What have Citroen done with the latest C5 Tourer?

[otherclive]

As part of my never ending quest for the perfect towcar I looked at the C5 tourer with the 160bhp 2.0 litre engine and auto box. Well compared to the supeceeded 2.2litre 173bhp unit this latest incarnation has dropped the max towing load below 1300kg (1290) with a noseweight of only 53kg. What a lost opportunity to use a goodly kerbeweight. Oh well it looks like MB or Volvo when I finally decide to retire 'god's gift to caravanners'

 

[Collin]

So Clive, you think car manufacturers design their cars with caravanners as a high priority in their considerations – hmmmmm! Cars get classified in many varied groups (performance, compact, 4x4s, etc) but I never see a Best Tow Car group in the car mags I read. Cars are designed for the masses and some manufacturers make great cars which happen to be good for towing, but that’s the best we can hope for...

 

[KeithJ]

Hi Clive

I have been looking at the C5 too. The manual version looks a good towcar but as you say, the auto has max towing limits that are too low. I am not sure, but I think it is because of the new breed of more efficient auto gearboxes that are now being used in many cars (not just the Citroen). They are more advanced and don't sap power or increase fuel consumption like the "old fashioned" torque-converter type, but they appear to be more fragile. This is bad news for us caravaners. The trouble is the manual version has the dreaded dual mass fly wheel, as most diesels have now (which cost £1,000 to replace when they wear out) so I am reluctant to buy that version. Otherwise I think the car is superb if you buy a 6 - 12 month old one to avoid the very heavy depreciation.

Incidentally I notice that the automatic Mondeo does not have similarly reduced towing limits.

 

[otherclive]

Keith

I agree with you on the new auto boxes, but looking at Ford's website the new Mondeo is now fitted with a DSG powershift box and the scant information on specs does not give any thing re toowing limits, but I half suspect that the new Mondeo may have a reduced limit compared to the one with the TC auto box. If it does it will be a pity considering the many accolades that the Mondeo won asa first rate tow car. I may have to even consider going back to a manual as the main towcar again. Yuk.

 

[otherclive]

Keith

I agree with you on the new auto boxes, but looking at Ford's website the new Mondeo is now fitted with a DSG powershift box and the scant information on specs does not give any thing re toowing limits, but I half suspect that the new Mondeo may have a reduced limit compared to the one with the TC auto box. If it does it will be a pity considering the many accolades that the Mondeo won asa first rate tow car. I may have to even consider going back to a manual as the main towcar again. Yuk.

 

[KeithJ]

Clive
I think you may be right about having to go back to manual. It's all in the interests of "Progress"!
Have you tried trying to download a handbook for the Mondeo? - that's how I found out for the Citroen.