Confused re econetic in towing
Has anyone had the problem we have just experienced re a tow car. We were all set to buy a 1.6 dtci diesel mondeo titanium ecco, told would pull 1600kg ccaravan, checked out on caravan club site and several other sites , all came
out a good match with towing a 1235mptl caravan. Still feeling concerned checked with two main caravan dealers who fed details into their system which came up as showing tow limit of 800kg at 85%. Both dealers said problem on econetic cars is
the gear ratio and both said not to touch it with a barge pole. Why is this not brought to our attention as caravaners, this could have been a very costly mistake.
Comments
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We tow with a 2013 Mondeo 1.6 econetic Estate. (diesel). Our caravan is 1360kg MTPLM and we have had no difficulties whatsoever. The V5 gives a max towing limit of 1600kg braked. Of course it's true that we have to be sensible with the gearbox, but honestly
the car is a trooper, never hicked.0 -
The catch is - and is with many diesel vehicles these days - is that the power is achieved by use of the turbo but the basic torque is rather low so you will always be revving the nuts off it. The 2L however is a very different beast, although 163bhp is
also achieved by turbo pressure. On the other hand a 140bhp or thereabouts is less blown so will have better low-end torque.0 -
Any car built for the ultimate economy will be very high geared making towing potentially difficult. Before buying a car look at the torque figures and where it is achieved. A 1.6 engine would need low gearing to tow well. The 85% ratio for any Mondeo would
be well over 850 kg but 1600 could exceed the cars kerb weight and would at best well over 90% so would be a dubious choice.Not sure but the 850 figure could be a limit imposed by Ford because of the high gearing.
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The catch is - and is with many diesel vehicles these days - is that the power is achieved by use of the turbo but the basic torque is rather low so you will always be revving the nuts off it. The 2L however is a very different beast, although 163bhp is
also achieved by turbo pressure. On the other hand a 140bhp or thereabouts is less blown so will have better low-end torque.Quite right although if its not got a turbo it will still get going.................eventually
v9
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We tow with a 2013 Mondeo 1.6 econetic Estate. (diesel). Our caravan is 1360kg MTPLM and we have had no difficulties whatsoever. The V5 gives a max towing limit of 1600kg braked. Of course it's true that we have to be sensible with the gearbox, but honestly
the car is a trooper, never hicked.I think it's important to manage expectations here. You're talking about lugging about your Mondeo's 1505kg kerbweight PLUS 1360kg Van weight with 113bhp with gearing design to be as economic as possible.
It's a great car for high mpg motorway cruising at minimal revs, but it must be dangerously slow towing and not one to recommend.
I don't mean to offend, just give an opinion
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Of course it's not "dangerously slow" If you haven't driven this car you can't possibly know. I have, and it's not.
Well my father in law has just this spec of Mondeo and have been many places with him. I just wouldn't fancy towing with it!
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We tow with a 2013 Mondeo 1.6 econetic Estate. (diesel). Our caravan is 1360kg MTPLM and we have had no difficulties whatsoever. The V5 gives a max towing limit of 1600kg braked. Of course it's true that we have to be sensible with the gearbox, but honestly
the car is a trooper, never hicked.I think it's important to manage expectations here. You're talking about lugging about your Mondeo's 1505kg kerbweight PLUS 1360kg Van weight with 113bhp with gearing design to be as economic as possible.
It's a great car for high mpg motorway cruising at minimal revs, but it must be dangerously slow towing and not one to recommend.
I don't mean to offend, just give an opinion
Its wrong to deem a car a poor choice based on engine bhp! Our first tow car was a 2500kg Pajero towing a 1600kg caravan....with an engine output of 120bhp! While it certainly was not fast it could never be described as dangerously slow! As to the gearing......yes
modern cars have gear ratios to reduce fuel consupltion on the highway but it does not prevent you changing gear to suit the conditions and/or towing.Better to accept advice from those that actually tow with the car in question!
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Has anyone had the problem we have just experienced re a tow car. We were all set to buy a 1.6 dtci diesel mondeo titanium ecco, told would pull 1600kg ccaravan, checked out on caravan club site and several other sites , all came
out a good match with towing a 1235mptl caravan. Still feeling concerned checked with two main caravan dealers who fed details into their system which came up as showing tow limit of 800kg at 85%. Both dealers said problem on econetic cars is
the gear ratio and both said not to touch it with a barge pole. Why is this not brought to our attention as caravaners, this could have been a very costly mistake.Write your comments here...i can understand previous comments re 1.6 Mondeo Eco for performance...I went for a 2015 Mondeo Zetec Econotec TDCI 2015 model with 1998 cc engine which produces 150 bhp......Towing is a dream and my Swift Challenger Sport 524SR
(2012) behaves in all weathers....I have had six Mondeos in succession and wouldn't consider anything else. The 2015 is so roomy inside and the boot is ginormous . The electric handbrake is marvellous and has an added bonus in that my wife, who has athritis
in her left hand, can start away on a hill without wrestling with a normal handbrake.0 -
Of course it's not "dangerously slow" If you haven't driven this car you can't possibly know. I have, and it's not.
Thats fair comment Settermum but most of the abvice on this forum is based on experience. Driveing solo and towing something with the aerodynamics of a housebrick is an entirely different experience.Like i always say when you pull out from behind an HGV on a hill and into a headwind then you will see how good a car is for towing.Almost ANY car will move a caravan in ideal conditions but sadly life is not like that as any experienced caravanner will tell you.My maxim has always been the same when asked about towcars.Buy the biggest,heavyest and most powerful you can afford too run and it has never let me down yet.
peter.
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