Finding a replacement tow car.
I have recently started researching the market for a replacement tow car. I have been a caravanner for approaching 40 years, I currently own a 2017 Ford Mondeo 2 litre TDCI with less than 60,000 miles on the clock and am now at the point when I would normally start to consider a change. My caravan is a 2017 Swift Archway Celeste 510 with a MTPLM of 1500kgs and am having some real concerns .
I must admit I have been a fan of the Mondeo Hatch as a tow car. I have owned 6 in the last 23 years - normally purchased at around 18 months old and they have always provided effortless towing in glorious comfort. The cavernous boot swallows all camping paraphernalia including awnings, chairs, groundsheets etc. totally enclosed and leaving the caravan interior completely clear. I have never spent a penny on maintenance, other than servicing and tyres etc. but unfortunately Ford has discontinued the range so I need an alternative!
I’m really not a fan of the SUV type, I don’t like the ride - they always feel a tad ‘commercial’ compared to the limousine feeling Mondeo. A full battery electric car is out of the question as the range with a ‘van of my size would be too limiting, and there is no way I can afford the £60k price tag of most of the alternatives suggested by Practical Caravan.
I seriously worry about the future of our hobby, both from a financial and practical perspective - could anyone really consider a continental holiday with a battery electric outfit?
What are your thoughts or suggestions?
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Comments
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I tend to agree that a conventional car hatch or estate gives better comfort although some crossover type SUVs can match for ride and luxury. With the demise of the Mondeo I would be thinking Passat, Audi A6, Skoda Superb or even the flashy Arteon estate from VAG then there's E and C class mercedes estates and BMW 5 series. Pretty much all can be had with petrol, diesel or hybrid. A6,Eclass and 5 series can be found with self levelling rear suspension or full ai suspension for a real luxury ride. Some with towbars too. Rather depending on budget of course.
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As said above there are plenty of options out there. This panic about the future of caravanning with EV’s is peculiarly British. When abroad a few weeks ago none of the sites we used had EV charging and I only saw one EV towing. Does no one consider there is a democratic option to force back the ridiculous EV legislation that only the UK lead with and have no followers? Even the EU are backpedaling on the legislation in the interests of preserving a car industry and all its jobs.
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I know the E class Mercedes is not a hatchback but my uncle who is now on his 4th? has never complained about lack of boot space, in fact it is massive. One of the options was a folding rear seat which has enabled him to transport everything he has ever wanted. His 270 diesel is the best tow car he has ever owned, trumping his V8 Range Rover. Low mileage 2nd hand examples are a very good buy.
Colin
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Flatcoat, you don't say what county but if it was France sales of EV's totaled about 140,000 for the year to the end of May so probably a similar number to the UK? Whether you find charging points on campsites might well depend on what incentives there are for them to be installed. What about the supermarkets you visited? I can't see any evidence on the rowing back on ICE vehicles. I suspect also drivers are divided on the subject as many quite like their EV's, I know my son does and its possible that my next vehicle will be an EV. I appreciate neither of us tow a caravan.
David
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Sales of EV’s are falling across Europe and manufacturers are scaling back production plans. Giga factories are not being built in the scale planned as recently as two years ago, as to date none make money. Plans to stop making ICE models are being delayed and investment switched back to ICE hybrids. Ford have so far lost over $35,000 on each EV sold. That is unsustainable and This is all fact. Manufacturers are going bust, Fisker being just one. I was in Germany using two very large sites. EV sales in the UK are only what they are because of tax breaks and salary sacrifice. When you take the virtue signallers out of the equation the remaining sales are simply driven by tax. On holiday in Scotland earlier this year we met a German family touring in their Polestar company car because he could only choose EV. They also happened to be caravanners but on this occasion using hotels. They were having a nightmare with charging such it was dictating their holiday schedule. They said in Germany it is much the same and they have a Disco diesel for caravanning holidays.
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It amuses me that despite government preaching the super new trains that have been bought to run from London to Cornwall are only electric powered for the first 60 miles. For all the rest of the way to Penzance they have to run on diesel .
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