New tow car?
Experiences welcome! We're concerned about the potential for Govt. action against diesel engines, whilst debating a new tow car. Caravan is only 1200kg, but I prefer to have power to spare. For the past 15/16 years we've had 2 litre diesels, latterly Skoda
Octavias, with which we're extremely happy - one requirement is 'a boot on wheels', so prefer Estates. we had experience, 11 years ago, of towing with a 2 litre petrol Honda CRV (after someone shunted our 2 litre diesel Corolla Estate In the rear) and the
lack of comparative power was quite obvious.
Accepting that engines, both diesel and petrol, have improved considerably over the years, we're debating going back to petrol and are looking at the Skoda Superb 2 litre petrol and Mazda 6, also 2 litre petrol.
Would appreciate any comments that might help.
Comments
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Not sure how helpful this is but I have a 2004 petrol CRV as my 1st tow car and whilst I don't have anything to compare it too, I will definately be changing to a torquey diesel when I can as it's clearly harder work than i'd like to get into the power band.
The power is actually there but like all Honda petrol engines, you need to rev it to get there.I think in principle, diesels will always offer a better towing experience than their petrol equivalent but my van has a MTLPM of 1500kg so might be more acceptable for you with a lighter van?
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Whilst there is always 'potential' for the govenment to act against diesel engined cars my personal view is that they won't. If one considers the massive numbers of diesel engines on the road there would be an almighty uproar from the public if anything
significant was done to penalise diesel owners. Coupled with that, engine manufacturers have been trying quite succesfully to move heaven and earth to improve emissions, which is what all this is about, so why do the government need to do anything?If the worst did happen and a penalty was applied, diesel owners would possibly have to stump up a bit more cash but what would that be in financial terms in comparison with the better power/torque and better mpg of a diesel compared with petrol? I know
which engine I would sooner have even with a price penalty(presumably at the pumps).0 -
Thanks for comments - must admit I'd be reluctant to change if only for the fact I'm getting 58-60mpg solo & 31 towing plus about half our mileage is in France where, despite considerable rises at the pumps recently , diesel is markedly cheaper than
petrol !0 -
I have seen the publicity on this but while the action is pfoposed there have been no details. We are also looking at replacing the tow car and I am not sure which way we will jump. I have towed with pdtrol engines and frankly they were never a problem but
diesels are better.If any action is severe it could destroy the second hand value of diesels but I am not convinced it is possible politically or commercially. I would prefer a diesel but k ow I can live with petrol so will probably hold of a bit and see if I can get any more
information.Unless you need a new tow car now my feeling is it might be better to see how things are going to go.
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Well I've just had a bit of a disaster!
I've been looking around with a view to changing my lovely old Mercedes ML but had finally decided that nothing quite measured up to her for performance and sheer towing ability. She is coming up to 6 years old now with still less than 69,000 on the clock
so I booked her in for a winter safety check and ended up with a projected bill of just over £2,000!One tyre with a dangerous cut on an inside tyre wall, and all 4 tyres approaching the legal limit so approaching £800 of the £2,000- was for tyres. Then all four wheels required new brake pads! I expected that, but not the required new brake disks too!
Also a split in a turbo pipe!So all in all feeling a bit bruised! Still I suppose she will run on now for a long time again!
TF
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Experiences welcome! We're concerned about the potential for Govt. action against diesel engines, whilst debating a new tow car. Caravan is only 1200kg, but I prefer to have power to spare. For the past 15/16 years we've had 2 litre diesels, latterly Skoda Octavias, with which we're extremely happy - one requirement is 'a boot on wheels', so prefer Estates. we had experience, 11 years ago, of towing with a 2 litre petrol Honda CRV (after someone shunted our 2 litre diesel Corolla Estate In the rear) and the lack of comparative power was quite obvious.
Accepting that engines, both diesel and petrol, have improved considerably over the years, we're debating going back to petrol and are looking at the Skoda Superb 2 litre petrol and Mazda 6, also 2 litre petrol.
