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Subject Topic: Octavia 90bhp as a tow vehicle
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Personnamreg
23/7/2009 at 11:59pm
 Location: Reading Berkshire
 Outfit: Elddis Pamperos Vectra estate 1.9 CDTi View namreg's Profile View Profile   Reply to namreg Reply   Quote namreg Quote  
Joined: 04/2/2006

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All useful stuff guys, for which I thank you. Unfortunately, I've had a change of heart. As I can't afford anything much newer than 9 years old (these things are damn expensive!) with about 100K+, I was getting a bit twitchy, so I've dismissed the idea of a Skoda. I'm now scouring the market again looking for inspiration, so watch this space (A Zafira keeps cropping up though!)

-------------
Doug


PersonPetemate
24/7/2009 at 3:42pm
 Location: Kennington OXFORD
 Outfit: 2005 Eccles Sterling Topaz 2 berth View Petemate's Profile View Profile   Reply to Petemate Reply   Quote Petemate Quote  
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Quote: BHP is not the be all and end all of towing, what matters is stability, adequate power and torque at towing speeds, and well matched gear ratios are all more important than the absolute figures.


How true - well said. My Rover 45TDI due to it being a fairly small car has a max tow weight of 1000kg, only a bit over 70% of the kerbweight. The car had the dealer option taken of the 113BHP ECU map. The power band is perfect for towing that max weight, as it starts to come in before the magic 60mph - all one has to do is keep the revs at or slightly over 2000 and it will sail up the hills, proportionately opening up as required for the angle of gradient to maintain 60. The camper we have (going tomorrow) is 1000kg max, and I do realise that it doesn't have the drag of a 'van but the bhp/ton seems just right. I know of a couple of people towing 'vans with these cars.
(after I've said all that I will now be looking for something like an Audi or VW estate, TDI cos we want a nice 'van up to 1300 MTPLM.......)
Pete


Personsnifferg
24/7/2009 at 4:31pm
 Location: Swindon
 Outfit: Swift Challenger & Freelander View snifferg's Profile View Profile   Reply to snifferg Reply   Quote snifferg Quote  
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Be careful with the original model Zafira 2.0DTI diesel, it had an enforced tow limit of 1050kg.

I had one as a company car from 2001-2005 (never towed with it) - they are a practical car but not brilliant mechanically, get one with a good SH if poss.  They drink oil (a can every 5k miles) but as I worked for Castrol at the time it did not really bother (or cost) me!!


PersonPetemate
24/7/2009 at 5:16pm
 Location: Kennington OXFORD
 Outfit: 2005 Eccles Sterling Topaz 2 berth View Petemate's Profile View Profile   Reply to Petemate Reply   Quote Petemate Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by snifferg on 24/7/2009

Be careful with the original model Zafira 2.0DTI diesel, it had an enforced tow limit of 1050kg.


That must be the same scenario as with my Rover, eg a nice gutsy engine but not very sustantial car, so wisely the car maker sets a sensible towing weight to stop the tail wagging the dog.
Pete


Personsnifferg
24/7/2009 at 5:26pm
 Location: Swindon
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It was strange as the petrol variants had a higher rating, even the gutless 1.6 was 1100kg!!

The 2.2 DTI model was fine but GM never sold it here in the UK unfortunately.


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PersonAngus1215
24/7/2009 at 7:46pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Petemate on 24/7/2009
Quote: Originally posted by snifferg on 24/7/2009

Be careful with the original model Zafira 2.0DTI diesel, it had an enforced tow limit of 1050kg.

That must be the same scenario as with my Rover, eg a nice gutsy engine but not very sustantial car, so wisely the car maker sets a sensible towing weight to stop the tail wagging the dog.
Pete


The problem wasn`t that it was an insubstantial car, but cooling issues with that particular engine installation. The cooling must have been insufficient to allow it to pull heavy loads.
As has been pointed out, other models aren`t so restrictive.


PersonZafiral
27/7/2009 at 8:18am
 Location: Kent
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Quote: Originally posted by namreg on 23/7/2009
All useful stuff guys, for which I thank you. Unfortunately, I've had a change of heart. As I can't afford anything much newer than 9 years old (these things are damn expensive!) with about 100K+, I was getting a bit twitchy, so I've dismissed the idea of a Skoda. I'm now scouring the market again looking for inspiration, so watch this space (A Zafira keeps cropping up though!)
For towing with a pre 05 Zafira you are better with the 2.2 petrol (if you can find one) failing that a 1.8 petrol.

-------------
All year Dorset!!!


Personnamreg
27/7/2009 at 10:11pm
 Location: Reading Berkshire
 Outfit: Elddis Pamperos Vectra estate 1.9 CDTi View namreg's Profile View Profile   Reply to namreg Reply   Quote namreg Quote  
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Ah well. Pumped up the budget (felt I had to in the end) and just bought a 53 Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDi Elegance 130bhp. That should do the trick. Put my foot down in second on the test drive and the bloody thing nearly took off (by my standards that is). And the dealer's going to put a twin electrics tow bar on it, so all in all I'm happy. It'll be interesting to see how it compares to the Vectra Estate 1.9 CDTi 120 I'm driving at the moment.

-------------
Doug



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