Tow Car Recommendations
 

Right, I may be in the situation where I could use a car to tow the Scooby and trailer when required while for filling the daily commute, I have around 6000-6500 to spend but the scooby and trailer come in at around 2000KG.

Any recommendations?

There's a boat load of cars that will tow 2 tonnes

Have a look on auto express for towing cars, and then look at reviews at what you like the look of.

Why spend £6k on a tow car?
spend 2k on a tow car and save the rest?
A tow car will only be needed occasionally, so why spend so much?

Would you spend £500 on wellies because you would need them for 5 days a year???? would you wear them all year too?????

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/list/53/town+car/

;)

E39 BMW 530 sport. Self-levelling rear suspension.

Volvo V70

Subaru Outback 3.0

Most large 4x4's

From the top of my head they wont pull 2000kg, that is a big weight to pull.

Big Caravans with twin axles come in at 18-1900kg max. An old Discovery or something similar will be your best best in your price bracket. Some Mondeos 2.2 diesels will pull 2000kg but personally i wouldn't recommend it as they are too light.

Birchy I use a brian james twin axle trailer which can carry upto 3.5 tonne, it weight in at 500kg I use a mondeo 2.2 tdci which can tow upto 1800kg which carries my scoob which weight in at roughly 1200kg I use the car as a daily commute its no slouch with out the trailer and tows well with im sure you can still get a few kg off your car to hit the 1800kg target and you would get one well within your price bracket

in my experience there is the ability to pull a trailer and there is pulling a trailer

so I pull a large heavy trailer occasionally

I have done with my 2.5TDI Quattro Audi

and my Toyota Amazon Landcruiser

both pull it fine

but in the Toyota - you genuinely do not notice it

it drives as if nothing is attached - awesome car

Any beaten up old Landie 2,25 will do the trick. Won't rust and will keep its value. Say two to three grand. No good for long journeys, uncomfortable IMO and 16 mpg downhill :)


dl

When I used to track my RA, I used the same maths as Gussy

Trailer 500kg
RA 1200kg

Then pulled it effortlessly with an XC70 2.4 D5 :)

1800kg tow, self-leveling suspension. They can be got for £2/£3k for one in good nick & the miles don't matter with those cars.

Otherwise, Land Rover Discovery

Many years ago I had a Sierra xr4x4 that I occasionally used to tow a trailer with several moto x bikes on it. I know that's nowhere near the weight of an Impreza, but it pulled it as if there was nothing on the back at all.

Unfortunately they can only tow around 1400kg, but having a quick look at something similar, and if you can find one, a ford Scorpio 24v (cosworth engine) has a towing weight of 2000kg in estate form. Interesting, comfortable, pull well in any gear (used to be able do roundabouts in 5th in the XR and it just pulled away no problem) should be able to get one in budget and prices of fast fords are only going one way.

Thanks for the feedback so far guys, Since the scoob is already insured means I can't add another two cars meaning whatever I buy will have to do the daily commute too so needs to have some comfort.

Gussy, I hadnt though of the Mondeo, Although I would be border line with the weight, Car is fully stripped with fibre glass panels but does have a full cage in too.

The max train weight is an issue on the BMW's as I did look at the 5 series for it.

I've looked into maybe a discovery 3 but for what I want to pay it will have about 130k on the clock, not sure if thats an issue on them or not really?

Mileage isn't so much of an issue, they were unreliable from new!

If you want an 4x4 better off going jap, Shogun, Patrol, land cruiser.

be careful with the Mondeo, bizarrely some versions of the V6 could not be fitted with a tow bar!!!!!!

edit: a quick google shows it was the ST220 that was not type approved for a Tow Bar - hence you could not even fit one

I have been looking into this..

The audi Q7 4.2tdi has my eye for a treat to myself next year

If you want the Daddy of them all:

Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon, V6 4.2 turbo diesel. Apparently pulls like a truck!

Edited

The 4.2 TD is a straight 6

The legendary 1HD-F

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_HD_engine

Toyota do do a V8 for the Cruiser but it is petrol

My bad. Yeah 4.7 V8 petrol or V6 4.2 turbo diesel.

Avoid Nissan Navaras. The chassis snaps on them from rust :(

Xc90 will make a great daily

Yes they are good cars, but you need to do your homework. Manual D5 is in the lower tax bracket, and more economical but harder to find than auto. Earlier cars had 163bhp and no dpf. Post 2006 (I think without checking) had 180bhp but had dpf. These dpf' caused issues with diesel contaminating oil sump, causing level to rise and car going into limp mode. Important to have regular oil change and level must not exceed 3/4 full on dipstick. Earlier cars had weaker intercoolers. Can suffer from pinion/crown wheel problem on the haldex awd system, leaving the car in front wheel drive. Autos can develope a few problems, think there is a software upgrade that needed to be done on them. Later models had 210bhp but will be out of budget.

Cheapest are 2.9 T6 petrol, but the only one of those I've driven had auto box problems. Also did 2.5 T5 petrol and 3.2 V6 but both quite rare. Also do a 4.4 V8 which is the same basic unit noble put in the m300 (- the turbos).

A few other known niggly faults (some electrical, rear boot handle) with these cars, but they are very comfortable.

How about an Audi A6 Allroad, braked towing weight of 2.1 tonnes so can just about do it, nice daily drive as well.

My old man has owned both the straight 6 4.5 petrol and 4.2 td, both great machines for pulling most loads.
Having driven both, although never towed anything, i prefer the diesel.
Both were Landcruiser 80 series

Mitsubishi pajero without a doubt, I bought by my 94 2.8td 2years ago, done 15000 miles in it, nearly all of which towing. 2full seasons racing, pulling a large Brian James trailer with my RA on, 3sets of tyres, fuel, 2big tool boxes, spares, jack, basically a lot of weight.
Paid £700 for it and it's a right piece of kit.
The other lads have x5's discos range rovers q6 transits, half of them have continues problems with them. They all laughed when I turned up in mine, now the all love it.

Pajero!

always had a soft spot for the Pajeros

and they have a very nice/sophisticated 4 Wheel Drive system - called "Super Select"

How about a Subaru? A Forester SG9 2.5 XT is rated to tow 2000kg. Nice for the daily commute, and comparatively cheap to buy. Outback BH H6 also rated for 2000kg, and even cheaper.

You have a soft spot for 'w4nkers'?

Pajero is Spanish for 'w4nker' :lol1::lol1::lol1:

Ive got a land rover discover 3, 2.7v6 diesel, it will tow a house!

Isuzu. ;)

Its why I post on scoobynet

My Audi b8 tows 1900kg not sure if it's a suited car for you.
Never used it for towing myself but has a detachable tow bar so I'm ready if I need to tow.