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took the plunge.
bought the CDTI "s" auto in silver.
would have been £24,000 but got 8% discount through work and £5000 off from vauxhall with their deals they had, plus some hard bargaining.
towbar being fitted along with phone kit.
very pleased with the deal.
looking at end of next week for delivery.
looking forward to hooking up the caravan and touring scotland now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGqGr2fnDUA&feature=related
not bad for a "softroader"

8342Matt

Regarding your Antara is the garage fitting a detachable tow bar? Our local Vauxhall Garage has told us that we have to have a detachable tow bar fitted so thought I would just check elsewhere.

Quote: Originally posted by pfcbpfcb on 25/6/2009

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8342Matt

Regarding your Antara is the garage fitting a detachable tow bar? Our local Vauxhall Garage has told us that we have to have a detachable tow bar fitted so thought I would just check elsewhere.

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they gave me an option of fixed or detachable.with there being £100 difference i opted for the cheaper fixed with alko ball.

fixed with twin elecs and alko ball £ 259.13

i was wondering how you are getting on with yours, any chance of a short review. mine is currently on a boat in the bay of biscay.......... was told yesterday i should have it within two weeks.

Hi That is cheap - we have been quoted £460 for detachable by Vauxhall garage. Was told the fixed wasn't an option - I will have to go back and get them to clarify that.

It is great - boot is smaller than expected which could cause some problems for us camping. It is lovely to drive, nice being high up. We have also found out since getting it that you cannot put a bike rack on the back so are now looking at a tow bar rack which is an expensive option but we already will have a roof box so no room for a bike. With our previous car we could get the bike in the boot but no chance with this one!! Not sure about fuel consumption yet as that has been quoted as an issue in all the reviews we looked at as we haven't done enough miles yet.

So far we are really pleased with it.

my towbar is being fitted prior to me taking delivery, so wether i got a discount or not ??? get them to speak with john budd the sales manager at wilson + co vauxhall in bolton 01204 389999 he may shed light on the fixed ball issue. i have looked on towbar sites on the internet and all three types are available, fixed, swan and removeable.

i think any boot compaired with my discovery will be small, but it was all part of the downsizing, as daughter doesnt come with us anymore, so just two of us and the four berth caravan.

as for the fuel consumption, anything less than the discovery is welcome !!!

big test for mine will be two weeks towing around scotland this summer.

glad you are really pleased. hope i am.

 here are its weights (kg), based on the "s" middle of the range

                kerbweight       max tow        85%      power (ps)   torque (nm)

2.4 petrol       1746              1500          1484         140              220

2.0 cdti          1801              2000          1530         150              320

2.0 cdti auto   1821              1700          1547         150              320

noseweight 80

i would consider my caravan to be average at 1350 mtplm so 74% on the believed favourite choice of the 2.0 cdti auto.   

mat

Quote: Originally posted by pfcbpfcb on 25/6/2009

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8342Matt

Regarding your Antara is the garage fitting a detachable tow bar? Our local Vauxhall Garage has told us that we have to have a detachable tow bar fitted so thought I would just check elsewhere.

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They might be thinking of a fixed tow bar affecting the reversing sensors.

We have the Captiva, and I can definitely tell you that the sensors on that are not affected by the presence of a fixed bar.

if wired correctly the sensors should automatically deactivate when the 12n socket is plugged in, so i am led to believe by vauxhall..

Quote: Originally posted by 8342mat on 26/6/2009

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if wired correctly the sensors should automatically deactivate when the 12n socket is plugged in, so i am led to believe by vauxhall..

 

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Dunno about Vauxhall but the Chevrolet dedicated wiring kit had no provision for auto cut-off for the sensors.

The Captiva handbook mentioned a 'Trailer Warning Light'' on the dash - but when I checked with Chevrolet it turned out that it was 'something in the pipeline', and wasn't yet fitted to UK spec cars.

As it happened, I particularly wanted a fixed tow ball - partly because of the accessories you can fit, and partly because I'm a great believer in having big lump of steel sticking out to discourage close parking  so I was very pleased that the fixed bar didn't interfere with the reverse aid.

The Captiva bumper is quite high - and I assume that the Antara will be the same, so the sensors don't pick up the bar - if you want me to measure the height of the sensors so that you can check those on the Antara, let me know

I 've looked at Antara too, found a fantastic deal at the site below, but the fuel economy is putting me off, almost everybody who owns writes in their review that whilst being a good car the fuel comsumption is very high.

I need a car for a 50 mile daily round to work so cant really afford one, otherwise at £14k represents excellent value with good level of kit too.    

www.Antaracars.co.uk

Hi Matt

Just wondering how you are getting on with the Antara and towing.

We have the tow bar fitted and are now thinking about getting a caravan but still undecided! Does it tow well?

Thanks

Quote: Originally posted by pfcbpfcb on 06/10/2009

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Hi Matt

Just wondering how you are getting on with the Antara and towing.

We have the tow bar fitted and are now thinking about getting a caravan but still undecided! Does it tow well?

Thanks

i am very pleased with it.

when using it solo it is a very easy drive. the only issue i have is the steering is very light, and i still find myself over steering. the ride is very comfy and like most diesels at idle you can hear the engine but get it on the open road and it is very quiet in the cabin. the over all finish throughout is of a high standard. the big question to be answered is the mpg. too early yet for a reading but on cruise solo on the notorway its in the 40's and 20's whilst towing.

i changed my discovery td5 auto for this car and was a little dubious with the towing capabilities. if i am being honest i would put the antara in a different leauge. it feels more stable and certainly has more urgency than the disco. mine has a kerbweight of just over 1950kg so the max tow of 1700kg, due to auto, is around the 87% so no issues there. what i do llike is the option of changing to the manual side of the auto box when towing. the auto will change into 5th at around 53mph as did the disco. on the motorway this isnt an issue but on normal roads you wont reach the speed and end up using more fuel. use the manual side and you can go into 5th alot sooner hence less fuel being used.

it is little things like the huge mirrors it has that help when towing although towing ones are needed as it is not as wide as you think. over all i am very pleased with the car and its towing capabilities. if i could change anything it would be to have the nose weight increased from 80 to 100kg. the max tow is not an issue as it will manage all but the very heavy twin axles. my 1326kg single is not an issue at all.

those of you who are in the market for a small 4x4 style vehicle would do worse than at least giving the antara some consideration.

just out of interest there is a topic on the practical caravan forum about the captiva and antara. one replies " it is the best tow car i have ever had. the only problem is not going over the motoway speed limit when towing 1600kgs"

they do seem to be a dark horse, maybe too much emphasis has been put on the sorento  

 

mat

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