Towing with a Mercedes GLA

magnet
magnet Forum Participant Posts: 157
edited January 2018 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi all

i tow at the moment with a E class Mercedes est 280. 3 litre  and want a change get more fuel per gallon less road tax etc . just wondered what the Mercedes GLA   are like to tow with and what is the nose weight and how many mpg you get. it will not be but new about 3 years old. 

dave

Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2018 #2

    I'd not swap a 6 pot 3 litre for a 4 pot, & the GLA auto is a DSG type automated manual ..... not what I'd choose to tow with.

  • magnet
    magnet Forum Participant Posts: 157
    edited January 2018 #3

    i would like to stay with my E class but since the government has gone mad on my old car she is now worth half of what i could have sold her for last year  and a newer one is a bit to much for my bank balance. that's why i am thinking of changing 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2018 #4

    If it was just down to a toss up between the 2 cars, I'd  keep the E Class, RWD & a slush box auto, you've not lost money on it until you sell it. How much fuel could you buy with the cost to change vehicles? 

    Though SWMBO is suggesting I think about replacing my diseasal R Class, I can't think of what I want to replace it with. Neither being diesel or £500 a year road tax makes it a vehicle that people would be queuing up to buy. I might just keep it a bit longer.

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #5

    How much money do you really expect to save from a few mpg gains and lower RFL? Have you objectively worked out the true costs of changing what otherwise presumably is a fine tow car? Depreciation is by far and away the biggest cost in owning/running a car for most people by a country mile. In terms of whole life vehicle costs You will in practice save very little, if anything. Unless the current car is a money pit for repairs I would strongly r3commend keeping it. 

  • magnet
    magnet Forum Participant Posts: 157
    edited January 2018 #6

    thank you all for your advice i did think of keeping the old girl ? but things are starting to go wrong like rear suspension battery on it way out and the big  one for me the gearbox not good when cold in first and second. once the box warms up it fine. i asked a garage about the box and they said about 4 thousand to fix it ,so it maybe best to sell..

    dave

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited January 2018 #7

    have you thought about having the gearbox oil changed, if its an old car its probably gone quite thick as its ok when warm and a little thinner. worth trying.

  • Dave C 1951
    Dave C 1951 Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited January 2018 #8

    Definitely change the gearbox oil and filter as a first option. If it is a Mercedes G7 box it should be serviced every 45,000 miles

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2018 #9

    As suggested I'd get the ATF changed too. A lot of torque converter autos are designed to hold onto first gear a little longer when cold.

  • tigerfish
    tigerfish Forum Participant Posts: 1,362
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    edited January 2018 #10

    Magnet, I have just gone through your dilemma and found that the solution was easier than I expected.

    I had a lovely ML300CDI which I bought new in 2011. But like you I was being crucified by £520 a year Vehicle excise duty.  But then i realised that by changing to a used but newer ML350 CDI  (Same engine) but regd in 2014, and running on ADBLU to reduce emissions, I almost halved my VED to £280 per year.

    So I suspect that a similar solution might be found with a later model E class.  If it runs on ADBLU it will have less emissions and a lower VED.

    TF

  • NutsyH
    NutsyH Forum Participant Posts: 534
    edited January 2018 #11

    Hi

    My wife has a GLA 220cdi. 3 years old. 2100cc turbo diesel. Over 3 years is averaging 44mpg.

    From the handbook:

    Max towing weight 1500kg

    noseweight 75kg

    As said above, it has the DSG box as standard. Can't comment on its towing ability as my van is an 1800kg twin axle with a 100kg noseweight, which I tow with a large 4x4.

  • magnet
    magnet Forum Participant Posts: 157
    edited January 2018 #12

    i have had the gearbox and engine remapped it now thinks its a 2012 car it did work for a while , but i turned a corner down hill and the box went into a lower gear very harsh. since then it does it now and again. apart from that its brilliant. what is a AFT?. will try anything once . been looking at the newer models but that's another £16000 plus mine. once again thank you all for  the advice

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2018 #13

    Assume you mean ATF? Automatic Transmission Fluid ..... i.e. oil, but a specific oil for your torque converter auto. If it's never been changed, it might be worth changing it before you go to the expense of changing your car. 

  • catherinef
    catherinef Forum Participant Posts: 647
    edited January 2018 #14

    I guess it will depend on which GLA you are considering.  Some are 4wd and some are not from memory.

  • magnet
    magnet Forum Participant Posts: 157
    edited January 2018 #15

    will try the oil change. i was going to go for the four wheel drive version.as feel it would be better for towing. i am going to book a test drive at a local garage to see what they are like as i could get a E class for the same price .lots to think about still not sure which way to go. 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2018 #16

    If given the choice of an E Class auto & a GLA auto, it'd have to be the E Class .... what ever flavour the E Class was.

  • buckielugger
    buckielugger Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited January 2018 #17

    Now that is a nice PS1.

  • magnet
    magnet Forum Participant Posts: 157
    edited January 2018 #18

    i have nearly made up my mind which car its going to be ,if i can get the right one i think its going to be a 350 e class . i think  i  will try the auction houses see if i can save some money that way. will keep you posted

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2018 #19

    That's what I'd go for ..... more cylinders than doors 😉

  • magnet
    magnet Forum Participant Posts: 157
    edited January 2018 #20

    there is a E class near me for sale with a fixed towball which got me thinking i can take my tow bar of mine to put on the newer one that would save a couple of hundred quid. wink

  • magnet
    magnet Forum Participant Posts: 157
    edited January 2018 #21

    you are right tiger fish. plus the newer ones do more mpg .wink

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2018 #22

    You sure your old bar would fit the newer car? 😕

  • magnet
    magnet Forum Participant Posts: 157
    edited January 2018 #23

    now that is a very good point will have to fine that out. will ask my tow bar fitter. thanks mollysmummy

  • magnet
    magnet Forum Participant Posts: 157
    edited March 2018 #24

    hi all 

    just thought i would tell you all that i didn't get a GLA or E class i just brought a Volkswagen touareg.

    dave

  • wendil
    wendil Forum Participant Posts: 23
    edited June 2018 #25

    Can't go wrong with a good solid Touareg. 

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited June 2018 #26

    doesn't it have the DSG gearbox.

  •  viatorem
    viatorem Forum Participant Posts: 645
    edited June 2018 #27

    Nope, Aisin 8 speed AT . Do you remember the V10 version towing a jumbo jet?