reply but an observation.

You complain that your ML270 is lacking in power and you don't like the way the engine management system selects a lower gear than you would like.

The ML series has gained a good reputation as a tow car and even the 270 has more than enough power for most caravanner's so unless the car is faulty, I suspect it is actually telling you something; either the caravan is too heavy or that you are wanting too much performance from it, or you may be driving too fast.

Incidentally there is no law that states that all outfits must be able to achieve the legal maximum motorway speed, some may need to be driven slower.

Frankly if 174bhp is not enough then the driver must be trying to get sports car performance when hitched, and that worries me!

Acceleration is not what worries me, it the excess speed that might be attained and the ability to control and stop the 3+ Tonnes of outfit! Any one who thinks it should be able to perform like a sports car, cannot be aware of the massively increased danger it represents to its-self and others on the road.

Such performance will come at the expence of fuel consumption, and wear of brakes and tyres. and even on this forum we read of the numbers of road traffic incidents involving caravans AND 4x4's, it makes me wonder if some towers think these large outfits will be ultra stable.

The perception that bigger is better is misguided.

However, You are of course entitled to buy and tow with whatever car you want providing the outfit is legal, may I just urge you to be careful.

 

[seth1]

I dont tend to agree with you John on that last comment,174 bhp sounds and is alot,but maybe the power delievery is not so good for caravanning and can be frustrating at times.For example we have a similar problem,upgraded from 140 bhp to 210bhp in the form of another car.The latter car doesnt go any better than the lesser powered one and is extremely frustrating in the delievery of the power.Granted it will climb faster but only because it carrys out down changes were as i liked to leave the latter car in top.The latter car delievered power at lower engine speed which suited me fine.

 

[MichaelE]

Its torque which is the important factor and the ML 270 Cdi is a more than capable car.
Maximum torque 400.0 Nm @ 1800-2600 rpm

 

[Martin24]

It may all depend on expectations but I've got the Rexton with the merc sourced 270 and tiptronic and it pulls my twin axle Coachman with ease at cruises at motorway speeds as happily as it pulls across the North Yorkshire Moors

 

[seth1]

Thats totally correct,torque is what matters.But what happens if when travelling at say 60mph with the van in tow your engine speed is well below the the start of the 1800 rpm peak torque?We too have over 400nm of torque but this doesnt mean its an amazing towwer in fact far from it.60 mph equates to 1400rpm,so well out of peak torque and as said extremely frustrating.

 

[Dustydog]

Thats totally correct,torque is what matters.But what happens if when travelling at say 60mph with the van in tow your engine speed is well below the the start of the 1800 rpm peak torque?We too have over 400nm of torque but this doesnt mean its an amazing towwer in fact far from it.60 mph equates to 1400rpm,so well out of peak torque and as said extremely frustrating.

Seth
You must have some mother of a beast out there.

My faithful Sorie chucks out her very best at / between 1800/ 2100rpm that's a max recorded on the speedo of 60mph; true speed according to Madam Tom, Tom of 55 mph. The old beast ticks over at 900rpm.
OMG You must have a devil of a beast 666?

 

[seth1]

Hi dusty."a devil of a beast"?
Better described as over geared.In its defence probably the best of a bad job.I suspect DPF prevents a decent low end power curve as it would probably block up after time.Who knows?

 

[MichaelE]

I have always found that it was going up hills and inclines was the true measure of how powerful the car was.The ML didnt let me down.

 

[abrmoto]

Ml has gone, replaced with 2006 Touareg.
Before sold the ML the MAF sensor failed, this was replaced and used with Caravan to collecto ur new Searcher and the car was tranformed, held to mos of time and would change up when asked to, think must have been failing/playing up and robbing the car of power and torque for a long while.
Not towed with Treg yet so cant say how compares, but as a road car is miles better. loads more torque and gearbox is miles better.

 

[abrmoto]

Hello abrmoto,

This not so much a reply but an observation.

You complain that your ML270 is lacking in power and you don't like the way the engine management system selects a lower gear than you would like.

The ML series has gained a good reputation as a tow car and even the 270 has more than enough power for most caravanner's so unless the car is faulty, I suspect it is actually telling you something; either the caravan is too heavy or that you are wanting too much performance from it, or you may be driving too fast.

Incidentally there is no law that states that all outfits must be able to achieve the legal maximum motorway speed, some may need to be driven slower.

Frankly if 174bhp is not enough then the driver must be trying to get sports car performance when hitched, and that worries me!

Acceleration is not what worries me, it the excess speed that might be attained and the ability to control and stop the 3+ Tonnes of outfit! Any one who thinks it should be able to perform like a sports car, cannot be aware of the massively increased danger it represents to its-self and others on the road.

Such performance will come at the expence of fuel consumption, and wear of brakes and tyres. and even on this forum we read of the numbers of road traffic incidents involving caravans AND 4x4's, it makes me wonder if some towers think these large outfits will be ultra stable.

The perception that bigger is better is misguided.

However, You are of course entitled to buy and tow with whatever car you want providing the outfit is legal, may I just urge you to be careful.

I honestly dont know how to take the above comments!!
Not sure if trying to be helpful or condisending??
I have been towing for 10 year, this is my 4th caravan, started with sprite,Sterling Eccles, Ace Twin Star and now Stering Searcher.
Gradually getting bigger vans as we used them more and more. Dont feel comments on bigger is better are deserved, last two vans more or less same size. Having owner the ML270 for 3 years, yes is a good car but not brilliant as a tow car by anymeans, frustrating is the word that best sums it up, that and expensive to maintain, the gearbox is the real problem, its weak, its not well spaced in the gears and it does not change when asked too.

Like you say, everyone is free to make choices, but think you should think twice before making opinions on others abilities and reasons for making the choices thay have made based on YOUR opinions. You dont know me or my driving background, if you are really that clever prof, do some googling and see if you can work out who i am and weather I can handle speed or not

 

[MichaelE]

I would be worried if you said theTouareg isnt better as you are comparing different generation cars really, ladder chassis against a monocoque plus engine and gearbox.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello abrmoto,

I’m sorry if you did not like my take on the choices of power you were looking for.
However in your OP you were asking for advice. When replying to posts we can only use the information available, and as you choose to use a nickname which hides your identity and gives no hint as to your experience or skills.

However and regardless of who you may be, I stand by my observations, and in particular my last paragraph, we are all entitled to our own views and opinions.

Take care and enjoy your caravanning.

 

[abrmoto]

Thanks, i am sure I will enjoy both new caravan and car.

As for power, you dont have to use it all all the time, the throttle goes both ways you know

As for hiding behind a forum name, not quite, is company name. I may not be the most sensible caravaner you will ever meet but know how to use horse power and like said before been towing for ten years, thanks for your concern and will take your comments on board.

 

[forestgump]

santa fe is good all the goodies.