Tow Car view please

[Daisychain]

I've joined on my son's behalf as he's bought a caravan before sourcing the towing vehicle. I've been helping with looking at suitable cars. He's looking seriously at a 2008 Ford S Max 2.2 TDCi Titanium 5door. I'm not sure of the make of caravan but know it's a 6 berth with a braked weight limit of 1500kg. The details of the S Max suggest that has a MKW of 1802kg which by my reckoning, using the 85% guide, should be adequate.
I would appreciate any thoughts please.

Daisychain

 

[Daisychain]

Following on from my earlier post, my son's caravan is a 6 berth LUNAR Coneyhurst club edition 2015
Thanks a lot if anyone has any thoughts.

from Daisychain

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Welcome aboard 🤓

Sorry but I personally don't have any experience of towing with the S Max.

 

[AndrewAventura]

This is the sort of question that normally attracts a LOT of advice and opinions!
In principle, I'd say the S Max ought to make a pretty decent towing vehicle (though I haven't any direct experience). There seem to be quite a lot of variations in spec for the TDCi around 2008 - different power outputs, transmission types and so on, but all seem to have quite good towing limit. And with a kerbweight as you say of 1800kg, then you've got a decent margin over the weight of the caravan. The S Max was always very well regarded in terms of its suspension, ride and handling.

 

[Daisychain]

Welcome aboard 🤓

Sorry but I personally don't have any experience of towing with the S Max.

Thank you for taking the time to reply anyway.

 

[Daisychain]

This is the sort of question that normally attracts a LOT of advice and opinions!
In principle, I'd say the S Max ought to make a pretty decent towing vehicle (though I haven't any direct experience). There seem to be quite a lot of variations in spec for the TDCi around 2008 - different power outputs, transmission types and so on, but all seem to have quite good towing limit. And with a kerbweight as you say of 1800kg, then you've got a decent margin over the weight of the caravan. The S Max was always very well regarded in terms of its suspension, ride and handling.

Thank you. Your general assessment of the vehicle in itself is helpful and reassuring for me.

 

[Hutch]

I looked at the Smax a few years ago, I liked the large doors and the rear loading area, unfortunately for me it was just a tad to light for my Coachman , 1645kg. That was just my own thoughts.

 

[Dustydog]

S Max manual or auto? The early autos were plagued with problems. Google it

 

[Daisychain]

S Max manual or auto? The early autos were plagued with problems. Google it

Thank you for responding and it is a manual.

However, he began to think he would benefit from buying something which had more height to the luggage area and has been looking at a Fiat Scudo 2.0 jTD Multijet L2 H1, a somewhat different style of vehicle but I think the weight numbers should still work out.

 

[Beachball]

You always check on here see Fiat Scudo 2.0 jTD Multjet if it a good match for the caravan

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