I've just changed our 2 ltr TDCI (56 reg) for a Honda CRV. There was nothing wrong with the C-max, it towed a Bailey Ranger 550/6 then a Bailey Bretagne after that. The Bretagne MTPLM was 1420kg and we would be close to loading to the max with all the clobber needed for the 5of us. Travelled from Carlisle to South Brittany in France no bother, and with 4 bikes on the roof too. Only got about low 20's mpg when towing but solo, easily got 45/50 on a run.
Only changed because our eldest son is disabled and my wife has back problems so we thought a fixed bed for me and the Mrs and no bunks for the kids would suit us better and anything with such a layout was out of the C-max's legal tow weight.
I would recommend one no bother, as long as it is a legal match for your van. The 2ltr TDCI manuel has a kerb weight of 1506kg I think but can legally tow 1500kg.
The Ford C-Max TDi is one of the best 'medium weight' tow cars I have ever driven. We had one just before changing to our current Shogun Warrior at the start of this season. We have towed everywhere with it including the Highlands of Scotland and the C-Max never even grunted at the hills. Last year we changed our caravan and meant we were then towing at 100% for the whole of last season. Again the C-Max did us proud. We have now changed to the Shogun so that we are now well within the towing limits of the car, but to be quite honest there is not all that much difference in performance, and the Shogun is a 3.2 Di-D. So Go for the C-Max they are a really good workhorse.
Thanks for your reply. Do you drive one of these cars?
I'm not sure that most cars really do tow 750 kg unbraked: for example, the Skoda Roomster only tows 450 kg, Mercedes B class only 400 kg, the Citroen C3 Picasso 675 kg, Renault Clio SW 535, Kia Ceed 650, Hyundai i30 Estate 550, Hyundai Matrix 550. Unfortunately given this it seems it's not a very safe assumption that it would tow our (500kg unloaded) Camplet.
We went and looked at a 1.6 diesel today and the VIN plate is very unclear, and the manual doesn't include the information. The website and book used by the dealer is blank for the unbraked trailer. the dealer suggested we phone Ford head office on Monday!
I was hoping that someone who owns one would already have found out this information for certain!
Thanks for your reply. Do you drive one of these cars?
I'm not sure that most cars really do tow 750 kg unbraked: for example, the Skoda Roomster only tows 450 kg, Mercedes B class only 400 kg, the Citroen C3 Picasso 675 kg, Renault Clio SW 535, Kia Ceed 650, Hyundai i30 Estate 550, Hyundai Matrix 550. Unfortunately given this it seems it's not a very safe assumption that it would tow our (500kg unloaded) Camplet.
We went and looked at a 1.6 diesel today and the VIN plate is very unclear, and the manual doesn't include the information. The website and book used by the dealer is blank for the unbraked trailer. the dealer suggested we phone Ford head office on Monday!
I was hoping that someone who owns one would already have found out this information for certain!
Read the post above this on the main menu - buy something more reliable, prone to electrical failure and very difficult to source spare parts from spain. nIf you buy one, make sure the towbar is a FORD towbar, anything else with blow the ecu at some unknown point - it is the same with other modern cars as well! But very prone to electrical probs so many are available second hand as owners have had enough!
Just as an update, we bought the Cmax and never looked bad, We liked it so much that when it came to updating it, we bought another one. It hasn't given us any electrical problems, and we didn't go with a Ford tow bar either, not having noticed that particular piece of advice (sorry!).
One thing I like about the Cmax is the seat height. It's easy to get in and out of. It has a big luggage capacity and is very economical. Most of all it's done lots of miles and has been reliable.