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Subject Topic: Citroen C4 Cactus Post Reply Post New Topic
12/5/2017 at 11:25am
 Location: Herts
 Outfit: Eriba Troll & Mitsubishi Outlander
View Alan Partridge's Profile View Profile   Reply to Alan Partridge Reply   Quote Alan Partridge Quote  
Joined: 27/9/2006

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I'm not even going to bother writing to the Caravan [and Motorhome] Club this time.

In this month's magazine there is a test of the C4 Cactus Ripcurl. This includes a report on the towing test which gives 0-50, 0-60, 30-50 in gear times etc. but makes no mention of what they were towing.

The "technical" (haha) summary gives the kerb weight of 1068kg and the 85% figure to a precision of 100 grams, 907.8kg. Nowhere is it mentioned that the towing limit for this car is only 825kg.

Neither is it mentioned that the towing capacity is likely to be further limited by the train weight unless the car is lightly loaded.

The purpose of this post is not really to rant but to inform anyone who might be considering the car, so I will give the full info (5 door manual diesel):

Kerbweight -             1068
Max laden weight -       1610
Max gross train weight - 2210
Braked towing limit -     825
Noseweight limit -        55

The basic payload of the car is therefore a very respectable 542kg.

If you were to tow 825kg, you would have 317kg left for passengers, luggage, and the noseweight (say 50kg). 267kg is about 2 people plus c. 100kg of luggage and equipment.

Incredibly, this car won Towcar of the Year in 2016 in the under-£20,000 category. Good luck even finding a caravan with a MPTLM of 825kg or lower, let alone one you could tow with the car loaded to anywhere near its capacity.

At the time I wrote to the CC, suggesting they should make the limitations clear - it isn't unreasonable to think people might want to go and buy a C4 Cactus, having seen their results. The reply I got, in full, was
Thank you for your email. The Citroen Cactus was the best towing vehicle in its category, despite its GTW limitations. Please note that the Peugeot 2008 was also restricted on its towing weight based on the GTW.

I wrote again, politely of course, "Can I just add, for your information, that the matching tool that might alert members to the limitations of this car will not currently help, as it is using an incorrect value for GTW (2435 rather than 2210) and the noseweight limit figure is not populated."

Having seen this month's article lauding the C4 Cactus, I checked back to the CC matching tool. The train weight is still shown as 2435 and the noseweight remains blank.

Anybody can make a mistake, but it seems not all can admit to it or put it right.

Am I being unreasonable?


12/5/2017 at 11:34am
 Location: ML9
 Outfit: Pageant Champagne 2002 Honda CRV 2008
View peter1474's Profile View Profile   Reply to peter1474 Reply   Quote peter1474 Quote  
Joined: 21/5/2013

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Do you think the CC really care?
They get paid for the article, people will buy and get ripped off because the CC recommend it.
They are a rip off all the way.

No you are not being unreasonable, daft maybe for staying in a club like that, Do not think though that because your a member you can change anything. That's not cricket old chap.
They need money to buy that duffer another van to wreck at this years CofTY.

-------------
Peter and CofSD (Anne)


12/5/2017 at 11:50am
 Location: Herts
 Outfit: Eriba Troll & Mitsubishi Outlander
View Alan Partridge's Profile View Profile   Reply to Alan Partridge Reply   Quote Alan Partridge Quote  
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I like some of the sites, Peter:) There's nothing you can tell them about cleaning the facilities, and most of the wardens are great, although in recent years they have seemingly been asked to impose some silly rules with apparently very little flexibility.

I'm sure some of the people higher up are good too, but there's really no excuse in my opinion for giving patronising non-answers and continuing to provide duff information when it has been pointed out to them.


12/5/2017 at 12:00pm
 Location: ML9
 Outfit: Pageant Champagne 2002 Honda CRV 2008
View peter1474's Profile View Profile   Reply to peter1474 Reply   Quote peter1474 Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by Alan Partridge on 12/5/2017
I like some of the sites, Peter:) There's nothing you can tell them about cleaning the facilities, and most of the wardens are great, although in recent years they have seemingly been asked to impose some silly rules with apparently very little flexibility.

I'm sure some of the people higher up are good too, but there's really no excuse in my opinion for giving patronising non-answers and continuing to provide duff information when it has been pointed out to them.



Too true Alan, maybe if they listened to members and took heed of what they were pointing out, the Club itself might be better thought of.



-------------
Peter and CofSD (Anne)


12/5/2017 at 12:12pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View Opensauce's Profile View Profile   Reply to Opensauce Reply   Quote Opensauce Quote  
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Matching sites are just a computer generated guide. One needs to refer to manufacturer literature for both car & caravan in order to decide what is a good match.


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12/5/2017 at 12:57pm
 Location: Herts
 Outfit: Eriba Troll & Mitsubishi Outlander
View Alan Partridge's Profile View Profile   Reply to Alan Partridge Reply   Quote Alan Partridge Quote  
Joined: 27/9/2006

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Quote: Originally posted by Opensauce on 12/5/2017
Matching sites are just a computer generated guide. One needs to refer to manufacturer literature for both car & caravan in order to decide what is a good match.



I quite agree, and I always would check, although this is the "member only", "detailed outfit matching service"; it is not unreasonable to think that members might rely on it or that the Club might ensure that the data it does give are accurate.

It can be quite tricky to get car data. It's common for brochures not to give the maximum gross train weight.

Having done this sort of check 'for real' a number of times, I would say use every source you can find. Manufacturers tend to refer you to dealers, and I have had vert variable experiences with those.

Ultimately, you need to look at the weight plate on the vehicle, but that is not so easy when you are researching what to buy.



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