Buying a new towcar
Hi,
For the time time ever for us, we are considering buying a brand new car. We are still open minded about which one, but likely to be either a Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tuscon or maybe even a Ford Kuga. Grateful for some advice on a few issues.
Im probably going to go with an automatic. Unfortunately this adds on in excess of £1500 to the cost as well as higher road tax and running costs. However, what are peoples experiences with the manual versions. Are the clutches up to the occasional bit of
"sensible" reversing (ie not uphill on wet grass).
Has anybody used Lex Autolease Car Select? Their deals dont seem that good at the moment, but was it a pain free easy experience?
I will probably go with a dealer fitted tow bar, which are quite pricey. Has anybody got a good deal from a Kia or Hyundai dealer on supplying a tow bar. Is it something they are inclined to do deals on.
It seems as if the Sportage and Tucson are selling quite well at the moment so good deals seem a bit thin on the ground. Happy to buy anywhere in the South East (or maybe either further away) so recommendations of good dealers
will be welcomed.
Grateful for your comments.
Comments
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Just got a new Hyundai Santa Fe, and if Tucson is anything like, it's quite impressive. Try carwow website to find best price. It does all the legwork around dealers for you, including any p/x value. Found me best deal, and then I simply persuaded my local
dealer to match it.0 -
Don't forget to use the outfit matching service on CC website to see if the car you want is matched to your caravan. I have a Kuga that being well matched to my outfit is excellent. I much prefer a manual gearbox for towing as you are in total control
of your driving; however, no doubt some will disagree. Good luck.0 -
Most dealers do not fit tow bars but sub contract it to specialist fitters and then add a profit margin so we always go to a local firm who would have done it anyway. I would check the specialists price against the dealers before opting for either.
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Hi Stato, I agree with Wildwood regarding tow bar fitting I always use my local fitter and save a fortune, also have you thought about the fact that with auto`s the towing capacity can be reduced significantly this maybe something to consider when choosing
your tow vehicle.0 -
Thanks for all your comments.
Ive used Carwow and have had some OKish discounts from some of the northern dealers. Whereas the discounts on offer from the south eastern dealers have been very poor. Will see if i can get them to match if i decide to go ahead with a purchase.
The reason i assumed it may be slightly safer to go with a dealer fitted towbar is because of warranty issues. If i have any issues with the towbar or car electrics the dealer would have to rectify it. They would not be able to blame the towbar fitter. But perhaps im being over cautious.
I have looked at the pre facelift kuga (as i have only ever owned Fords and they have all been excellent) and there are some decent deals out there. However, have to say that i much prefer the look and all the kit of the Korean cars. And the longer warranty.
Ive only ever owned manual cars but am in two minds whether or not to go down the automatic route. Would the clutch in one of these SUVs be more durable than the one in my Mondeo?
My caravan's mtplm is just over 1420 so all three cars should be a perfect match.
Thanks
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Stato, This argument will never be settled and I won't try. Another David has been happy with his automatics for the last 16 years, and I have been happy with manuals over the same time. He wouldn't consider switching and nor would I. He respects my opinion and I respect his. It's your choice.
As for fitting towbars - that's the easy bit - it's wiring up complex modern electrics where many people find they have come a cropper. My own main dealer no longer sub contracts that out on new cars for that reason and says "We know how to get it right". See what your own dealer says and recommends.
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At wrong end of the country to offer any advice on specific dealeships but as for tow car model my 2015 Hyundia Tucson Premium 2.0Ltr diesel manual towing a Sprite Major 6TD performs perfectly on motorways and lesser roads, this in spite of CC putting a
yellow ! warning in their match table and I am new to towing. I suspect the same criteria will apply to a Kia Sportage as they are baisically the same car underneath. Witter detachable towbar fitted by local dealership and no complaints.0 -
Ford are so "Ford". Three years ago I looked at a new car being the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Ford Kuga & VW Tiguan. All similar priced and similar spec. VW beat all the others so don't dismiss it. Just changed to a Passat Alltrack, the CC Towcar of
the Year and best towcar I've ever had.0 -
The reason i assumed it may be slightly safer to go with a dealer fitted towbar is because of warranty issues. If i have any issues with the towbar or car electrics the dealer would have to rectify it. They would not be able to blame the towbar fitter. But perhaps im being over cautious.