Would appreciate any comments that might help.
Write your comments here...The vag 2L turbo petrol will tow your 1200kg caravan effortlessly.
I've towed with a 180bhp turbo petrol in the past pulling 1333kg. Only got 24mpg towing and 33mpg solo on a run, 28mpg solo round town.
That was 16 years ago hopefully the economy is now improved.
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@ Tigerfish
Is that from a Mercedes main dealer? It seems they tell every one that new discs are required .... I'd get a 2 nd opinion. The price of your tyres sounds right ... assuming they're similar size to mine, I put 2 tyres on earlier in the year & had a couple
of quid change from £400. But £1200 for discs & pads seems excessive, front pads were £80 from my local Merc dealer (still in my garage waiting to be fitted)0 -
TF don't you get a discount card from your MB dealer that gives discounts on cars over 3 years and more at over 6 years?
My 'Platinum' card gives 25% off parts and 10% off labour at 3 years.
I also ask to price match an indy, which they do.
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TF don't you get a discount card from your MB dealer that gives discounts on cars over 3 years and more at over 6 years?
My 'Platinum' card gives 25% off parts and 10% off labour at 3 years.
I also ask to price match an indy, which they do.
Is this a MB credit card we are talking about?
David, no it's a 'loyalty' card issued by MB through the dealer. I've had one given me on the 3rd year anniversary of my last 3 MB's with 2 different dealers. I did cheekily try to use my previous one for an E Klasse on my S Klasse when I bought a set of
roof bars.0 -
My first E Klasse was leased but I got a 'Platinum' card, it was serviced there. The 2nd E Klasse was bought and had the main services there, non service items like brakes were done at an indy, with the discounted parts from the dealer. The S Klasse has
been serviced on a plan for 4 services inside 3 years, and had front discs and pads and 1st MoT using the 'Platinum' card.Ask your dealer, they may well not give them out unless requested. Don't ask, don't get has always been a watchword.
Have you taken a Service Plan on your 'new' E Klasse? Well worth it, especially when the 7G gearbox service is required. You get the AdBlue top up included as well.
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I will follow up on the Loyalty card bit. In fairness to them there were a number of other issues too. My parking brake was giving problems and the cable system had badly stretched. My drive is very steep so daily parking had taken its toll. Also the Turbo was giving problems and a seal and pipe had split. In short at almost 70,000 miles she was due for a little TLC. She had been serviced under contract annually spot on, and until now had not cost anything other than the first set of Tyres at 35,000 and pads at about the same time. Other than that nothing. So I guess I had it coming!
TF
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Well I've just had a bit of a disaster!
I've been looking around with a view to changing my lovely old Mercedes ML but had finally decided that nothing quite measured up to her for performance and sheer towing ability. She is coming up to 6 years old now with still less than 69,000 on the clock
so I booked her in for a winter safety check and ended up with a projected bill of just over £2,000!One tyre with a dangerous cut on an inside tyre wall, and all 4 tyres approaching the legal limit so approaching £800 of the £2,000- was for tyres. Then all four wheels required new brake pads! I expected that, but not the required new brake disks too!
Also a split in a turbo pipe!So all in all feeling a bit bruised! Still I suppose she will run on now for a long time again!
TF
I would agree with getting a second opinion on the work needed although the position with the tyres should be pretty clear. No idea who the dealer is but some round here do make a point of telling you the brakes need new pads almost every time they service
the car and as I understand it new discs would normally only be needed if the brake pads were worn away and the discs damaged as a result.I am always aware that when I had a company car on one occassopn they said it needed new shock absorbers. At the next service they said one of these needed replacing. I pointed out they were under a year old and on rechecking them they decided tbe mechanic
had mistaken some water on the shock absorber for a leak!There was also a time my father was told he needed the brakes relining but he was able to get the mechanic where he worked to check and it was simply not true. He threatened to report the dealer to the manufacturer and got a free service.
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