Hi Guys,
What do you think meets this criteria, Bearing in mind i do 25k miles a year, mainly motorway and a fair bit towing. Has to be able to tow around the 1500kg mark so i can tow on my license.
I've had a s3 to do this for the last year but it has been written off: http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=158527

It was a great car but not economical. So the car has to:

Be comfortable and able to cruise at 90.
5 seats
Fun to drive if possible, im thinking of a 1.9 or 2.0 diesel that can be remapped.
40+ mpg, the more the merrier.
£4000 ish budget. Maybe squeeze to nearer 5.

I've had a new a4 as a courtesy car and its nice, but i only like the later looking ones and they aren't in price range, also i think it'll get dull.
A3 2.0 diesel - possibility.
A3 Sportback i like but don't think they are in pricerange as newer.
320D - Seems to be a good car, Any good for towing being RWD though? However i don't really want a BMW.
Alfa GT 1.9 diesel - like them but think reliability would let me down.

So what else is there? And what do people recommend?

Thanks

Hi Eddie,

I am in the same boat at the moment, as I have just lost my WRX, it got to 100k and had to go back. But for a tow car, how about, 330d touring? Forester/ Legacy diesel, SAAB Estate,....

My current preference is for the Subaru as they are 4wd, but the 330d estate might be good fun,... certainly more torque than can be deemed reasonable,...

What are your thoughts?

Mondeo TDC i estate. seats 5 45mpg with big trailer, plant trailer with another Mondeo on board ( over loaded ) . 50+ on run fully loaded.

[Edited on 23/8/11 by Myke 2463]

i've got a 530D, 170k and it's still going strong paid 2.5k for mine. anything RWD is fun unless it's snowing, no real issues with rwd+towing, infact it went up a grass bank with a small trailer on the back no one else made it up, i've towed a race car a few times with it, and you don't really notice it's there, but that might be down to the self leveling air suspension on the rear of the estate, not sure if any of the 3's have it. nearly making 50mpg average at the moment, goes down a little as it gets colder, probably due to the diesel aux water heater

[Edited on 23/8/11 by RickRick]

Skoda Octavia VRS

If you dont like the audi, get the BMW.

Subaru have never made a diesel engine I'd want to own, despite the forrester being a great car. Knowing friends who have, I will never be a true petrolhead in Clarkson's eyes as I refuse to touch Alfas

I'm blank amazed the A3 has a 1500kg towing capacity!

4motion passat with lpg

Im with Myke

Mondeo 2.0 TDCI 45mpg average to dorset and back with a caravan on the back, plus 3 adults and two kids
plus about 2 tons of STUFF

steve

How about a SEAT Leon/Toledo? You can get 130/150 HP TDI's which will get up to 60MPG on a good run (through experience I've only managed to get high 50's mind you). Can be remapped to 200 quite easilly apparently. Also has 320 lbft of torque as standard. Get the FR version and it's 4wd... I think it would make a good tower.
Of course I'm biased since I just got one

Hi,

What license do you hold?

B only means you can only tow a unbracked trailer with max axle weight of 750kg not 1500kg.
B+E means upto 3500kg on a car or <3.5 ton van.

A lot of people think the combination is upto 1500 on a B license. The trailer most not be plated higher than 750kg.

Personally I would go with an estate diesel for stability if I was towing a car allot. Even better would be a 4x4 but then running cost will be higher.

Cheers, Jon

Could that budget stretch to a new shape mondeo?
I'm sure you can get the Octavia with 4x4..
Volvo? Is there a suiatable volvo about?

quote:

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Originally posted by Ethanicus
Hi,

What license do you hold?

B only means you can only tow a unbracked trailer with max axle weight of 750kg not 1500kg.
B+E means upto 3500kg on a car or <3.5 ton van.

A lot of people think the combination is upto 1500 on a B license. The trailer most not be plated higher than 750kg.

Personally I would go with an estate diesel for stability if I was towing a car allot. Even better would be a 4x4 but then running cost will be higher.

Cheers, Jon

---

Hi,
Again don't want this to turn into a towing thread, but i don't have B+E, and as long as the car MAM to tow is about 1300-1600. I can tow it and i have had this checked.

And with regards to the cars, Volvo, Mondeo and Leons are all possibles. Back to autotrader i go.

Kind Regards
Ed

[Edited on 24/8/11 by eddie99]

Hi Eddie,

Will be picking my new tow vehicle up on Monday. I went for a 56 plate Mondeo Estate 2.2 Diesel Ghia X. Paid £3900 for it.

Don't think you can go wrong with a Mondeo.

(Thanks for getting the sandwich plate, let me know what I owe you)

Steve