Vauxhall Zafira Tourer not rated to tow??.

[wyldeandfree]

Ah thanks so much, I didn't know about the naming and I had also ruled out Hyunda ix35 due to a poor Which review, but that PC article and your recommendations have persuaded me to take another look.

We are going to view and test drive this Mitsubishi tomorrow: https://www.octagonsouthernltd.co.u...ampshire-f121faca-2b5c-4b06-8dbb-b01600cc6998

VIN plate is attached. MOT is in progress so it looks a year out of date but that will be rectified. It is not quite ready for sale yet. Higher mileage than I wanted but maybe OK for a diesel... I'm going to ask which horsepower it is as I can't tell from the advert. Any other questuons I should be sure to ask?

In terms of use, it will be used for towing the carava about once a month at least, then several weeks a year and hopefully many more weekends for rural outdoor adventures (road trips, paddle boarding, caravan information, camping, swimming, hiking etc). The rest of the time for 30-60 min commutes about 2-3 times a week.

Input welcome!!! Once burned, twice shy...

 

[wyldeandfree]

Oh and we will ask about the recall too, and if the work has been done and documented for that.

 

[wyldeandfree]

Oh and we will ask about the recall too, and if the work has been done and documented for that.

Practical Caravan reviewed the auto. This one has a heavier kerbweight. https://www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/mitsubishi-outlander-2-2-di-d-gx5-auto

 

[wyldeandfree]

Also thanks to all who have suggested models. We are focusing on Ford Kuga, Mitsubishi Outlander, Vauxhall Zafira Tourer, Kia Sportage and Honda CRV..and maybe Ford S-Max...for now as those are ones we have found in the area and in our budget but if none of those come through we will search again with some of these ideas so really appreciate some ideas. In line with Prof John's comments, we are not limiting ir to 4x4s though some of these do happen to be. We also dont need 7 seater necessarily though a flat loading bay when all seats are down is a very big selling point because kr enbales us to pack gear much better. We have decided to only buy from a dealer this time. It is so hard to know where to focus and we are feeling very burned by the mistake earlier this week, and by the dealer who was very unpleasant to deal with and quite aggressive. The advice and moral support from strangers on the Internet has been a bright spot and very much appreciated!

 

[otherclive]

Ah thanks so much, I didn't know about the naming and I had also ruled out Hyunda ix35 due to a poor Which review, but that PC article and your recommendations have persuaded me to take another look.

We are going to view and test drive this Mitsubishi tomorrow: https://www.octagonsouthernltd.co.u...ampshire-f121faca-2b5c-4b06-8dbb-b01600cc6998

VIN plate is attached. MOT is in progress so it looks a year out of date but that will be rectified. It is not quite ready for sale yet. Higher mileage than I wanted but maybe OK for a diesel... I'm going to ask which horsepower it is as I can't tell from the advert. Any other questuons I should be sure to ask?

In terms of use, it will be used for towing the carava about once a month at least, then several weeks a year and hopefully many more weekends for rural outdoor adventures (road trips, paddle boarding, caravan information, camping, swimming, hiking etc). The rest of the time for 30-60 min commutes about 2-3 times a week.

Input welcome!!! Once burned, twice shy...

Is it cambelt and if so at what age/ mileage does the cam belt need changing. When was it last done, if it has been changed. Same goes for any car being considered. The CRV will be VTEC not requiring a cam belt.

 

[wyldeandfree]

We liked the Outlander but it sure does have a lot of rust. He says he will clean it off, then protect it with something, and then put it up on the ramp for us to inspect, but I don't know enough about rust to know whether such a treatment would help / increase longevity. Seems like it would tow no problem, its an absolute beast. Can legally tow 2000kg. Asked about cambelt but he said it is a timing chain. It doesn't come with any invoices of any parts having been changed. Partial service history - missing a few years. We are mulling.

 

[GaryB]

Where did the previous owner live, the bottom of the ocean? I've been involved in classic car restoration for 35 years and while there are various rust-proofing treatments available, once it's got hold all you can do is slow it down unless stripping completely. Having said that, I fitted a tow bar to a Land Rover Freelander a few years back and at six years old it had more rust than what's in your photo. He can certainly spray the underside with rust proofing fluids but some really don't do much and certainly don't last. Check the online MoT history against the registration number and see if any previous MoT's have picked up on underbody corrosion.

https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

 

[otherclive]

We liked the Outlander but it sure does have a lot of rust. He says he will clean it off, then protect it with something, and then put it up on the ramp for us to inspect, but I don't know enough about rust to know whether such a treatment would help / increase longevity. Seems like it would tow no problem, its an absolute beast. Can legally tow 2000kg. Asked about cambelt but he said it is a timing chain. It doesn't come with any invoices of any parts having been changed. Partial service history - missing a few years. We are mulling.

My son had his 2008 Freelander rust treated by a specialist company in LLandow. The outfit had the car for a week and they give a 5year gusrsntee providing he presents the car annually for a check up and treatment if required. Cost £800 (including new parts and fabrication) plus £80 pa. Sounds a lot for a 2008 car but in all other respects it’s a great car. Cheaper than cost to change to another car.

