Tow car of the Century, never mind The Year.
Dear Editor,
We're just back from a month's holiday in France with our caravan and what I can only describe as the best tow car ever.
You may remember a few months ago I suggested that the Alpina D3 Biturbo saloon should be included in the Club's Tow Car of the year competition. I didn't get a reply in regard to the idea, so perhaps there is no interest or appetite for such a suggestion. So I thought I would give the Club members a first hand account of the terrific merits of this car.
Our July trip was my first chance to see how well the Alpina would tow my Dethleffs Camper, weighing about 1500 kgs fully laden, including 4 bikes, 3 on the excellent long Continental draw bar, (something British caravans lack) and 1 inside. I was confident, already knowing the performance figures, that the task would not be much of a problem, but I was unprepared for just how unbelievably competent and agile the car would prove to be.
The car's statistics are impressive, with 350 bhp on tap and over 700 nm's of torque; that's more than a Land Rover Discovery can muster and it is two thirds of the Discovery's weight. The 0 to 60mph of 4.6 secs is irrelevant in terms of towing, but it gives you an idea of the car's ability, and this is a diesel remember. Indeed it is marketed as the fastest production diesel car in the world. By the way, this car is based on BMW's 3 Series Saloon. It is also available as an estate, if you are an antiques dealer or own a labrador.
Towing was a dream, whether on N or D roads or motorway in France, you did not notice there was a caravan attached. Acceleration was phenomenal, even going up steep hills such as those on the A75 autoroute near the Millau bridge, I found that I could accelerate from 60 to 65 or 70 effortlessly. In fact,although it would have been too dangerous, the car felt as if it would have carried on beyond what I would have been comfortable with whilst towing. The 8 speed automatic gearbox takes care of gear changes smoothly while ensuring that the power is always at it's most efficient and available the instant you squeeze the throttle.
I tended to travel around 58 mph, with the engine turning over just under 1500 rpm, but should a lorry require overtaking, a quick press on the pedal brought instant kick down and massive torque from the 3 litre engine and the lorry could be dispensed with quickly and safely. And that is the point with this car; when it comes to overtaking, you can do it safely and rapidly without worrying about being caught out on the wrong side of the road for longer than you expected. Not even the drag of a large HGV can influence the Alpina's determined forward progress. It is stable at all times and even with cross winds, as you get leaving Perpignan on the A9, or the wind generated by an overtaking coach, the Alpina is sure footed at all times and instils confidence whatever is happening around you. ( I've often wondered why coaches can travel at 70 mph with over 40 people on board, yet a lorry is restricted to 56, with only 1 person).
As for economy, over the whole trip from Calais to Antibes and then Argeles, near Perpignan and then back to Calais, I averaged 25mpg. Solo the car is more than capable of achieving over 50 mpg. Not bad for a 3 litre diesel. Alpina take the basic BMW 3 litre unit and just make it better in every way. Powerful Alpina calipers take care of braking, even with the additional weight of a caravan. The double twin exhaust pipes are really the only exterior clue that the Alpina means business but it is certainly not shouty about it's overwhelming ability.
I have a reversing camera fitted which makes hitching up very easy and the BMW tow bar is electrically operated and disappears at the touch of a button, found in the boot.
The car remains comfortable, even with the caravan on and there were no complaints from the passengers, even on some occasions with 4 to 5 hours solid driving.
At £49000 basic price, it is not cheap but then neither is a Range Rover Vogue at twice the price, with less power, less torque and a massive thirst in comparison. Also, you won't annoy the "environmentalists" as you would in the ostentatious Rangy, yet you will be out performing it in every department, unless of course you need to pull your caravan across a ploughed field; but who really needs to do that! And you will have almost £50000 in the bank, plus it won't depreciate like a Range Rover and lastly it won't break down like a Range Rover will.
As I said at the start, I would go as far as to say that there is no better tow car on the market, certainly for the money and when all things are considered, it is probably good value for money compared to any of it's competitors. The problem is I don't think it has any competitors who can come even close. I do hope that the attributes of this car can be brought to the attention of other club members, but then maybe it would lose it's exclusivity as a result. Anyway, take a look at it on Alpina's own website. Plenty of details and pictures there.
On a completely different point, I was reading a letter called "Cheeky chap" in this month's mag, which was in answer to a letter sent in by a John Bell. I read John Bell's letter last month and instantly knew he was taking the p..s. How stupid was this woman for not realising this. It was wise of her to with hold her name and address. She should be embarrassed and I am surprised the the Club would print a letter from such a muppet. Has no one anything more important to say or pass comment on?