I'm back to my spreadsheets again and just wondering if there's any cars I've not thought of :-)
The MTPLM of our brand-new-to-us caravan is 1500kg and my shortlist of suitable cars around 5-ish years old currently contains the Santa Fe, SMax 2.2 Titanium, Kia Sorento 2.5, Nissan XTrail 2.0 TDCI, the VW Tuareg and the VW Sharan. Landrovers should be on there but aren't as I view them as too expensive to run, and I could probably put the Vauxhall Antara on there but haven't - for no good reason other than a completely unreasonable mistrust of Vauxhalls! I'm leaning towards the S-Max but what else have I missed ...?
Technically our old Audi is OK to pull it very lightly laden, but it's making the poor old car work far too hard so we need to shift fast to get a replacement. All thoughts welcome :-)
Any 2.2ltr+ diesel with kerbweight 1750kg or so plus should be fine
S Max as you say seems to get generally good reviews as a tow car
I'm considering a Touareg as well. I would think a Tiguan could cope with that aswell although might be a bit tight if you are worried about the 85% guideline
An early MK3 CR V diesel, this would be a high mileage and be around £8500-£10000, max tow weight 2000kgs.NW 100kgs, as you have shortlisted a VW Touareg the CR V would be in budget.
Thanks for all your suggestions. I'm surprised at the Mondeo - I keep getting it at 94% kerbweight on the CC website, no matter how many variations I check?
The CRV comes out at 90%, so will stick it on the spreadsheet. Off to check the rest ..
Father in law also tows our van with 2.0 diesel Mondeo - whilst as you say it is in excess of the 85% advice you get from the clubs, it is still well within the legal tow weight of the car, and tows the van very well.
We use 2.0 ltr Hyundai Santa Fe, 2800 mile trip to France, 3 adults,2 children fully laden before we get to Folkestone, average 30.8 mpg towing.
Best towcar we have ever had, and over the years we had a few !
We like our peugeot 4007 2.2 l diesel. I understand it's the same as the Citroen C-Crosser and Mitsubishi Outlander, although the engines may be different. It tows our 1500kg 'van confidently and comfortably.
Thanky ou all again - I think I'm swinging between the Santa Fe and the CRV. I suspect the CRV may win out, simply because there's so many more of them and it's quite hard to find a Santa Fe without very high mileage (and because I think the service/running costs will be lower in the CRV?).
By the sounds of things, both will do the job perfectly adequately though!!