Would you buy a used car with a towbar already fit

[Grahamh]

Found a nice 2009 Kia Sportage xs 2wd that I would like to buy as my next towcar. It has a towbar (generic not Kia towbar or electrics) with a single 7 pin plug - which I would change for a 13 pin kia specific harness. My worry is that the previous owner may have already worn out the clutch/DMF. Mileage is fairly low (34k) and 1 prev owner/full Kia service history (which shows new brake pads all round and 3 new tyres at last service (Dec 14)).
Should I risk it or keep looking for one without towbar?

 

[Gagakev]

Private sale or dealer? Warranty with dealer?
At least it has a full service record, (which probebly wont cover the wear and tear on clutch/DMF
It didnt bother me when i purchased both my last two vehicles, both had tow bars fitted and both had low mileage's for there years.
Same as every thing in life I suppose you may get a good one or it may be not so good. Who really knows?

 

[Grahamh]

dealer. warranty is with kia 7yrs/100k miles, but as you say, that wont cover the clutch/dmf. The only slight comfort is that it only has a single 7 pin plug so that means it has not been used for a caravan. The other worry was that it had been used to tow and launch a boat as had another car I looked at.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Graham,

I'm not sure how anyone on the forum can really help you with that one. :blink:

It is certain that if a car has been used for towing a caravan it will have worked harder than one without a towbar, but how much harder? :dry:

Its the old quandary of how long is a piece of string? :woohoo:

My daughter bought a second hand car with a genuine 30K on the clock. Within 3 months the clutch fell apart. :S The mechanic in the garage that supplied told her he wasn't surprised as the previous owner constantly rode the clutch and had been through one at about 18K previously. The salesman wasn't very impressed with his colleague, because they had to change it under warranty.

If you want certainty there are two ways to get it, either buy new, or buy second hand and have the clutch fully serviced :huh: . Alternatively buy it , put £500 in a savings account. hmy: Run the car safe in the knowledge you have the funds to repair it when it needs it.

 

[Gagakev]

Ah now that would get me thinking...Launching a boat, sea = salt water.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

Ah now that would get me thinking...Launching a boat, sea = salt water.

no worries Kev we only launch boats at high water. so no problem.
getting them out at low water well that what a tractor is for isn't it. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

no seriously the last 4 cars I bought all had bars fitted. not a problem with any of them and saved a fortune on having one fitted and wired. if it were me I would ask the dealer for the name and address of the last owner. usually they are very helpful with questions, just ask what he towed with it!!!. then get a quote for a bar and electrics stick the amount you save in the back pocket and see how it goes.

 

[NigelHutson]

Or it might have been used for towing a light camping trailer, or nothing more than a bike rack?

I certainly wouldn't be too alarmed about buying a car with a tow bar fitted. If you are buying from a Dealer, would they give you the previous owner's details so that you could contact them and ask them the question? After all, they've nothing to hide now that they've sold the car.

 

[Parksy]

If the Kia is in good condition with a full service history but you're wary of it's towing history why not find out what the worst case scenario could be e.g. clutch and dmf replacement and how much the repair would cost then negotiate that figure off the selling price of the car?
Use some hard bargaining, they want to sell the car so make them work for that sale, I've never paid the initial asking price for any car or caravan that I've bought.

 

[Dustydog]

Graham

My last Kia Sorento spent half its life towing a heavy twin axle. We traded her in at 136k on the original clutch and DMF. Why did it do so well you ask?

SWMBO and I were very gentle with the clutch. Rarely slipped it. Never rode it Never used it as a foot rest.
Very little stop start journeys. Mostly long distance both solo and towing for hours on end without stopping.
Thus the clutch was rarely dsiengaged.
I do agree with the others it will be beneficial to chat with the last owner and discreetly establish his and his partners clutch habits. Get a clear understanding on the extent of the dealer warranty regarding the clutch.
My last used car came with a tow bar and twin electrics. A witter. No problem Saved me money etc.
I'd go for it taking into account all the wise words on here.

 

[MichaelE]

Have a look at the towball to see if any marks on it? All mine have always had marks on as a sign of use?
Maybe it could have been changed but an unlikely expense?
Its the same with any used car you never know the history, if it feels right then you are worrying for no reason.
You know what they say 1 careful lady owner 7 maniacs !!!

 

[Keefanmaxx]

To be honest, I would buy with a towbar. We have had the bar fitted to our Vauxhall which was the best part of £400 including the upgrade through the diagnostics on top of the cost of the car itself.
I think it will always be a gamble when you don't know what has been towed and a full service history doesn't take account of the driving style of former owners, although a pile of receipts is a good indicator if they are available.

