Ford Kuga - Manual or Auto

ainer
ainer Forum Participant Posts: 24
edited January 2017 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi one and all, Happy New Year !

Just thinking about a change of towcar - currently a VW Passat estate - and considering the 160bhp Kuga. Towing 1500kg and would like to know if folk have opinions re the Kuga, and manual v auto ?

Many thanks

ainer

 

Comments

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2017 #2

    The Kuga is not as heavy as it appears. Towing 1500Kg will put you quite close to 100%. I've got a 134BHP manual towing 1350Kg without issues. I'm a long-standing 3 pedal man.

  • harrib0
    harrib0 Club Member Posts: 70 ✭✭
    First Comment
    edited January 2017 #3

    https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/club-together/discussions/information-technical-tips-advice/towcars-towing/ford-kuga-6/?p=2

    I get 88% on a 1497KG caravan (Mk1 163BHP Powershift) Apart from the small boot (MK2 is a bit bigger) it's a really good all round car.

    (Yeah yeah, I know it's not a "proper" automatic)

     

  • paul56
    paul56 Forum Participant Posts: 937
    500 Comments
    edited January 2017 #4

    We tow with our 180bhp Kuga with a manual box towing 1450 kg (MTPLM) and its a great tow car. Over 21000 miles of towing/single we average 38 mpg. Just returned from a gite in the Somme region over New Year (freezing cold) and averaged 46mpg over the 900miles. Never towed with an auto box I'm afraid.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2017 #5

    2 pedals are the future cool 

    though can't comment on the Kuga's auto g/box

  • dmiller555
    dmiller555 Forum Participant Posts: 717
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    edited January 2017 #6

    Do they still make manual gearboxes? 

  • Fozzie
    Fozzie Club Member Posts: 550 ✭
    500 Comments
    edited January 2017 #7

    CY my 2014 Kuga 4x4 weighs in around 1763kg ok this is from the V5 log book.I tow around (fully laden) at 88%.

    Must admit it is good for towing.This is manual so cannot quote on auto.

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
    500 Comments
    edited January 2017 #8

    I,ve had auto and manual but if its a choice i go for auto.I cant comment on the Kuga.

    v9

  • ainer
    ainer Forum Participant Posts: 24
    edited January 2017 #9

    Thanks for your comments folks !

  • TonyBurton
    TonyBurton Forum Participant Posts: 269
    edited January 2017 #10

    Mine's a manual with AWD. A great tow car.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2017 #11

    Do some cars still have 3 pedals ........... ??? surprised

  • Fozzie
    Fozzie Club Member Posts: 550 ✭
    500 Comments
    edited January 2017 #12

    MM

    My Kuga has 3 pedals.... and very nice they are too......

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited January 2017 #13

    So does mine. The last car I had that only had two pedals was when I was five.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2017 #14

     @Fozzie & CY

    Without entering into the auto vs manual dabate again .... it's been done to death many times .....Have you ever driven an auto for more than a spin around the block in your mate's car? We have four cars at our house & there's are only 8 pedals between the lot of them, 3 of the cars are ONLY available with 2 pedals. I've had an auto now for nearly 30 yrs and could never be tempted back to the 'I want to be in control' gang. wink

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited January 2017 #15

    The longest I drove an auto was from N Carolina to Florida and back. It took a while to get used to it but I have no particular view either way. Autos are a much different beast to what they were forty years ago.

  • Lukey
    Lukey Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited January 2017 #16

    I tow a 1500kg with a 180bhp auto,tows like a dream, only downside returns 23/25mpg but great car.

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited January 2017 #17

    Kuga is 180ps i believe. smile

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2017 #18

     but who uses Pferdestärke? undecided 

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited January 2017 #19

    Most manufacturers use PS.

    Ford included. Only the dinosaurs want to use BHP, myself i think we should be using kilo watts, KW is less confusing.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2017 #20

    Most car manufacturers or most German manufactures? wink

    I think we should be using Imperial BHP ... afterall, we judge our speed in mph & work our fuel consumption in mpg ..... I've no idea how bjp compares to kw undecided I know what a 3kw fire looks like wink

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #21

    PS or BHP, they are both close enough not to matter, 180 against 177.5

    I know what a 3kw fire looks like wink
    You mean a 4.02 HP electric fire laughing mmmh doesn't have the same ring to it frown

     

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2017 #22

    laughing laughing

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited January 2017 #23

    So why don't you post 177.5 bhp if it doesn't matter?

    All electric motors are rated in KW or HP, so eventually everyone will be using KW.

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #24

    I never did post, I said it doesn't matter.

    Picking up on such a small matter is pedantic, not what the thread is about, makes no difference in real output towing with manual or auto and not worth the key strokes.

    So it doesn't matter.

  • charlieboy2608
    charlieboy2608 Forum Participant Posts: 25
    edited June 2017 #25

    For what its worth I have a mk 2 kuga 4x4 manual 180 PS towing 1530 kg.Not convinced by the auto as its really not set up for towing as it wants to change up far too soon to aid econmy unless you use sport mode which holds the revs for longer....

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited June 2017 #26

    Put it in sport' then ........ innocent

  • Oscarmax
    Oscarmax Club Member Posts: 257 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #27

    1550 kg with a 2017 Ford Kuga 2 litre diesel 150 auto absolutely brilliant getting between 28/32mpg, we previously towed with a 2013 Honda CRV manual full consumption about the same, but much prefer the Kuga as a towcar.

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