Towcar

[Tonto1]

Looking to buy a towcar and torn between a SWB 4x4 (Shogun etc) or a Diesel Estate car (A4, 3-Series, 9-3 etc).

4x4 - Awesome for towing, looks cool, but not that great when not towing and expensive to run.  Might be a rare occasion when I have to tow the trailer out of a muddy field, but other than that 4x4 not really required.

Car - Not so quite as good for towing,  but much better for the remaining 90% of the time, and cheaper to run.

Any thoughts much appreciated!!

[JeffC]

Best tow car Ive ever had is X5 3.0d big and heavy they tow a treat downside was fuelling the thing when I wasnt towing  

so given a choice I would pick a  530d manual E60 shape early 30s towing and good when not towing and a nice car to drive around in    

for 10 years ive towed with Audi 1.9 tdis 130 bhps , A6 is a cracking towcar and would be my recomendation, if on a stronger budget 2.0 tdi new shape A6    

[peterg]

Big estate is always better than a 4x4 unless you live in the country and have horses etc (IMHO)  

I'd go along with VAG products and can recommend the DSG gearbox for towing as well - we got 37mpg out of SWMBO's VW Golf mk5 GT TDi 2.0 towing my racecar up to Anglesey and back, I used to only get 22mpg in my BMW330d auto  

[Crazy Eddie]

Yep our Golfs (one DSG one manual) tow great  

Tdi has plenty of go with Westie on the back (although stuggles a bit more with the XR2   )

Only thing with the DSG is they are quite expensive to service -£175

We looked at the Estate option too but actually having a tow bar close to the rear wheels has been really good compared to when you towed with my old T5 volvo which "sagged" quite a bit.

[dhutch]

Depends what you towing an where.

Freind of ours has a 35ft steam launch, which he has to launch and recover all over the place. All up the rolling weight is about 3.5tonne. He as a rangerover, and there isnt much else that would do the job.

- That, even that tow like an utter b*****d 98% of the time when its on the road, rather than a access road or slipway.

As the other extreme, I tow our unbraked 8*4ft flatbed behind my petrol 306 on occation, towbar limits 600kg for unbraked.

- OK, so it not rapid if the trailer is pushing half a ton plus, but i dont expect it to be, take it steady, and its actually tow very well. Weather you could get a westy on it, but i dont see why not if it was braked (braked limit 1200kg).

Daniel

[samcooke]

Agreed. If all you need to tow is a Westfield on a trailer (<1200kg) anything Focus sized or bigger with 100+bhp will be adequate.

Of course, a V8 Landcruiser Amazon will tow rather well, but is a bit much.

[daveblissett]

it depends what you are planing to tow with it

as a general rule you should try to keep the trailer weight less than 85% of the weight of the tow car

the big 4x4's are great for towing but remember that will be only 10% of the time

i have run two saab 93's for towing the current one being a estate both tow fine altho i only tow 1150 kgs with it

if i was you i would go for a estate and with the fuel savings spend it on upgrades  

that way you will be happy 90% of the time

[Mid life crisis]

Volvo V70 D5                

[Mark Williamson]

My Passat TDI sport 4 motion, tows very well

Has managed to pull the trailer and westy across wet fields a few times, in conditions where a front wheel drive car would have stuggled!

Good Torque

Good Economy

Cheers

Mark

[CedricTheBrave]

My A4 Avant quattro sport 2.5V6 tdci 180 is the muts nuts for towing. it will be up for sale later in the year as well.

[Blatman]

Any 4x4 diesel hatch or estate IMHO. I've towed with an XR4x4 and a Mondeo diesel (old one...) and if I could have combined the two it would be perfect. And no I don't mean a FWD V6 petrol

The cheapskate in me has always kinda fancied the 4x4 Skoda diesels

[KerryS]

Volvo V70 D5                

Yup! Tows 1500kg no problem. Mine is part time 4WD

[jak]

Volvo V70 D5                

Yup! Tows 1500kg no problem. Mine is part time 4WD

So you've retired and the 4WD is part time, it's alright for some. You lucky b**tard.        

[Asterix]

car.

4x4 + "cool" = oxymoron

Personally, my non-motorhome tow vehicle is a 55 reg Seat Leon FR (diesel)...retailing for about 10k trade these days.

[carpetstu]

I did tow with the Jag x type estate which was good (caravan and trailer). edited to add and not at the same time before some wise devil asks  

Changed to a Jeep cherokee and it will tow up to 3 ton. Fuel is the same with or without 1400kg on the back but I hate the thing. and with the new tax and 25miles to the gallon I am thinking about a BMW330d as soon as the lease is up.

BTW bmw 330d is 196gm on the tax scale so only £210 per year tax even after the new scales are brought in.