You're not being over cautious at all - just sensible. Whatever the make or model, a new car is an expensive purchase and just not worth the risk of giving the dealer or manufacturer a 'get-out' clause if anything goes wrong. I paid over £1200 to have the tow bar / electrics fitted to my new Touareg by the dealer - but everything works as it should and I have peace of mind that it's been done properly with no option for anyone finding any excuses if anything were to go wrong.
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But such wildly differing prices and £1200 sounds outrageous. I paid £351 plus VAT for supply and fit towbar and electrics by the main dealer on a new Land Rover.
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My present Landrover when purchased new had an afterfit towbar installed as part of the deal, a Witter with CANBUS loom done by the local 'Towsure' outlet. This way it was covered by the warranty and was priced at £368 to the main dealer.
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Afternoon Stato, I am in SE and I run a car leasing business, happy to give you some help/advice/quotes whatever. If I could figure out how to do a PM (Private Message) I would do!
Feel free to email me on paul@tromanfinance.co.uk if I can help.
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Hi Stato - I'm on my second new Kuga now towing our 1450kg Bailey - bought the manual, 180bhp 4x4 version and it is a solid, comfortable tow and sits at 60mph all day long. Re. tow bar - main dealer wouldn't fit the tow bar themselves but gave me the name
of a local fitter who they said they would have used - he fitted both cars (using same tow bar and electrics which he removed from one and fitted to t'other!) Cost around £350 for first fit if I remember. Only stipulation - must use Fords dedicated wiring
kit and not a generic fit. Never had a problem and enjoy the drive.0 -
Has anyone tried the new Ford "Edge" I like the look of it and it is available with a 210ps engine. It looks like Its got the size & weight to tow a decent sized caravan.
Paul56, have you seen the new facelifted Kuga? Now has the same grill as the rest of the family and other detail improvements. Pity that they don't offer the 210 engine though.
TF
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But such wildly differing prices and £1200 sounds outrageous. I paid £351 plus VAT for supply and fit towbar and electrics by the main dealer on a new Land Rover.
Totally different beasts. A few years ago, I had a Disco 3 and fitted the electics myself. The Disco is pre-wired and the harness simply plugs into sockets behind the rear brake lights. I think the harness was about £250 and the detachable tow bar, just
over £100 (from memory). It took me less than an hour to do the whole job including fitting the electical sockets.I understand that wiring the Touareg takes two days and, amongst other things, the front seats have to be taken out. Don't understand why it can't be the same as the Disco but that's the way it is and probably accounts for the massive price difference.
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But such wildly differing prices and £1200 sounds outrageous. I paid £351 plus VAT for supply and fit towbar and electrics by the main dealer on a new Land Rover.
Totally different beasts. A few years ago, I had a Disco 3 and fitted the electics myself. The Disco is pre-wired and the harness simply plugs into sockets behind the rear brake lights. I think the harness was about £250 and the detachable tow bar, just
over £100 (from memory). It took me less than an hour to do the whole job including fitting the electical sockets.I understand that wiring the Touareg takes two days and, amongst other things, the front seats have to be taken out. Don't understand why it can't be the same as the Disco but that's the way it is and probably accounts for the massive price difference.
I suspect it is because Land Rover understand exactly how thier cars have been used in the past, and are going to be used in the future, and
expect a tow bar to be installed, so make it an easy fit. Out of all the 'Chelsea Tractors' (apart from maybe certain Toyotas) they assume their posh cars will actually be used for towing substantial trailers, and maybe even go off roading.0 -
But such wildly differing prices and £1200 sounds outrageous. I paid £351 plus VAT for supply and fit towbar and electrics by the main dealer on a new Land Rover.
Totally different beasts. A few years ago, I had a Disco 3 and fitted the electics myself. The Disco is pre-wired and the harness simply plugs into sockets behind the rear brake lights. I think the harness was about £250 and the detachable tow bar, just over £100 (from memory). It took me less than an hour to do the whole job including fitting the electical sockets.
I understand that wiring the Touareg takes two days and, amongst other things, the front seats have to be taken out. Don't understand why it can't be the same as the Disco but that's the way it is and probably accounts for the massive price difference.
I suspect it is because Land Rover understand exactly how thier cars have been used in the past, and are going to be used in the future, and expect a tow bar to be installed, so make it an easy fit. Out of all the 'Chelsea Tractors' (apart from maybe certain Toyotas) they assume their posh cars will actually be used for towing substantial trailers, and maybe even go off roading.
Like this one used to?
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