RustProofing.Wales - RustOust South Wales Rust & Underbody Sealing Treatments

 

[RogerL]

My son had his 2008 Freelander rust treated by a specialist company in LLandow. The outfit had the car for a week and they give a 5year gusrsntee providing he presents the car annually for a check up and treatment if required. Cost £800 (including new parts and fabrication) plus £80 pa. Sounds a lot for a 2008 car but in all other respects it’s a great car. Cheaper than cost to change to another car.

RustProofing.Wales - RustOust South Wales Rust & Underbody Sealing Treatments

I wouldn't expect a dealer to pay for that quality of rust treatment - my advice would be to give this a miss and keep looking.

 

[wyldeandfree]

I'm leaning towards giving it a miss. We could pay for an independent inspection but that is another 200 down the drain if the mechanic says don't touch it.

@GaryB Nothing on the MOT check re underbody corrosion.

 

[GaryB]

I'm leaning towards giving it a miss. We could pay for an independent inspection but that is another 200 down the drain if the mechanic says don't touch it.

@GaryB Nothing on the MOT check re underbody corrosion.

Cars are much better than they used to be for rust but there’s still rust issues on suspension subframes etc as often they have very little corrosion protection and although they tend to be heavier gauge steel than the bodywork, they do rot eventually.

Trust your instincts, if a car just doesn’t feel right, keep looking or get a second opinion as it’s difficult to give a comprehensive opinion from one photograph.

 

[Seblo]

We liked the Outlander but it sure does have a lot of rust. He says he will clean it off, then protect it with something, and then put it up on the ramp for us to inspect, but I don't know enough about rust to know whether such a treatment would help / increase longevity. Seems like it would tow no problem, its an absolute beast. Can legally tow 2000kg. Asked about cambelt but he said it is a timing chain. It doesn't come with any invoices of any parts having been changed. Partial service history - missing a few years. We are mulling.

Walk away. That's my advice.

Once rust has started you will be forever chasing it. Experience has probably told you to disregard what a dealer tells you. Buying a car with rust is like buying a caravan with damp... really not advisable.

Be patient and you will find the right car

 

[ProfJohnL]

I can understand you feel there is an urgent desire to get a tow vehicle, but with your limited budget figure you need to be sensible about your choices. Use your head not your heart.

If you have an urgent need to move your caravan before you have your own tow vehicle, most garages will have a vehicle of towing, and might move it for you for a charge of course, but if you have any family or friends who tow, perhaps they might help.

Also if you are a member of either the main caravan or camping clubs, a local member might be persuaded to tow the caravan for you, though you would advise to check with your caravan insurer.

If you find such a person, they may even be a good sounding board about the choice of tow vehicle, and may be prepared to view prospective vehicles with you.

 

[wyldeandfree]

Thank you for the sage advice @ProfJohnL and everyone else. It helped us not make a decision out of desperation. We have said no to the rusty car and are viewing a Toyota Rav4 tomorrow morning. It is very hard to find a tow car in a small budget whilst working full time and staying with family! But we will get there.

Thanks for the ideas if we get stuck @ProfJohnL We have just under two weeks till we absolutely have to move it.

 

[Buckman]

Thank you for the sage advice @ProfJohnL and everyone else. It helped us not make a decision out of desperation. We have said no to the rusty car and are viewing a Toyota Rav4 tomorrow morning. It is very hard to find a tow car in a small budget whilst working full time and staying with family! But we will get there.

Thanks for the ideas if we get stuck @ProfJohnL We have just under two weeks till we absolutely have to move it.

The Rav4 is well known for its reliability so lets hope this is a good one.

 

[Beachball]

The Nissan X- Trail might be worth having a look and a very strong tow car

 

[GaryB]

With the size/weight of your caravan there really is a whole host of suitable tow-vehicles within your budget so unless you actually NEED and SUV type vehicle then what about a decent sized family estate, VW Passat and the like? With an MTPLM of 1100kgs you don't NEED a torquey diesel engine so again, this opens up your options. If you have a car supermarket close by, try and wander round there for an hour, not necessarily to buy something but just to look and sit in a few models you possibly haven't considered? Now you know how to view the towing limit from the VIN plate you'll be able to rule out models that aren't suitable.

 

[wyldeandfree]

Update on the Rav4

It is a 2013, black diesel 2.2 Invincible D-4D.

It is reduced from 9k to 8.5k because it has sat on the forecourt for 99 days already, which makes me a bit nervous (what are others seeing that we aren't?)

Overall we both like it. It ticks all our boxes, would give us massive peace of mind when towing (2k tow limit) and I think Rav4 is known for being fairly reliable.

A few drawbacks:
- only has 4 out of 9 service stamps and the last one was 2020, and 20k miles ago- we said it would need to have a full service before we would purchase (not something they do as standard)
- has a chip on the windscreen on passenger side
- missing some accessories including jack, and also had no spare tyre
- three of four tyres look like they need replacing
- we couldn't get the oil cap off
- on test drive brakes weren't quite as sharp as I would have liked, felt like a small bit of slippage

They will do another full MOT, if we put a deposit down. Last MOT was May and had no advisories - bit weird given the windscreen, maybe it happened on their forecourt?

