Vauxhall insignia SRI CDTI (160) Vs Skoda Yeti 2ltr deisel Vs Mondeo Titanium TDCI 2ltr

[MrBell]

Hi everyone, i am looking at getting a new car so can tow my lovely Bailey caravan 460/2 ranger. I am on a B license so i want a car which isnt too heavy, but gives me enough power to tow the caravan i have at the mo but when i want to upgrade to a 4 berth still have enough to tow the bigger caravan on my license. So i am looking for a car which is just over 2000kg which then leaves me 1500kg to paly with.
I have been looking at these cars and the mondeo is the heaviest then the yeti and insignia are the lighter vehicles.
Does anyone know much about these cars?? which one will cope with a family (later next yr) and two dogs and a bigger caravan.
Which ever car i do buy i will be keeping for a long time, so i am also looking for build quality.
I have been towing the caravan i have now with a old style mondeo mk3, but that has now gone as it fell to bits. i know the mondeos are good but are the other two just as good??

 

[Surfer]

Hi everyone, i am looking at getting a new car so can tow my lovely Bailey caravan 460/2 ranger. I am on a B license so i want a car which isnt too heavy, but gives me enough power to tow the caravan i have at the mo but when i want to upgrade to a 4 berth still have enough to tow the bigger caravan on my license. So i am looking for a car which is just over 2000kg which then leaves me 1500kg to paly with.
I have been looking at these cars and the mondeo is the heaviest then the yeti and insignia are the lighter vehicles.
Does anyone know much about these cars?? which one will cope with a family (later next yr) and two dogs and a bigger caravan.
Which ever car i do buy i will be keeping for a long time, so i am also looking for build quality.
I have been towing the caravan i have now with a old style mondeo mk3, but that has now gone as it fell to bits. i know the mondeos are good but are the other two just as good??

If you want a manual, go for the Mondeo as it is an excellent towing car, but avoid the auto as it is rubbish. Last week we gave our mondeo back to the dealer and got all our money back after having it for 8 months Long stroy.
Insignia auto can tow up to 1600kg legally and is the best auto as the gearbox is torque convertor and not a clutchless manual gearbox in the guise of being an autoamtic gearbox. Can't comment on the Yeti but thnk you need the big diesel with 4 wheel drive for towing a 1600kg caravan, but may be wrong.

 

[MrBell]

Thanks for the info, i havent considered a automatic. So the insignia has a great automatic?? Thats interesting, might look into that. Can i ask why your mondeo was sent back? I like the mondeo but its BIG and heavy where as the Insignia or the Yeti seem to be smaller but can tow simular weights.

 

[Surfer]

Thanks for the info, i havent considered a automatic. So the insignia has a great automatic?? Thats interesting, might look into that. Can i ask why your mondeo was sent back? I like the mondeo but its BIG and heavy where as the Insignia or the Yeti seem to be smaller but can tow simular weights.

We had the 2.0L diesel auto on lease. When slowing down almost to a stop and then accelerating, the car on occasions would not know which gear to select and would stay in neutral. Not very pleasant when you have just entered an inetrsection on a round about and suddenly the other car that was a safe distance is on top of you because you are coasting through the intersection. Ford state it is a trait in the car and can't resolve it. The car was in the dealer at least once a month but they could not resolve the issue. just prior to handing it back, we started having problems with the Bluetooth and the car radio controls on the steering wheel. the annoying bit with ford is that if you have an item go faulty on the car, firstly you need to take the car to the dealer.
They hook it up to theri computer to diagnose the problem. Then they order the part no matter how minor. Invariably this means that you have to take back the car on another day for the part to be fitted. Very time consuming for the drvier and very annoying. Not sure fo other manufacturers have similar policies. Hence a full refund of the deposit plus the cost of the tow bar fitted.
We gave the Insignia a good test and never showed any symptoms relating to poor gear change. If I was leasing new again and using the car for towing, it would be an auto Insignia. There are other mainly cosmetic issues with the car, but none that will endanger your life! However by the same token with the exception of the auto gearbox the Mondeo is the better car.

 

[MrBell]

I used to have the old shape mondeo mk3 and i have to admit it towed the caravan no problem whar so ever! its was a lovely drive but its time to change manufacturer, i like fords as has a fiesta but i want something which will do a simular job.
Your mondeo sounded a bot of apain. I would have done exactly the same, once one thing goes wrong something else then starts.
I would like to get a new car but might see if i could buy a pre reg as you save money on the car.

