Suitable tow car

Suitable tow car

Author
Discussion

ross.mcw

Original Poster:

393 posts

264 months

Wednesday 5th January 2005
quotequote all
I'm considering buying a car that I can tow the Atom with, budget's about £5k and it'll probably also end up acting as our main car aswell.

I figured some kind of turbo diesel but wondered if anyone had any recommendations?

Cheers, Ross.

custardtart

1,736 posts

260 months

Wednesday 5th January 2005
quotequote all
Omega diesal or 6 cylinder will do the job nicely and v. cheap. 5K will get you a 1999/2000 with 60K+ miles

monza

205 posts

248 months

Wednesday 5th January 2005
quotequote all
a Peugeot 406 Touring HDI 2,2L : Good space, good torque (in particular with a "kind" of "powership" electronic!), very good handling, a real good car for this kind of use. Possible to find one in your 5k£ ?
Take car that the "particle filter" had been changed on the exhaust line (every 80 000 Km about) because it has a cost of 700 Euros.

Or a Jaguar Estate ... It costs more than 5k£ a Jaguar ?

Jean-Pascal

atom290

1,015 posts

264 months

Wednesday 5th January 2005
quotequote all
my pug 406 gives me around 30 - 35 mpg when towing the atom

great car

Bruce Fielding

2,244 posts

289 months

Wednesday 5th January 2005
quotequote all
From experience, I would get an estate car, as you'll have all sorts of stuff to drag around with you (if you're getting a trailer from new, I'd advise one with a wheel rack.)

What sort of car would you like as your everyday one? What criteria are important to you? Speed? Comfort? Toys? Size?

ross.mcw

Original Poster:

393 posts

264 months

Wednesday 5th January 2005
quotequote all
Thanks for the pointers guys.

I'm kind of steering towards a VW Passat TD Estate now.

Pug 406 Estate looks like another good option too.

I think I'll have to hire a trailer as and when I need it as I've not got the room to store one unfortunately.

Cheers, Ross.

ross.mcw

Original Poster:

393 posts

264 months

Wednesday 5th January 2005
quotequote all
Thanks for the pointers guys.

I'm kind of steering towards a VW Passat TD Estate now.

Pug 406 Estate looks like another good option too.

I think I'll have to hire a trailer as and when I need it as I've not got the room to store one unfortunately.

Cheers, Ross.

coxm

174 posts

242 months

Monday 10th January 2005
quotequote all
What's the tow car for? Can't be for towing a practical thing like an Atom..... I have a Mercedes G-Wagen, which is utterly fabulous for this sort of thing, towed my 7.5 tonne race transporter quite happily. It was a little bit more than £5k (about £10k), but it does feel completely indestructible. Not so fast, however. 27mpg.

You could also think about early Merc estates, which go on for ever and ever. Mate has a 35 year old 300TD which has been round the clock four or five times now and is still absolutely fine. Or the C-Class, which you could easily pick up for £5k. You could also think about the Citroen Berlingo type things. Super practical and could easily tow an Atom. If you are going to look at the Passats, don't forget the Skoda and Seat variants (or even Audi), which are exactly the same things, but depreciate much faster, which is good from a second hand perspective.

MC

ross.mcw

Original Poster:

393 posts

264 months

Friday 14th January 2005
quotequote all
The deed is done...I'm picking up an ex-fleet 'racing green' Passat SE TDI 130 Estate next week. It's like a barge with a big engine and I feel older for buying it...but it'll tow an Atom which is the main thing.

Now to sell my Honda CTR...

Thanks for all the advice guys.

PS. any advice on getting a tow bar fitted?

Cheers, Ross.

Atom120

268 posts

238 months

Friday 14th January 2005
quotequote all
Just buy another Atom, and use that to tow the first one. If one breaks down or gets damaged at the track, then you use the other one to tow it home. Seems perfectly sensible to me...

Bruce Fielding

2,244 posts

289 months

Friday 14th January 2005
quotequote all
Now you need a trailer... When hiring, don't forget that the Atom is wider tracked than a caterfield. The trialer advertised in the link above is ideal as it has the platform above the wheels. Also it has an extra long ramp which is important if you have aerofoils.

As for getting a tow bar fitted, I've always bought with them alreday on, so can't help. Sorry

badge70

93 posts

249 months

Sunday 16th January 2005
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Hi Ross,

I'm not sure if it's the same, but I have a towbar kit in my Garage for a VW Passate 130PD Saloon. You'd be more than welcome to it.

Also, get onto E bay and get one of the Diesel chips or if you don't mind paying a bit more, Revo in Daventry for the conversion.

Mine was transformed, went from 130 to 175bhp and towed so much better (MPG also improved by 2-3 as well).

See you soon.

Julian

ross.mcw

Original Poster:

393 posts

264 months

Monday 17th January 2005
quotequote all
Thanks Julian, that's a very kind offer.

Do you have any more detailed info (make etc) so I can check out whether it will fit?

I'll check out the diesel chip mods (130 - 175 sounds like a hell of a leap though for just a chip change!)

Cheers, Ross.

badge70

93 posts

249 months

Saturday 22nd January 2005
quotequote all
Hi Ross,

My Witter tow hitch is for a 1999 Passat 130pd Saloon, but their website claims that its the same kit fits the Estate version as well.

It's not a removeable kit or anything, but it's free!!!!

To get 175bhp from a 130pd I think you would need to go to Revo for a proper re map, but the add on chip will give you over 160bhp without any problems.

Speak to you soon,

Julian