Petrol tow car
We are about to change from a van conversion to a caravan (Heath issues). We are looking at a Coachman VIP 2 berth caravan as a possibility - weight 1439 we can spot many diesel cars that would be suitable but not petrol. It also needs to be automatic. It would have to be a used car and we could stretch to 20K but would prefer about 18k.
could anyone recommend a suitable car please.
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I’d certainly go for a diesel and the choice of second hand models is enormous.
Sorry, can’t help with recommendations for a petrol car.
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I towed with petrol tow cars for over 40 years the last two being 2 litre Mondeos. Until I tried a used 2 litre diesel Kia Sportage I thought they were alright. However I needed a low gear on any significant hill and a lot of revs.
I would now never choose a petrol over a diesel because even though the power output of the Mondeos and the Kia were almost the same the Kia Diesel is far superior producing maximum torque at much lower revs. Even though the used Kia I bought was older than many of the new or nearly new petrol cars I had before even now at ten years old for towing it is way ahead especially on hill starts which were often a real problem with the petrol cars.
I should add I am towing a Coachman Wanderer 15/2 only a little less weight than the VIP 460/2.
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We had a 2ltr diesel manual gearbox Kia sportage (great tow car) until i had a "mishap" with my right knee,which forced a change to an auto which resulted in us getting, by a mix up,a 2ltr petrol auto Sportage and although it has 160bhp is terrible for towing,so after a month of ownership the dealer has bought it back for what i paid and has supplied a 2ltr diesel Sportage KX4 auto with 180 bhp and loads of torque (missing in petrol version)
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I think you would find plenty of diesel automatics in your price range, maybe a few even less. The problem with some larger diesel cars in auto form is that the VED is very high. Had I still had my last tow car, a Kia Sorento I think my road tax would have now been over £500 a year. Given that you were previously a motorhomer with I assume a diesel engine is there a reason for preferring petrol?
David
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Thank you for the advice.
We were thinking that with all the bad press re diesels etc it was a good idea to get petrol.
Also concerned re European cities and low emissions zones.
However having read the comments maybe we need to rethink?!
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Modern diesels often have lower emissions than equivalent sized petrol engines as well as being more fuel efficient.
When towing a caravan there are certain compromises to be made and, to my mind, 'risking' having a diesel is one of them in order to have a good tow car.
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Good for you for at least trying!
There's a huge amount of both contradictory information, with vested interests in much misinformation. What's clear is that more and more EU and other cities and regions are moving to diesel-free zones, and the motor industry is going to have to be dragged, kicking and screaming, into producing the engineering for cars we need. There seems bound to be a period of chaos along the way, but just as electric cars are gradually moving towards being practical even though they're not there yet, I feel these is hope. And eventually we're going to have to stop burying our collective heads in the sand.
(Written by a diesel owner who believed the "it's cleaner"campaign last time round, and while it's brilliant at towing, our 2004 Volvo D5 is, rightly, gradually going to be more restricted as time goes on.)0 -
If you blindly follow the meedja misinformation, more fool you.
The low emissions zones are based on the compliance of the vehicle. A Euro6 meets the requirements. Therefore look at a Euro6 compliant diesel tug.
The price and age range you suggest will get you a Euro6 vehicle. The main method of compliance on a diesel is urea injection into the exhaust, or AdBlue.
You might be pleasantly surprised at the deals through the CAMC on a new, fully E6 compliant tug, so check those out. My wife has just ordered a new Qashqai for better price than a 2nd hand one c/w free detachable towbar, but not for towing the caravan, only a bike rack using the CAMC deal. Buyers market currently due to the meedja hype where sales dropped last month, that last year there was a bow wave of cars bought ahead of the punitive VED increases seems not to be reported.
Be cogniscent of the VED based on the original list price of the car if looking at nearly new cars, which is where the high rates come in.
Then search out the suppressed report on the NOx emissions of petrol vehicles and see how much worse than diesel they are
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Beverley
You might want to look at this thread in the Overseas Section re Emission Zones. By and large they apply to larger cities and towns and usually (but not always) the central section. It's more than likely that if you wanted to visit these city centres then you would use public transport rather than your own car. It just might give some reassurance on whether to buy a diesel car.
David
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I take it you are referencing my point on VED in relation to list price post 1/4/17.
In respect of your figures - what car, what price, what CO2 emissions? Were either above £40k list price including options?
CO2 emissions are the measure for current VED rates, not NOx which is the issue to be addressed currently, and the nub of the 'killer diseasel' hype in the meedja.
CO2 is effected by tyre size and 'body kits', not just the IC Engine and drivetrain. The simple measure introduced previously in respect of VED / CO2 wasn't given much thought
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Our next tow car will be a 2 year old Euro6 diesel. You get a lot of car for your money and sensible VED rate. £18-20K budget buys a nice one.
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All very useful thank you. I think we will revise and look for diesel and as David says more likely to be using public transport in built up areas anyway.
The next question is where do you put bikes? We use to have folding bikes but they got stolen in Lucca. (Despite being locked up).We replaced with light weight hibred bikes recently so do not want to replace yet again!
Also we both have back problems so not sure that on the roof would be a good idea.
I'm thinking - inside the car laid down at the back so that then also affects what car.
Any advice welcome.
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Final point re diesels! Go for a model running on AdBlu if you can get one. That reduces their emissions considerably.
Example I did have a 2011 Merc ML300CDI to pull my heavy Coachman 565/4 which it did faultlessly. The only problem was Road tax at £565pa.
Looked for something as good at towing and failed miserably. So purchased a late 2014 Merc ML350 AMG. Same engine but even more power, running on Diesel and AdBlu. Road tax now down to £280
I appreciated that you probably are not looking at something that strong for your 2 berth, but my point is, that if its running with the AdBlu emissions system it will cost less to tax.
TF
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These new diesel car tax bands for 2018 may be of some help but I think they only apply to new cars. I hope so anyway, they are frightening.
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They do only apply to new cars from Apr this year and it’s mostly the first year that’s the baddy.
Sorry, Nevers, I’m guessing at what you meant as the link doesn’t work.
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Beverley,why not go for an estate car or SUV, and you will then have plenty of room to lay your bike down in the back, especially if you can remove one of the wheels easily.
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Interesting (to me at least) is the last petrol tow car I had was a Rover 800 which as you can guess is quite a few years ago! Did its job but I am totally hooked (!) on the diesel for towing. Won't still be towing when they are no longer for sale so that's not a problem. Buy a diesel.
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yes just the first year then its £140 (on ours anyway. Also the first year tax is usually 'hidden' in the on the road price so not that bad.
Back to the OP, this is a our first diesel after towing with a petrol and I'd wish I'd had one always. Far better in every department.
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If you want a compact car then the Volkswagen Tiguan with 4wd and automatic transmission would do the job nicely, and they are reasonably economic. Your budget will do nicely.
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