 

[rangergt60]

got a 2.0 diesel sri (160) hatchback with 20 inch wheels towing a bailey ranger gt60 510/4 plenty off power throw the gears(1to 5) 6 gear a bit slow when doing 50 mph bit bumpy on back roads when on good roads you can forget you are towing nice and smooth
getting around 30 mpg not to bad hope it helps

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Mr Bell,

Unfortunately I don't think you have fully understood the implications of the cat B entitlement. In fairness the majority of ordinary saloon cars and caravans will be compliant with regards the combined MAM of 3500Kg, but the hidden pitfall can be the second requirement of the trailers MTPLM or MAM not exceeding the unladen weight of the car.

When you start talking about large caravans, then the figures are even tighter, and it is easy to fall foul of the licence criteria

Because the calculations are mutually reliant on each other, then it is not possible to predict practical car and caravan combinations unless you know either the details of the car OR the caravan or both.

It is quite common for a both car and caravan manufactures to use the same model name year on year, but to introduce changes that often affect mode weights and load limits. Consequently your reference to a Bailey caravan 460/2 ranger, does not tell us anywhere enough information to be able to offer sound advice.

When quoting cars or caravan details either supply the unladen and MAM figures or include details of model, year, trim levels.

Just as an example (details taken from Fords web site)

2.0 Duratorq TDCi (115 PS), 6 Speed Manual
has an unladen weight of 1557Kg
It has a gross vehicle weight or MAM of 2180Kg
It has a max towed weight limit of 2000Kg

Now consider adding your caravan with a an MTPLM of 1500Kg(= MAM)

then 1500Kg + 2180Kg = 3680Kg and would be illegal on a cat B licence - even if you did not load the car or the caravan to its limits because the cat B looks at limits not actual weights.

With this car the maximum size of caravan you could consider would be 3500-2180 = 1320Kg MTPLM

Respectfully I think it may be cheaper to take the B+E test, than to have to purcahse a new car or caravan.

 

[MrBell]

got a 2.0 diesel sri (160) hatchback with 20 inch wheels towing a bailey ranger gt60 510/4 plenty off power throw the gears(1to 5) 6 gear a bit slow when doing 50 mph bit bumpy on back roads when on good roads you can forget you are towing nice and smooth
getting around 30 mpg not to bad hope it helps

Hi thanks for that, sounds like you can tow with confidence with the insignia.
On the side of the B+E i tottally understand the way it works and to be truthful your are correct, it would be cheaper to do the license then try to work all the figures, which next year i will save my pennies and do, its just so expensive to do!! Shame the clubs dont do it at a discount, they would then win by getting more people to tow better and this in turn will in years to come keep their business going as young people will start learning and towing.
I have been quoted over £600 so far to do the B+E, the actual test from DVLA is £155 which is stupid money. It will just have to wait.
Unless someone knows something i dont??

 

[Surfer]

Hello Mr Bell,
Just as an example (details taken from Fords web site)

2.0 Duratorq TDCi (115 PS), 6 Speed Manual
has an unladen weight of 1557Kg
It has a gross vehicle weight or MAM of 2180Kg
It has a max towed weight limit of 2000Kg

Now consider adding your caravan with a an MTPLM of 1500Kg(= MAM)

then 1500Kg + 2180Kg = 3680Kg and would be illegal on a cat B licence - even if you did not load the car or the caravan to its limits because the cat B looks at limits not actual weights.

With this car the maximum size of caravan you could consider would be 3500-2180 = 1320Kg MTPLM

Respectfully I think it may be cheaper to take the B+E test, than to have to purcahse a new car or caravan.

Respectfully I think it could be cheaper to replate the caravan to a lower MTPLM which can be done. Thus you are complying with the law providing you don't go under the MIRO of the caravan.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Surfer,

I think that in the scenario I gave where a 1500Kg van would need to be replated to 1320Kg a reduction of 180Kg, This would of course com of the payload, and I suspect you would be left with an unrealistically low paylaod capacity makeing the van unworkable.

 

[Surfer]

Hello Surfer,

I think that in the scenario I gave where a 1500Kg van would need to be replated to 1320Kg a reduction of 180Kg, This would of course com of the payload, and I suspect you would be left with an unrealistically low paylaod capacity makeing the van unworkable.

I am surprised you fell into this one hook, line and sinker. I was jesting of course as you were right.