I've been looking at american cars, and am thinking of something like a yukon as a towcar. They are rare in the UK but very cheap to buy in america and can be shipped and registered for about £3k.
I want lots of towing capacity, 6 or more seats, plenty of boot (trunk) space and fuel consumption doesn't really matter because it is for holidays and not a daily driver.
Have I gone mad? What else can I get in Europe like this?
The best you'll get over here would be a Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe for that money. I doubt they'd be 7 seat though. You could though get an Audi Q7 from £8,000. They are huge (by European standards). Of course there's always an old Landrover Discovery.
I'd be put off buying a US truck with regards parts etc. Imagine a breakdown in France or Germany. The best you could hope for is getting it shipped back I'd think.
7.4l to tow an abbey piper is the old taking a sledgehammer to crack a Walnut saying.Have you also considered the cost of road tax ect on the emissions and fuel cost which will not only blow your mind but your purse as well.If you want 7 seats get a Santa Fe and you will not know the Piper is on the back.I bought a PIPER 14-5 new in 1983.
You obviously want the car so if you have done your research about importation & registration costs then buy it.
You don't need to ask on a forum if more practical alternatives are available because you know there are. Stop trying to pretend a yank tank in the UK has any advantage over anything you can buy here because you know it does not.
A friend has a '69 Buick Skylark, he questions all the time why he bothers but he enjoys going to yank car shows & so on so why not? The thing corners like a ship in a rough sea but get it on a straight road & floor it & you can see why folk like old V8 yank tanks. They are easy to work on & parts are available from specialist suppliers.
Living near 2 US air bases we see a lot of US vehicles about. Our current neighbours have a large SUV which recently was off the road for over two months awaiting parts from the USA!
------------- Alan
2016
February C&CC Theobalds Park
March C&CC Salisbury
May C&CC Adgestone IOW
July Le Clos Auroy, Auvergne France
August C&CC Polstead
August C&CC Oxford
October C&CC Lauder
Parts are still available for 1950's cars, never mind more recent stuff.
Having a car off the road for two months sounds more like cost restrictions than availability.
We help our friend in Santa Clara CA look after his stable of 50's old iron: Hudson Hornet, Studebaker Commander, Dodge Coronet convertible and he has just bought a 54 Dodge sedan.
Body parts can be a problem, although Studebaker owners are very well served by Studebaker International. Tim has has gearboxes overhauled with new parts still available.
The Ssangyong Turismo is a large car with plenty of boot space. We were at our local caravan dealer a few weeks ago, they had them in the showroom and they are huge compared to our Kia Sorento. We've been to Canada a number of times in the past 10 years and we are always very impressed with their pickup type vehicles. Good luck with your choice.
Lister I do talk to my neighbours, they told me it was getting the parts here, which is why they were paying to hire a car in the mean time!
------------- Alan
2016
February C&CC Theobalds Park
March C&CC Salisbury
May C&CC Adgestone IOW
July Le Clos Auroy, Auvergne France
August C&CC Polstead
August C&CC Oxford
October C&CC Lauder
I drove a similar truck (brand new) when we hired a 5th wheel in Canada. Even without the 5th wheel on, it was gruesome to drive and wandered all over the road. It was easier driving an HGV.
Hi a bit of a left field suggestion but what about a Toyota granvia or something similar. Big petrol and turbo diesel engines, plenty of space, good towing and 4wd versions as well. Plenty of modcons as well.