Car for towing

[robpearson]

Morning all,
I'm in the market for a vehicle to use as an every day car and for occasional holiday towing duties. Probably nothing bigger than a trailer or trailer tent. I'm replacing a diesel passat estate which has been excellent but as it now does less than 30 miles a week it's starting to suffer. I'm looking for something second hand at around the 8k mark. Any suggestions? Points I need to consider?

thanks

[Rosscow]

Doesn't sound like you need to pull anything significantly heavy, so the world is probably your oyster!

Even something like a Pennine Pathfinder is only around the 1000kg mark. Most decent size saloons or estates will cope with it.

If you want to really load up the car and tow then I'd probably suggest staying with an estate of some sort. Skoda Octavia?

http://www.thetowcarawards.com/

[robpearson]

thanks for the link, I'll have a look later. current thoughts are chrysler 300c estate (hard to find unfortunately) or possibly Passat r36

[Rosscow]

Oh OK, so you're wanting something with a bit of oomph!

Mind you, I think you're going to struggle to find an R36 for £8k, unless it has major miles on the clock.

Nice one here but more than budget: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

What about a 3 series touring? Big enough?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[chasingracecars]

Ring around and find out how much tow ball fitting is going to cost you too. Some cars £200, mine was £600!!!

[Rosscow]

Yeah, mine was also £600 for a detachable 'bar.

[Andy Zarse]

Subaru Legacy R Spec B. Awesome car for the dosh, totally reliable too.

[Rosscow]

Andy Zarse said:

Subaru Legacy R Spec B. Awesome car for the dosh, totally reliable too.

Nice choice..... shame they look like a Toyota

Here's a good one:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[robpearson]

cost of the bar is why I'm not going to put one on the current passat, otherwise i'd be tempted to keep it until it completely fails. you're right about the R36, i need to double the money for that, but it's very tempting.

thought about a BMW but i'd want a minimum of a 5 series for interior space. also thought about Subaru's but know nothing about their interior capacity so haven't looked into them much

[Andy Zarse]

The rear load area is vast on a Legacy.

[sawman]

Rosscow said:

Nice choice..... shame they look like a Toyota

Here's a good one:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

thats priced bit rich for a 2005, isnt it?

I would recommend a legacy/outback, mine has been utterly reliable for 50k miles and tows great, It might be on the market soon, in the face of a cheap lease car from work

Edited by sawman on Saturday 9th July 16:15

[bristolracer]

Lot of tow bars are wired into the vehicle CANBUS system now,so you need relays and all sorts to make them work,the ECU has to be told there is now a tow bar on the vehicle
If you want power to the caravan during transit via the 13 pin plug then they need to run a new cable from the car battery to the towbar just for this. A relay will be needed to mute any reversing sensors too.

This is why prices have gone from a £150 ebay kit to £800+ for some cars.

I choose a Ford focus for our small caravan,ones with tow bars went to the top of the viewing list.

[surveyor]

bristolracer said:

Lot of tow bars are wired into the vehicle CANBUS system now,so you need relays and all sorts to make them work,the ECU has to be told there is now a tow bar on the vehicle
If you want power to the caravan during transit via the 13 pin plug then they need to run a new cable from the car battery to the towbar just for this. A relay will be needed to mute any reversing sensors too.

This is why prices have gone from a £150 ebay kit to £800+ for some cars.

I choose a Ford focus for our small caravan,ones with tow bars went to the top of the viewing list.

Very few are at £800+ I generally buy a bar from Pfjones (£300 absolutely tops so far), and then get a mobile guy to fit - £100 or so....

£800+ means you are at a dealer (who will sub it out to the local firm), and possibly trying to replicate a oem folding towbar....

[Output Flange]

I got quoted £750 to supply and fit a detachable bar to a 2013 E Class estate recently by both the local tow bar specialists. That's using a Westfalia kit rather than getting bits from the MB parts desk.

[Rosscow]

When I got a detachable Westfalia fitted to our Audi A6, Audi wanted £1700 to do it.

Got a price from a local independent fitter, using the OEM Audi wiring loom and the OEM fit Westfalia detachable tow bar for £590.

And guess what? Yep, the guy that did it for me fits all the tow bars at the local Audi garages, and he charged them the same as he charged me.

[surveyor]

Output Flange said:

I got quoted £750 to supply and fit a detachable bar to a 2013 E Class estate recently by both the local tow bar specialists. That's using a Westfalia kit rather than getting bits from the MB parts desk.

The bar (Westfalia which is usually OEM), with dedicated electrics is £354.

http://www.pfjones.co.uk/mercedes-e-class-saloon-2...

Plus say £150 tops to a mobile guy - £504....

[robpearson]

thanks all, the details on tow bars is appreciated. presume if i want to take it to France not towing it needs to be removable doesn't it?

[Rosscow]

robpearson said:

thanks all, the details on tow bars is appreciated. presume if i want to take it to France not towing it needs to be removable doesn't it?

No.... you don't have to have a removable tow bar at all! Just done for aesthetics (and it stops you whacking your shin on it when you go to the boot!)

[otherman]

Hang on a minute, this is PH. Some sort of 427 cubic inch V8 should do the job.

[ZX10R NIN]

2006 Mercedes E350 Sport comfort & the ability to eat up the miles effortlessly.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2008 E350 Elegance
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2010 Ford Mondeo Titanium X Sport 2.0 Ecoboost
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

PH Choice Jaguar XF SV8
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...