Towing problem

[Chris_5076168]

Hi. does anyone out there tow using a 1.9 Peugeot 306 estate diesel - non turbo. We are towing a Bailey Scorpio 2 berth 13ft. Its just under my legel tow weight but seems to struggle up hills. Have put alloy wheels on van to lighten it a bit. If others have no trouble towing with same car then believe car has a problem.

 

[Gary_5039903]

Non turbo diesels really do suffer on hills. My parents used to tow a caravan with an MTPLM of 900kgs with a 1994 1.8 diesel Escort (non-turbo) and were down to 2nd gear & 35 mph on an uphill stretch of the M5. They sold it straight away and bought a turbo diesel Cavalier! A few years ago I had a 1.7 diesel (non-turbo) 1990 Cavalier and it really was gutless......

 

[jacky3]

as gary said, the non turbo spec on most makes are poor performers when towing.

 

[CliveV]

My first experience of Road Rage was due to my inexperience with a non-turbo diesel. I borrowed it so was not familier with it and pulled out normally into traffic expecting to be able to pull away.

Nothing happened. Apart from a transit van driver testing his breaks to the maximum as he rapidly approached my car that just would not GO!

He was not pleased and told me so in no uncertain terms. All I could do was agree with him which really didn't seem to help much.

I have been anti diesel aver since and am only slowly comming round to them now. I would imagine towing in a non-turbo diesel to be an absolute nightmare. A danger to you and all arround you.

 

[jacky3]

had a 2.2 dti sri vectra clive,and beleive me it was fast off the mark,unbeleivable for a deisel.always had petrol cars and would never look at a deisel.now i wouldn't change back to petrol

 

[GrahamW]

Clive

Dont let you old experiences of Diesel put you off, modern common rail diesels are fantastic particularly for towing. Many new generation diesels are capable of 0-60 times aound the late 5 secs. Plus they pull like mad and thrive on running under load. Worst thing for an engine (diesel in particular) is ticking over it glazes the bores and causes all sorts of problems.

 

[Dusty1]

Clive

Dont let you old experiences of Diesel put you off, modern common rail diesels are fantastic particularly for towing. Many new generation diesels are capable of 0-60 times aound the late 5 secs. Plus they pull like mad and thrive on running under load. Worst thing for an engine (diesel in particular) is ticking over it glazes the bores and causes all sorts of problems.

I doubt that there are many diesels that will do 0 - 60 in under 6 secs!!!!

 

[GrahamW]

I doubt that there are many diesels that will do 0 - 60 in under 6 secs!!!!

Check out the figures on the new BMW535 twin turbo and thats not the fastest

 

[CliveV]

Yep! I am coming round. A friend has a Audi A4 estate diesel - superb. Also we hired a Renault (The one with the a*se) that was a small engined Turbo diesel - amazing.

They really have got them just about right now. But my initial experience of any oil-burner was horrendous.

And that BMW 6 cyl TD in the P38 Range Rover just seems to get better with age.

 

[Dusty1]

I doubt that there are many diesels that will do 0 - 60 in under 6 secs!!!!

One of a few!