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Topic: Towcar up to £5k

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JG1971

05/5/2016 at 11:47am
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Nissan Xtrail & 2010 Swift Charisma550

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Hi, it's looking like my VW Touran has had it - so I need to look for a new towcar on a £5k budget.
We have a 2004 Sterling Europa 500 which i think is around 1200kg.
I also need the car for a daily commute round trip of 22miles (mainly motorway).
Any suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks

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GCMS2012

05/5/2016 at 5:37pm
Location: Northumberland
Outfit: Knaus Sudwind 550 TK

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Ooh, take your pick.....

There's a good choice of car for that budget and for towing weight of your van...

Do you have a car make in mind already??

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JG1971

06/5/2016 at 11:07am
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Nissan Xtrail & 2010 Swift Charisma550

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I'd like a smaller 4x4, maybe a Rav4 or CRV - i'd probably be looking at something that's done 70 - 90k but i guess it's the usual rule of ensuring it's been serviced regularly etc.
A friend of mine has a 2005 Kia Sorento for sale but i don't really need something that big - especially with the extra road tax & less mpg.
I'm also seeing so many Mondeos being used as towcars that i'm thinking they might be the way to go?

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Skoda Bob

06/5/2016 at 12:42pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Swift charisma Skoda Scout 4x4

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You could get a decent skoda Octavia for that price, even a skoda superb both 1.9 diesels, the best Octavia would be the 1.9 or 2ltr tdi, estate or hatch, the best superb the 1.9 130 tdi both will return over 35 towing, and over 50 solo

JG1971

06/5/2016 at 1:15pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Nissan Xtrail & 2010 Swift Charisma550

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Thanks, but had lots of issues with my 2008 Touran 2.0 TDI, despite it being low mileage and having a FSH.
Every time there's a new problem I google it and it turns out to be a 'known fault' with these types of cars/engines - but VW don't want to know.
I think i'll be steering clear of VW/Audi/Skoda etc!

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tango55

06/5/2016 at 1:29pm
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450

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You could buy a car that has been regurlarly serviced but if you pick one up with about 90K on the clock then it could well be due for a cam belt change in the near future. Depending on what vehicle it is it can sometimes be an expensive job in terms of labour charges so it may be worth obtaining some quotes before you buy.
Have you considered looking at the Volvo range at all?

Swijn

06/5/2016 at 1:49pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Pursuit 540-5 + Audi A4 Avant Blk Ed

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After a quick scan through auto-trader it appears £5k on a 4x4 will net you something like a Kia/Hyundai or even an early Toyota Rav 4 or LR Freelander

For the estate probably looking at Skodas, Insignia's, Mondee's maybe..

I would +1 the Volvo though - i had a V50 2.0D and was great for both towing my 1400kg van and 50 miles a day commute.

Auto-trader have a V50 SE 2.0D on a 2005 Plate with 45k on the clock for £4.7k (trade)

M

JG1971

06/5/2016 at 2:03pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Nissan Xtrail & 2010 Swift Charisma550

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I had a Volvo S60 D5 a few years ago which i specifically bought for towing our first caravan, absolutely loved it - got a towbar fitted ready for picking the caravan up. Then a few days later managed to park it in a river

!!
I still have the brand new towbar in the garage, which the insurance engineer kindly returned to me after writing the car off.
I'm very tempted to go for another S60 D5 and re-use the towbar.

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jim oldham

06/5/2016 at 2:49pm
Location: Wigan
Outfit: VWSharan. Sport 442.

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Quote: Originally posted by JG1971 on 06/5/2016
I had a Volvo S60 D5 a few years ago which i specifically bought for towing our first caravan, absolutely loved it - got a towbar fitted ready for picking the caravan up. Then a few days later managed to park it in a river !!
I still have the brand new towbar in the garage, which the insurance engineer kindly returned to me after writing the car off.
I'm very tempted to go for another S60 D5 and re-use the towbar.

You could do a lot worse.

Tom#n#Gill

06/5/2016 at 6:21pm
Location: Bolton
Outfit: Smart but casual.

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Kia Carens get a lot of car for little money, did 80000 in ours, still on original battery and exhaust. Boringly reliable.

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GCMS2012

06/5/2016 at 8:34pm
Location: Northumberland
Outfit: Knaus Sudwind 550 TK

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I's steer clear of Autotrader. I find the cars on there are overpriced compared to a near identical one on an eBay motor dealers listing.

Even seen a few catch themselves out listing the same car for more on Autotrader, and less on eBay....

One word, 'Research'. Do it, and do lots of it....

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navver

07/5/2016 at 8:03pm
Location: West country
Outfit: Mondeo

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I reckon Saabs are worth a punt.

Son bought a 55 reg saab 93 for £600 WITH 170k on clock. Now on 230k and still going strong. Drives like new and looks good and 55mpg.

steveMc81

08/5/2016 at 1:15pm
Location: Forest of Dean
Outfit: Avndale Mayfair+Mondeo 2.2 Titanium x

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Personal choice for me would be a tdci Mondeo. 5K will but you a fair amount of car with a reasonable spec.
Have towed with the last four Mondeos we have owned back to back and have honestly never been let down.

GCMS2012

08/5/2016 at 2:06pm
Location: Northumberland
Outfit: Knaus Sudwind 550 TK

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What can the 'newer' Mondeos tow Steve??

We had a mk3 (56 reg), and even it seemed to struggle with our previous 1300kg caravan??

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steveMc81

08/5/2016 at 2:17pm
Location: Forest of Dean
Outfit: Avndale Mayfair+Mondeo 2.2 Titanium x

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Ours is a 2010 Mondeo estate and it has maximum plated weight of 2000kg for towing but personally I think you would be very brave, stupid or both to try lol.

We have towed 1500kg with it no issues but the mk4 we have now has the bigger 2.2 diesel engine. Saying that our previous 2 litre tdci coped fine with it. Its a question I find of using the torque rather than the revving the hell out of it.
Our current van is only 1300kg and it performs well.

ST1100

08/5/2016 at 2:31pm
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I picked up a 2010 Hyundai Tucson last year for £5900 with 73,000 on the clock.
It is a 2l diesel 148bhp and get around 35mpg on mixed use and more on a long run.

Just had it in for its MOT and the bloke there said he knew it would pass as soon as he saw me drive up. Told me the only problem he has seen on them now and then is a broken spring.

I was always having to work on my Range Rover I had but have done nothing at all on this apart from normal service.

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