I need a new tow car

[rpjg1975]

Originally Posted by aerosam

Wow guys some really great responses there - thanks!

Captain, it is a 2.0Hdi 110bhp model. Already has a nice witter removable towbar fitted. I never thought it would be so well suited for towing, a real eye opener.

Mike, I am considering an Audi diesel as my sister uses one to tow a horse box regularly. I'm going to have a good look round for something, but thanks for your offer.

rpjg, I really like the look of those big pickups. I'd always assumed that they would be pretty good on fuel, being designed primarilly as commercial vehicles. Glad to be wrong about that and find out now rather than later.

Great advice guys, so i think the verdict at this point is a pickup not the best answer, but the C5 will do fine if I don't get something else.

Brilliant, thanks again!

I've always liked them too but having driven a few different makes and models i've never found them that comfy, probably because they are aimed at more commercial areas. They do what they are designed to do pretty well but there seem to be quite a few drawbacks. If u aren't towing u will probably find the back end skips and can lock wheels when braking hard (the boss carries some heavy fence weights in the rear tub to counteract this!) His is an auto and he just about manages 25mpg. Possibly a bit better on a run but it's never gonna be frugal
The road tax is definitely crippling and any tolls will rip u off too as it will be classed as commercial (as another of my boss's found travelling over the severn bridge everyday in his big fancy mitzi warrior which was his only family car!)

Plenty of opinions and options for u anyway

Russ

[aerosam]

Well this thread has certainly given me a lot of food for thought.

We are going to go car shopping tomorrow morning, have a browse around and see what we can get with what can afford.

It's either going to be another medium sized car for her, and I keep the C5, or something for me, and the wife has the C5, either way, we're keeping it and her Xsara estate (the reason this all came about) is getting traded in.

well, it is my turn for a new car

[JakeH]

like someone else said i would recommend a focus or mondeo 2.0tdi (dura torque) my dad has been using a hatchback version as a van for the last year and well... its brilliant, can get 4 people, with loads of tools and gear and it pulls just as well as 1 person and nothing else in the car!

brilliant engines those dura torques, should easily pull the roadster and can be used as an every-day car too.

[monsterob]

My old mans due to sell his saab 9-5 estate 2.3 se (turbo)leather witter towbar etc etc pm for more details if youd like them.

[Davey]

If you go down the Ford route with a 2.0 TDCI (dura torque) motor bware of the dreaded dual mass flywheel. The bloody things break up and first symptom is starting problems. you replace the starter only to find three weeks later its failing again cos its full of iron filings from the DMF breaking up.

D.

[aerosam]

Originally Posted by Davey

If you go down the Ford route with a 2.0 TDCI (dura torque) motor bware of the dreaded dual mass flywheel. The bloody things break up and first symptom is starting problems. you replace the starter only to find three weeks later its failing again cos its full of iron filings from the DMF breaking up.

D.

A good mate of mine has this exact trouble with his mondeo, has been quoted £500 - £750 to repair it.

Car shopping on hold for the time being. My mother in law was rushed into hospital on Friday night. The wife couldn't raise her on the phone and went to check on her, found her fitting (she's an epileptic) and blue. She had been stuck on the floor for about 5 hours.

Back home recovering now, but car shopping has taken a back seat (forgive the pun) till she is ok. This was her first episode for about 30 years.

[TheArf]

Sorry to hear about the mother-in-law hope she recovers soon, just to add my views to the towcar debate, I have a nissan terrano that I pull a caravan with and use as my daily runner back and too to work. I regularly get 32 to the gallon wheather towing or not. It is the 2.7turbo diesel and you just dont feel anything behind you, bought it last year for £1500 and it is great really comfortable whatever distance you do (avoid the petrol version it drinks fuel)

[aerosam]

Originally Posted by monsterob

My old mans due to sell his saab 9-5 estate 2.3 se (turbo)leather witter towbar etc etc pm for more details if youd like them.

Nice, but I'm after a diesel. Thanks anyway Rob.