Tow car recommendations

[AndrewD]

Can anybody recommend a good tow car for when my venerable Mazda dies on me? It needs to pull a Caterham and trailer.

Apart from towing, it needs to lug around 2 hairy dogs and be a general day to day vehicle, as my only other transport is a Cerbera and a Chimaera. I think I really need an estate.

I was thinking about a Passat 4WD 2.8 V6, any experiences?

Was trying to avoid the obvious Impreza.

[marki]

4 motion golf is a great car so the passat should be as is but more space , + Reliable transport

[apache]

if it's towing prowess you need try a citroen xantia...mine is a 2.0 and is utter pants but you should be able to pick up a V6 which is quick, comfy and good at towing....loads of room in the back if thats important

[JSG]

Jeep Cherokee 4.0L. Perfect and prob the most car like 4x4 to drive whilst offering great towing ability.

[vixen1700]

An old V8 Range Rover.

They can be bought for next to no money on the Auto-Trader website, you'd probably be very surprised.

[apache]

have to agree on the Jeep, Rover is the best off road but I doubt that is important for this task. I had the use of a 4.0 Cherokee in Saudi Arabia and went sand bashing with it, gobs of torque, competant and most un yank tank, squealed tyres on tarmac bends a treat which is obviously a very important thing

[mikefield]

There is a new Jeep out in a couple of weeks time. Been on sale in the US for a few months as the Liberty.
Looks a lot nicer than the old one.

[mel]

If its for day to day as well and you don't want a big 4x4 go for an A4 quattro avanti with the big turbo diesel (2.5 I think) I had one on loan a couple of weeks ago and the thing was great buckets of torque and acceleration beyond belief. No one that got in it even suspected it was a diesel. I was converted

[m-five]

Andrew, a good alternative to the 2.8 V6 is the 2.5 V6 tubo diesel.

It has about twice as much torque as the petrol version and will still do 45mpg!

[mhibbins]

I have used my 2.5 v6 mondeo ghia x estate to tow an mgb on a trailer for about 80 miles and it was superb.

It cost me 9K for a 2 year old car, the servicing is 100 quid a year, electric windows, heated seats, heated windscreen, leather, cd player, cheap bits and 0-60 in a little over 8 secs (without the trailer).

It's a fine car in my opinion.

--
Mark

[campbell]

Why not a freelander TDI or a V8 rangerover with an LPG conversion to reduce the fuel costs
Happy hunting for your new towing machine

[mel]

Don't do the Freelander they're sh1t !!!

The torque is no good for towing, they're fragile and break easily and really don't take the hammering.

I got one as a Co car 2 years ago as I go on site a fair bit and often have loads of crap in the back. I expected good solid Land Rover indestructability and got a fragile school runner thats only one step up from a Suzuki. I do still like the looks though !

[AndrewD]

Thanks for the opinions, I might check out a diesel VW then, plus the Audi. I'm not looking for an offroad style 4wd.

[ADB]

AVOID the Jeep. My old man tows lots and has had nothing but trouble with his Cherokee. Clutch not up to towing properly, diffs go wrong etc. Getting rid as we speak. Big towing? by an Isuzu trooper diesel, great engine. Caterham & trailer? 2.5 tdi Audi a good choice I would agree. Or look at Volvo V70s, they are dirt cheap after a couple of years?
Old Rangey never a bad choice either though.
Now, did I ever tell thee the one about...

[campbell]

Didn't think they were that bad Mel, but fair doos
Have a look at a Subaur legacy 2.5 estate with the high/low gear box in it, it's got power and looks rather good
, Well I think so

[mel]

In fairness it depends what you do to them! my one works for a living and is falling apart, I dare say they are great for the school run when the nearest they get to "off road" is bumping up the kerb.

[apache]

I don't believe I recommended a Citroen for anything.....I'll get me strait jacket

[Ali_D]

Don't get a Xantia if you suffer from sea sickness. Also the petrol versions are kind of thristy when towing so you may as well get a bigger car.

Old Jag perhaps? (buy a sheep skin coat and try out you Arther Daley impressions)

[jarrett]

Mel,

Not sure what you must be doing to you Freelander but all I can say is that it must be pretty extreme to be destroying it IMHO.

I have taken 2 Freelanders on off-road test courses, one run by Land Rover and one independant. On both occasions I was astounded by what they could actually do and how little damage they sustained doing it. On the LR day they embarrased all the other road going LR's by being quickest around the course (especially as the Disco got stuck on several occasions). On the independant course they were consistantly better than the rivals for completing the course.

Convinced me to buy one as the second car. All personal choice though.

Never towed anything with one though so couldn't speak for there abilities there.

[Graham]

you can always do what i've done, go and buy and old transit. plenty of room in the back doesnt mater what you chuck in it, and reasonable insurance from competition car insurance.
get either petrol or turbo D, non turbo D is dire...

mine cost 1500 and is even fitten out in the back..