Another what tow car thread...

[C0ffin D0dger]

So it seems my trusty BMW E60 535D Touring is dying a slow death and I've been thinking of getting a 4x4 anyway as I don't want to be worried about going places and getting stuck in mud as has happened with the BM.

I've narrowed it down to the following shortlist:

VW Touareg (3L V6 TDi)
M-Class Merc ML350 (3L diesel)
Volvo XC90 (2.4L diesel)
Jeep Grand Cherokee (3L diesel)
Kia Sorento (2.2L diesel) (or possibly Hyundai Santa-Fe, same platform I think?)

Looking to spend £15-16k, for most of the above that seems to get a low mileage 2012 model. Also needs to be an automatic. I have a fairly heavy caravan (1575kg) so I'd prefer a heavy car and some headroom in case we get something even bigger in future.

The Kia seems to offer quite a bit for the money as I'd be getting a newer / lower mileage car than the rest and 7 seat which whilst not essential could be useful to us. The lack of a proper four wheel drive system puts me off somewhat but then again I'm not going to be off-roading as a general rule so as long as the back wheels can come into play on a muddy camping field then all good.

From what I understand the Jeep is based upon the M class Merc but a bit cheaper as it's a Jeep not a Merc. I'm guessing the build quality reflects this somewhat.

The Touareg looks good and was updated in 2010 so should be able to get one of those models easily enough.

Similar for the Merc though that went through a significant update in 2012 so to get one of those it's at the upper end of my budget.

Finally the Volvo, looks good on paper especially as they're all 7 seat and huge. Shame the engine isn't a bit more meaty but it would do for what I want it for.

Unfortunately ruled out anything Landrover, if I were to consider then it would have to be a decent Disco 4 but it's a bit out of budget and would be a 2010 model to even come close to what I want to spend.

Decisions / please help me

[DavidY]

If you you want to be able to go anywhere and not get stuck, even with a large caravan, I would recommend a Shogun, well within budget, not the greatest word in comfort, but properly useful off road. Autoboxes are often tiptronic style so you can drive manually clutchless (as well as be lazy and stick in D), very useful when towing large caravan.

Used one for years with a large Lunar caravan. Felt like it was towing nothing,

Also amazing in the snow 8" not going to stop it, and even pulled the UPS van out of a ditch when on sheet ice!! Astonishing vehicle, felt indestructible in a way that LR products don't!

All IMHO!

[C0ffin D0dger]

DavidY said:

If you you want to be able to go anywhere and not get stuck, even with a large caravan, I would recommend a Shogun, well within budget, not the greatest word in comfort, but properly useful off road. Autoboxes are often tiptronic style so you can drive manually clutchless (as well as be lazy and stick in D), very useful when towing large caravan.

Used one for years with a large Lunar caravan. Felt like it was towing nothing,

Also amazing in the snow 8" not going to stop it, and even pulled the UPS van out of a ditch when on sheet ice!! Astonishing vehicle, felt indestructible in a way that LR products don't!

All IMHO!

Thanks, not sure why but on my list I'd written "Too expensive" by it but looking on Autotrader these seem well within the realms of possibility. Properly big 4x4 too which as you say if more than capable off road.

I'll add it back to the shortlist.

[agent006]

I ran a Shogun 3.2 for years and loved it to bits. Tows brilliantly and is a much nicer car on-road than it has any right to be. My main bugbear was that you can't use low range without the centre doff locked. Low range while maneuvering a heavy trailer makes life much easier.
The 3.2 is rooted in the 90s despite its updates, and is still a big 4 cylinder thumper. In the company of your shortlist the refinement will be noticeably lacking and I suspect its towing ability won't be enough of a tradeoff with a caravan.

[Gavin0478]

I tow our twin axle Buccaneer that is plated to 2000kgs with a 4.2tdi q7. Pulls it with ease and because it weighs about 2800kgs it is so stable added to the fact it has air suspension so comfortable. Winter time ish i run winter/mud tyres on smaller wheels so we can go caravaning in the winter too which is nice and cozy.

[Watchman]

Check the towing capacity for each of your options. Land Rovers (the bigger ones), Merc MLs and GLs can tow 3500Kg. Many of the others cannot.

My friend has an X5 which has one of the higher towing capacities, and another has a 3-litre Q7 that can't tow as much as he (now) needs (a horse box with 2x monster horses is significantly more that 2-tonnes).

[anonymous-user]

Don't buy an XC90!

Ours is 5 years old. 70k ISH miles. Full service history and it's constantly needing suspension bushes. The interior squeaks and rattles. Tailgate especially but the fit and finish is appalling for what is marketed as a premium SUV. (Oh and the gearbox is now making the wrong noises)

Hateful bloody thing. (My wife loves it though)

If you can get past the fact they are utterly hideous to look at what about a Cayenne? Prices look good and it's a lot of car for the money.

I'm buying a landcruiser as I'm fed up with fixing European vehicles every month

[C0ffin D0dger]

Thanks folks.

I'd kind of ruled out a Q7 as to get a decent one it's a bit out of my price range but I'll keep looking. Also good to hear about the XC90, probably forget that one then, shame as I thought Volvo's were supposed to be reliable / well built but maybe not this one?

The Cayenne is a possibility it's just the fact that it's a Porsche makes me think that every thing that might go wrong with it will cost twice as much as any other car and the fact that it's a platform share with the Touareg / Q7 means that the VW or Audi version might offer better value.

I'm also aware of the towing capacities of all these, that's why they're on my shortlist. To that end the Kia is the weakest prospect and doesn't give much overhead for a bigger caravan.