Tow car decisions

[John_5109063]

Am looking for feedback on the following cars for towing a Bailey champagne (Big Al, are you still driving the 2.0 TDi ?)I calculaue I'll never be more than 1285(MTPLM 1350)

Touran 2.0 Tdi Sport (heard some horror stories about reliablilty, but you can get a monday morning car even with a Merc.

Seat Altea 2.0Tdi

Modeo Estate 2.0 Tdi/Vecta SRI estate 150 bhp

Look forward to some feedback

John B

 

[DavidW1]

Did tow a Bailey Vermont at 1330 MTPLM 2 years back with my Vectra 140 sri est and it spun the front wheels at every opportunity. Can't think the 150 would be much better.

I reckon you need to look at something with a kerb weight of at least 1700 kg to get nice stable tow - do any of your choices get there? I would have thought the Altea in particular would get pulled all over the road by a 1300kg van.

 

[rob_jax]

Hi John,

I'd certainly recommend towing with rear-wheel drive over front-wheel, but that rather limits your choice to Mercedes or BMW (I think), or if it must be front-wheel - then getting the model with self levelling rear-suspension helps to reduce front-wheel spin.

It does sound as if you intend to purchase a brand new car? So have you thought about avoiding the initial depreciation and buying a so-called prestige car with perhaps 6 months use?

In this months Caravan Club magazine, there was a dealer ad for almost new Volvo V70-D5 diesel estates with automatic gearboxes for the same price as a brand new Modeo Estate.

Robert

 

[Ken_5040834]

These Volvo prices look the best I have seen:

http://www.smartvolvo.co.uk/volvo_V70.php

 

[Alistair_5088461]

John

Yes I still have the Touran 2.0TDi Sport and I can't fault it. Certainly no reliability problems. Towed a Champagne to Switzerland and back last year, and this year we have a Bailey Burgundy - similar to the Champagne but a bit longer and heavier (MTPLM = 1400 kg). Still great! Plenty of room inside, and the 7 seats are useful sometimes - but only for short journeys!

Easy cruising at 60 in 6th gear and very stable - 28 mpg towing - 40-50 solo/mixed use.

Hope this helps.

Big Al

 

[spj]

We tow our Avondale Argente 550/4 with an Audi A4 2.5tdi Quattro which returns around 40mpg solo and 25-28mpg towing, it pulls up all the motorway hills we have been up at 60mph in 6th gear and is very stable, I agree with the rear wheel drive comment as we had a Passat 130tdi sport which was an excellent car but was not so good on winter sites on wet grass, a 4motion 4x4 version is available but only with a 3.2petrol in the new model, we chose the Audi as I have a Ford Ranger 4x4 pick up as a company vehicle [not from choice] and find the ride and fuel consumption awfull, on wet grass ground clearence is not an issue so a 4x4 saloon car appealed to us for comfort, stability and refinement although I am not anti 4x4, I drive one over 200 miles a week to work and back, they are just not for me but I can definately reccomend an Audi or VW.

 

[John_5109063]

John

Yes I still have the Touran 2.0TDi Sport and I can't fault it. Certainly no reliability problems. Towed a Champagne to Switzerland and back last year, and this year we have a Bailey Burgundy - similar to the Champagne but a bit longer and heavier (MTPLM = 1400 kg). Still great! Plenty of room inside, and the 7 seats are useful sometimes - but only for short journeys!

Easy cruising at 60 in 6th gear and very stable - 28 mpg towing - 40-50 solo/mixed use.

Hope this helps.

Big Al

Thanks Big Al, just got to find one now at a good price!

 

[Alistair_5088461]

Thanks Big Al, just got to find one now at a good price!

John

Have you tried the VW website for used cars? It changes regularly as they add their own cars from head office. Pricey, but you get a good warranty - and you don't seem to find many (any?) Tourans privately.

Good luck

Al