Thanks for the replies, anybody know how it will tow with this car. Not able to get out much with work commitment, anybody tow with a 1.8 petrol ? thanks
I know it's slightly different, but we tried to tow an ordinary large trailer which contained all our camping gear which weighed in at 660kg on the weighbridge. At the time we had a Toyota Corolla 1.8 petrol, and yes it pulled, but only just. It struggled to be honest, and the last straw was when we went to the Lake District and stopped on an incline it rolled back so much it would have been dangerous if there had been anything behind us.
Need less to say, we swapped the car to a 2l diesel which pulls fine.
To be honest, being used to diesels I think the diesel pulling power is normal. I had a lift in a 1.8 petrol focus about 10 years ago and I could have sworn it was towing a caravan it was that sluggish on hills.
It will tow but you will use the gears a lot more on hills than a diesel would.
I don't really mind changing gear a bit more, I had a zafira 1.9 diesel but as stated with it only doing short runs I was laying awake at night worrying if the dpf was getting clogged up and didn't like the idea of having to take it for a good run every few weeks. then the egr valve went on it and filled the sump with diesel (not good) I was so sick of all these problems I went back to petrol. Saying that I did have a Picasso before the zafira ( which didn't have a dpf)and I ran that for 6 and a half years with no problem at all. The zafira with all its problems including new dmf, clutch, starter motor and rear window electrics, heater matrix I just had enough. Changing gear a few extra times is not a problem.
I tow with a 2007 1.8 diesel Focus. I probably have more
torque with the diesel engine but I’ve towed with plenty of petrol cars in the
past. If it struggles, change gear. It’s cheaper than changing the car. But, an
important word of warning. Both the camping club and the caravan club have an
outfit matching service. Both have the wrong data for the Ford Focus.Check your V5 log book document for the
correct mass in service weight and you can also refer to the plate on the car
to check the total train weight.
Quote: Originally posted by Tony Burton on 20/2/2015<font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman">I tow with a 2007 1.8 diesel Focus. I probably have moretorque with the diesel engine but I’ve towed with plenty of petrol cars in thepast. If it struggles, change gear. It’s cheaper than changing the car. But, animportant word of warning. Both the camping club and the caravan club have anoutfit matching service. Both have the wrong data for the Ford Focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check your V5 log book document for thecorrect mass in service weight and you can also refer to the plate on the carto check the total train weight.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
What wrong data do they have? As with any data its always best to double check. Its good that a lot of cars have the kerbweight and max tow weights on the V5C these days.
One site that lists the towing weights is the Parkers one. But they can only give an estimate as a car may have its tow limit changed over the model run.
Although i think the got it a bit more than slightly wrong when they said a 1100cc Peugeot 106 could tow 2.3/2.7? tons