Which tow car?
We are looking to buy a new tow car, we would prefer a large estate and we think we have narrowed the search down to the Volvo XC70 D5 185, or the Audi A6 3.0l Allroad, for our budget we are looking for 57/08 reg plates on either option. Opinions anyone?
Thanks.
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Funnily enough I am looking at exactly the same shortlist options. The problem with the Merc is they are not 4wd and have a long rear overhang. The Volvo has a cam belt, the Audi doesn't however the Audi auto box has a bit of a history of electrical gremlins.
I am also looking at Superb 4x4 estate, Merc ML, X3/5 and possibly Shogun or RX400h. Given I already have an Audi A6 V6 tdi but fwd I will probably go for an Allroad too. Hope we don't end up looking to buy the same car!0 -
New shape Sorento or Santa Fe? Or are the engines a bit small? X5 is a nice car too.
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.... The Volvo has a cam belt, ...
But cam chains aren't bullet proof either ..... IIRC some of the recent BMWs have cam chains, which fail and as some clown put it at the back of the engine, the whole lot has to come out to change it ££££££££££££s
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Gundogs1. I can thoroughly recommend the Mercedes ML300CDI. I have had one for the past 5 years and towed all over Europe with it. I simply cannot fault it. With literally a wheel at each corner - very little overhang, it tows my heavy Coachman 565 like its on rails whatever the weather is doing.
Its smooth V6 3 litre engine will tow all day, and as mine is the Blue Efficiency model it is very economical for such a large & heavy car. I get 35mpg on a medium length run- solo, and average well over 30 on its 90 litre tank so it has a solo range of well in excess of 500 miles. I get about 24 mpg towing.
One little tip with the Blue Efficiency model. Make sure you use the correct low rolling resistance tyres! When mine were changed my dealer mistakenly fitted the wrong ones. They fitted the ones correct for the normal car but not the blue efficiency one. It made over 6 mpg difference! They took them back & fitted the correct ones & economy returned!
Only drawback is the High Annual tax - £495. I comfort myself by saying "OK so I'm paying about £250 per year more than some less powerful Towers. - So in the last 5 years it has cost me £1,250 more than a lot of less capable towers " "Whats that compared to the knowledge it will go anywhere, not let me down, and will do so in total comfort"
In 5 years I have done 59,000 miles. Dealers will only offer me about £14,000 for it, so stuff em, - I will keep it. Its still young mileage wise and on a personal plate no one knows how old it is!
TF
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ADP, Probably not applicable but it might be worth getting your local tyre expert to comment on the Rolling resistance element of your tyres. I cannot get over the difference that putting the higher resistace ones on my car by mistake made.
TF
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ADP, Probably not applicable but it might be worth getting your local tyre expert to comment on the Rolling resistance element of your tyres. I cannot get over the difference that putting the higher resistace ones on my car by mistake made.
TF
Write your comments here...T. F. Thanks for your thoughts but my motor was built for the American market, I. e cheap petrol. If I check the figures it does exactly what they predict,25 not towing ,18 towing. A couple of times I have had 28mpg solo,but nearly
fell asleep . I have just had 4 new Michelin put on,same results except less road noise.....but thanks for your input Tf .
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We are on our second Passat estate and cannot recommend it enough. Roomy, economical, very comfortable, all the bells and whistles (the heated seats are fantastic for backache) and tows like a dream. I am told the newer 150bhp version is even better.
From the same stable the Skoda Superb lives up to its name well as does the Audi A4 - basically all three are the same vehicle. Tax is low as well.
However one thing to be warey of - the wide low profile tyres. Our 58 Passat had 235/45R17 wheels and did suffer wheelspin, but nothing like our present 14 plate which has 235/40R18 wheels. Not a problem if you have a mover as it will get you off most pitches, but otherwise consider looking for one with the option 215/55R?? wheels which would be much better. One significant benefit with the Passat (can't speak for the other two) is that it comes with a full sized alloy spare wheel - and you don't see that much these days!
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Deleted User User! Just re read the thread and saw your comment re the E class estate. It certainly does tow well. I bought one new in 2009 but only kept it for 12 months. Reason?
I bought it as a "Run Out" model after a new style had been introduced. The trouble was that they only came as 2-2 Litre 4 cylinder models. Great fuel consumption when solo but it really struggled with my heavy Coachman.
We had towed down to the South of France Nr Meze, and climbing back up to Cleremont Ferrand she was really showing it. The gearbox in particular was constsntly needing the manual assistance to change up. In short I was really missing my big 4x4s! - Hence the rapid change to the ML300 which I have now had for over 5 years. A record for me!
TF
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