 

[Craigyoung]

I had a 51 plate corsa from new , tow bar fitted few weeks later for my bike rack , also pulled trailers with it nearly every week with some weight for a little 1.2i but the clutch never once went , and when I came to sell it , it went within 2 days of putting it up for sale with tow bar and no questions asked , the person who bought it knew the car and what it used to pull to . That's 13 years with towing and same clutch .

 

[xtrailman]

What makes you think the DMF or clutch will want changing?
Unless the model has a reputation for that sort of failure I wouldn't worry.

Its low mileage my last diesel was only fully run in at 20K miles, at just over 30K the car is virtually new.
I would be looking for body repairs and general wear and tear, check the rear springs etc.

Not a tow car I would look at due to a low NW limit of 80kg I believe.
Latest Mondeo and Passat from 2008 ish are mainly 90kg NW limit.

 

[Grahamh]

Have spoken two or three times to the dealer. Last service + MoT (Dec); 3 new tyres and brake pads all round. Sent me a pic of the towbar and plug + pics of font and rear wing showing scratches etc. Suggested they might like to fit model specific 13 pin electrics or reduce the price but they flatly refused. Although right model, colour etc I don't get the feeling that it is the one. Found another one a bit further away and am talking to the dealer, this one has even less miles(24k) but no towbar. Costed towbar and electrics (£280) so will try to get it thrown in.
Thanks for all your advice to date; really helpful. I agree the method of driving etc is important, present towcar bought at 5yr/60k miles and I fitted a towbar , mileage now 117k with no probs with clutch/dmf.
Will post when I have decided

 

[akwoodier]

From my perspective I would if at all possible would try to ascertain if it was towing a caravan had been fitted with a motor mover
Since having one fitted on our last three vans its taken so much strain off using the gearbox. Especially when getting it on and off the drive IMHO

 

[Grahamh]

Thanks for that.
looked at another one yesterday w/o towbar. 2010 with 24k miles. Really odd tho as DVLA shows that the car has been untaxed since May2014. Last serviced in July 2014. Dealer (KIA) will MoT when I buy. They say they bought it from another dealer and have replaced the battery. Price is not bad but they won't budge by a penny/ add towbar/fill the tank even tho the car has been on sale for a long long time. It.s 200 miles from me so think I will wait and see. Oh well.

 

[Grahamh]

Well I picked up a 4wd sportage xs yesterday. had to drive up to Bromley to fetch it but was well worth the trip. Looked at the MPG figures and the road tax for 4wd versus 2wd and decided on the 4wd version. Must say I really like the drivers position and was really pleased at the handling - no body roll to speak of. It's much shorter than the mondeo estate but feels much bigger.
Have ordered the towbar and will fit later this week.

 

[Craigyoung]

Excellent, glad you got sorted with something, hope it all go's well.

 

[Grahamh]

Fitted towbar yesterday (witter) and towbar electrics today (car specific 13 pin). Towbar is a flange type - really easy to fit with no bumper cut. Electrics a little more difficult but ok once I decided on the route from battery to rear of the car. I rang a company that fits towbars and asked their advice and they told me they don't bring it through the car as it's too difficult - just take it along the underside of the car and tywrap the cable to the brakepipes! Needless to say I didn't do that. Came into the cabin on the offside by the fuse box from the engine bay through a redundant grommet and along the inside of the doorframes under the trim. It was easy really as the trim just snaps on over the sill and there was plenty of space. Fitted my dashcam at the same time. The rear view camera shows a nice close up of the towball - this camera was already fitted when I bought the car. Total cost of towbar and electrics £220. looks really neat . Thanks PF Jones.co.uk - great service and price.
Caravan service next week and first trip out on the 7th March to Devon.

 

[Grahamh]

Having done almost 400 miles since purchase I filled the tank yesterday and calculate I am getting 41Mpg for combined urban driving(solo). Have booked the car in for an 'eco' remap which I am told will both improve Mpg (10-15%) and slightly increase the BHP and Tq. The improvement is largely that it will bring the Tq lower in the rev range - thereby reducing the need for gear changes and hence improve Mpg.
Fingers crossed.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Having done almost 400 miles since purchase I filled the tank yesterday and calculate I am getting 41Mpg for combined urban driving(solo). Have booked the car in for an 'eco' remap which I am told will both improve Mpg (10-15%) and slightly increase the BHP and Tq. The improvement is largely that it will bring the Tq lower in the rev range - thereby reducing the need for gear changes and hence improve Mpg.
Fingers crossed.

Don't forget to tell your insurer, as you are modifying the performance of the vehicle.

 

[Grahamh]

of course