I think if they are willing to do a full service and address all those issues, we will go for this one.

Minimal rust, a few dents and scratches but nothing major, engine sounded pretty good, and we like it.

Our main contact was out of office so will discuss everything first thing tomorrow morning. Any thoughts?

 

[GaryB]

A windscreen chip will only be an MoT issue if in a certain area/zone so possibly why no mention of it on the MoT. Personally I always get a bit pushy when buying anything and start my list of wants/demands to do the deal as being unrealistic, knowing they'll knock you down (better to go high and be knocked down to a realistic level than starting realistic and getting nothing).

I'd try asking for a tow bar to be fitted (if it hasn't got one already), tyres and windscreen chip fixed. These are all things you can see has been done, asking for it to be serviced could possibly just see them tick the service box in the book, so better to get it serviced straight away yourself, if anything major is picked up use the warranty etc as a redress back on the garage.

All my own opinion/approach obviously.

 

[Ukdave2002]

If I were buying a used car I'd run a Car Vertical (or similar) check, to identify any previous accident damage, mileage discrepancies, theft, import history etc.

VIN decoder, check a car and get vehicle history report | carVertical

When using the carVertical platform, our Reg Lookup/VIN Decoder tools make it easy to get a full vehicle history report. Access to authentic odometer readings, in-depth summaries of accidents and the vehicle’s maintenance log. A blockchain-based solution that unlocks the true car history of...

tinyurl.com

 

[otherclive]

Often a windscreen chip can be repaired using mobile services if the screen isn’t cracked. My insurer arranges it for a low payment and no effect on No Claims.

 

[Buckman]

Update on the Rav4

It is a 2013, black diesel 2.2 Invincible D-4D.

It is reduced from 9k to 8.5k because it has sat on the forecourt for 99 days already, which makes me a bit nervous (what are others seeing that we aren't?)

Overall we both like it. It ticks all our boxes, would give us massive peace of mind when towing (2k tow limit) and I think Rav4 is known for being fairly reliable.

A few drawbacks:
- only has 4 out of 9 service stamps and the last one was 2020, and 20k miles ago- we said it would need to have a full service before we would purchase (not something they do as standard)
- has a chip on the windscreen on passenger side
- missing some accessories including jack, and also had no spare tyre
- three of four tyres look like they need replacing
- we couldn't get the oil cap off
- on test drive brakes weren't quite as sharp as I would have liked, felt like a small bit of slippage

They will do another full MOT, if we put a deposit down. Last MOT was May and had no advisories - bit weird given the windscreen, maybe it happened on their forecourt?

I think if they are willing to do a full service and address all those issues, we will go for this one.

Minimal rust, a few dents and scratches but nothing major, engine sounded pretty good, and we like it.

Our main contact was out of office so will discuss everything first thing tomorrow morning. Any thoughts?

If this is the way the vehicle is presented to a potential buyer, I would walk away despite the RAV4 having a good reputation. It this case it seems that the previous owner never looked after the vehicle. Toyotas don't generally rust and we have had several Toyotas and lived by the coast with very high humidity.

May be worth paying extra to get and independent to check the vehicle. You can ask them if this is okay and if they refuse run as fast as you can.

The tyres for the vehicle will cost about +£600 minimum and they will probably fit the cheapest budget tyre. Same probably with the brakes. I am not sure if the vehicle came standard with a jack and spare tyre? A bit of a concern not being able to get the oil cap off?

MOT is only effective for the day that it is issued. It is not unknown for good tyres to be fitted for a MOT and then removed afterwards.

 

[Hutch]

With regard to the service stamps, a lot of cars now have service life of 20 k miles or 2 years.

 

[Buckman]

With regard to the service stamps, a lot of cars now have service life of 20 k miles or 2 years.

Although ours is every 12000 miles the service still needs to be done annually. A message flashes up to tell you it is due for the annual service every time you start the vehicle. I have never done 12000 miles a year so no idea if that also works. LOL!

 

[wyldeandfree]

If this is the way the vehicle is presented to a potential buyer, I would walk away despite the RAV4 having a good reputation. It this case it seems that the previous owner never looked after the vehicle. Toyotas don't generally rust and we have had several Toyotas and lived by the coast with very high humidity.

May be worth paying extra to get and independent to check the vehicle. You can ask them if this is okay and if they refuse run as fast as you can.

The tyres for the vehicle will cost about +£600 minimum and they will probably fit the cheapest budget tyre. Same probably with the brakes. I am not sure if the vehicle came standard with a jack and spare tyre? A bit of a concern not being able to get the oil cap off?

MOT is only effective for the day that it is issued. It is not unknown for good tyres to be fitted for a MOT and then removed afterwards.

Sorry I meant there *isnt* much rust, not that there is. I do think the independent check is a good idea, perhaps on the day we pick it up to be sure no switching things back - hadn't thought of that!

Now you have me worried about the tyre costs though! I'll look into that.

Will also check if jack and spare tyre are standard.

They will have to get the oil cap off, or break it off and replace....no way we would purchase otherwise.